Maryland Crab & Oyster Trail: Greater Baltimore Area
Succulent, sweet, and centuries of tradition.
Maryland Crab & Oyster Trail: Greater Baltimore Area
Succulent, sweet, and centuries of tradition.
Succulent, sweet, and centuries of tradition.
The Greater Baltimore area serves up the energy and excitement of a big city but also offers rural escapes in the countryside north and west of the city near the towns of Bel Air and Westminster.
Seeking a special night out with spectacular views of the waterfront and city skyline? Head to the Rusty Scupper in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor for elegant harbor-side drinking and dining.
On the bay, Essex and Dundalk have a unique culture all their own where crab houses and restaurants combine rollicking night life and entertainment with delectable seafood. Check out the Hard Yacht Café, a dock bar in Dundalk, or Costas Inn. Â
For impressive and peaceful water views, head to Havre de Grace where history and culture intermingle with the town’s excellent food and spirits, just like the waters of the wide Susquehanna Flats that merge with the Chesapeake Bay.
You’ll find crab houses and seafood markets at towns a little further inland too, such as Conrad’s in Parkville, Richard’s Fish and Crabs in Belair and Rock Salt Grille in Westminster.
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In Baltimore there is no shortage of oyster bars. These venues offer oysters from a variety of locales, so you can sample the subtle flavor differences that arise from their diverse environments and salinities. To savor oysters and seafood delicacies in Fells Point, head to Thames Street Oyster House or Catonsville Gourmet in the suburbs.
Museums, Festivals, and Events
Oyster Festivals in October kick-off the oyster season, which lasts through the winter and early spring. At these festival, you can sample oysters raw, fried and grilled, then watch professional oyster shuckers compete against each other and against the clock. Don’t worry if you’re a novice and want to shuck oysters. Westminster offers a Downtown Oyster Stroll and a Learn to Shuck Like a Pro event at Maggie’s Restaurant to hone your skills.
Maryland serves up a diverse menu of seafood festivals, crab derbies and waterfront attractions. Explore maritime museums to discover what it was like to be a waterman in decades past. Try your hand at tonging or running a trotline, when you spend the day on a watermen’s heritage tour. See the unparalleled majestic beauty of a skipjack or log canoe race, both traditional watermen’s boats. Catch all the Chesapeake has to offer!
See more of the Maryland Crab & Oyster Trail.
Trip Tips
While in Baltimore, Don’t miss the National Aquarium, where exhibits about Maryland’s aquatic habitats include a salt marsh display with live crabs and fish.
Just outside Baltimore, the Bay and its rivers have a party boat culture where people take a floating vacation every weekend and visit each other’s boats. In the Edgemere area, boaters tie up at Hart Miller Island State Park, then enjoy its 3,000-foot sandy beach and campground.
Maryland Lore
Many oysters change sex over the course of their lifetime. Most oysters less than one year old are male, while older oysters are usually female.