25 Best Things to Do in Annapolis, Maryland

Best Things to Do in Annapolis. Due to the 350 years that merchants from all over the world have called Annapolis, Maryland, home, the city features a wide variety of stores, art galleries, lodging options, and dining establishments. Many historic structures in Annapolis, Maryland, have been saved or maintained in part because of the efforts of the civic organization Historic Annapolis.

Best Things to Do in Annapolis

1. United States Naval Academy

A visit to the United States Naval Academy is a must-see when in Annapolis, Maryland.

Highlights include the USNA Museum, the crypt of naval hero John Paul Jones, and Noon Formation, where midshipmen can be seen marching in formation to lunch. Check out the music department’s calendar of events as there are many musical and theatrical performances happening in the Yard.

All year long, guided walking tours are offered to the general public. A comprehensive and demanding four-year academic program is followed by midshipmen as they train to enlist in the Navy or the Marine Corps.

Founded in 1845, the Naval Academy’s mission is to produce leaders who can lead the country in the military or in civilian life. These leaders must be developed mentally, morally, and physically.

52 King George Street, Annapolis, MD 21402; phone: 410-293-8687; United States Naval Academy

2. Quiet Waters Park, Annapolis, Maryland

This 340-acre park in Maryland offers almost 6 miles of paths that meander between lush fields and forests.

Quiet Waters Park is located diagonally across from the Naval Academy on the southwest side of the South River inlet. It has a children’s playground.

The park’s interior facility, the Blue Heron Center, is accessible for weddings and other events, and six outdoor pavilions can be booked for parties. There are two beautiful locations for an outdoor wedding ceremony: the South River Overlook, which is situated above the South River, and the James Lighthizer Gazebo, which is situated on the edge of a charming pond.

600 Quiet Waters Park Road, Annapolis, MD 21403; phone: 410-222-1777 Quiet Waters Park

3. Maryland State House

The Maryland State House, which was finished in 1779, is rich in American history. In 1783, George Washington visited this location to submit his resignation as the Continental Army’s commander-in-chief.

The Treaty of Paris, which formally put an end to the Revolutionary War, was also ratified there. The Maryland State House is the sole surviving example of a colonial building currently in operation; the General Assembly of Maryland meets there for three months every year.

In addition to numerous other governmental officials, the building houses the governor’s office and the Senate president. Self-guided tours are available at the State House (please contact ahead). The State House was named a National Historic Landmark in 1960, and there are many memorials and markers on the premises.

800-235-4045; Maryland State House, 100 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401

4. Annapolis Towne Centre

The all-in-one Annapolis Towne Centre location is less than four miles from downtown. In essence, you can visit a broker, drop off laundry, go to the bank, have lunch, take a yoga class, get a new dress, and attend a performance all without ever leaving the property. Every day at the Towne Centre there are films, plays, talks, concerts, trunk displays, and exhibitions of various types. There are many stores, so there is something for everyone, including quality olive oils, organic pet food, and handcrafted furniture in addition to apparel.

There are eighteen restaurants to select from, offering a variety of dining experiences, from a business lunch to a fancy evening. One of the biggest Whole Foods Markets in the nation is located there as well. Modern structures house luxurious townhomes, apartments, and condominiums in addition to a 46,000 square foot facility used for business purposes. Eleven renowned hotels are also conveniently close by.

1906 Towne Centre Blvd., Annapolis, MD 21401; phone: 410-573-9050; Annapolis Towne Centre

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5. William Paca House & Garden, Annapolis, Maryland

Constructed in the 1760s by William Paca, this Georgian manor house is regarded as one of the best residences from the 18th century in the nation. After being transformed as a hotel in 1901, it was known as Annapolis’s best hotel for many years. After purchasing the property in 1965, Historic Annapolis and the State of Maryland worked for the next twenty years to preserve and restore it to its original 18th-century splendor.

The mansion can host special events and offers guided tours showcasing its period furnishings and artwork. The two-acre colonial William Paca Garden has been brought back to its former splendor via the use of historical study. Its terraced gardens and parterres, which include the Kitchen Garden that offers fresh produce, are enjoyed by guests. William Paca was the third governor of the state of Maryland in addition to being a signatory to the Declaration of Independence. This site was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1971.

