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need suggestions for annapolis show trip

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Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/20/2009 : 06:52:17

Hi Folks,
I have taken the week of the annapolis sailboat show off. My friend Dwight (another 89 wing owner) and I will be heading off to the Chesapeake. I have booked a room at the Holiday inn express (maybe it will make me a smarter sailor) in Annapolis.for wed, thru sat night. I figure we could go to the show Thurs and Friday, but I figure that two days should be enough of looking at boats I can't afford. Maybe we'll check out early and save the 200/day room charge for the weekend.
Here is my question. Is there anyplace on the shore of the Chesapeake where one can camp out for the night? I don't mean a KOA either. How about suggestions for good dockside bar/restaurant in annapolis, or someplace else on the chesapeake. How about other things to do or see while there?
How about any nautical salvage yards?
One thng I may do is go see an Ericson 38 for sale by a broker. I really have come to like the Ericsons.
(by the way, I have finished my bottom painting and am still working on the teak on my 89 wing. gonna replace the actuator on the trailer. As a matter of pride I want everyting working well for the lucky next new owner of my 25, whenever that may be)

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

Frank Gloss
Formerly 89WK/TR
85 Ericson 32-3 shoal draft "Molto Bene"

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2009 : 10:27:06

Six-foot-itis, huh?

There's the Marriott patio/bar/restaurant right on Ego Alley--just about the middle of the show--probably the toughest seat in town. I haven't been there recently enough to point you toward much else...

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 09/20/2009 10:34:33

pfduffy
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2009 : 16:19:28

Thursday is the "VIP" day at the Annapolis show. Does anyone know what that means besides a more expensive ticket? Has anyone been to VIP day? Are all of the vendors in the tents set up on the first day?

My brother and I always eat at Galway Bay at 63 Maryland ave. Because it is not dockside, it is possible to actually get a table.

Edited by - on

Even Chance
Captain

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USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2009 : 17:42:56

Frank, the dockside bars and restaurants are always jammed during the show. Vicki and I love Rockfish, just across the Spa Creek bridge in Eastport -- maybe the best restaurant in town. Also very pricey.

If you want waterside, head east on Rt. 50 across the bay ($ 2.50 toll but only eastbound) to Kent Narrows. Go to Harris Crab House. Authentic Bay crabhouse -- great food, water views.

Not sure about camping -- I'm sure it's on the web.

Edited by - on

Tom Gauntt
Navigator

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204 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2009 : 06:48:42

Frank,

A couple of ideas/suggestions:

I live just across the Bay on Kent Island and have spent a lot of time in and around Annapolis. If you've never been, Annapolis is a charming Colonial town with a lot of history and is worth some exploration in its own right; the State House, US Naval Academy, etc. Because of its history, the roads are really the original trails from the early 1600's and modern-day traffic has a hard time negotiating those old paths.

PARKING:
During the Boat Show or even just a pretty day, gridlock is not uncommon. A plan for parking can save you a lot of time and frustration. When Shug (my better half) and I go to the Boat Show, we by-pass all of downtown and park at Bert Jabin's Yacht Yard on Back Creek. We then call the Annapolis Water Taxi (410-263-0033) for a pickup. The Water Taxi is great way to get around, they are very prompt and courteous, and what better way to get to a boat show than by boat? The other parking arrangements we use include the City Parking Garages at the Hillman Garage (closer to all the hub-bub but fills up quickly) and Gotts Court Garage (closer to the State House) and oddly is enough just across the street from the "Ram's Head" which has great food, music, and incidentally, great beer!) Another option would be to park at the Navy-Marine Corp Memorial Stadium and take the shuttle bus downtown. I would avoid trying to park close-in unless you are staying at the Waterfront Marriott.

DINING:
There are a couple eateries that no visit to Annapolis is complete without. "Chick and Ruth's Delly" is great place for breakfast or lunch. You gotta love a busy restaurant that stops whatever it's doing to say the "Pledge of Allegiance" each morning at 0830. An Annapolis institution, not to be missed. On Main Street about a block south from the State House.

Perhaps a bit hackneyed and predictable, we've always enjoyed "Pusser's Landing" during the boat show. It's on the south side of Ego Alley connected to the Marriott right smack dab in the middle of the boat show. It can get VERY crowded, but we've always been lucky getting seated, even during the boat show. Casual dining, good food, GREAT view and location.

McGarvey's Pub is very good (next door to Middleton's Tavern) as are the Sly Fox Pub and Ram's Head Tavern further up Main Street. Another great place to eat is the "Charthouse" over in Eastport. Again, wonderful views, great and attentive staff, and the Shrimp Fresca is off-scale high! Although a little more up-scale, anything goes during the boat show. Take the water taxi. If you are in Eastport (Eastport is that part of Annapolis over the Spa Creek drawbridge), "Rockfish" is wonderful, as Brooke mentioned, and of course there's the "Boatyard Grill" which is the "sailor's bar" in Annapolis. My guess is the "Boatyard" will be jammed, but it will be a good kind of jammed.

