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Eastern Shore Abounds with Recreation Sites
Maryland's Eastern Shore offers an astounding number of outdoor recreation opportunities in a variety of settings. Regrettably, many people, in their haste to reach the beach, overlook the wealth of rivers and creeks, parks, wildlife sanctuaries, hiking and biking trails between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.
Cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to the Eastern Shore and you'll find nearly every outdoor activity that comes to mind, except snow skiing. I can live with that. How about you?
What follows is by no means exhaustive. Consider it a sampling of the natural attractions that await visitors to the Eastern Shore.
If you're a biker pedaling the non-motorized kind, thank geography for the abundance of flat, paved trails. (If you want elevation, go to western Maryland.) An especially scenic route runs south from historic Chestertown on the Chester River in Kent County. A longer route with rougher terrain connects Chestertown and quaint Betterton Beach where you can swim in the Sassafras River then refuel at the snack bar in summer. More experienced bikers rise to the challenge of the 100-mile trail through Worcester County in the southeastern part of the state. For those of us who don't fit in that category, there is a 9-mile loop connecting Assateague Island National Seashore to picturesque and historic Berlin where "Runaway Bride," with Julia Roberts, was filmed.
Maybe hiking is more your speed. (Please note: In my lexicon, hiking includes active walking.) If you are daunted by any hike longer than the one to the fridge at half-time, try the 4.4-mile loop in Dorchester County or the 4.6-mile route in Rock Hall, Kent County. Eastern Shore terrain is kind to all. Even couch spuds. At the beach, it's easy get in shape by walking the length of Ocean City's 6-mile boardwalk. (Some of us reward ourselves at the south end with french fries and a tall lemonade.)
At the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, 15 minutes from the Bay Bridge in Queen Anne's County, are 4 miles of wetland and woodland trails. One boardwalk terminates at an observation tower overlooking Kent Narrows. More than 200 species of birds have been identified at this facility operated by the Wildfowl Trust of North America. Rental canoes are available.
Bring your field glasses to the Adkins Arboretum near Ridgely in Queen Anne's County, where you can take a 3.5-mile guided nature walk through forested wetlands at one of the state's primo spots for bird-watching.
Speaking of our fine feathered friends, in Talbot County, birders flock to the 400-acre Pickering Creek Audubon Center in Easton, which offers canoe rentals and field trips. The Jean Ellen duPont Shehan Audubon Sanctuary has 10 miles of trails in Bozman, near St. Michael's. And don't forget Assateague Island, south of Ocean City--one of the 50 top birding sights in the country--to view shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors and migrating flocks. (And all those wild ponies!)
Water surrounds Kent County on three sides (the Bay, Chester and Sassafras rivers), inviting kayakers and other paddlers to the county's numerous put-in points. Paddle a canoe or kayak on a 5-mile water trail in Tuckahoe State Park. The Eastern Shore Adventure Co. in Easton, Talbot County, rents small craft and also offers instruction. Nearby, Tilghman Island Marina Rentals rents boats, bikes, fishing gear and leads kayak excursions. Further east on Route 50, try Corker's Creek in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. On the Fishing Bay Water Trail adjacent to Blackwater, travel through marshes and creeks evocative of the Everglades. Or head for the Pocomoke River in Worcester County where rentals are available in Snow Hill and Shad Landing, and in Pocomoke City's Cypress Park.
Jane's Island State Park, near Crisfield in Somerset County, is perhaps the Eastern Shore's most complete recreation destination. You can reserve a camping site or rough it as I do in a cabin, hike, fish, crab, rent a boat, canoe or kayak, and swim. More adventurous souls hop a boat in Crisfield for Cedar Island, a tidal wetland that invites boating, fishing and birdwatching. Be forewarned: In summer, the crabs and fish are rumored to be nearly as big as the mosquitoes.
RESOURCES:
Caroline County (Denton, Federalsburg)
410-479-0655; www.carolinemd.com
Dorchester County (Cambridge, Blackwater Wildlife Refuge)
1-800-522-TOUR or 410-228-1000; www.tourdorchester.org
Kent County (Chestertown, Rock Hall, Betterton)
410-778-0416; www.kentcounty.com
Queen Anne's County (Chester, Queen Anne, Centreville)
410-758-4098; www.qac.org
Somerset County (Crisfield, Deal Island, Smith Island, Jane's Island)
410-651-2968; www.visitsomerset.org
Talbot County (Easton, St. Michael's, Tilghman Island)
410-770-8000; www.tourtalbot.org
Wicomico County (Salisbury, Pemberton Park)
800-332-TOUR or 410-548-4900; ww.wicomicotourism.org
Worcester County (Ocean City, Berlin, Snow Hill)
410-632-3110; www.visitworcester.org
Department of Natural Resources
410-968-1565; www.dnr.state.md.us
Biking
www.bikemobile.com
Worcester County trail: 410-632-2617
Assateague-Berlin Trail: 410-641-1941
Hiking
www.trails.com, www.naturalbornhikers.com, www.americantrails.com
Boat rentals
DNR 410-210-8186
Eastern Shore Adventure Co., Easton 410-820-8881
T.I Marina Rentals, Tilghman Island 410-886-2500
Pocomoke River canoe rentals:
Snow Hill 410-632-3971
Shad Landing 410-632-2416
Cypress Park, Pocomoke City 410-957-0858
Adkins Arboretum
410-634-2847; www.adkinsarboretum.com
Cedar Island
410-543-8223
Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center
419-827-6694; www.wildfowltrust.org
Ocean City
1-800-OC-OCEAN; www.OCvisitor.com
Pickering Creek Audubon Center
410-822-4903; www.tourtalbot.org
Pocomoke River State Park/ Corker's Creek, Blackwater Canoe Trail
410-632-2566
Jean Ellen duPont Shehan Audubon Sanctuary
410-745-9283; www.tourtalbot.org
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