Known as an authentic Chesapeake town on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Cambridge dates back to 1684. Located on the beautiful Choptank River, Cambridge has a rich maritime heritage and is a boater’s paradise. There is an abundance of wild-caught seafood including oysters, fish, and the famous blue crabs coming off the boats seasonally. You can find fresh seafood to purchase at local Kool Ice, a seafood retail market that has been buying local seafood for customers since 1972.
The historical part of downtown Cambridge is a great place to take a walk and visit shops, restaurants and art galleries. This quaint town also has festivals, unique boutiques, beautiful Victorian homes, and plenty of history. Cambridge has also been home to the IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman triathlon which takes place every year.
Stop by and have a cocktail and tapas at the speakeasy-like Blue Ruin, or a glass of wine with tasty cheeseboards at Vintage 414. If a cold beer and a burger is more your style, Cambridge has its own brewpub called RaR with a lounge LabRaRtory. With many more places to eat nearby, Cambridge is a true gem.
Visit the Choptank River Lighthouse, a replica of a six-sided screw-pile lighthouse that guided boats up and down the River for generations. The lighthouse is located at Long Wharf Park and open to the public for free May through October.
Dorchester County is also home to The Harriett Tubman Museum, which is an interactive museum telling the story of Tubman, a hero who led enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad. Built on the beautiful Blackwater National Refuge, this 32,000 acre reserve is home to migratory birds with a mix of marsh and forest. Besides birdwatching, The Blackwater Refuge offers paddle trips including jets and powerboat rentals through the refuge or along the Choptank River.
If tours are more to your liking, board the Skipjack for a 2 hour cruise on the River. The Skipjack is an authentic oyster harvesting vessel and sails from May through October.
Another option is to take a ride on the Choptank Riverboat that leaves from Hurlock, an authentic turn of the century paddle wheeler that offers sightseeing, lunch and dinner cruises, and crab feasts.
For more information, please visit the Dorchester County tourism website.