Other eating suggestions: Pat Duffy recommended Galway Bay. I don't know if I would've come up with this place, but Pat makes a superb recommendation. Galway Bay is an authentic Irish resaurant, not a pub. Wonderful menu and superb staff. We eat here a few times a year, but absolutely on July 22, for my oldest son's birthday. A lot of folks recommend "Jimmy Cantler's Riverside Inn" on Forest Beach Road. I would like to give it my endorsement, but I've been underwhelmed with both the service and food every time I've been there. I keep hearing good things, so it might just be coincidence that I haven't had much luck there. The "Severn Inn" is very enjoyable and kind of fun to watch the local Annapolitans meet, greet, eat, and bleat. Upscale and $$$. Across the Bay, "Harris' Crab House" is the real deal. "Annie's" is also very good and the "Fisherman's Inn" is also quite popular. All three are located at the Kent Island Narrows on Route 50. Another restaurant we frequent is Kentmorr Marina Restaurant (mostly because it's down the street from the house). Kentmorr Restaurant is located at the Kentmorr Marina at the Kentmorr Airpark... see a theme here? Take route 50 across the Bay Bride to Route 8 and go south about 6 or 7 miles. Turn right into Kentmorr and follow the signs.

RANDOM THOUGHTS:
Your idea of going Thursday and Friday is a really good idea. Depending on weather, Saturday and Sunday can be very, very crowded.

Bacon's... Another Annapolis sailing institution is "Bacon's Sails". Although they tout themselves as a "sail merchant", they are so, so much more. If you need it and Bacon's doesn't have it, you really don't need it. New and used sails (like 10,000 used IN STOCK), new and used equipment and supplies, friendly and extremely knowledgeable staff. Instead of going to the boat show on Saturday, go to Bacon's. You will be amazed and surprised what you leave with!

Edited by - on

JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2009 : 07:12:10

A second vote for the nautical consignment shop, Bacon & Associates.

Bacon & Associates, Inc.
116 Legion Ave.
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-263-4880

shop hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5:30pm EST, Saturday 9am-2pm EST

In the back is a warehouse full of sails and thousands of other things that do not fit in the store.

It's a short drive from your hotel down West St. See the red star on the map:

Edited by - on

Even Chance
Captain

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USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2009 : 08:45:16

Tom's suggestions are great -- since we only get to Nap Town a couple times a year, having the recommendations of a resident are the best.

When we go to the Boat Show (not this year), because of my weekend schedule we go on Monday. No, you're not as likely to talk to Frank Butler, Gerry Douglas, Cuyler Morris, etc., but the crowds are WAY down both on the docks and in the restaurants.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2009 : 13:10:46

I own a Catalina 25. that automatically makes me a VIP.

these are all great suggestions. I'm sure I'll come back with a much higher cholesterol level from eating my body weight in crab and crab cakes.

I also hear that the maritime museum is great, I assume it's someplace near.

The water taxi idea is great. Some other friends from my sailing club are coming, and I'll print out all these suggestions.

How about other towns and sights on the Chesapeake? I do have a week to kill.

Thanks
FRank

Edited by - on

redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2009 : 14:34:19

Must do's and ....

Fleet Reserve Roast Beef Sammy - parking over by Boatyard is usually cheaper - Bacon is a drive from the waterfront - and for the most unusual experience of all, wait until the show is over and watch all of those boats disappear at full throttle in under an hour or so. The anchorage will be packed, so if your dink could make the trip - it would be well worth the effort.

VIP day is twice the money - not worth it in my opinion. The last day is when you'll get the bargains. Watch out for the painkillers, but know that it is worth it to get the double or tripple version.

sten

Edited by - redviking on 09/21/2009 14:37:58

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2009 : 18:14:59

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gloss
 I also hear that the maritime museum is great, I assume it's someplace near... How about other towns and sights on the Chesapeake? I do have a week to kill.<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">I assume you mean the museum at St. Michaels, which is across the bay. Take 50/301 to Easton, and then 33 out to St. Michaels--I'm thinking it'll be an hour from Annapolis. Then follow that road all the way out to Tilghman ("tillman") and have lunch on the deck overlooking the little canal between the bay and the Choptank. Then drive back past St. Michaels to about Royal Oak, where Bellevue Road takes you to the landing for the little ferry to Oxford--the cutest little sailing town on the bay, with masts sticking up above the roofs in all directions. From there you can head back to Easton on 333, or take 50 down to Cambridge, where you should be able to see and maybe ride on a skipjack (pronounced "skippack")--the big shallow draft sloop used for dredging arsters.

For the real feeling of the bay, the watermen, and the crab industry, go on down to Crisfield--maybe two hours further. Then, if you have most of a day, take the ferry out to Smith Island. But before you do that, pick up and read a copy of An Island Out of Time about Smith and the strange 19th Century culture and Elizabethan speech there. It's a new perspective on life.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 09/21/2009 18:31:53

Even Chance
Captain

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USA
393 Posts

Response Posted - 09/21/2009 : 19:40:10

Frank, if you've got the time to come down to Virginia, let me know. I'll be in NJ the week after the show, but I can recommend places for you to visit.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2009 : 08:29:37

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gloss
 I also hear that the maritime museum is great, I assume it's someplace near...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">[url="http://www.cbmm.org/"]The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum[/url] down in St. Michaels is over an hour away but has an historic lighthouse with keepers' life stories, a small-boat barn, oystermen demos and videos, a few skipjacks tied up at the dock, and other stuff. You can climb the lighthouse.

The [url="http://www.amaritime.org/"]Annapolis Maritime Museum [/url] is a smaller operation. Never been there, but my next door neighbor liked it.

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gloss
 ...How about other towns and sights on the Chesapeake? I do have a week to kill.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">There's one other thing you might want to do when in Annapolis...
...Go sailing on the Bay!

I may be available Saturday for an all-day, day sail, with enough encouragement! So send me a PM if you're interested. Of course, the friends from your sailing club are welcome, too, as long as they join our Association. Or are they already Catalina 25/250/Capri25 owners?

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