[T37Chef]

Fun stuff, we're planning our annual summer cruise and wanted to get some recommendations and hear some of your ideas. We leave July 3rd and return the 12th, Sure, a little behind with the planning, not stressing over it thats for sure

Last year we made it to Oxford, Solomons, St Marys, and St Michaels...this year we have a few more days, ya hoo Like last year, we're interested in spending time in the Southern portion of the bay.

We prefer the hook, with a marina/pool thrown in once, maybe even twice if the thermometer starts hitting triple digits . Restaurants are not much of an interest (occupational hazard), but I'll try a good crab house recommendation anytime (must be kid friendly, see "crew" below). Local points of interest are always good, even if with in a few miles (we'll be taking the bikes along). (BTW, We loved the Maritime museum in Solomons and Historic St. Mary's City last year)

Below is a list of areas I would be interested in hearing anything you have to share about them; worth it/not, local knowledge, highlights, must sees, avoid, where to/not to anchor, etc. (Yes, I have used the bay guides and Internet sites, just find input from y'all more fun)

Other suggestions welcome and if you don't care to share your anchorages publicly, please don't hesitate to send me a PM

All of these places I/we have never been...

• Little Choptank
• Tangier
• Brenton Bay off the Potomac
• Rappahannock River - Corrotoman River Inlet
• Fishing Bay Inlet - Deltaville
• Mobjack Bay
• Honga River

About the boat:
44' LOA (including dingy on davit, dingy has a 2 hp outboard)
4'2" Draft

And the "crew"
Me
The Wife
5 yr old daughter
3 yr old daughter
no pets

I think I covered it all?

Thanks, I look forward to reading your replies, and hopefully a good debate over something?

 

[pdqaltair]

For kids, Tangier is unforgetable, at least for the 5-year old.

Fun stuff, we're planning our annual summer cruise and wanted to get some recommendations and hear some of your ideas. We leave July 3rd and return the 12th, Sure, a little behind with the planning, not stressing over it thats for sure

Last year we made it to Oxford, Solomons, St Marys, and St Michaels...this year we have a few more days, ya hoo Like last year, we're interested in spending time in the Southern portion of the bay.

We prefer the hook, with a marina/pool thrown in once, maybe even twice if the thermometer starts hitting triple digits . Restaurants are not much of an interest (occupational hazard), but I'll try a good crab house recommendation anytime (must be kid friendly, see "crew" below). Local points of interest are always good, even if with in a few miles (we'll be taking the bikes along). (BTW, We loved the Maritime museum in Solomons and Historic St. Mary's City last year)

Below is a list of areas I would be interested in hearing anything you have to share about them; worth it/not, local knowledge, highlights, must sees, avoid, where to/not to anchor, etc. (Yes, I have used the bay guides and Internet sites, just find input from y'all more fun)

Other suggestions welcome and if you don't care to share your anchorages publicly, please don't hesitate to send me a PM

All of these places I/we have never been...

• Little Choptank
• Tangier
• Brenton Bay off the Potomac
• Rappahannock River - Corrotoman River Inlet
• Fishing Bay Inlet - Deltaville
• Mobjack Bay
• Honga River

About the boat:
44' LOA (including dingy on davit, dingy has a 2 hp outboard)
4'2" Draft

And the "crew"
Me
The Wife
5 yr old daughter
3 yr old daughter
no pets

I think I covered it all?

Thanks, I look forward to reading your replys, and hopefully a good debate over something?

My daughter has made me go back many times. The lack of cars is novel. The marina owner has about 25 cats, which is entertaining. There is a nice beach at the south end of the island that you can easily walk to. She likes Tangier far more than Smith Island.

I'm not positive of the draft, but I believe there is 6' if approached from the west. The east is a little less. The marina (Parks) can take good size yachts on the bulkhead, but do call ahead for that.

The town of Cape Charles is nice too, if you have not been there.

James Island off the Little Choptank is neat with kids, but you would have to stay some distance out and dingy over. Not that far from the center Island, actually, not if the tide is in some.

Some of this is discussed on my blog, below (see oldest posts).

Enjoy!

 

[brokesailor]

Ditto on Tangier. Cape Charles is a don't miss. A sunset at the Aqua Restaurant at the Marina is spectacular. Bike ride into the town of Cape Charles. Sail down to Kiptopeake south of Cape Charles. Concrete ships there make a breakwater for a nice stay on the hook. Big current though so stay close to the pier.
In Breton Bay go all the way up and anchor in front of Leonardtown. Walk to the town, nice place.

 

[jorgenl]

Ditto on Tangier.

We went there with our old boat - 4'3" draft so you should be OK with 4'2".

I recommend docking bow in at parks marina. It gets shallower towards the dock and when the tide went out our rudder was in the mud.

Bay Creek Marina at Cape Charles is a top notch facility and Aqua is a favorite as well.

