The Heart of the Matter
A Sampling of Maryland's Romantic Getaways
Lots of visitors come to Maryland seeking a quiet, romantic getaway. While there are countless options for people planning such trips, here are some suggestions to get you started. Cities are listed alphabetically, and you can find more details about specific sites and properties as you explore this website.
ANNAPOLIS
The charm, beauty and accessibility of Maryland’s capital provide the perfect chemistry for a weekend getaway -- and the accommodations and fine-dining opportunities in Annapolis’ historic district make couples swoon.
Whether you start out browsing among the shops on State Circle, Maryland Avenue and Main Street, or exploring the city’s many historic homes, inevitably you’ll end up on the waterfront. There’s always a gentle breeze there, inviting passersby to board a tour boat so they can get a different perspective of the city. Those who prefer a little adventure can charter a yacht and sail the bay, leaving the work to an able crew or even opting to play first mate themselves.
Don’t play too hard, however, because you want to have plenty of energy for the evening’s activities. While some visitors prefer to participate in a waterfront pub-crawl, sampling both brews and blues (and nearly every other kind of live music), others opt for a romantic meal at such award-winning restaurants as Carrol’s Creek Café ( www.carrolscreek.com ) or The Treaty of Paris ( www.annapolisinns.com .) Annapolis may be the center of Maryland’s legislative activity, but some would argue that it harbors just as many culinary movers and shakers as it does lawmakers. Dining here is nothing short of extraordinary.
Accommodations are equally impressive, ranging from charming bed and breakfast inns like Chez Amis (www.chezamis.com) and 55 East ( www.55east.com ) to such award-winning hotels as the Loews Annapolis Hotel ( www.loewshotels.com .) And the elegant three-bedroom Annapolis Inn ( www.annapolisinn.com ) has hosted countless engagements and weddings since it opened.
BALTIMORE
There are plenty of reasons why Baltimore is Maryland’s top tourism
destination -- not the least of which is the fact that the city offers something to cater to nearly everyone’s interests. And when it comes to romantic getaways, this is one city that’s sure to sweep visitors off their feet.
Whether your sweetheart prefers strolling through an art gallery, attending a symphony or watching a ball game, you’ll find the key to his or her heart in Baltimore.
If, on the other hand, the way to the heart is truly through the stomach, Baltimore’s restaurants won’t leave anyone feeling heartbroken -- just a little stuffed! With such fine establishments as Little Italy’s Da Mimmo ( www.damimmo.com ) and Aldo’s ( www.aldositaly.com ) and such top-rated hotel dining rooms as Hampton’s at the Harbor Court Hotel and Pisces at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, gourmets won’t be love-starved on this trip.
You’ll want to stick around for a few days to really soak up the surroundings, so you’ll need a place to stay. Among the settings sure to set your pulse pounding are the Harbor Court Hotel, ( www.harborcourt.com ) Hyatt Regency Baltimore , (www.baltimore.hyatt.com) Renaissance Harborplace Hotel, ( www.renaissancehotels.com ) the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront ( www.baltimoremarriottwaterfront.com ) and an array of bed and breakfast inns.
FREDERICK COUNTY
Visitors with a love for history will embrace this destination. The city of Frederick, which is more than 250 years old, has established a successful union between old and new. It’s a bedroom community of nearby Washington, D.C., making it a haven for commuters who prefer a quiet pace to the bustle of the city. But Frederick is cosmopolitan in its own way, offering a combination of fine arts, fine accommodations and fine dining.
The city offers walking tours that feature such topics as the Civil War and Frederick’s haunted sites, during which costumed guides tell the stories of the many buildings within the 50-block historic district -- and the famous people who worked and resided there.
If the prospect of shopping makes your heart skip a beat, Frederick is an ideal locale. There are plenty of boutiques in the city itself, and Maryland’s antiques capital, New Market, ( www.townofnewmarket.org ) is a short drive away. So, too, are a number of romantic country inns and B&B’s.
Frederick County connects Maryland’s urban centers to its mountain region, so a drive through the countryside is absolutely breathtaking. Highways are clearly marked, which makes getting lost difficult and exploring easy. Possible stops include Lilypons Water Gardens, (www.lilypons.com) which boasts 275 acres of water lilies and other aquatic plants, and any of the county’s famed covered bridges ( www.visitfrederick.org .)
GARRETT COUNTY/DEEP CREEK LAKE
Maryland’s mountain region is one of the state’s most scenic areas, and it offers a number of diversions for those with a passion for history or the great outdoors. Hike through a state park until you reach a picturesque waterfall, spend an afternoon idly paddling in a canoe on Deep Creek Lake, or explore charming villages like Grantsville and Oakland. ( www.garrettchamber.com )
No matter what your preference is when it comes to accommodations, this region has something to suit your needs. There are charming bed and breakfasts, rustic cabins and mountain inns. The Savage River Lodge ( www.savageriverlodge.com ) offers private cabins and a top-notch restaurant within a cozy lodge.
Other dining options range from romantic picnic lunches to a four-course dinner at the Deer Park Inn, ( www.deerparkinn.com ) just steps away from where President Grover Cleveland brought his new bride on their honeymoon.
KENT COUNTY
Maryland’s smallest county boasts one of the state’s biggest populations of country inns and bed and breakfasts. Add to that the charm of historic towns whose streets are lined with fine restaurants and quaint boutiques, and you have the makings of a truly romantic destination. The county bills itself as the place “where land and water meet,” which gives an indication of the kinds of activities that can fill your days. Stroll along the waterfront, charter a boat for a private sail, bike along the scenic roads, sit on a dock and fish, or simply watch the clouds roll by.
