Chesapeake Bay Harbor Recommendations
 

We expect to be in Chesapeake Bay for 2 or 3 weeks starting mid-October
or thereabouts. Other than obvious choices like Annapolis and Solomons
Island, I'm looking for good places to hang out during the week.
Priorities are something like this:

1. Good WiFi service.

2. Good storm protection.

3. Room to anchor, and/or moorings with launch service.

4. Availability of groceries, laundromats, restaurants, etc.

On weekends priorities change with WiFi becoming less important, and
more oriented towards interesting places to be. All suggestions
gratefully appreciated...

wrote in message
oups.com...
We expect to be in Chesapeake Bay for 2 or 3 weeks starting mid-October
or thereabouts. Other than obvious choices like Annapolis and Solomons
Island, I'm looking for good places to hang out during the week.
Priorities are something like this:

1. Good WiFi service.

2. Good storm protection.

3. Room to anchor, and/or moorings with launch service.

4. Availability of groceries, laundromats, restaurants, etc.

On weekends priorities change with WiFi becoming less important, and
more oriented towards interesting places to be. All suggestions
gratefully appreciated...

Annapolis!

We really enjoyed Oxford and Chestertown. Also, the town of Havre de
Grace was small town pleasant versus boating chic. You must visit
Tangier Island for a lost-in-time experience.

Will

Oxford on the Choptank. Chestertown is OK but the Chester River is
great. Havre de Grace for small town pleasant versus boating chic.
Tangier Island for a lost-in-time experience. Also, do not miss
Baltimore while you are in the area. Maybe too much for the time
allotted. Oh well, make it 4 weeks and attend the Annapolis Sailboat
Show too.

Will

Thank you everyone for the advice so far. Harry, I'll drop you a note
when we get further along with our plan. Herrington Harbour marina is
supposed to have a good WiFi service (BeaconWiFi.com). Grandma
Rosalie, as usual your advice and recommendations sound very thorough
and thoughtful. The secret to getting good WiFi service at anchor or
on a mooring is altitude. My adapter is 20 feet off the water and
piped into the main cabin vis a USB hub on the flybridge. Keeping the
hub and cable connections dry is a major engineering challenge since
none of the first three liked rainy days very well. The adapter itself
is double wrabbed in zip lock bags and seems to do OK.

I was mildly surprised to see Baltimore on the list. Is there really a
good cruising destination there, and if so, whereabouts? I've always
thought of Baltimore as a busy commercial harbor not particularly
friendly to pleasure boats but I'm open to being re-educated.

wrote in message
oups.com...
Thank you everyone for the advice so far. Harry, I'll drop you a note
when we get further along with our plan. Herrington Harbour marina is
supposed to have a good WiFi service (BeaconWiFi.com). Grandma
Rosalie, as usual your advice and recommendations sound very thorough
and thoughtful. The secret to getting good WiFi service at anchor or
on a mooring is altitude. My adapter is 20 feet off the water and
piped into the main cabin vis a USB hub on the flybridge. Keeping the
hub and cable connections dry is a major engineering challenge since
none of the first three liked rainy days very well. The adapter itself
is double wrabbed in zip lock bags and seems to do OK.

I was mildly surprised to see Baltimore on the list. Is there really a
good cruising destination there, and if so, whereabouts? I've always
thought of Baltimore as a busy commercial harbor not particularly
friendly to pleasure boats but I'm open to being re-educated.


Although I was there many years ago I found the Baltimore Inner Harbor area
to be quite spectacular.

http://www.baltimore.org/index.html

"*JimH*" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
Thank you everyone for the advice so far. Harry, I'll drop you a note
when we get further along with our plan. Herrington Harbour marina is
supposed to have a good WiFi service (BeaconWiFi.com). Grandma
Rosalie, as usual your advice and recommendations sound very thorough
and thoughtful. The secret to getting good WiFi service at anchor or
on a mooring is altitude. My adapter is 20 feet off the water and
piped into the main cabin vis a USB hub on the flybridge. Keeping the
hub and cable connections dry is a major engineering challenge since
none of the first three liked rainy days very well. The adapter itself
is double wrabbed in zip lock bags and seems to do OK.

