North East

One of the gems of North East is Elk Neck State Park, a 12-mile drive south of town through dense forests and green fields. Grab a parking space at the trailhead, and hike the 1.6 miles round trip, a pleasant way to enjoy fall color as you walk under the forest canopy. The park is also home to the Turkey Point Lighthouse.

The lighthouse (circa 1833) sits atop a 100-foot bluff and offers stunning views of the crown of the Chesapeake Bay. Still an active navigation beacon, the lighthouse is a stop on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, and guided Freedom Seekers navigating the Elk River or the Bay on their way North.

You can’t beat the small-town Americana charm of this quaint thoroughfare. It’s lined with interesting architecture, bakeries, cafes, sweet shops, antiques emporiums and gift boutiques.  History buffs will want to visit the historic cemetery at St. Mary Anne’s Episcopal Church on Main Street. It’s one of the state’s oldest with markers dating back to the 1600s.

This museum, located on Walnut Street in the community park, houses a large collection of water-related items portraying the heritage of the Upper Bay, and houses displays of hunting, boating and fishing artifacts. Visitors can follow the progress of Bay boating and fishing with many displays of model boats, commercial fishing nets and one of the country’s best collections of marine engines.

Gilpin's Falls Covered Bridge was built in 1860 by Joseph Johnson at a cost of $2,000, and today is fully restored. It is one of only two remaining covered bridges in Cecil County. Located one mile north of Bay View, the bridge is a 119-foot, single-span bridge and the longest covered bridge still standing in the state.