Best Weekend Getaways: St. Michael’s, Maryland
The Strategy
You can’t swing a dead crab in this quaint Colonial town without smacking into a historically landmarked building—but if U.S history isn’t your bag, this peaceful pocket-sized village and its prettiest inn offer any number of other amusements … and, of course, the Chesapeake.
The Travel Time
It’s 2.5 hours by car from Philadelphia.
The Lodging
The Inn at Perry Cabin has a bit of everything you want: luxury suites, pretty views, cozy nautical touches and an elegant manor-home atmosphere. Relax in white Adirondack chairs overlooking the Miles River amidst meticulously kept lawns and gardens (master gardener Joanne Effinger offers tours of her 25-acre grounds), or grab a drink in the hotel’s cozy Purser’s Pub, where antique oyster tins line the walls. Hit the pristine Linden Spa for a botanical body treatment before snuggling into your deluxe room—and enjoying the fresh-baked cookies left on your pillow at turndown. $ with special offers and packages; $$$ without.
The Food
The Inn’s Sherwood’s Landing restaurant is a star, with innovative dishes and fresh local ingredients—but if you crave the crab-shack experience, visit the nearby Crab Claw, which has zero pretensions and all the Old-Bay-encrusted fresh-caught crustaceans you could ask for.
The Sights and Diversions
Perry Cabin offers lots to do, from sailing lessons to walking tours, but you can’t miss the next-door Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. It’s as much a working shipyard and boatbuilding school as it is a museum of Maryland nautical history: Guests can sign on as day laborers, toiling alongside accomplished craftsmen to build brand-new oyster skiffs or refurbish antique skipjacks.
The Insider’s Tip
Book your room more than 14 days in advance and get 10 percent off the best available rate.
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