Possible resting points include Georgetown, one of the state’s most attractive yachting centers and home to the charming Kitty Knight House inn and restaurant; ( www.kittyknighthouse.com ) Rock Hall , ( www.rockhallmd.com ) a waterman’s community with a delightful array of shops, restaurants – and a quaint ice cream parlor; and Chestertown, ( www.chestertown.com ) which features brick sidewalks and the architectural beauty of restored 18th-century homes -- many of which now operate as B&B’s.
OCEAN CITY AND ENVIRONS
Many travelers know Berlin ( www.berlinmdcc.org ) as the last exit before they reach the resort town of Ocean City. But it’s so much more than that. This historic community has plenty of charm of its own, offering a peaceful alternative to the bustling beach scene. The fact that it’s just a short drive from fast-paced Ocean City makes it an appealing option for couples who have differing views of what’s relaxing -- or romantic.
The town recently became a “movie star,” when it was selected as the setting for The Runaway Bride, a 1999 movie starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. The Atlantic Hotel and Restaurant, (www.atlantichotel.com) which served as Gere’s headquarters in the movie, offers fabulous food and accommodations.
Another fine place to stay is Merry Sherwood, a 17th-century plantation home built by a suitor to woo the daughter of a wealthy merchant. The home has since changed hands many times, and along the way it was named to the National Register of Historic Places. Now it operates as a country inn and as a grand setting for weddings and receptions.
Couples who prefer a quiet getaway can spend time exploring Berlin’s commercial district, ducking into specialty boutiques or grabbing a snack at the corner soda fountain. Those who’d rather “beach it” by day can cross the bridge to Ocean City and soak up the sun.
Ocean City has long been the honeymoon destination of couples who like the idea of a tropical getaway but who don’t want to spend too much time or money. For such people, the Coconut Malorie ( www.coconutmalorie.com ) hotel is a mecca. It features luxury suites furnished in a Caribbean style and offering kitchenettes, individual Jacuzzis and romantic balconies. Right nearby is Fager’s Island ( www.fagers.com ) restaurant, where each night sunset is celebrated with a stirring musical salute and meals are anything but simple.
For more direct access to the beach and Boardwalk, Inn on the Ocean ( www.innontheocean.com ) is a bed and breakfast inn that offers luxury accommodations just paces away from the hustle and bustle of the Inlet.
SOLOMONS ISLAND
It sounds jaded, but it’s true: The southern part of the state has managed to remain a well-kept secret -- and that’s just what makes it so special. It’s easily accessible by land and by water, but it’s far enough off the beaten path to ensure that it will never become the stereotypical waterside destination. Solomons Island is a particularly attractive resort, small enough to offer some solitude but big enough to support fine restaurants, quaint boutiques and a thriving marina.
The waterfront is peppered with elegant B&B’s that put lovebirds close enough to walk, ride or sail to the action but far enough away to enjoy each other’s company undisturbed. Among those inns are Back Creek Inn (www.bbonline.com/md/backcreek) and Solomons Victorian Inn. ( www.solomonsvictorianinn.com )
ST. MICHAELS
Tucked away on Maryland’s Eastern shore, St. Michaels is a waterside village that offers a colorful mix of history, shopping, recreation and nearly everything else that attracts tourists. The beauty of it all is that even though St. Michaels is accessible to major Maryland routes, it’s just far enough off the beaten track to avoid becoming a “tourist trap.”
Instead, it retains the charm it’s had since it first made big news during the War of 1812. That’s when its shipyards churned out dozens of ships designed to outwit the British fleet, making the town a prime candidate for attack. Residents were smart enough to hang lanterns from trees and the masts of ships, causing the British to overshoot their targets. To this day, St. Michaels is known as “The Town That Fooled the British.”
Purser Samuel Hambleton, a veteran of the War of 1812, eventually retired to St. Michaels and began building a spacious home. That house is now the Inn at Perry Cabin, ( www.perrycabin.com ) an Orient Express property that has married the luxuries of an English country house with American hospitality. Executive Chef Mark Salter has made dining at the inn one of the most memorable experiences of a trip to St. Michaels.
Lovebirds should also consider staying at the St. Michaels Harbour Inn & Marina, (www.harbourinn.com) an upscale property that puts them in the heart of this romantic town. Today the waterside village continues to be a bustling port for pleasure boats, and its streets are lined with dozens of quaint shops and top-notch restaurants -- including Michael Rork’s Town Dock Restaurant, (www.town-dock.com) and the St. Michaels Crab House. ( www.stmichaelscrabhouse.com )
WASHINGTON , DC SUBURBS
The Maryland suburbs just outside of Washington, DC, offer a fabulous addition – or alternative – to a day in the nation’s capital. And the fact that the city’s famed Metro system connects the two areas makes it that much easier to get around.
For a slower, more relaxing method of travel, stroll or bike along the C&O Canal towpath (www.nps.gov/choh) or take a canal boat ride along a stretch of this historic waterway. The towpath leads from Maryland right into the Washington neighborhood of Georgetown an ideal locale for an afternoon of shopping or dining.
But those who have a love affair with food should save room for Bethesda, Maryland. This neighborhood is home to an incredibly diverse collection of restaurants and pubs that cater to all tastes. Everything from Italian to Mongolian is represented here.
For some the way to the heart is through the stomach. For others, flowers do the trick. If that’s the case, don’t miss Brookside Gardens. ( www.brooksidegardens.org ) This is a popular site for weddings, but visitors don’t have to be blushing brides to enjoy the beautiful sights -- and smells -- of this botanical wonderland.
