Things to do in annapolis

dickerwin

5-Year Member
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Feb 27, 2010
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My wife and I will be accompanying our son to Annapoilis for NASS session 1. We will arrive on Thursday evening so we will have the whole day Friday with him to site see in the Annapolis area. We would appreciate any ideas on where to visit, where to eat, etc. We also plan on visiting DC with him on Friday and Saturday after he finishes with NASS. Thanks for your help. We really enjoy this forum.
 
Definitely eat breakfast at Chick and Ruth's, it's a diner on Main St. If you go on Friday you might not have to wait in line, but if you do, it's worth it just for the local color. For dinner you can take the water taxi which leaves from the docks and go to the Chart House or one of the other restaurants over there. Reservations are suggested at most restaurants - look on Google maps and the restaurants are shown.

There is more shopping than anything else, but maybe the State House gives tours, we didn't check that out.

Are you there for the entire time he's at NASS? I don't know where your from, but if you've not seen the beaches on the east coast, head to Rehoboth Beach. You could also venture to Colonial Williamsburg if you want an overnight away from Annapolis - it's very unique. My kids thought it was too contrived even when they were in 7th grade, but it's interesting.

There's some crab place everyone talks about, but I haven't gotten that far in life just yet - someone want to pipe in on that?

Have a nice vacation while your son is dragging big logs around in the Severn!
 
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If this is your 1st visit to USNA I'd suggest touring thru the academy's Vistor Center and while there signing up for the guided walking tour of the yard...(the VC usually has ample parking and it's an easy walk out thru Gate 1 to
Downtown Annapolis..."DTA" ...for lunch or shopping).:thumb:
GO NAVY !
 
My wife and I will be accompanying our son to Annapoilis for NASS session 1. We will arrive on Thursday evening so we will have the whole day Friday with him to site see in the Annapolis area. We would appreciate any ideas on where to visit, where to eat, etc. We also plan on visiting DC with him on Friday and Saturday after he finishes with NASS. Thanks for your help. We really enjoy this forum.

As with the statement above..DEFINITELY eat at Chick and Ruth's Delly...nothing else like it!! Also, duck into McGarvey's for a quick, homemade burger...I think they are the best in Historic Annapolis...really cool appetizers too...it is a VERY old tavern right outside the Naval Academy gate (right behind it). We toured the State House several times(during our gazillion visits to Annapolis!!!)...loved it...just the archtecture alone is work seeing! Also DO tour the Naval Academy...pay for the guided walking tour...it is minimal cost and really quite interesting!! The guides are very well educated on the history and facts involving the Academy and are very informative...That is how we learned how the academy got it's "GOAT" for a mascot!! LOL!! Have fun...it is a gorgeous area...very friendly folks!!:smile:
 
We were in Annapolis for an ARMY competition in February. We did the guided tour by a JO. We stumbled upon Chick and Ruth's and didn't realize it was a landmark until we were inside. It was on the food network the next week. We met a guy who is a local and asked where the biggest crabcake for the buck was and he recommended Davis' Pub (http://www.davispub.com/). It was amazing!! We got there at 11 for lunch...by 11:30 it was mobbed. It's very rustic, but the food and the prices were both great!
 
I recommend the boatyard over in eastport for at least one meal, sunday brunch is the best. Nano's on mainstreet is good if you like sushi.

As for DC, do the Simithsonians, check out the monuments, my personal favorites are Korean war and WWII. The spy museum is a favorite of most people, but it does cost money and I think you have to get tickets ahead of time, or at least you used to. If you have time, check out the Udvar Hazy Center for the National Air and Space Musuem, it's in dullas, VA which is a little far but there is a shuttle from the main Air and Space Museum downtown. Another good museum that is a little bit of a drive but worth it is the New Marine Corps museum in Quantico.
 
Definitely eat breakfast at Chick and Ruth's, it's a diner on Main St.

...... There's some crab place everyone talks about, but I haven't gotten that far in life just yet - someone want to pipe in on that?

Agree that Chick and Ruth's is worth a visit for breakfast or lunch. They have a B&B above the deli (the Scotlaur Inn). The rooms are small and the stairs are steep, but it was great to be only a couple of blocks from USNA. Like many people in the area, the owners of Chick and Ruth's (now their son, Ted, and his wife) are USNA sponsor parents.

There are several crab places in the area. Buddy's is within easy walking distance of USNA. Cantler's is too far to walk, but we've enjoyed going there several times. Anyone care to add other crab places?
 
