Things to Do in Saint Michaels, Maryland

Saint Michaels: Things to Do

There is a lot to see and do along Maryland’s beautiful shorelines. See what Saint Michaels has to offer.

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is, by far, Saint Michaels’ most popular tourist attraction. In large parts an outdoor museum, the CBMM successfully portrays the history of the Chesapeake Bay and its maritime industry. The museum is also a great place to learn about the local fishing industry and the history behind it. A working boatyard enables you to closely observe traditional shipbuilding skills or, at certain times of the year, even become an apprentice for a day. Try your hand at building a wooden boat or observe what it took to go fishing for oysters and other seafood on the Chesapeake.

You will need at least two hours to leisurely stroll through the museum exhibits. It’s not your typical museum. Walk up to the lighthouse or try catching some crab or fish. If you only visit one place in St Michaels, this one is well worth the time.

There is also above-average museum store. It has many books on the Chesapeake Bay, its lighthouses, Maryland history and the Civil War. Find other traditional souvenirs too.

Hooper Strait Lighthouse

As part of the museum experience, you can see the Hooper Strait Lighthouse. It is called a screwpile lighthouse and was constructed in 1880. This lighthouse was saved from deconstruction and moved from its original location to St. Michaels in 1966 for preservation. The lighthouse design is one that is found frequently in Maryland.

River Cruises

Winnie Estelle – The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum offers a cruise on the Miles River aboard the Winnie Estelle. On this excursion, you can see unique boats, area architecture and have great views of the Museum village.

The Patriot – This company has been doing harbor cruises in Saint Michaels since 1969. It is a relaxing narrated cruise with air conditioning inside the boat and an open deck on the top. The cruise will take you up the Miles River and also out on the Chesapeake Bay.

Walk Along the Waterfront in Church Creek Park

Walking is the order of the day when visiting St. Michaels. There are many small streets to explore and also a small park along the waterfront. Church Creek Park has two cannons and a U.S. flag in memorial to St. Michaels’ part during the War of 1812. The current cannons are replicas of the originals. The originals are now located in Ft. McHenry in Baltimore.

Christ Church

There are many historical churches in southern Maryland and on the eastern shore. Christ Church in St. Michaels dates its origins back to 1672 when the Parish was founded. The current church building was completed in 1878. If you decide to take the brief tour, inside you will find several gifts from Queen Anne dating to around 1702. These include the baptismal and communion silver.

To add a unique experience to your trip, stop by the St. Michaels Winery. The wines are delicious, and the staff friendly and knowledgeable. Or, if you want to do a day outing, about 20 minutes away is Tilghman Island. There is a National Wildlife Refuge where you can see some rare species of birds.

Editor’s Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do in St. Michaels, Maryland.

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