Annapolis, Maryland: A Final Look

We spent a wonderful five days in Annapolis.  Would we like to return one day? Most definitely!  I want to see Annapolis in the Spring when the lovely gardens are in bloom and lots of boats and ships are in full sail in the bay.  I want to explore some of the smaller towns along the Chesapeake Bay and see more of the parks and nature preserves in the area.  My husband needs to try out some more running trails and play at least one round of golf.  We need to spend more time gazing at the water, and we need to watch the sunset on the bay.

Until then, here are a few parting shots of Annapolis.

Annapolis, Maryland: Spring Is In The Air

Spring To Do List in front of a store on Main Street

Flowers!

Shorts!

Flowers

Sailing Lessons in Annapolis Harbor

Flowers

Ready for a Ride

Flowers

The Easter Bunny and his Eggs, and. . .

Flowers!

Annapolis, Maryland: Food & Drink We Enjoyed

There is no shortage of places to eat and drink in the Annapolis area. Restaurants, pubs, coffee houses, and specialty food stores are plentiful especially in the historic district.  We had many good meals in Annapolis, but our favorites came from these establishments.

The Severn Inn

Sunday brunch at The Severn Inn was my husband's special treat for me on this trip, and what a treat it was!  The inn assembles a huge spread every Sunday morning:  a hot buffet, a cold buffet, a dessert buffet, and a variety of drinks including Bloody Marys and mimosas.  Everything was good, but we really enjoyed the biscuits with chipped beef gravy and the beignets.  My husband had the prime rib which he said was delicious.  The service was good, and the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed.

Located on the banks of the Severn River, the inn offers spectacular views of the naval academy and Annapolis which are directly across the water.  It took us about 10 minutes to drive to the inn from our vacation rental in the historic district.  Crossing the Severn River via the U. S. Naval Academy Bridge made for a beautiful drive.  I love the graceful lines and curves of the bridge and the lamp posts that line the sides.

The Severn Inn sits at the end of the bridge to your right.

Galway Bay Restaurant and Pub

Located on Maryland Avenue in the historic district, Galway Bay is a great place to go for good food in a fun atmosphere.  We visited the pub twice during our stay and had good food and service on each occasion.  The Cork Reuben sandwich is awesome, as are the Irish potato cakes.  On our second visit, we met and visited with one of the two brothers who own and operate the place. The brothers, originally from Kilkenny, Ireland, have filled the pub with mementos from their homeland, and they make sure Irish music is always playing.

Dry 85

Dry 85 bills itself as "a modern industrial take on a Prohibition-era speakeasy," and that seems a pretty accurate description.  My husband had one of the daily specials, a stir-fry dish that he really enjoyed.  I tried a chicken sandwich with the house mayonnaise--spicy but good.

Our wonderful waiter told us the story behind the restaurant's name.  After Prohibition was repealed on Dec. 5, 1933, all the country seemed to celebrate--except for the District of Columbia.  D. C., it seems, had to remain dry for another 85 days until the Sheppard Act was passed on Mar. 1, 1934.

We also enjoyed these places:

* McGarvey's (featured in my earlier post on St. Patrick's Day)
* Dock Street Coffee--a couple of locations; good coffee & pastries
* Annebeth's--specialty food & wine store on Maryland Avenue
* Cantler's Riverside Inn--good seafood,fun & almost always crowded; located across the U. S. Naval Academy Bridge on Forest Beach Road

Annapolis, Maryland: Pretty Doors and Welcoming Touches

One afternoon while my husband was out for a run, my camera and I went for a walk through the wonderful historic district of Annapolis.  I was immediately drawn to the lovely, inviting entryways of the homes, and the great variety of their colors and styles.  Here's a peek at what caught my eye.

The front door of the Hammond-Harwood House, c. 1774

Detail of the Hammond-Harwood House front door
This is often called the most beautiful door in Annapolis

This used to be a firehouse.

The sign on the right reads:  The Sisterhood of W.I.N.E. 
(Women In Need of Excitement)

I love this color combination!