The United States Naval Academy campus is beautiful and pays homage to the naval branch of the military, even while it raises up the new generation. The "noon meal formation," where the midshipmen march in formation, is a must-see as well, and it's held weather permitting. In the free U.S. Naval Academy Museum, you can take a self-guided tour through the Navy's history. But recent visitors highly recommend taking advantage of the guided walking tour of the campus: not only will you gain insight into naval history, but you'll also learn about the academy's beaux-arts architecture and landscaping.

The Naval Academy is also known for its music department. Throughout the year, multiple choral and instrumental ensembles, including the Naval Academy Band, put on performances that are open to the public. Masks are required for everyone who attends a performance. Proof of vaccination or a negative PCR Covid test no older than 72 hours is also required to attend. Check the website before your visit to purchase tickets.

What visitors usually refer to as "Historic Annapolis" is the abundance of restaurants, galleries and shops that fill the converted row houses on Main Street. You'll find everything from restaurants such as the popular Chick & Ruth's to boutiques like Lilac Bijoux. On a nice day, this row of shops is a delightful place to meander for a few hours. However, you should also know that the historic area also officially extends to most of downtown and the harbor, which contain jewels like the Hammond-Harwood House and the Banneker-Douglass Museum.

Recent travelers said a visit here is a nice way to spend a cool fall afternoon. If you're driving, visitors suggested leaving your car outside the historic district to avoid the frustrating street parking. Several nearby garages offer a space to park your vehicle while you explore.

Although the Banneker-Douglass Museum is small, it's loaded with history. It's named for the Black scientist Benjamin Banneker and Black social crusader Frederick Douglass. Both of these men were involved with the fight against slavery in the 19th century, and the museum does a good job telling their stories. The museum is housed in the former Mount Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Recent visitors to the museum said it presents a well curated overview of African American history in Maryland, and the staff is more than happy to tell the stories of lesser-known figures who influenced the Annapolis and Baltimore communities.

If you're looking to stretch your legs in a picturesque place, Quiet Waters Park is the place to do it. Its 340 acres contain everything from an approximately 7-mile paved path, perfect for bike rides or jogs, to formal gardens ideal for a stroll. You'll also find a variety of sculptures and two art galleries that will appeal to art lovers, as well as a playground, where children can work out their wiggles. In the summertime, there are outdoor concerts and canoes and kayaks to rent; and in the winter, an ice rink is set up for skating. The park's South River Overlook is another favorite spot, as it offers a panoramic view of the South River.

Annapolis locals say the dog park is the ideal place to bring your four-legged friend, and the area provides a wide selection of activities and wooded trails for all types of travelers to explore.

Ego Alley is not an alley in the traditional sense of the word; rather than a walkway, it's a narrow waterway that spills out into Spa Creek. The name "Ego Alley" comes from the queue of expensive boats that parade through the waterway on evenings and weekends. But it does make for an interesting place to meander.

Recent visitors described it as a must-see; the benches along Dock Street are the perfect place to sit, relax and watch the boats and people go by. In warm weather, many people order an ice cream cone from the nearby Storm Bros. Ice Cream Factory before checking out the boats. During the winter holiday season, though cold, is another nice time to take a stroll down here since many of the boats are decked out in Christmas lights.

The Hammond-Harwood House, the self-proclaimed "jewel of Annapolis," is in all seriousness, a gem. William Buckland, the indentured servant turned famed architect also responsible for George Mason's Gunston Hall, began work on the townhouse in the late 18th century. He employed elements of the Anglo-Palladian style, which have been masterfully preserved. Visitors to the home will enjoy 60-minute guided tours that touch on everything from the architecture to the families that inhabited the home. A two-hour, $20 in-depth tour of the architecture of the house is also offered by appointment only. Short on time? Consider the 30-minute tour that explores the main house and an abbreviated history. Special interest tours are also available on rotating schedules. Tour topics include clocks and Jane Austen.

Recent visitors to the house said they were pleasantly surprised by how interesting the tour was, adding that the guides are knowledgeable and do a great job engaging visitors and soliciting questions.