I was mildly surprised to see Baltimore on the list. Is there really a
good cruising destination there, and if so, whereabouts? I've always
thought of Baltimore as a busy commercial harbor not particularly
friendly to pleasure boats but I'm open to being re-educated.


Although I was there many years ago I found the Baltimore Inner Harbor
area
to be quite spectacular.

http://www.baltimore.org/index.html

There looked to be a nice marina on the south(?) side of the inner harbor
when I was there, as well as the ability to tie up along the wall near mini
mall.

I agree with most of this: wifi is going to be your biggets challenge.
A few additions:
-for far-south bay sailing, the town of Cape Charles, VA, has a town
owned marina dock which is quite cheap (I think it's $.75/ft). Doubt
you'll find wiFi. It's quite protected, and a small quaint little town
with not much to do, but it's got some good restaurants and groceries.
no boat supplies. If you're coming up from the ICW, it's a good first
stop if you've had a long day catching hte canals (assuming you went
Dismal Swamp route). It's across the bay from Norfolk harbor.

-along the lines of Crisfield and Tangier Island, try Smith Island as
well. It's a very similar to Tangier, but somewhat less touristy

-Along Oxford, there's some nice anchorage up La Trappe creek. There's
a marina at hte head of the creek, but not many supplies.

-Some good holding off the Rhode River, off the West River. Not many
supplies. (My marina is off the Rhode). There's also a very small
anchorage (maybe two boats can fit) that's a veritable hurricane hole
up that way, but it gets down to about 6 feet so rarely are there
transient boats around.

-Selby Bay--it's a good walk to a little snack shop, but that's all
there is; but if you plan on being there, get in touch with me; my boat
is nearby.

Speaking of after dark, try Crisfield after dark. it's quite an
experience! My first visit to Crisfield was after dark. I'd
definitely recommend daytime first.

If you spend 3 weeks or so on the bay, buy or borrow the Gunkholer's
Guide:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...77520?v=glance


On a different note, the Knapps Narrows channel has a controlling depth
of about 4 feet as of two months ago when I was there, although the
bridge tender told me 12. I draw 5, and I made it through, although I
think I shaved a bit off my teeth in the process. Anyone has any
recent info on Knapps Narrows?

Best of luck,

mickey

wrote:

Thank you everyone for the advice so far. Harry, I'll drop you a note
when we get further along with our plan. Herrington Harbour marina is
supposed to have a good WiFi service (BeaconWiFi.com). Grandma
Rosalie, as usual your advice and recommendations sound very thorough
and thoughtful. The secret to getting good WiFi service at anchor or
on a mooring is altitude. My adapter is 20 feet off the water and
piped into the main cabin vis a USB hub on the flybridge. Keeping the
hub and cable connections dry is a major engineering challenge since
none of the first three liked rainy days very well. The adapter itself
is double wrabbed in zip lock bags and seems to do OK.

I was mildly surprised to see Baltimore on the list. Is there really a
good cruising destination there, and if so, whereabouts? I've always
thought of Baltimore as a busy commercial harbor not particularly
friendly to pleasure boats but I'm open to being re-educated.

I noticed that people seemed to be avoiding mentioning it, but it
really is a good place to visit
http://p.vtourist.com/644898-Leaving...-Baltimore.jpg

http://p.vtourist.com/1654905-Pataps...-Baltimore.jpg
although the water may be dirty, and you want to have marina security
if you stay in a marina - it is right downtown.

There isn't a lot of commercial activity right downtown. There are
drydocks out by Bethlehem Steel (Sparrows Point), and there are
commercial docks at Lazeretto Point
http://p.vtourist.com/644899-Lazarre...-Baltimore.jpg
opposite Ft. McHenry and along the south side of the West Channel as
far as Locust Point, but no big tankers or cruise ships or container
ships in the Inner Harbor itself.

The inner harbor has a lot of touristic activity.
http://p.vtourist.com/642813-Baltimo...-Baltimore.jpg
They have rental paddle boats and the area where the paddle boats are
located is a small anchorage next to the USS Constellation.

We stayed at Inner Harbor East which has the Rusty Scupper restaurant
- http://p.vtourist.com/643019-Rusty_S...-Baltimore.jpg
http://www.innerharboreastmarina.com/ The food was OK but I think we
paid mostly for the view. You can get a water taxi to the other side
of the harbor.

