A Day Trip to Annapolis, Maryland

I grew up going on day trips to Baltimore, Maryland all the time for the aquarium, but had never visited the Maryland state capitol of Annapolis, located a bit further south along the Chesapeake Bay. Aside from being the state capitol, Annapolis is next best known for being the home of the United States Naval Academy. I’ve long been interested in all things U.S. history, but being in a career path that has given me the opportunity to work and attend the Army-Navy football game piqued my interest even more in visiting the Naval Academy. So on a cool overcast day in between Christmas and New Years, I decided to make the 2.5 hour drive down from Philly for a day trip to Annapolis. Here’s all that I did on my day trip.

United States Naval Academy

I started the day with a visit to the U.S. Naval Academy. The campus, known as “The Yard”, is open to the public (with security screening) and they have various tour options. I did the 90-minute historical walking tour. At the conclusion of the tour, I was able to wander campus a bit on my own. There is a Naval Academy Museum onsite with free admission that I was able to visit as well.

Lunch at Rams Head Tavern

Because of the time of year I visited, dining outlets on the Naval Academy campus were closed, so by the time I was done exploring I had worked up an appetite. I headed to Rams Head Tavern, a family-owned and operated brick pub that serves Fordham & Dominion beers as it was the original location of Fordham Brewing Company. I enjoyed a Rams Head IPA and a Crabby Grilled Cheese for lunch.

St. Anne’s Church

Nearby to Rams Head Tavern is St. Anne’s Church, a historic church founded in 1692 as the first church in Annapolis. The church sits in the middle of Church Circle, making its spire a main focal point in several streetscapes.

Maryland State Capitol

After lunch, I headed over to the Maryland State Capitol, which is open for free self-guided tours. The capitol was America’s first peacetime capitol, and saw such historic events within its walls as George Washington’s resignation as commander-in-chief and the ratification of the Treaty of Paris.

Main Street and City Dock

After touring the statehouse, I wandered the downtown area for a bit. Main Street is the hustling and bustling strip lined with restaurants and shops that connects Church Circle to City Dock, the city’s prime waterfront area. Down some of the side streets I found quaint streetscapes full of colorful houses.

Forward Brewing

On my way out of town, I hit Forward Brewing, located across the Annapolis Harbor in the neighborhood of Eastport. This was a very bright and welcoming brewery with both indoor and outdoor seating. I enjoyed a few sampler size pours and got a crowler to go before hitting the road back to Philly.

Annapolis made for an enjoyable day, and I will definitely be adding it into my regular rotation of cute Mid-Atlantic day trip towns!