Even though the Maryland State House doesn't tend to wow visitors with its architecture or exhibits, it is the site of illustrious history. In fact, it once served as the capital of the United States for a short stint. And it remains the oldest state house that is still in legislative use, and the grounds are quite lovely as well.
Several recent travelers found the Maryland State House to be an interesting walk through U.S. history, noting that the building is somewhat small and browsing its rooms and halls didn't take too long. In short, if you have an hour to kill, the Maryland State House is a worthy place to spend it.

The Maryland State House is open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and it's located inside of State Circle in downtown Annapolis, just down the street from St. Anne's. Visit the Office of Interpretation for documents to take a self-guided tour. For groups of 10 or more, tours will need to be requested two weeks in advance. For more information, visit the website. 

The pristine William Paca House & Garden is an immaculately restored 18th-century Georgian mansion, and it was the home of a young lawyer, William Paca, who eventually became one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the governor of Maryland. Along with a tour of the house, visitors should make time to wander around the carefully manicured 2-acre garden.

Recent guests agreed that staff and tour guides were pleasant and informative, and more than willing to answer questions about the house and grounds.

When Sandy Point State Park opened in 1952, it was the only state park that African Americans were allowed to visit. Although the park was integrated, the public facilities were still segregated. Stemming from the Brown v. Board of Education decision, the NAACP filed a lawsuit in 1954 to desegregate the park, and the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the integration of the park in 1955. 

Enriched in Maryland history and natural beauty, Sandy Point State Park is an ideal place to visit if you're looking for an outdoor daytrip. The 786-acre park is located on the northwestern shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Annapolis. 

Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse dates back to 1824 when Congress appropriated $6,500 for the construction of a 30-foot, land-based tower. It wasn't until November 1875 that the lighthouse was first lit. A hundred years later in 1975, the lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was manned by the Coast Guard until 1986 when it became the last lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay to be fully automated. It is the only screw-pile lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay still in its original location. Today, the lighthouse is owned by the City of Annapolis and managed by the United States Lighthouse Society. 

During the 1 1/2-hour tour guests are taken back through time to the 1800s where they will learn about the history of the lighthouse, how the lighthouse keepers lived, the role the Coast Guard played in lighthouse's lifetime and what's being done to restore and preserve the lighthouse for the next generation. 

With 533 miles of shoreline, one of the best ways to explore Annapolis is by boat. You'll get to see Annapolis in its natural beauty and see popular landmarks such as the U.S. Naval Academy, Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. 

There are numerous tours and operators in Annapolis that provide a variety of experiences to travelers. A majority of boat tours are seasonal, typically running from March to the end of October. The following are a few travelers' favorites: 

When someone says the word "Smithsonian," most would relate it to the group of museums in Washington, D.C. But located about 25 miles outside of D.C. and about 10 miles southwest of Annapolis is the Smithsonian Environment Research Center. The 2,650-acre campus is made up of forests, wetlands, marshes and 15 miles of protected shoreline. The center serves as an ecological research site for scientists. 

Although it is a working research laboratory the center is open to the public. Guests can access the center's three main hiking trails (Java History Trail, Discovery Trail and Contee Farm Trail). Trails range from 1.2 to 2.5 miles and are moderately easy looped paths. Each trail takes hikers on an educational journey about the importance of the environment. Expect to see a variety of animals and plants in their untouched natural habitats. 

Beginning in April 1777, the state of Maryland began housing recruits of the Continental Army in short-term rentals known as "hogsheads" throughout Annapolis. Located in the heart of Annapolis, a Hogshead is a wood-frame structure with a gambrel roof that was a common type of building in the 18th century. 

Today, Hogshead is an interactive museum and landmark that takes visitors on a time traveling experience to life in the 1700s.  An added bonus to a visit at Hogshead are the volunteer museum guides dressed in colonial attire who will speak about life during the Revolutionary War dressed as frontiersman, doctor, solider or indenture servant.