We wanted to go to Anchorage Marina (quite a number of live-aboards
there) but they didn't have any transient space. They are opposite
the Locust Point Marine terminal just east of Fells Point which is an
interesting neighborhood to visit. They have wi-fi and also a water
taxi. This URL has a list of marinas.

http://www.digitalharbor.info/visit/..._business.html

Things to do in the Inner Harbor area include:

Baltimore Maritime Museum
Pier 3, East Pratt Street
410-396-3453
Baltimore and the nation’s maritime heritage await you
with tours of the USCGC Taney, the last surviving warship
from the attack on Pearl Harbor; the U.S. submarine Torsk,
which sank the last two Japanese combatant ships of
World War II; and the Lightship Chesapeake, a floating
navigational lighthouse. This also includes Seven Foot Knoll
Lighthouse http://www.baltimore.to/MaritimeMuseum/index.html

Maryland Science Center
601 Light Street
410-685-5225
One of Baltimore’s premier locations
for family entertainment! Explore three full floors of hands-on
exhibits, an IMAX theater, a planetarium, newly renovated
kids’ room, an observatory and our café.

National Aquarium in Baltimore
http://p.vtourist.com/643022-Nationa...-Baltimore.jpg
Piers 3, 501 East Pratt Street
410-576-3800
Dive in for an unforgettable journey under the sea. Stunning
exhibits and more than 11,000 aquatic animals make this
Inner Harbor destination Baltimore’s most popular attraction.

The USS Constellation Museum
http://p.vtourist.com/643026-Inner_H...-Baltimore.jpg
Pier One, East Pratt Street
410-539-1797
The USS Constellation is the only surviving Civil War
battleship still afloat. Her Naval history includes the capture
of three slave ships off the coast of Africa, freeing 700 people,
and the delivery of famine relief supplies to Ireland. Today it
serves as a maritime museum where you can learn about
Naval history and find out how thousands of sailors lived and
worked onboard.

Fell’s Point Maritime Museum
1724 Thames Street
410-732-0278
Housed in a 19th century barn for the horse-drawn
trolley service, the Fell’s Point Maritime Museum tells
the story of the notorious Privateer Clipperships of the
War of 1812.

Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine
http://p.vtourist.com/2321706-Fort_M...-Baltimore.jpg
http://p.vtourist.com/2321707-Fort_M...-Baltimore.jpg
End of East Fort Avenue
410-962-4290
During the War of 1812, the successful defense of this
star-shaped fort inspired Francis Scott Key to pen the words
to “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which became
our national anthem.

National Historic Seaport of Baltimore
802 South Caroline Street
410-675-4814
The National Historic Seaport of Baltimore is a collection of
attractions in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor that tells
Baltimore’s maritime history.

The Power Plant
http://p.vtourist.com/642819-7_Foot_...-Baltimore.jpg
(picture behind the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse)
601 East Pratt Street
410-752-5444
Located in the Inner Harbor, this premier entertainment
complex, a Cordish Company development, features a
Hard Rock Café, ESPN Zone, Gold’s Gym and Barnes & Noble.
Top of the World Observation Level

World Trade Center, 27th Floor
401 East Pratt Street
410-837-VIEW
Start your visit to Baltimore with a breathtaking view of the
city’s skyline and beyond from the world’s tallest pentagonal
building, designed by I.M. Pei. Top of the World offers a
spectacular 360-degree view of the horizon. Exhibits on
Baltimore’s past and present and a shop filled with
unique souvenirs are now open.

Project Liberty Ship
Pier 1, Clinton Street
410-661-1550
The SS John W. Brown is a
restored liberty ship, open
for tours as a living
memorial museum.

Baltimore Orioles
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
http://p.vtourist.com/2246798-Inner_...-Baltimore.jpg (one
of my grandson's Little League teams from Miami)
410-685-9800
Catch the Orioles as they take on American and National
League baseball teams. Individual and group tickets, party
facilities and year-round ballpark tours are available.

There's also stuff farther away from the harbor of course like the
Washington Monument (first one), the shot tower, Lexington Market, the
dental museum with George Washington's false teeth, E.A. Poes grave,
and the B&O Railroad Museum.

grandma Rosalie