When you visit Annapolis, take some time to go shopping in the historic downtown area. Stroll along the centuries old streets and take in the sights of the waterfront as you meander from shop to shop. The unique establishments of downtown include everything from women’s clothing boutiques, galleries, jewelry stores, home décor, antiques and more.

Main Street, Maryland Avenue, West Street and Eastport are the main sections of downtown to find the best shopping. Visit Main Street for the largest selection of shops. Pick up an original piece of art at the Annapolis Marine Art Gallery, or buy pieces for your wardrobe at any of the clothing boutiques. Stop at Annapolis Cigar Co. for a gift for your boss, or pick up a comic book for your teenager at Capital Comics.

Wander over to Maryland Avenue for even more cigar shops, art galleries, home furnishings and more. Sign your little one up for an art class at Already Artists Annapolis, peruse antiques at Evergreen Antiques or shop for your furry friend at Paws Pet Boutique. Whatever retail therapy tickles your fancy, Annapolis provides many unique choices and a beautiful setting in which to shop.

The Colonial Annapolis Historic District is a section of the city that comprises much of the originally surveyed plans of 1695. The town of Annapolis was strategically established where the wide and winding Severn River meets with Chesapeake Bay. As one of the first planned cities in America, the founders of this town appreciated the proximity to the waterway and the protection of the south shore harbor. Roughly 120 17th and 18th century homes and commercial buildings still stand on the original site.

City planners opposed the traditional street grid for the layout, and chose instead to introduce the Baroque style of town planning to the colonies. Instead of streets running perpendicular to each other, the center of town included two circular streets surrounding the legislative seat and the local church. Avenues sprawled outwards from this center to the outskirts of town. The historic district of Annapolis includes Maryland State House, a mixture of large mansions and proper row houses, in addition to various commercial buildings. To locate the area of the city that is included in the district, visit the National Park Service website.

Annapolis is home to the oldest capitol building that in continuous legislative use, and has a unique history for many reasons. The building, started in 1772 and completed in 1779, served as our country’s first peacetime capitol after the American Revolution. Construction lasted so long due to the battles and length of the war. The State House is the only legislative structure to have ever served as the nation’s capitol. It is topped by the largest wooden dome in the United States made without the use of nails. In 1960, the State House was designated a historical landmark, and today houses the Maryland General Assembly as well as the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s offices.

Maryland State House is open every day to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding Christmas and New Year’s Day. There is self-guided tour information available at the Office of Interpretation on the first floor. Photo identification is required for entrance. There are other exhibits within the State Office Complex. The complex is home to the State House, the Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. Senate Building, and the Casper R. Taylor House of Delegates Building. All of these are within a block of the state house, and these attractions are open Monday through Friday only.

Maryland State House
100 State Circle
Annapolis, MD 21401
Telephone: 410-260-6445
Admission: Free
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

If you’re looking for a way to celebrate the season in the great outdoors, head on over to Quiet Waters Park for ice skating at their outdoor rink. If you get hungry while you are there, stop by the Pit Boys Café from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for a full menu serving sandwiches, wraps, pizza, soups, and drinks. From December 12 – December 16, the rink will be hosting the Holiday Toy and Food Drive. Bring any unopened toy or non-perishable food item to receive discounted admission of $4.00. Vehicles will still be required to pay an entrance fee into the park until 5:30 p.m. each day they’re open. Admission to the skating rink is $6.00 for adults, $5.00 for children ages 4 to 12, and children three and under are free. The skating rink accepts cash or checks only, skate rental is an additional $3.00, and group rates are available. The rink is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with the exception of Tuesdays when they are closed. Weekend hours are 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Have a great time!

If you’re visiting our beautiful city this summer, make sure to set aside some time to visit the Annapolis Maritime Museum. Full of interactive exhibits and programs, home to America’s last standing oyster packing plant and boasting unrivaled views of the Annapolis Harbor and Chesapeake Bay, the Annapolis Maritime Museum is a fun and educational excursion for the whole family. The standing mission of this unique museum is an honorable one, “to connect visitors, residents and especially students, to Annapolis’ unique maritime heritage and the natural wonder of the Chesapeake Bay.”

The Annapolis Maritime Museum is broken into two sections, the 7,000 square foot McNasby Oyster Company Building and the 6000 square foot Barge House. Guests to the museum enjoy exclusive access to Chesapeake Bay with the Cap’n Herbie Sadler Waterman’s Park, TKF Meditation Garden, picnic deck with piers for fishing, or crabbing and a beach for canoeing, kayaking and more.

Guests can also explore a variety of rotating exhibits yearly, while the signature exhibit, “Oysters on the Half Shell” stands year-round. This exhibit is like no other – touch a giant oyster’s heart, view fish, crabs and more in an 850 gallon aquarium or meet a 455 million year old horse shoe crab. Meet a real-life Maryland Diamond Back Terrapin and step aboard a real waterman’s workboat to see how oyster are harvested. Many of these interactive exhibits are narrated by actual employees of the McNasby Oyster Company.

Summer is the perfect season to enjoy a day of hands-on maritime education for kids of all ages at the Annapolis Maritime Museum. Check out the website for more information.