Ya got to get to the Crab Deck

Get on 50 east Cross the Bay Bridge, and just at exit 41 make a left at the end of the exit, it is on the left and has some of the best food around. You also get a great sunset on the water. http://www.fishermansinn.com/
 
DTA

I think if you havent been to the annapolis area I would hit several of the regular spots that have been recommended. Chick and Ruths for breakfast (tell the owner that you heard he does magic tricks, nuff said) , McGarveys for lunch (wonder if anyone has ever graduated from USNA without going into McGarveys) and I agree with Kero I like the Boatyard Pub over in Eastport as well. You could take the water taxi over to there as it would be nice to be on the water and makes for an interesting diversion to walking or driving especially that time of the year.

If you and your wife have time before picking up your son I would take the yard tour, if you dont like to take tours at least go through the visitors center, the Chapel , Memorial Hall and the Museum at Preble Hall. By the way for history buffs the cemetary is a pretty interesting place as well, but you might want to wait for that one for another time.

I cant remember if parents during NASS are allowed to purchase in the Mid Store but if you are visit there for souvenirs, if not the Visitors Center is your place.

Have fun.
 
Parents can accompany their NASS attendees to the Mide store to buy stuff...we went after the final presentation on Thursday. It is like a Target with USNA emblazened on almost everything and all types of personal care items a Mid could need.
 
Something we haven't done yet but I want to......sailboat tours....the boat from the "Wedding Crashers" is docked at Annapolis and offers tours. There are all kinds of tours on boats: dinner, sunset, lighthouse, etc. JKF's presidential yacht is docked there too for all to look at.

Chick and Ruth's for breakfast. They do the pledge of allegiance at 8:30 am every morning. Cantler's is good for crabs. Also Mike's......which is not in DTA.

Definitely take the walking tour at USNA.
 
Most definitely do Chick & Ruth's for breakfast. And totally worth the ride to the middle of nowhere is Cantler's. Right on the creek (not in the middle of town) and you can find directions online.

Don't miss the Drydock for lunch. It's right at the Academy (Dahlgren Hall if memory serves) and open to the public. Tour the Academy - even if you do it on your own - you can get walking tour paperwork at the Armel Leftwich Visitor's Center.

Walk around town - check the Annapolis Chamber of Commerce website to see if anything special is happening while you are there.

Get on the water. Take a boat tour. If you sail or want to learn to sail - you could have your own activity for a couple of days. Annapolis Sailing School is highly recommended - it's not cheap but worth every penny. And if you're in the sailing capital of the east coast anyway........ And don't miss Eastport - just over the bridge. Lots of very cool boatyards to wander around.

I have spent the last 18 years hoping my son would actually go to school there so I could MOVE to Annapolis. And here we are packing him off to the Merchant Marine Academy in a couple of months. Go figure!
 
Thanks everyone for all the great ideas. We are ALL looking forward to the trip as we enjoy this experience with our son.
 
Hi...Skimmed through quickly so I'm not sure this was mentioned but one of our favorite things to do is sit outside on the Dock at Pussers. Pusser's is in the Waterfront Marriot. Their lunch menu is very good...it gets busy at night and requires a reservation on a nice day. Sitting on the dock, watching the boats come in and out of ego alley is a "must do" Annapolis experience! As are Chick and Ruth's and Storm Brother's icecream!
 
We were just there a couple of days ago and had dinner at "Buddy's Crabs and Ribs", it was really good!! The best part though was there were about 125 midshipman in thier "white" uniforms there for a private party....they all looked so great!! Don't know what they were celebrating but they were having fun!! It was fun to see especially when we were at the academy all day touring!!
 
^^^^^ Agree! Cantler's is out there. Make sure you have good directions or GPS.
 
We were just there a couple of days ago and had dinner at "Buddy's Crabs and Ribs", it was really good!! The best part though was there were about 125 midshipman in thier "white" uniforms there for a private party....they all looked so great!! Don't know what they were celebrating but they were having fun!! It was fun to see especially when we were at the academy all day touring!!

It was probably one company "dining out." My Mid's company (don't know for sure about all the other companies) has this formal company dinner outing every spring. They certainly do look nice in their "choker whites!"
 
LOL about trying to find Cantler’s….lived in the Annapolis area for eight years and always said, “You drive, I can never find it!” But it is totally worth finding. Buddy’s is quick and easy, because it’s right there downtown, but the food is not the best. (Not terrible, just not the best crabs in town.) I second the already-seconded suggestion of Chick N Ruth’s. Get a milkshake, but not the giant one featured on the Food Network. We love Boatyard Bar & Grill in Eastport too. And definitley get out on the water using one of the tour boats at City Dock. Fabulous photo ops of the academy and town from the water. I will always and forever call Annapolis the cutest little town in America. And if you love historic colonial architecture, you will absolutely be in heaven. Enjoy!
 
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