The Remote Town in Maryland We Simply Can’t Get Enough Of

The East Coast is rich in summer-perfect destinations on the water—Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod, and The Hamptons are the first of many that spring to my mind. But the lesser-known, 2.1-square-mile Solomons Island, Maryland, is a more remote vacation spot on the Chesapeake Bay where you can enjoy a weekend full of quintessential seasonal pastimes like boating, boardwalk strolling, and seafood eating that make summer on the right coast so iconic.

On your approach to Solomons Island by car, you’ll first hit Cove Point Lighthouse and Keeper’s House, less than 10 miles to the northeast in Lusby, Maryland. It’s a quaint lighthouse, but the real attraction is the Keeper’s House, as it’s a really fabulous rental; listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this two-and-a-half-story duplex originally from 1828 has been renovated from top to bottom, and is high on my personal bucket list of interesting places to stay. You can rent one of two sides, each with three bedrooms and 2.5 baths, a washer and dryer, a big kitchen, and a screened-in porch, or you can rent the whole house for an unforgettable weekend with friends or a family reunion.

Continue from Cove Point towards Solomons Island for a little more than 10 minutes, and you’ll find the Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, which is a roadside attraction definitely worth a stop. In 1991, Francis and Ann M. Koenig donated the property to Calvert County with the intention that it be developed into a sculpture garden; walking paths were established, and six permanent sculptures acquired. It became a member of the Smithsonian Institution's Affiliations Program in 2003, which allowed the Garden to borrow more than 25 additional pieces from the Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden. In 2008, the Arts Building and the Studio School opened, and the Center markedly expanded its programs and activities.

Just a five-minute drive south sits the Calvert Maritime Museum: a very kid-friendly attraction that curious adults will enjoy, too. Just a few of the sights and exhibits include an estuarine biology gallery, a woodcarving and model boat showroom, and a marsh walk. My favorite part is the Lore Oyster House, sixth-tenths of a mile south of the main building on Solomons Island Road, which houses exhibits that explore all aspects of oyster processing, the major industry on the island in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, in a restored 1934 seafood packing house that’s a designated National Historic Landmark.

You can rent a pontoon boat, fishing boat, or sailboat if you have a boating license, as there are a few marinas on the small island, or you can join a charter or day cruise if you don’t—either way, I highly recommend finding a way to get out on the Chesapeake Bay for the beautiful views and refreshing breeze. After an afternoon on the water, a crab cake or lobster dinner at The Lighthouse Restaurant and Dockbar or Island Hideaway is a must before strolling the boardwalk to take in the colorful sunset.

Looking for a more remote getaway on the East Coast? Friends with a sailing or fishing enthusiast who has yet to explore Chesapeake Bay? Share this article with them to start planning your next vacation.