Maryland’s Kent Island is an underrated gem within the Chesapeake Bay

On the Chesapeake Bay, 20 miles east of Maryland’s capital, Kent Island is a city recognized for its sprawling waterscapes, delicious seafood, and storied maritime historical past. Despite its many superlatives, this bayside metropolis doesn’t obtain the eye it deserves like close by Annapolis and Ocean City. 

Although seen as a gateway to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Kent Island is greater than a scenic pitstop. The space’s historical past has intertwined with the delivery of America, when Captain John Smith, who famously helped set up America’s first settlement, Jamestown, declared in his 1608 journal entry, “Heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man’s habitation…” More than 20 years later, Kent Island, the biggest island within the bay, was established, making it the third-oldest English settlement within the U.S. 

The attract of Kent Island, Md., nonetheless lives as much as Captain Smith’s reward at the moment. Yet this underrated island continues to ship the sights and experiences that draw individuals to Maryland. Here are 10 issues each traveler ought to expertise when visiting Kent Island.

1. Explore the area by boat

Visitors can discover Kent Island from the water as a result of it lies within the largest estuary within the U.S. You can get pleasure from unencumbered views of the bay and Bay Bridge and see the pure curves of the island’s shorelines as you drift alongside the island’s coves, inlets, and marshes. The phrase Chesapeake is an Algonquian phrase which means ‘great shellfish bay.’ The brackish water of the bay is certainly a breeding floor for a bunch of life, which has been the lifeblood of the native economic system, delicacies, and tradition for the final century. This area is a working waterfront; it’s frequent to see vessels slicing up and down Kent Narrows, the waterway that separates Kent Island from the close by mainland.

Charter a boat and spend a day fishing, crabbing, or oystering. Or glide by means of the picturesque waters to look at because the solar dips under the horizon aboard a sundown cruise.

2. Learn about native wildlife

The Chesapeake Bay watershed is dwelling to greater than 3,600 species of vegetation and animals, together with striped bass (also called rockfish) and 173 species of shellfish. Observe native wildlife on the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, the place you’ll be able to hike, bike, or kayak by means of this 510-acre nature protect, which incorporates forests, wetlands, tidal marshes, and meadows. Avid birdwatchers will discover this middle best. Throughout the yr, they’ll spot greater than 240 chook species, together with bald eagles, ospreys, and herons. In addition to avian recognizing, guests could catch a glimpse of otters, muskrats, foxes, and diamondback terrapins discovered all through the protect. 

3. Explore the area’s seashores

You received’t have any points discovering a seaside on this coastal metropolis. Head in any path, and you’ll finally bump into the shoreline. For the perfect swimming areas and scenic views, go to  Matapeake Clubhouse and Public Beach, which has an outside amphitheater, household picnic space, and canine seaside, or stretch out on the smooth, caramel-colored sand at Terrapin Nature Park and Beach, which boasts unobstructed views of the Bay Bridge.

4. Cycle throughout your entire island

Pedal or stroll your manner throughout the island by following the Cross Island Trail. The mapped path spans practically seven miles, protecting the width of the island, and snakes by means of tidal wetlands, shady woodlands, and wide-open meadows. The paved path begins at Terrapin Nature Park and Beach on the island’s western shore and winds eastward to Kent Narrows. Both cyclists and hikers can get pleasure from views of the Chesapeake Bay alongside the trek.

5. Get a lesson in African American maritime historical past

Niambi Davis, a contract author and neighborhood historian at Kennard African American Cultural Center, grew up within the space greater than 70 years in the past. She recollects, “We were called the land of pleasant living, and we still are in terms of recognizing and reckoning with our history.”

Her reflection emphasizes the significance of preserving neighborhood reminiscences—a mission that organizations devoted to sharing and safeguarding these tales proceed to pursue. The Kennard African American Cultural Center gives a significant view into the Chesapeake’s historical past. Situated about 20 miles east of the island within the historic Kennard High School, which was the primary secondary college for African Americans in Queen Anne’s County. Through oral tales, displays, and academic packages, the museum preserves the histories of Black watermen, oyster shuckers, and maritime employees.

