Easton
This art lovers' retreat is rated among the Top Ten Best Small Towns and Top 100 Small Arts Communities in America
Cultural Capital of the Eastern Shore
Easton has been the sophisticated center of the Eastern Shore since it’s founding in 1790. Today it’s known for its excellent restaurants, outstanding lodging, an assortment of upscale boutiques plus its studios and galleries abuzz in a vibrant arts scene.
If you love historic stays, you’ll love Easton's Tidewater Inn which is steeped in history and charm with roots tracing back to 1712. There are many other vintage homes in Easton that have been converted into charming Inns and B&Bs.
African American history threads all corners of Easton. Frederick Douglass, a great American hero, abolitionist and native son, is commemorated in a bronze statue in front of the county’s majestic brick courthouse. You will find many Easton locations on the Frederick Douglass Driving Tour that starts on the Eastern Shore and takes you through Annapolis, Baltimore and near our nation’s capital.
The Avalon Theatre, an Art Deco gem, is the go-to place to catch live music and theater. There are also free outdoor performances in downtown Easton and musical events like the Chamber Music Festival throughout the summer.
Plein Air Easton is at the center of the modern plein air movement; it is the largest and most prestigious juried plein air painting competition in the United States. Many of the world's most accomplished artists have Easton at the top of their wish list of competitions.
Easton hosts the Waterfowl Festival, the granddaddy of all waterfowl festivals, attracting artists, collectors, and hunters from around the world for exhibits, workshops, music, and Chesapeake Bay cuisine. Come for an autumn weekend trip to Easton to find a new decoy, view the latest wildlife art, see retrievers in action, listen to the maestros of duck and goose calling. The annual Waterfowl Festival is a wonderful celebration of Maryland's Eastern Shore sporting tradition and conservation.
See the exhibitions at the Academy Art Museum in Easton whose permanent collection includes more than 1400 works.
Easton is home to many galleries and art studios and one of the Mid-Atlantic’s premier art centers, the Academy Art Museum, which has a stellar permanent collection (including artists such as Pierre Bonnard, Robert Rauschenberg, and Martin Puryear). The Museum welcomes visitors to experience exhibitions, concerts, lectures, programs, and classes for all.
Open spaces, historic sites, and stunning waterfront vistas make Easton a magnet for cyclists. Several bike routes have been designed to showcase the best of Talbot County, including the popular 38.2-mile Chesapeake Views loop, which leads to unobstructed views of the water. Pick up a brochure at any of the half-dozen bike rental centers in Talbot county or download a bike trail map from Tour Talbot.