186 Prince George Street, William Paca House & Garden, Annapolis, MD 21401; phone: 410-990-4543

6. The Kunta Kinte – Alex Haley Memorial

Author Alex Haley addressed racism in his writing while writing about African American history. His Pulitzer Prize-winning book Roots, which narrates the tale of a slave named Kunta Kinte who was kidnapped in West Africa and sold into slavery, focuses on slavery in the United States. This memorial was given to the City of Annapolis in trust by the Kunta Kinte-Alex Haley Foundation as a celebration of global brotherhood and cultural variety.

The Sculpture Group, Story Wall, and Compass Rose are the three components of the Memorial. The sculptural ensemble is positioned alongside Chesapeake Bay, with Annapolis Port serving as a metaphor for how Africans first arrived on these shores. In the sculpture, Haley is seen with a book open, telling three children of various racial backgrounds about his family’s past.

Ten granite-framed markers with bronze plaques on top make up the Story Wall, which is located along Compromise Street’s retaining sea wall. Every plaque has inspirational quotes and passages from Roots on it. The Compass Rose, a fourteen-foot-diameter bronze map of the world, is located across the street from the statues. Standing in the center of the compass, visitors can face the direction of their ancestor’s home country.

The Alex Haley Memorial – Kunta Kinte, 135 Stepneys Lane, Edgewater, MD 21037; phone: 410-956-9090

7. Always Ice Cream Company

Everyone knows that ice cream tastes best anytime. The finest spot to go if you’re in Maryland is Always Ice Cream. The business, which was formerly known as Annapolis Ice Cream, has been satisfying customers’ tastes on Main Street since 2004.

The business recently opened new sites to satisfy an increasing number of ice cream lovers. The flavors of the ice cream are incredible, and it is all produced with organic, natural ingredients. Try one or more of Always Ice Cream’s distinctive and mouthwatering ice cream concoctions the next time you’re craving some ice cream. It’s a fantastic location for family outings.

196 Main Street, Annapolis, MD 21401; 443-482-3895; Always Ice Cream Company

8. Maryland World War II Memorial

World War II Memorial in Maryland
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Designed by New York architect Secundino Fernandez, this striking memorial was first made officially accessible to the public in 1998. The 48 states that were involved in the conflict are represented by the circle of 48 granite pillars that encircle this four-sided outdoor memorial. Between every pillar, the 6,454 names of all Marylanders who died in World War I are carved in granite. Twenty plaques list significant occasions and events during the war.

Two 14-foot-diameter globes that show the locations of significant conflicts in the Eastern and Western hemispheres are also included in the memorial. An illuminated star atop a seven-sided stainless steel monument honoring Maryland’s status as the seventh state in the Union is visible at night. While touring this memorial, visitors should take their time and reflect on the lives lost. The memorial provides a great view of the Independence Day fireworks and is a stop on the city trolley tour.

The address of the Maryland World War II Memorial is 1919 Governor Ritchie Hwy, Annapolis, MD 21409; 800-446-4926 toll-free.

9. The Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Gallery – St. John’s College

The Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Gallery first opened its doors in 1989 on the St. John’s College campus in Annapolis to bring top-notch art to the city. This contemporary structure, created by architect Chip Bohl, was recognized with an American Institute of Architects Citation of Merit.

It draws over 10,000 visitors annually to its shows and boasts an astounding range of exhibited works for a gallery of its size. One of the main local resources for seeing, understanding, and enjoying art is the Mitchell Gallery. Works by well-known artists like Bruegel, Rembrandt, Calder, and Rodin have been displayed in exhibitions. There are docent tours, free entry all the time, and special events and programs.

St. John’s College, 60 College Avenue, Mellon Hall, Annapolis, MD 21401; phone: 410-626-2556; The Elizabeth Myers Mitchell Gallery

10. Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre

Every Saturday night for several months of the year, the outdoor theater Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre puts on a show under the stars. All of the featured productions since 2006 have been musicals, including several current Broadway and off-Broadway productions.