The only drawback with Bay Creek is that it is full of powerboaters ;-)

/Jorgen

 

[T37SOLARE]

Ditto on Cape Charles, Bay Creek Marina is fantastic, although a bit pricey. The other option is the municipal marina.

You should consider Crisfield or Onacock, did both last year and especially enjoyed Onacock.

Herrington South does a rather noteworthy 4th of July firework show, if it's calm you can anchor in Herring Bay to enjoy the show.

Have a great trip!

 

[PalmettoSailor]

A few more places to ponder for your itenerary.

While I haven't yet made the trip yet myself, my slip neighbor tells me St. Marys, off the Potomac is the most scenic place he's ever been on the bay. I had planned to go up before the 4th but a conflict has arisen so I won't make it.

Sandy Point on the Great Wicomico is as to me just as nice an anchorage as Fishing Bay and its less congested as there is no marina or yachtclub. It could make a fine place for the kids to swim after a nettle check.

If you're ready for some amenities while near Deltaville, there are a multidue of options. Stingray Harbor Yacht Club on Broad Creek has slips reserved for reciprocating clubs, so that might be a low cost option for you. Otherwise there are probably a 1/2 dozen marinas with transient slips for you to choose from.

You mentioned the Corrotoman and the west branch is another one of our favorite anchorages. Tuck in close to the bank below the cable ferry and enjoy. We have been the only boat in the ancorage the times we've been there but we've just lbeen ucky. I've seen several boats anchored there when flying over on the way home.

Onancock is also a great stop and one of the places you can see a good deal of on foot. I recently saw an article that the town was voted the coolest small town in the SE and was in the top 10 coolest small towns in the US, by the readers of Budget Travel Magazine.

 

[chef2sail]

St Marys and Tangiers I would also add. of our most favorite places. We do Spring Cove Maina when we stay in Solomans.

Dave

 

[PalmettoSailor]

A couple more western shore options for you to consider betweem Great Wicomico and the Piankatank. I previously mentioned Sandy Point on the GW as a nice anchorage, if however you are looking for amenites in that area, Consider Horn Harbor or Reedville. Both have restaraunts that attract sailors to stop there.

Slightly further south, is Dividing Creek with several options for quiet secluded anchorages. Lawrence cove near the head of Dividing Creek makes for a nice tight spot and it has been nettle free the times we've been there.

Even further south is Little Bay/Indian Creek which both offer options for anchoring. You can dingy over to the beach at Little Bay to stretch your legs. The place is not unknown to powerboats though.

You mentioned Fishing Bay which is a very scenic anchorage with room for lots of boats. It is however somewhat busy with a couple of marinas and small boat racing regularly. If the winds are from the south, Godfrey Bay (across the Piankatank from FB is a nice anchorage with 17' of water up close to shore. There is usually less going on over there that the FB side.

Lastly, I have to at least mention Carter Creek and the Tides Inn. If you feel the need for some pampering, Tides Inn is your place. Very, very pricy though, so we haven't been there yet, though we plan to treat ourselves one of these days. We have anchored nearby in Yopps Cove and have explored the creek in the dink. Its a lovely area with many beautiful homes featuring private docks, most of which sport a Duffy electic picnic boat plus whatever other boat is berthed there. You'll likely see the residents zipping to a fro on these pretty little boats like sans-a-belters on golf carts at a retirement community. lol

Anyway, those should give a few places to consider if the mileage between the more often mentioned places doesn't work out and you need other options.

Have a great trip!

 

[lancelot9898]

St Marys and Tangiers I would also add. of our most favorite places. We do Spring Cove Maina when we stay in Solomans.

Dave

I also think St Mary's is a great stop. I spent over 15 years living aboard in Solomons and Spring Cove is a nice well maintained facility. Beacon Marina is also right there and will be somewhat cheaper, but with less facilities. Some side trips might be worthwhile going up the Patuxent. There are 2 mill creeks in the area and both offer good anchorages. The second mill creek is after going north under the fixed bridge and there you will find a park with 3 miles worth of trails. I've anchored in the cove and dingied ashore in the early morning hours to run the trail and spotted a half dozen deer. Further up the river is St. Lenord's Creek with plenty of depth and a unique restaurant even though Vera the long time owner is no longer there. I do miss the area even though there is a lot to explore further north where I'm currently located.

 

[T37Chef]

BUMP

Thanks for all the replies so far, keep them coming

 

[mccary]

I would agree on a visit to Tangier. Mobjack Bay is a very pretty place with lots of options for anchorages. The last time I was in Reedville (31 years ago) the fish factory there caused quite a smell and if it is still there I would avoid the place. St Marys River is nice but doesn't offer much other than nice anchorages. Find a way to check local knowledge on the Honga River it is an interesting shortcut from Tangier Sound to the main leg of the Bay.

