Review of Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

by Jay Williamson

Photo by Jay Williamson, All Rights Reserved

Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
http://www.cbmm.org
St. Michaels, Maryland                                                                                                           

$15.00 Adults (ages 17-61)
$12.00 Seniors over 62 & Students age 17+ with college ID
$6.00 Kids (ages 6-17)
Under 6 is free!

Open year round, check website for times. 

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Winter is over, warmer weather is here, and the water beckons.  Did the cold winter make you a pale version of your parenting self?  Do you need to get outside?  Do you need to get away?  We understand.  Unfortunately you might not have the time or money to schedule a lengthy trip, which is why the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is so ideal.  In the spring or fall, the museum is a manageable two hour drive from Northern Virginia,  but be mindful of bridge traffic in the summer.

The waterside museum offers wonderful scenery, plenty of space to run, and boats to climb on and in.  While there are a wide variety of exhibits, our boys especially enjoy climbing to the top of the Hooper Strait Lighthouse to see views of St. Michael’s harbor and the boatyard, climbing into the oyster harvesting skipjack the E.C. Collier, and learning about the bay.  The museum offers boat rides (additional charges) that, circumstances permitting, may include chances to steer.  In addition, they offer a variety of educational programs and special events – such as Tall Ships in May, the Antique and Classic Boat Festival in June and an Oyster Fest in October.

There is a gazebo in the middle of the boat yard and several other places to enjoy a low-key picnic lunch.  Alternatively, the shops, restaurants, and ice-cream stores of St. Michaels are just a short, dock-walk from the museum (http://www.stmichaelsmd.org/).

If you need a chance to get away, rediscover the sun, and family members’ sunny dispositions then consider the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum as a perfect day trip.

Learn about the rich history of oystering in the Chesapeake region through hands on exhibits. Photo by Jay Williamson, all rights reserved.

Go inside the Hooper Strait Lighthouse. Photo by Jay Williamson, all rights reserved.

At Play on the Bay Exhibit photo by Jay Williamson, all rights reserved.