With three performances every weekend day, the shows run for five weeks. It is advised that visitors pack a blanket and be ready for any weather by having an umbrella or sweater on hand. This theater is a monument to the Annapolis artistic community. The theater was built by volunteers, who continue to run it after fifty years.

143 Compromise Street, Annapolis, MD 21401; phone: 410-268-9212; Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre

11. Annapolis Symphony Orchestra

The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra is housed at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, which was established in 1979. Its 750-seat auditorium boasts superb acoustics thanks to recent repairs. José-Luis Novo conducts five to seven performances a year including a variety of classical and contemporary talents.

These programs, which set the Annapolis Symphony apart from other venues, offer musical, artistic, and historical context for the evening’s offerings. Several outreach initiatives are carried out all year long, one of which is the annual Quiet Waters Park concert.

Phone: 410-263-0907; address: 801 Chase Street, Suite 204, Annapolis, MD 21401; Annapolis Symphony Orchestra

12. Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse

One of the most photographed lighthouses in the country, the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse was built in 1875 and is the last of its kind. All proceeds from the tours, which leave from Annapolis at the waterfront beside the Annapolis Maritime Museum, go toward maintaining the lighthouse. There is considerable physical work involved in the Lighthouse trip, and there is a 30-minute boat ride there and back.

The inside of the lighthouse is open for guided visits, with a maximum of 18 people on each boat. Both reservations and a safety video are necessary. There are no restrooms anywhere, so visitors are urged to make plans in advance. Now that the lighthouse’s façade has undergone significant restoration work, attention is turning to completing the interior. It is one of only nine lighthouses in the country that have received the status of National Historic Landmark.

Phone: 415-362-7255; Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, 723 2nd St., Annapolis, MD 21403.

13. Annapolis Opera

The Annapolis Opera Company was founded in 1972 by performers from the Annapolis Summer Garden Theater. Soprano Martha Wright was approached in their casting search for the inaugural production, and she graciously consented to produce the opera as well as serve as its president. The company performed in a variety of venues for seven years until settling on Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts as its permanent home in 1979.

The company presents two major productions a year in addition to community lectures and kid-friendly operas. Recognizing budding artists in the Mid-Atlantic region, the Annual Vocal Competition is a prestigious two-day event that is free to the public. Since the refurbishment, the audience can hear the acoustics as well as the stage. Because of the small venue, artists can establish a personal connection with the audience.

801 Chase Street, Annapolis, MD 21401; phone: 410-267-8135; Annapolis Opera

14. The Colonial Players, Annapolis, Maryland

The Colonial Players is a community theater that was established in 1949 and is located in the center of downtown Annapolis. They provide a variety of theatrical performances, including comedies, musicals, and dramas, as well as children’s theater, workshops, festivals of one-act plays, and their yearly production of A Christmas Carol. They also present new plays by playwrights and experimental theater.

Their goal has always been to use the dramatic arts to educate, amuse, and improve the community. As long as the theater has a tiny army of volunteers and subscribers, these objectives will continue to be successful. Colonial Players acquired their current building, an old car repair shop, in 1955. In 1989, they expanded to accommodate administration, rehearsal space, props, and costumes. As they have been for the past fifty years, all events are accessible to the public.

The Colonial Players: 410-268-7373; 108 East Street, Annapolis, MD 21401

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15. Historic London Town and Gardens

Situated directly across the South River from the city of Annapolis, Edgewater, Maryland is home to the picturesque 23-acre public historic park known as Historic London Town and Gardens. Jointly maintained by the nonprofit London Town Foundation and Anne Arundel County, the attractive park protects buildings that date back to 1760 and highlights the area’s rich history, archaeology, and horticulture. The park’s William Brown House living history exhibit is open for visitors to explore, and they can also watch ongoing archaeological digs that are looking for relics related to London’s “lost” settlement. While the park’s seasonal Ornamental Gardens have exquisite landscaping along the banks of the South River, its eight-acre Woodland Garden is home to a mile-long trail featuring native and exotic plant species.

