Cambridge Creek
Jill Jasuta

Cambridge

Where Chesapeake waters meet Eastern Shore charm

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Cambridge Creek
Jill Jasuta

Water moves us .....

Founded in 1684 on the beautiful banks of the Choptank River, Cambridge is one of the oldest colonial cities in the nation. Friendly, boatable and walkable, this iconic Chesapeake community marries maritime heritage and Eastern Shore traditions with all of the luxury of a world class travel destination.

1
Follow the Footsteps of Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman
Library of Congress

Experience the landscapes that formed and forged Harriet Tubman, an American hero whose life was even greater than her legend. From the Bucktown Store where Tubman, still just a child, made her first public act of defiance, to the awe inspiring new Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor Center, follow the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway and witness her life and legacy as a bold conductor on the Underground Railroad, a spy who worked behind enemy lines during the Civil War, and as a ground breaking suffragette.

2
Do it All at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay
With a spa, golf club and proximity to outdoor activities, this resort has something for everyone.

Let the day slip away with a River Stone Massage at the ultra-luxurious Sago Spa & Salon. Explore the Regency’s more than 400 waterfront acres including the full service marina, a protected heron rookery, and beautiful bike trails. And of course, hit the links at the River Marsh Golf Club, one of Conde Nast Traveler’s Top 10 Northen US Golf Resorts. 

3
Explore The Blackwater, “Everglades of the North”
Birds at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

The massive Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is a place of unparalleled beauty. Centerpiece of the Great Atlantic Flyway and home to more than 250 species of birds, the blue skies are thick with bald eagles beyond counting. Paddle meandering water trails through pristine wetlands. Hike and bike endless trails through unspoiled woods, expansive croplands, and idyllic Chesapeake tidal marshes. Covering more than 40 square miles, you could spend a lifetime exploring the Blackwater, and barely scratch its unforgettable surface.

4
Test Your Mettle in Two IRONMAN Events
Ironman contestants
Ironman.com

Dorchester County rolls out the red carpet for endurance athletes (and spectators) participating in the 70.3-mile IRONMAN Eagleman and the 140.6-mile IRONMAN Maryland.

5
Get the Lay of the Land and the Water at The Visitor Center at Sailwinds Park
Visitor Center at Sailwinds Park in Cambridge
Jill Jasuta

With its huge sail soaring more than 100 feet in the air and welcoming staff of destination experts, The Visitor Center at Sailwinds Park is the perfect place to take in the stunning river view and plan your Eastern Shore escape. The center is home to great exhibits on the area’s amazing history and, parents take note, the center’s huge waterfront, nautical themed playground is the perfect stop for cooped-up kids.

6
Taste Your Way through Cambridge
Crabs at the Maryland Seafood Festival

Cambridge is fast getting a foodie reputation as the place on the bay where tradition meets tomorrow. Surrounded by the bounty of the bay and some of the richest farm lands on the continent, local chefs are spoiled for choice when it comes to world-class ingredients. RAR Brewing Maryland’s home to the anglo “real ale” take on the micro-brew scene.

7
Feel the Need for Speed with Boat Races on the Bay
Racing power boats
VisitDorchester.com

The longest running powerboat race in America, the Cambridge Classic is in May, is celebrating  its 109th year. Thrill as fire breathing boats hit more than 170 mph as they thunder roar across the Choptank River. And mark your calendar for Thunder on the Choptank in July, the premiere annual event of the Kent Narrow Racing Association pits steely eyed daredevils head to head in some of the hottest racing anywhere.

8
See Dorchester Center for the Arts
brick building with glass storefront
The Dorchester Center for the Arts

Dorchester County Center for the Arts is home for artists working in all media. Its purpose is to enrich Maryland’s Eastern Shore through engaging programming in the visual, literary, musical and performing arts.

9
Experience Maritime History
brick building
Richardson Maritime Museum

More more than three centuries, the people of Cambridge’s have been building boats, sailing the bay, and working the water. Celebrate these quintessential Eastern Shore traditions at the Richardson Maritime Museum and the Ruark Boatworks, and set sail on the Nathan of Dorchester, one of Maryland’s beautiful and historic skipjacks, the last sailing fishing fleet in North America.

10
Step Back in Time at Spocott Windmill
Spocott Windmill in Cambridge
SpocottWindmill.org

Home of one of the last remaining post windmills in the world, a colonial tenant farm, a one-room schoolhouse, and blacksmith shop. Open dusk to dawn daily for self-guided tours with guides on hand to answer questions and provide access to the country store and museum on the property from 1-4pm on Sundays.

11
Travel the Chesapeake Country Mural Trail
Bird Mural
VisitDorchester.org

The expansive mosaic mural on Race Street that depicts the history of Cambridge’s working people through the centuries is just one of the murals that are part of the growing Chesapeake Country Mural Trail in Dorchester County.  The murals highlight bits of Dorchester’s culture and history along the Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway. 

12
Explore the Native-American Chicone Village at Handsell
Handsell House  and Chicone Village
Dorchester Chamber Of Commerce

Near Cambridge, the historic plantation house known as Handsell is built on the site of the Chicone Native American village. To honor the Eastern Woodland Native People of Delmarva, an authentic replica of a single family homestead was built using the materials and techniques available to people circa pre-1600. A waddle-fenced garden is planted each summer with plants authentic to a garden of the native people. The Handsell site can be viewed at any time during daylight hours, where six wayside exhibits tell the story of the house and the African-American and native people who once lived here.