why visit annapolis
Annapolis Maryland is a beautiful quaint city with colonial architecture and history and gorgeous waterfront views. If you want to have fun boating, dining and love charming cities this is the place for you. Annapolis is Maryland’s capital city and it is located on the Chesapeake Bay. It is known for its incredible seafood. It is also the home of the United Statues Naval Academy. You will not be bored with all there is to offer.
how to get to Annapolis
The nearest airport is the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) which is about 24 miles away which is approximately a 30 minutes drive to Annapolis. You can also fly into the Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) or the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) which is about 63 miles (1 hour 6 minutes) or 36 miles (40 minutes) respectively to downtown Annapolis.
If your driving here:
Baltimore, MD is about 32 miles away 37 minutes.
Washington, DC is 32 miles away about 43 minutes.
Dover, DE 65 miles away about 1 hour 18 minutes.
Philadelphia, PA is 124 miles away and about 2 hours 7 minutes drive.
getting around annapolis
The easiest way to get to and around Annapolis is with your own car. Once here, it is easy to get around on foot and it is a very walkable city. There is a city trolley/circulator bus that takes you from parking garages around the central business district. You can also get around the area via taxi or ride-share (Uber) if you do not have your own car. If visiting Annapolis on the evenings or weekends you can find free parking garages. My favorite is the Calvert Street Garage but it is a short walk (0.5 miles) to the main downtown.
where to stay annapolis
There are so many options of accommodation in Annapolis. Some iconic hotels include Historic Inns of Annapolis, Annapolis Waterfront Hotel, The Westin Annapolis and so many more. There are also great B&B options including the Annapolis Inn, Flag House Inn, Georgian House B&B and so many more.
Also if visiting for the weekend you can also stay outside of the city and use the free parking garages or nearby on Kent Island.
top things to do in annapolis
There is so much to explore and enjoy in Annapolis!
Maryland state house
Annapolis is the capital of Maryland and has the Maryland State House you can enjoy. It is the oldest state capital in the United States and it was completed in 1779. It is beautiful from the outside but you can also go inside to explore. It is open to the public from 8:30 AM-5 PM. Picture ID is required to enter. You can also join a guided tour.
Downtown
The downtown area of Annapolis is filled with bars, shops, great restaurants and more. It is a central place to be. You can stroll around the brick streets.
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis is the home of the United States Naval Academy. While here you can go on a guided tour. Some of the top attractions on campus include the Naval Academy Chapel, Naval Academy Museum, Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center and more.
ANNAPOLIS WATERFRONT
The waterfront is a great place to walk around and take in the beautiful Chesapeake Bay. You can take in the boats, walk the boardwalks or catch a drink or dine at one of the waterfront restaurants: Chart House, Pusser’s Caribbean Grille or Latitude 38.
TAKE A BOAT TOUR
You can really enjoy Annapolis by boat. You can get a great view of the city and get some incredible history. You can get aboard the Harbor Queen for a 40 minute tour of the Harbor for about $22 per adult or $7 per child. You can also opt for a sailing cruise on the Woodwind for $71.95 weekday or $75.25 per person on weekends.
HISTORIC BUILDINGS
There is even more history than the state capital building in Annapolis. While here be sure to check out the William Paca House and Gardens, Hammond-Harwood House, St. Anne’s Parish, Historic London Tower, the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Memorial, St. John’s College and so much more.