839 Londontown Road, Edgewater, MD 21037; phone: 410-222-1919; Historic London Town and Gardens

16. Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden

Named in honor of Mrs. J. Millard Tawes, the former first lady of Maryland from 1959 to 1967, this garden is nestled among several government office buildings, notably the Department of Natural Resources. This five-acre area of lush vegetation is ideal for exploring on foot or for unwinding and reflecting.

The garden is surrounded by raised planters, cultivated flora, an Eastern Shore peninsula, a stream, and multiple ponds in Western Maryland. Daily hours for the park are from dawn to sunset. Reservations are required for free guided tours. Additionally open every day are the gift stores and café.

410-260-8189 Helen Avalynne Tawes Garden, 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401

17. Sandy Point State Park

Sandy Point State Park is a 786-acre Maryland state park situated on the Chesapeake Bay’s northwest shore.

The park is available every day for hiking, biking, boating, swimming, and fishing. One of its main attractions is bird viewing, which is made possible by the vast array of waterfowl that inhabit the area. There are lifeguards on a portion of the beach, along with a bathhouse, grills, and picnic tables close by.

Events can be held in two of the nine sheltered areas, which can accommodate 160 people each, and 300 people in one. The park’s pier is open for fishing and crabbing, and supplies are available at the marina store.

There are 22 boat berths available at the marina, as well as a small-craft launch area for smaller boats. The hiking routes go for four km.

1100 E College Parkway, 21409, Annapolis, Md

18. Here

Right here. is a pop-up shop in Annapolis that Amy Altenburg and Ellen Lunay first made public in 2013. It is displayed three to four times a year in a new retail space in the city. The eclectic shop features a wide range of trendy items and clothes, from women’s clothing and accessories to home goods, furniture, fine art, and photography. It is open for business for between 10 to 20 days at a time at each location. Every iteration of the pop-up shop emphasizes fresh partnerships with nearby companies, and all merchandise is centered around the creations of regional artists and designers. Every iteration is usually centered around a seasonal or imaginative theme, offering clients a fresh, new shopping experience every time. The main inventory of the boutique can also be shipped across the US via an online store that is open all year round. Call us at 410-940-8096.

19. Schooner Woodwind Sailing Cruises

The Woodwind and Woodwind II are two stunning 74-foot schooners that are available for 2-hour public sailing cruises, private cruises, schooner races, boat and breakfast runs, student groups, wine, beer, and food events, and multi-day cruises. If you’re looking for a traditional, family-owned sailing experience, pick one of these vessels. As it passes the Naval Academy and glides onto the Chesapeake Bay, you can choose to assist in raising the sails or just kick back and enjoy a wonderful brunch.

Every Wednesday night, Woodwind and Woodwind II race against each other in the Annapolis Yacht Club Race. This is America’s Cup-style racing, where passengers, also referred to as guest crew, may compete. Every October, Woodwind sails 130 miles in as little as 12 hours or as long as 40 hours to reach Portsmouth, Virginia, racing down the Chesapeake Bay with a guest crew.

80 Compromise Street, Annapolis, MD 21401; phone: 410-263-7837; Schooner Woodwind Sailing Cruises

20. PA Dutch Farmer’s Market, Annapolis, Maryland

This market, dubbed the “Amish Market” by the locals, is almost entirely created in Lancaster County using age-old recipes that have been passed down through the centuries. Here you may get a wide variety of items, such as bulk foods, chemical-free meats, fowl, salads, candies, sweets, cheeses, and fresh produce.

The Annapolis Harbor Center is home to the market, and Lancaster County, the center of Amish country, is where the Amish traders come from. You can order larger amounts to go home or smaller portions to eat there. Complete breakfast, lunch, and supper menus made by Amish chefs utilizing exclusively traditional recipes are available at the Dutch Market Restaurant. A wide variety of handcrafted, solid hardwood furniture is available for purchase at the Millwood Furniture store for visitors to take home.

2472 Solomon’s Island Road (MD Rt. 2), Annapolis, MD 21401; phone: 410-573-0770; PA Dutch Farmer’s Market

21. Watermark

Watermark, a family-run company committed to allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the history, culture, and enjoyment of the Bay, is the owner of the largest private fleet in the Bay. As a member of the team, Watermarks’ talented event coordinators offer informative walking tours, Water Taxi rides, corporate, group, or private yachting trips, wedding receptions on a yacht, and any other kind of event that can be imagined.

