The Tuesday after a 3-day weekend can be worse than a case of the Mondays. First, you dread getting back to the grind AND you have a short week to get all that boring, work stuff done. Bryan and I got to spend time with family and have a mini getaway of our own in Annapolis, Maryland. I am from the DMV (what locals affectionately call the District and the surrounding MD and VA area) and am ashamed to say that I have never been to Annapolis. We finally got a chance to visit this quaint town and here is a guide for 24 Hours in Annapolis, Maryland.
Where to Stay
We stayed at the beautiful Annapolis Waterfront Hotel, which is part of the Marriott Autograph Collection. AWH is the only waterfront hotel in Annapolis, right on the harbor, and overlooking the bay. As expected, the hotel was packed on Memorial Day Weekend. However, the wonderful staff did as much as they could to get all the rooms ready on time. One of the sweet ladies at the front desk gave us complimentary drinks at Pusser’s Grille, a fun, beach-y restaurant connected to the hotel.
The location is spot on, perfect. Once you walk out of AWH, you can take a right to head into the heart of town and Main Street. If you want to explore some more restaurants and the residential area, hang a left and take a short walk over the drawbridge into Eastport.
AWH is such a beautifully themed and branded hotel. The floors, rugs, lobby decorations, and C.O. Bigelow soaps, all have the nautical AWH design. I mean, how cute are their robes?? You can’t go wrong with a nautical theme in Annapolis, and the AWH does it so well.
As for our room, we got the best room the in the hotel! We had a giant corner suite with a King bed, a view of downtown AND a view of the bay, and a balcony overlooking the water and boats. The weather was not ideal this weekend, but I would love to come back and really enjoy the gorgeous views and fresh air! Did I mention the rooms are also PURE rooms? PURE rooms have gone through a process to dramatically improve their air quality and eliminate irritants. Bryan and I both slept very well and I did notice the room smelled fresh and clean and my sneezes were minimal. (My allergies are very bad and can act up when it is dusty!)
I highly recommend the AWH and cannot wait to come back. In regards to convenience, location, and cleanliness, it is perfect for me and my travel needs.
Where to Eat
City Dock Coffee – Quick coffee shop that has a delicious Cappuccino Chill, which is a blended drink, perfect for sipping on during the humid, Summer days.
Boatyard Bar & Grill – For dinner, we walked across the bridge into Eastport to grab a table at this place that I found on Yelp, looking for the best crab cakes. We arrived at 4:30 pm (I was super hungry, super early) and there was already a wait. We put our name down and grabbed some beers at the bar. The restaurant is super fun and has a huuuuge menu. We were going for seafood, so we got a steamer sampler bag, a soft shell crab sandwich, and duh, crab cakes. Yum. The crab cakes were amazing – super lump! I highly recommend you make a visit, but go early! It gets packed and the line wrapped around the corner
Annapolis Ice Cream Company – This ice cream shop had a line out the door and it has been voted the Best Ice Cream in Annapolis for numerous years. There were so many flavors, but I settled for the mint oreo and Bryan got the maple walnut.
Chick & Ruth’s Delly – We had to stop by the famous Chick & Ruth’s Delly, but we did not opt for the colossal milkshake or sandwich. There is a guy standing outside, who will take your name for a table. We order a crab cake sandwich to-go and it was very good. Very lump and fresh tasting. The actual deli is small and servers are just yelling and running all over the place. It is truly a novelty and piece of Annapolis that you must visit, even just to stay you’ve been there!
What to Do
Bryan and I liked walking around Annapolis, as it very walkable and we could explore the stores and history. Main Street takes you up to the Maryland State House and back down to the dock, so you really don’t need a map! While the weather did not allow us to do some boating, there were tons of things you see. Below are some great places to visit and do some shopping.
The Lucky Knot – nautical themed fashion with a lot of Vineyard Vines
The Pink Crab – a Lilly Pulitzer store
While the weather was not on our side, Annapolis is such a beautiful town, with great food, people, and history. For those of you in the DMV, it is less than an hour drive, so you (and I) don’t have any excuses not to visit! I need to get in some sailing lessons next time…
Thank you to the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel for hosting us this Memorial Day Weekend! Your generosity and hospitality are second to none. I can’t wait to come back and explore more of your beautiful town!
-Jacqueline
