Annapolis: More than the Academy

And now for the “touristy” stuff — Annapolis needs to be experienced by both land and water. Annapolis Tours offers several walking tours of this scenic town. Your colonial-attired guide is the ideal way to delve into historic Annapolis and the rich tradition of the US Naval Academy, the State House (the oldest state house in the US in continuous use and the largest wooden dome in the country).

Annapolis Tours will take you on a tour of the private home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence and will offer a bird’s eye view of nearly 4,000 midshipmen in formation at the Naval Academy. Other tours include a Candlelight Stroll, Scavenger Hunt, African-American Heritage tour, Military Reunion tours, and a Haunted History tour. These are all appropriate for all ages and are very entertaining. (Even as a local, I have been on several and learn something new each time.) Annapolis Tours can be reached at (410) 268-7601.

Of course, you can’t visit Annapolis without seeing water. Watermark Cruises operates most of the public water transportation in town, including the water taxi service available at the City Dock and other points along Spa and Back Creeks. While they offer shorter excursions from the City Dock, one of the most encompassing voyages is the 2 ½-hour Bay Lighthouses Tour. You will be hosted on the brand new 65-foot motor-yacht, Lady Sarah, which will take you out of the harbor, under the twin spans of the Bay Bridge. Your “lighthouse keeper” (guide) will provide an entertaining history of our three prominent lighthouses — Sandy Point, Thomas Point, and Baltimore Harbor.

If you don’t have that much time, try the Miss Elizabeth, which will take you around the seawall of the Naval Academy and up Spa Creek to view some of the fabulous waterfront homes — she runs from City Dock. Reservations are not required but can’t hurt. Contact Watermark Cruises at their website or at 410-268-7601.

Still need more scoop? Check out the following resources for planning your visit to Annapolis, and if you are planning on coming, drop me an email and I might let you in on some more insider scoop. After all, we locals need to keep some things to ourselves.

Additional resources:

• City of Annapolis (http://www.annapolis.gov/)

• The Maritime Republic of Eastport (http://www.themre.org/)

• Annapolis and Anne Arundel County CVB (http://www.visitannapolis.org/)

• Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce (http://www.annapolischamber.com/)

• United States Naval Academy (http://www.usna.edu/visit.htm)

• St. John’s College (http://www.stjohnscollege.edu/asp/home.aspx)

• Watermark Cruises (http://www.watermarkcruises.com/)

• Annapolis Tours (http://www.annapolis-tours.com/)

John Frenaye lives in Annapolis. He writes a regular column for Tripso.

John Frenaye is the president of JVE Group, Inc., a diversified company which operates the Carlson Wagonlit Travel associate office in Arnold, Md. With a background in business management, he writes about the travel industry as an insider with an outsider's perspective. E-mail him or visit his Web site. Want to sound off about one of his columns? Try visiting Frenaye's forum.

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