The ideal approach to walking with George Washington and other signatories to the Declaration of Independence’s footsteps is to take a walking tour. Discover the marine traditions of the city or take a cruise among the lighthouses along the Bay. Dogs on leashes that behave well are always welcome and are free of charge. A convenient, economical, and enjoyable way to view the attractions is with a water taxi. The fleet of Water Taxis, run by Watermark, provides daily service contingent on the weather.

410-268-7601, 1 Dock St., Annapolis, MD 21401

22. Annapolis Maritime Museum

You can learn how to climb a workboat or gather oysters from the Museum along the waterfront. Discover and explore Annapolis’s modern identity through sailing and boating, which are central to the museum’s mission. Sharing the maritime heritage of the area, the Annapolis Maritime Museum is located just across from the Naval Academy.

Here, Eastport served as the hub of the marine sector for 300 years. The most profitable industry in Annapolis used to be tobacco, but after the Revolutionary War, it moved to seafood, mainly oyster shucking, crabbing, and fishing. The Museum is home to McNasby’s, the only operating oyster packing company in the region, which now serves as a cutting-edge coastal educational and cultural hub for the Annapolis region. Additional Activities in Maryland

723 Second Street, Annapolis, MD 21403; phone: 410-295-0104; Annapolis Maritime Museum

23. Banneker-Douglass Museum, Annapolis, Maryland

The Banneker-Douglass Museum serves as the official museum of African American heritage for the State of Maryland. Through exhibitions and educational initiatives, it promotes and documents African American history and culture while deepening public awareness of its rich cultural diversity. A component of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture is the Banneker-Douglass Museum.

The Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library, which bears the name of its founding librarian, documents Maryland’s African American legacy through a variety of sources. It is housed inside the Douglas-Banneker Banneker Museum. The collection’s focus as a retrospective is on books, maps, and magazines from the late 1960s to the early 1980s. This library employs a variety of research methods in addition to audio-visual content. African American rare books and manuscripts dating from the 1780s to the 1970s are included in the collection of the Sylvia Gaither Garrison Library. There are free self-guided tour options.

84 Franklin Street, Annapolis, MD 21401; phone: 410-216-6180 Banneker-Douglass Museum

24. Hogshead, Annapolis, Maryland

Come discover and experience 19th-century Annapolis middle-class living. One of the few gambrel-roofed structures still standing in the area is Hogshead. These low-cost rentals were used to house recruits for the Continental Army located across Annapolis starting in April 1777. Usually, they were only gone for a few days or weeks. Hogshead was renovated in the late 1960s with assistance from Housing of Urban Development, Historic Annapolis, and the State of Maryland.

The roof and siding were changed, but most of the original framing is still there. The original woodwork, walls, and flooring are still there in the second story. After being filled in, the cellar was dug again and revealed a brick floor, a sizable fireplace, and a beehive oven. Weekend hours at Hogshead are from March through December. Donations are accepted; admission is free.

Hogshead: 410-267-7619; 43 Pinkney Street, Annapolis, MD 21401

25. The Chase Lloyd House

The home was passed down to Hester Chase Ridout after it was first constructed in the 1770s by Samuel Chase and then purchased by Edward Lloyd IV. The home continues to function as an independent living facility for senior women, as per Ridout’s will, which was left in place when she passed away. The Chase Lloyd House is renowned for its intricate plasterwork and ornate moldings. The previous owner, Samuel Chase, sold it to Edward Lloyd IV unfinished, and Buckland was brought in to complete the interior design.

In 1774, Buckland completed the inside, maintaining the exact Georgian symmetry. One of the last houses of its kind to be constructed in Annapolis is the Chase-Lloyd House. In addition to being a signature to the Declaration of Independence, Samuel Chase was also appointed by George Washington to the Supreme Court, where he served until his passing in 1811. On some days, tours of this exquisitely furnished ancient estate from the 18th century are available.

22 Maryland Ave., Annapolis, MD 21401; phone: 410-263-272; The Chase Lloyd House

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