Chesapeake Bay Storytellers - Paddling Tours
For the active and adventurous or those seeking to connect with nature, a paddling tour is the answer. Kayaking on a flowing stream or river is a great way to deeply explore the natural world. Ducks, snails, flowering plants and more can be at eye level. While you marvel at their beauty, your guide is ready to help you understand their significance. Paddling tours can be heart-pumping adventures where you’ll be surprised by what’s around the next bend, or they can be tranquil explorations that reveal the Bay’s mysteries and leave you feeling grounded.
Bay Venture Outfitters
Find happiness while exploring calm waters at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay. Feel the enjoyment of being surrounded by abundant wildlife, and get some relaxation on sandy shores. Make a memory together on an excursion into pristine tributaries and freshwater marshes. Self-guided Sunset Paddles and Chesapeake Wildlife Experiences on water trails let you explore at your own pace. Guided Moonrise Paddle Experiences glide under the glow of the moon for a tranquil evening on the water. Choose a paddleboard or kayak for your experience. 877-523-9555
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Echo Hill Outdoor School
Echo Hill Outdoor School offers 4 or 5 day canoe trips as one of their summer youth programs. Canoe trips travel the middle section of the Chester River and explore marshes, sandy beaches, fields and woodlands. Making and breaking camp, helping to cook and prepare meals and canoeing are all major parts of every trip. There’s plenty of time for relaxing, fishing and swimming too. 410-348-5880
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Anita C. Leight Estuary Center
Nudge around the endless nooks and crannies of Otter Point Creek and the Upper Bush River, or join a guided kayak trip to search the marsh for edible plants and enjoy a prepared “foraged” treat. Some trips are for adults only. Others are for ages 8 and up with an adult. Check the center’s calendar for their schedule and details about programs and tours. The Estuary Center is contiguous with a 260-acre National Estuarine Research Reserve, providing access to one of the few remaining large freshwater tidal marshes in the upper Chesapeake Bay. 410-612-1688
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Sultana Education Foundation
Join the Sultana staff for a unique kayak excursion featuring pristine wetlands full of plants, animals and scenic views. A curated selection of ideal locations highlight a specific organism or historic landmark on each trip. Each season, the paddling tour schedule includes about a dozen unique locations on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay. All paddle trips are suitable for the novice kayaker. 410-788-5954.
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Annapolis Maritime Museum
Annapolis Maritime Museum offers Paddle & Explore: Kayaking Tours, a way to get out on the water with certified guides without having to bring your own gear. A variety of tour options include Concert Cruises to enjoy the museum’s Tides & Tunes summer concert series by kayak. Other programs include a Summer Solstice Paddle to enjoy golden hour, and family-friendly eco paddles through scenic Back Creek, where paddlers can spot wildlife, learn about local ecology and relax on the water. 410-295-0104
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Capital SUP: Quiet Waters Park
Capital SUP provides special events and tours aboard a kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Sunset paddles, eco-tours, full moon paddles, SUP yoga, fitness and performance paddles are some of the ways you can explore the beautiful waters of the South River and other locations near Annapolis. Kids summer camps, rentals and lessons are also available. 410-919-9402
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Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
SERC is the largest public access site on preserved land on the Chesapeake’s Western shore. It offers several miles of walking and hiking trails and public access to the water for kayak launching. Public programs, talks, workshops and occasional public paddle tours are provided by SERC staff. Participatory science programs offer a wonderful opportunity to learn about wetlands. School programs, field trips and group tours are available. 443-482-2200
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Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum staff guide leisurely paddles along the Tred Avon River. Some trips watch the historic log canoes or other natural and heritage attractions. 410-745-2916
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Megalodon Adventures
Megalodon Adventure Charters offers a variety of guided paddling trips to explore the Chesapeake and its rivers’ natural wonders. Paddle a few miles inland on Parker’s Creek and enjoy one of the most pristine and picturesque watersheds remaining on the Chesapeake’s Western Shore. Explore the secluded shallows of Slaughter Creek on the Eastern Shore while you photograph nesting Ospreys and stately Bald Eagles. Or, experience the beautiful beaches on uninhabited islands like James Island in the mouth of the Little Choptank River. A limited number of kayaks are available for rent. 410-474-0396
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Calvert Marine Museum
Calvert Marine Museum hosts a Canoe & Kayak Club where museum members have the opportunity to explore the creeks, marshes and rivers of Southern Maryland on guided trips. Over a dozen trips are scheduled each season, covering multiple sites on the lower Bay. 410-326-2042
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Maryland's Great Chesapeake Bay Loop Getaway Guide
Maryland's Great Chesapeake Bay Loop Getaway Guide
Find a treasure trove of ways to explore the Bay, and meet our skilled Chesapeake Bay Storytellers.
