A Perfect Day in Annapolis
Our family-tested itinerary for the prettiest little capital in America: where to get the best crab cake, the dock to watch the boats, and the ice cream worth the line.
People come to Annapolis for the Naval Academy and the sailboats, and they stay for the cobblestones and the crab. After years of weekend trips down Route 50, here is the day I plan when friends visit from out of town.
Morning: coffee and the city dock
Start early at a café off Maryland Avenue, then walk down to the city dock (locals still call it Ego Alley) and watch the boats jockey for the prettiest spot. The kids love naming them. I love the second coffee.
Midday: history, then the water
Wander the State House grounds, the oldest in continuous legislative use in the country, then let everyone burn off energy along the seawall. If the Academy is open to visitors, the chapel is worth the stop.
Lunch: the crab cake question
I will not start a fight about the best crab cake in town, but I will say it should be mostly crab, barely any filler, and broiled, never fried. Ask a local. Then trust them.
Afternoon: shops and a sweet
The little streets off Main are made for browsing: stationery, monogrammed everything, a bookshop you will not want to leave. End at the ice cream counter, accept the line, and eat it on the dock with your feet hanging toward the water.
Annapolis rewards a slow pace. Skip the schedule, follow the breeze off the Bay, and let the prettiest capital in America do the rest.
