The Chesapeake Bay was created
approximately 10,000-years ago from melting glaciers and it is home to 238
varieties of finfish, 173 species of shellfish and nearly 3,000 plant types. It
is the largest estuary in the country and the third largest in the world
flowing 200-miles with 11,684-miles of shoreline. The bay is a narrow waterway bisecting
Maryland that is part of the Atlantic Ocean. The towns and villages located on
the western shore are a fishing, hiking, boating paradise that has unique
offerings for history lovers and those seeking a peaceful getaway. Visitmaryland.org
At the time of European
contact there were as many as 14,000 Native Americans in the area with the Piscataway Indians living along the
western shore. Captain John Smith, in 1608, was the first to document and map
his exploration of the area. The bay was named Chesapeake from the native word “chesepiooc,”
meaning “Great Shellfish Bays.” As proof of the abundance of oysters,
archeologists have found a 30-acre midden heap 20-ft. deep filled with oyster
shells.
Maryland is one of the
original colonies. In 1632 the Catholic Calverts were given 12-million acres of
land that encompassed all of Maryland and a large part of PA. They established
a colony founded on religious tolerance and free trade. The 189-mile Religious
Freedom National Byway trail helps visitors explore significant sites connected
to the area’s religious history. Bit.ly/rfsbyway
Early colonists raised mainly
corn, tobacco and wheat and their diet consisted of large amounts of seafood.
Turtles quickly became the slave’s main diet to such an extent that a law was
enacted that limited their owners to serving them once a week. The area
continues to focus on agriculture and seafood. Choosecalvert.com
The Southern Maryland
Agricultural Development Commission has created a trail challenging visitors to
buy and eat at local farms. The trail incorporates wineries and farms that were
selected for their quality, commitment to excellence, educational
opportunities, views and overall uniqueness. Guides are available online.
somarylandsogood.com
In 1939 seven Amish families
moved to rural southern Maryland because they felt that Lancaster, PA was too
crowded and they were opposed to some of PA’s laws regarding education.
Maryland exempted the Amish and in in 1972, Wisconsin vs. Yoder, ruled that
mandating the Amish children attend beyond 8th grade violates their
religious freedom. More than 200 families now farm in the area. Clover Hill
Dairy is an Amish owned dairy that is renowned for the superior quality of
their products and the Amish Farmer’s Market sells fresh seasonal produce,
flowers and baked goods.
Spider Hall Farm, a 362-acre
working farm, offers interactive tours, hands-on activities, events and special
programs for children. It is a 7th generation farm and one of the
few that continues to grow tobacco. Food trucks enhance the experience with Maryland’s
best crabs. Spiderhallfarm.com
The
American Chestnut Land Trust is approximately 3,000-acres purchased to preserve
and connect people to the land. It is the last intact watershed in the region.
Within the ACLT visitors can take guided hiking and canoeing trips and discover
1,000 wildlife species. Tours of the site feature a 90-ft. long beaver dam, a
rain garden and a food forest consisting of foods that the early population
would have found growing naturally. Acltweb.org
Battle
Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary is one of the northernmost swamps in the nation.
A boardwalk leads through the swamp and provides great views of Bald Cypress
trees that tower up to 100-ft. An on-site museum displays information and
dioramas about the geography and plant and animal life of the swamp.
Briscoe
Gray Heritage Farm is a 196-acre tract of the Calvert Creeks Rural Legacy Area.
It features an example of a “rolling road”, one used as early as 1725 to roll
wooden barrels of tobacco to the wharves. The George Rice farmhouse and three
outbuildings are also located there. Rice, an African American purchased his
land in 1902 and resided there until 1938.
The
545-acre Flag Ponds Nature Center is a must. The area is 12-20 million years
old and boasts 3-miles of nature trails and 4 habitats within .05-miles. Once
fishermen caught fish in the ponds. Modern visitors can hunt for fossils along
the beach and they are guaranteed to locate some. Examples of fossils are on
display in the visitor’s center.
The
state’s smallest county is Calvert, home to the Calvert Cliffs. The cliffs are
30-miles long and 120-miles high and are over 10-million years old. They are imbedded with more than 600 species of
prehistoric fossils from whales to seabirds. There are 13-miles of marked
trails.
North
Beach and Chesapeake Beach are the twin bayside beaches. North Beach is located
on the northern tip of Calvert County and has a .50-mile boardwalk and 7-block
waterfront. The Bayside History Museum places emphasis on the history of North
Beach. The beach offers fishing, swimming, kayak rentals and boat slips.
The
best way to learn about Chesapeake Beach is to follow the Historic Heritage
Trail. It was developed as a resort area in the 1890s. The Chesapeake Beach
Railway operated from 1900 to 1935 and its story is related in the Railway
Museum housed inside a former station. The Railway Trail has wonderful views of
Fishing Creek and the surrounding terrain.
Mallows
Bay Park has the largest collection of historic shipwrecks, the Ghost Fleet, in
this hemisphere. The 185 documented wrecks have created a unique ecosystem that
is filled with wildlife and supports recreational fishing, boating, kayaking
and hiking. It is possible to sail in and around the fleet.
The
area is filled with Native and African American history. Blacks constructed
many of the vessels, they worked aboard some of these ships and some enslaved
entered the region through the shallow waters of the bay. An outstanding
educational program, Through Piscataway Eyes, is also available. It seeks to
relate the history and culture of the Piscataway on the soil of their state
homeland. This authentically native interpretation allows visitors to learn and
experience the native lifestyle and influence on the larger culture.
Southern
Maryland’s western shore is an outdoor paradise that begins only 30-miles south
of Washington, DC. charlescountymaryland.gov/tourism and visitstmarysmd.com
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