 

[lancelot9898]

I would agree on a visit to Tangier. Mobjack Bay is a very pretty place with lots of options for anchorages. The last time I was in Reedville (31 years ago) the fish factory there caused quite a smell and if it is still there I would avoid the place. St Marys River is nice but doesn't offer much other than nice anchorages. Find a way to check local knowledge on the Honga River it is an interesting shortcut from Tangier Sound to the main leg of the Bay.

I disagree about St Marys since the historical site there is a great visit and the college cafeteria is open to the public. My college cafeteria was never that good plus a student there offered us his meal pass as we stood in line. The other comment is that the Honga River was not a very pleasant visit when there about 20 years ago. All I remember was the biteing flies and nothing interesting ashore not to mention the shallow water. Things may have changed.

 

[MJBrown]

Spring Cove in Solomons has a pool with music underwater. Kids seem to love it. Also very nice grounds, great for a picnic. We were out all last week but never got further south than Trippe Creek off the Tred Avon in Oxford. Great weather, only got to sail once but very relaxing overall. Have a great time.
Mike

 

[T37Chef]

Thanks all for the great input, we head out Friday, then as soon as we return we head to the beach for some more fun.

We don't have a set schedule (whats the point, but will definitely stop at Tangier, Solomons (Making my reservation tomorrow at Spring Cove, loved it last year) and probably Crisfield and/or Reedville? Everything else is up in the air.

If you see us, feel free to raft up

S/V Windgeist, Tartan 37, # 358, White Hull, Blue Bimini & Dodger, Davits

 

[ssneade]

hey chef, have you mastered the ten layer cake yet?
you do have permission to visit my island, lol.....
fairwinds

 

[pdqaltair]

Consider anchoring-out for an hour at Calvert Cliffs State Park and dingying in...

Thanks all for the great input, we head out Friday, then as soon as we return we head to the beach for some more fun.

We don't have a set schedule (whats the point, but will definitely stop at Tangier, Solomons (Making my reservation tomorrow at Spring Cove, loved it last year) and probably Crisfield and/or Reedville? Everything else is up in the air.

If you see us, feel free to raft up

S/V Windgeist, Tartan 37, # 358, White Hull, Blue Bimini & Dodger, Davits

with the kids to see the fossils. Well, I suppose they are a little young, but the 5-year old isn't and the 3-year old will like any beach. It is hidden behind the LNG terminal north of Cove Point.


There is also a very nice beach - one of the nicest on the Bay - at Drum Point with deep water VERY close to shore. You can anchor 20' out. You will pass within feet of it anyway, and it makes a nice 1-hour stop for kids.

 

[painkiller]

PDQ, we were told at the maritime museum that the cliffs are private property and that you're not supposed to go looking for fossils there without permission. They said that even the museum curators have to have permission to access the cliffs.

 

[pdqaltair]

There is a small stretch of beach in the middle that is public access.

PDQ, we were told at the maritime museum that the cliffs are private property and that you're not supposed to go looking for fossils there without permission. They said that even the museum curators have to have permission to access the cliffs.

It is at about 38D 24.3M north and is generally distinguished by the presence of bathers and beach comers. It is quite popular. The cliffs are closed, as you note. Perhaps 15 years ago a section collapsed on a mother and child after a rainy spell, prompting the change in policy. There is sigh at each end of the beach noting the closure. The cliffs near the beach are part of the park; those further north and south are private.

The beach is the only area to which I referred. I should have been more clear. There are numerous fossil scallops and snails scattered on the beach, in shallow water, and behind the beach. Nothing valuable, but fun for kids.

 

[T37Chef]

We're in Solomon's right now, at Zahnizers. Awesome fireworks show last night on the Patuxent/Solomons! The sail down from the Rhode River was perfect...18-20 on the beam and we were cruising with an average speed of 7.1 according to the GPS...not bad with a loaded down boat

We are staying here another night, I broke the out haul yesterday as we were turning into the Patuxent on a close hauled sail, trying to spill some wind Oh well, couldn't have happened at a better time...and get this...Zahniser's had a rope to wire halyard kit in stock...so now all I have to do is remove those seized screw to access the end of the boom

Hey, the wife and kids are enjoying the pool while Dad works on the boat, not a bad place to be "stuck" LOL

We will probably go to the Maritime Museum today with the weather being kinda gloomy, but hope to head out early tomorrow headed somewhere South

 

[chef2sail]

Shaun,

Have a great time on your excursion with the kids. You are in my favorite place right now. Spring Cove Looks like the weather for the next 4 days at least will be spectacular.

We leave next Friday for Mystic and Block Island. Finished my last project today the X-5 autopilot not a moment too soon.

Friday we pumped out our new 40 gallon holding tank for the first time and I held my breath hoping there would not be any leaks...no problems. So we are ready to go. I just have to get through 4 days of craziness on Capitol Hill,....grrrrrrr
Dave