Chart Your Course

by Rebecca Kieran

Make a splash this summer with a visit to one of Maryland’s many maritime adventures. Don’t feel like getting wet? There are plenty of marine museums and boat rides that offer the perfect balance of water and sunshine to pack your day with fun and learning.

Central to the DMV region in Washington D.C., you will find the first mile of the famous C&O Canal. This historic landmark has been restored by Georgetown Heritage, to take guests on a special ride back in time. georgetownheritage.org

In the mid-1800s, the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal spanned over 184 miles to Cumberland, MD. It was originally used to transport products and passengers along the Potomac River and ran for almost a century. The canal degraded significantly over years of neglect until it was named a National Historic Park in 1971. Since then, many restoration projects have taken place to revive the canal for use once more. Due to budget cuts, Georgetown Heritage relies heavily on donations to help with restoration needs.

The newest Canal boat was created as a replica of the originals that operated in the late-1800s. Georgetown Heritage offers boat tours on board this modern recreation. The tours take guests along the first mile of the canal and through the lift locks while learning about its history along the way.

Special events are sometimes offered, including Black History themed boat tours in honor of Juneteenth. This tour will highlight the canal’s role in aiding in escape from slavery and AfricanAmerican contributions to our National

Anthem.

Regular boat tours run through July 2 with new dates available at a later time. School programs are also offered for students through 12th grade.

Calvert Marine Museum is another popular maritime excursion for families. Located in Solomons, MD, the museum offers unique exhibits both indoors and outdoors, to teach visitors about the natural environment and history of the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to museum exhibits, visitors can explore a touch tank, marsh walk, the Drum Point Lighthouse (sometimes with its own guided tours), animal feedings, and on weekends, row and pedal boats. Toy Boatbuilding is also a tradition at the museum for over 30 years. Guests ages 5 and above are invited to build wooden boats with their museum admission on select dates. There are a number of familyfriendly activities and events offered throughout the summer. Youth programs with story time and naturethemed learning activities are a great way to teach kids about the museum and its exhibits. Sea Squirts (ages 18 months – 3 years) and Little Minnows (ages 3-5) feature music, crafts, and stories and run throughout the year. The Fossil Field Experience runs through September 2 and invites visitors ages 8 and above, to learn and hunt for fossils at Cove Point Beach. Pre-registration is required. The museum owns two wooden boats that provide public cruises to guests on a regular basis. A special 4th of July cruise will also be available, featuring fantastic views of the Solomons fireworks.

Sharkfest is one of the museum’s popular annual events, returning this year on July 8. Sharks are the theme of the day and visitors can view them up close in the nature pavilion. Note that strollers are not permitted during this event due to space limitations. In partnership with the Arts Council of Calvert County, Calvert Marine Museum will sponsor a Maritime Arts and Artifacts Arts Show. In addition to visiting the museum, guests will learn about Chesapeake Bay culture through unique artistic interpretations by local artists.

As part of their Waterside Music Series, recording artist, Lee Brice will perform on July 27 at their outdoor pavilion. Other visiting performing artists this summer will include Brett Young, Ziggy Marley and ATC, a tribute to ABBA.

Memberships are available for those who wish to enjoy the museum on a return basis. Full event details and a schedule can be found on the Calvert Marine Museum’s website. calvertmarinemuseum.com

Another fun boating experience can be found with Watermark Cruises. Serving the Baltimore and Annapolis areas, Watermark provides public cruises and water taxis along the Chesapeake Bay. Founded in 1972 as Chesapeake Marine Tours, by a local boat lover offering a simple sightseeing tour of the Bay. The company has grown immensely over the years and still pays tribute to the first sightseeing tour with an appropriately named cruise, “That Day on the Bay.”

There are many special events taking place throughout the year.

A few of the most popular summer offerings include the 4th of July Fireworks Cruise, available in Annapolis and Baltimore, and TGIF Live Music cruises which run on Friday nights in Annapolis towards the end of the season.

In Annapolis, the Bay Lighthouses Cruise takes passengers past three lighthouses: Sandy Point Shoal, Baltimore Harbor, and Thomas Point. This tour is 3.5 hours long with a full bar of drinks available for purchase. The 9th annual Dog Days of Summer cruise will soon be available for purchase. This dog-friendly cruise benefits the Anne Arundel County SPCA. The 2023 date has yet to be announced.

Cruises and water taxis are scheduled regularly throughout the year. There are various locations and themes to choose from when booking. Visit the Watermark website for full details. watermarkjourney.com

The list of opportunities to explore the Chesapeake Bay area’s history is endless. Make a few waves this summer with your family and support your local museums and maritime organizations.