Visitors can study individuals akin to Captain Eldridge Meredith, a longtime member of the Eastern Shore waterman neighborhood. Watermen are sometimes unbiased shellfish harvesters and fishermen who make a dwelling from catching and promoting blue crabs, oysters, and different fish discovered within the Chesapeake Bay. These individuals usually work alone or in small teams. The captain spent over 70 years working as a fisherman and, in his later years, turned a head boat captain, taking patrons out for sightseeing, crabbing, or oystering cruises. “He was the patriarch of a dynasty. Today, his son Captain Tyrone Meredith and daughter Captain Vera Meredith are carrying on his tradition,” says Davis. 

(Secrets of Harriet Tubman’s life are being revealed 100 years later)

6. Step again in time in Stevensville Historic District

Continue your historical past lesson with a stroll by means of the Stevensville Historic District. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this walkable space is a time capsule catapulting guests again to the late nineteenth century. Beautifully preserved historic buildings that line the streets inform the story of the island as one in every of Maryland’s and America’s earliest settlements. Tour the centuries-old Cray House (Stevensville’s oldest home), the Stevensville Train Station (1902), and the Old Stevensville Post Office restored to its 1877 glory.

“I would recommend visitors try to come on the first Saturday of the month from April through November,” says John “Jack” Broderick, the president of the Kent Island Heritage Society. “All the historic sites are open. You can walk in Stevensville today and get a feel of what it would’ve been like 100 years ago.”

7. Indulge in a Classic Maryland Crab Feast

Partake in a quintessential Maryland expertise—the crab feast. In this timeless custom, family and friends collect round a paper-covered desk, armed with wood mallets to crack open bushels of freshly steamed Maryland blue crabs seasoned with Old Bay. These crabs are then dipped into melted butter and washed down with a frothy, chilly beer. 

“Crabs are a big part of life on Kent Island,” says Broderick. “Anybody who lives on the water or has a relative on the water generally has crab pots. Or you can go out to one of the great crab houses and sit down for a terrific crab feast.”

8. Dine on the catch of the day

With its location in Chesapeake Bay, Kent Island has no scarcity of standout seafood eating places. Harris Crab House, one of many final year-round oyster processing homes, is an area establishment. On the restaurant’s menu, the Eastern Shore Tower is a feast of fried soft-shell crab, lump crab meat, and oysters piled excessive. While right here, don’t miss the prospect to take a look at the mural alongside the partitions of the processing constructing, which depicts the historical past of the enterprise.

Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen + Cocktails is one other well-liked dockside spot that attracts crowds with dishes like their crab cake platter and jumbo lump crab pizza. Bridges Restaurant additionally impresses with its smooth crab and seafood membership sandwiches.

9. Savor the style at native wineries

Oenophiles can savor the style of native wines at three vineyards. The Chesapeake Wine Trail has two alongside its route: Cascia Vineyards & Winery, a family-run enterprise well-liked for its award-winning Queen Anne’s Reserve (a Bordeaux-style mix), and Love Point Vineyards & Winery, launched by a husband-and-wife group, the place friends can pattern flight tastings of pink and white wines whereas taking in beautiful views of the Chester River. Their hottest pink is the Bloody Point Light, which is a hybrid pinot noir named after the lighthouse on the southern tip of the island. The third vineyard is the Chesapeake Manor Vineyard. Visitors can choose from their award-winning 2023 inaugural classic, which features a Grüner Veltliner, a white wine that’s a favourite with patrons. 

10. Join the festivities on the Bay

Kent Island hosts festivals all year long. April begins with the Bay Bridge Boat Show, adopted by Kent Island Day in May. During the summer season, there’s the Bikes and Beer Festival in July and the Sudlersville Peach Festival in August. As summer season slips into fall, the art-centric occasion Artoberfest is in October, the Bay Bridge Run is in November, and the yr closes out with the Waterman’s Crab Basket Tree Lighting.

Where to remain

For a noteworthy escape on Kent Island, verify into the Inn at the Chesapeake Beach Club. The resort has 77 well-appointed visitor rooms and suites, an on-site restaurant, and a spa. Guests cannot beat the resort’s location close to the Chesapeake Bay, in addition to waterfront eating places and outlets.