This month I drove my 1978 Fiat to Solomons Island, Maryland, where I also keep my sailboat. It has definitely been a hot summer for both sailboats and convertibles. Now comes September…the prelude to fall…and a return to cooler weather. The fall foliage in the mountains is still two months away so the time is perfect to head to the waters of the western shore.

The Patuxent River boarders Solomons Island on the western shore while the Chesapeake Bay borders the eastern side. It is a haven for boaters, with easy cruises on the river or destination trips across the bay. However, for the day-tripper, Solomons Island is easily accessible by car.

Like they say, half the fun is getting there, and so are the stops along the way. The most direct route to Solomons is to take Route 4 south from the Capital Beltway. If you are looking for a leisurely drive, there are five wineries along the Patuxent Wine Trail in Calvert County. Where tobacco once was king, the landscape has become vineyards among the tobacco barns and farmhouses. Part of historic Southern Maryland, Calvert County offers stunning water vistas and beautiful rolling farmland that eases the drive as your senses come alive. The regions soil and climate is said to be close to that of the Tuscany region of Italy. Although a relatively new industry, local wine makers have been producing award-winning wines to rival those anywhere. The wineries begin with Fridays Creek Winery in Northern Calvert County and then to Running Hare Vineyard. Farther south is Perigeaux Vineyards & Winery and at the southern tip of Calvert County is Cove Point Winery. Solomons Island Winery lies along Hungerford Creek just as you enter Solomons.

If you find yourself getting hungry along the way, turn right on Broomes Island Road south of Prince Frederick and stop in at Phil and Jeannie Stone’s Stoney’s Seafood House for the best crab cake on the planet, or wait till you get to Solomons and treat yourself at their two other establishments…Stoney’s Kingfisher and Solomons Pier.

There is much to do in Solomons as evidenced by Annmarie Garden and the Calvert Marine Museum. Annemarie Garden is a sculpture park and art center set on 30 acres along St. Johns Creek. The Garden features a shady walking path that meanders through the woods past permanent and loaned works of sculpture, much of which is on loan from the Smithsonian. There a constant workshops and exhibits at the Garden so Google them for this months activities.

The Marine Museum features exhibits designed to interpret the estuarine biology of the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay. Here you will also find Drum Point Lighthouse, one of the few screw pile lighthouses left on the Bay. The museum itself has great exhibits ranging from sharks, to invasive species, to live animals such as sting rays, skates and otters. I have been sailing the bay for 20 years and never knew there were otters out there. The museum has many ongoing activities and I encourage you to go to calvertmarinemuseum.com for a full listing of activities. Some events not to miss are the Lore Oyster House Experience, September 11th. Recently renovated and reopened after a two-year hiatus, the Lore Oyster House will be brimming with activity. Fossil Field Experience on September 18th. Go to a local beach to search for fossils with a trained guide. The Vikings Have Landed on September 25th. The Longship Company and their 38’ boat, Sae Hrafn, will be in the boat basin with demonstrations and displays about these infamous marauders of old.

When it is time to eat there are many fine establishments to choose from. In addition to the afore mentioned Stoney’s operations you can find Catamarans (also a great place to watch the Solomons Offshore Grand Prix race on October 3rd…more about that at the end. If you are in the mood for Italian as well as local fare, try DiGiovannis tucked away on the harbor side of Solomons Island. Rounding the corner at the end of Solomons Island you will come across the famous Tiki Bar. A legend in Solomons, the Tiki Bar has been serving libations for 30 years. Across the street from the Tiki Bar and at the end of the parking lot is Calypso Bay Crab House. Calypso Bay not only has great food, but also one of the best wait staffs on the Island.

Earlier in this piece I mentioned the Solomons Offshore Grand Prix. The first weekend of October - 1st, 2nd and 3rd - Solomons will host their first ever offshore power boat race. Local businessman Joe Peary and real estate broker Chris McNelis, teamed up with Mike Yowaiski and the Chesapeake Bay Power Boat Association to bring the offshore races to Solomons. Even though the races will be Sunday the 3rd of October, the boats will begin arriving as soon as Tuesday of the previous week. Visitors to Solomons that week will be able to check out the wet and dry pits and the boats. There will also be special events throughout the weekend. Check out solomonsrace.com for more details. The race itself will be Sunday afternoon and spectators can line the sea wall for a close up view. The boats will be reaching speeds of over 100 mph as they scream by spectators. This will be one of the most spectacular events to come to our region in a long time.

 

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