VISITORS TO THE EASTERN SHORE OF THE CHESAPEAKE B AY WILL FIND A
unique destination in Talbot County, Maryland. Since people have been
living, working, and visiting here for about 340 years, we probably
can’t claim this is a “recent find.” What we can claim with great
certainty is that Talbot County offers the “cure for the common vacation.”
We
have heard it said by some that Talbot County is the new Hamptons. ENTREE
disagrees with that notion. We don’t think that it is the “new” anything, nor does
it need to be. Besides, the Hamptons are so last century. The Chesapeake, the
eastern shore and Talbot County have their own distinct identities which, while
similar to the Hamptons in some ways, are vastly different in most others. For
example, we don’t feel deprived at all by missing out on crowded, overpriced
restaurants, negotiating hours of congested traffic or locals who would just as
soon see you gone.
Our first trip to Talbot County was in winter and it was
exceptional. We were hooked from day one. There were fewer outdoor activities
but there was a little snow on the boats and the harbors and the beauty of the
countryside was magical. Recently, we returned in the summer and found a
completely different experience. This is without doubt a destination for all
seasons.
Getting to Talbot County is relatively simple. It is close to several major
east coast cities. Washington, D.C., for example, is only a one and a half hour
drive. The area is steeped in the history of the United States. Reading that
history, it seems that most of what we went through as a nation, from the
pilgrims to several wars, to slavery, abolition and building the country, happened
in and around Talbot County. A great read, especially if you plan a trip to the
area, is James Michener’s novel, CHESAPEAKE.
Today, it is all about recreation,
creature comforts and spectacular places to live. Not surprisingly many activities
are on the water but a good many are on land-biking, hunting, golf. You can
forget about not having enough to do. It seemed to us that every week there was
another festival or production, whether music, art or theater. That, of course, is
what we referred to as the cure for the common vacation.
There are four principal
towns in Talbot County: Easton, St. Michaels, Oxford, and Wightman. They are
close together and each is a blend of the old and the new but each are unique in their own way. Three-hundred-year-old Easton centers the county. Easton is the
seat of county government and is the more urbanized of the four cities. It boasts
the best shopping, nightlife, museums and cultural centers.
Foodies rejoice about
the incredible number of great restaurants. There are twelve restaurants in Talbot
County in the 2011 edition of the Zagat Guide and that includes Washington D.C. and Baltimore. The Bartlett Pear Inn, described as an upscale American
bistro, was one of our favorites. This treasure would hold its own in any of the
serious food cities of the country. It has received accolades in Zagat and other
publications and is richly deserving of them all. Lunching at The Tidewater Inn is a must. Walk down the street to check out what is on the bill at the Avalon
Theater.
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The city of Oxford just south of Easton on the Tred Avon River tends
to be more historical. It dates back to 1683 and is still one of the best places to
live. Naturally, it has a great restaurant: the Robert Morris Inn.
Robert Morris,
for those of us who slept through American history, was one of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence. The new owners are renowned Chef Mark Salter
and his partner Ian Fleming (no, not that one), both of whom recently distin
guished themselves at The Inn at Perry Cabin. The Tred Avon Dining Room is in
the original 1710 public rooms and offers Chef Mark’s signature dishes plus a
wonderful wine list.
St. Michaels may be the best known of the four. It is famous
as a historic maritime center as well as a commercial hub with dozens of cute
little shops, bistros and galleries. The Maritime Museum, both a museum and a
classic boat repair yard, is one of the highlights of the entire area.
The history of
the Chesapeake is, to a large degree, the history of ships and sailing. That history
lives at the Maritime Museum. Another highlight of St. Michaels, of course, is the
spectacular Inn at Perry Cabin for food, lodging and waterfront beauty. If the
weather is warm, we would sit outside for lunch at St. Michaels Crab and Steak
House. Not only is the seafood tops but you can quiz owner Eric Rosen on
anything to do with sports teams in Philadelphia.
Tilghman Island is a water
lover’s paradise. It is home to the legendary fleet of lightning fast working
sailboats called the “skipjacks.” It is also where most of the “watermen” lived.All
the towns of Talbot County are unique but Tilghman is the most original. The
Tilghman Island Inn is a fine choice for a great meal and lodging right on the
water.
Accommodations in Talbot County are many and varied, including inns,
bed & breakfasts, guesthouses, full service resorts, hotels, cottages, and rental
homes.
If you are not ready to build or buy then you want to contact Angela
Spence at Tidewater Vacations to see what living the good life on the Chesapeake
is really like. Angela has taken vacation rental houses to another level. Her
properties, on the eastern shore, are some of the finest estate homes in Talbot
County and run from two to six bedrooms. Every imaginable amenity is usually
included—even a boat if you would like one brought to your private dock. This
is an experience to share with your family and/or friends that will be unforget-
table. Check out her website at www.tidewatervacations.com or call (410)
745-5255.
As we mentioned earlier, there is no shortage of activities in Talbot. It
is a good bet that you will run out of time before you run out of things to do.
One adventure not to miss is a sail with Captain Jeff Mathias aboard the Lady
Patty, which is docked on Tilghman Island. Shopping in the area deserves much
more coverage, but at least check out The Troika Gallery and Gatsby’s in Easton.
Talbot County has an office of tourism which is always a great help.
www.tourtalbot.org and (410) 770-8000.
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