Destination focused cruises along the shores of the Chesapeake are a fun way to explore the vast Bay area. The team at Atlantic Marinas pulled together a list of their favorite Upper Chesapeake Bay destinations, including picturesque lighthouses to make for a memorable excursion. We hope you enjoy as much as we do!
Annapolis: 38.9784° N/ 76.4922° W
As Maryland’s capital city, the Annapolis historic district is a great day trip. There are a plethora of things to see and do in this historic town which touts 18th-century architecture, numerous restaurants, countless shops and of course the United States Naval Academy.
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor: 39.2858° N/76.6131° W
Did you know that as you enter Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, you will pass the spot that Francis Scott Key was when he wrote the National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner? The Inner Harbor is Baltimore’s sightseeing hub. With so many family-friendly options, you may need more than one day to explore. Places to visit in Baltimore include, the Maryland Science Center, the National Aquarium, Power Plant Live, Ft. McHenry and so much more!
Rock Hall: 39.1382° N/76.2350° W
Often called “The Pearl of the Chesapeake, this quaint waterfront town has an eclectic, artsy vibe. Located on the National Chesapeake Scenic Byway, this town has more to offer than just scenery and history. From a nature, preserve, a variety of shops, excellent seafood restaurants, and museums there is a lot to do for the whole family!
Kent Island: 38.9373° N/ 76.3290° W
Not only is Kent Island the largest island in the Chesapeake Bay, it is the third oldest English settlement in the country! Founded in 1631 by Kent Ford, it is deeply rooted in history. There are lots of things to do on and around the island, such as Matapeake Beach, Bloody Point Bar Lighthouse, Terrapin Beach Nature Park, Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center and many restaurants you can reach by boat.
Queenstown Harbor Golf Course: 38.5992° N/76.0975° W
One of the most scenic and challenging golf experiences featuring 36 holes of championship golf on two courses, The River Course and the Lakes Course, is easily accessible by boat. The Boat House at Queenstown Harbor Golf Course is located on the Queenstown Creek in Queenstown, Maryland. The entrance to the creek is located on the northeast shore of the Chester River between Coursey Point and Blakeford Point. Water & electricity are available dockside, please call ahead as it is turned off unless we are expecting boats. If you are playing golf at Queenstown Harbor, there is no daytime docking fee.
LIGHTHOUSES (listed from North to South)
Concord Point Lighthouse: 39.5409463°N, -76.0846723°W
As the oldest lighthouse in Maryland that is accessible to the public, this 36-foot lighthouse in Havre de Grace, overlooks the point where the Susquehanna River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, an area of increasing navigational traffic when it was constructed in 1827.
Turkey Point Lighthouse: 39.4498374°N, -76.0085579°W
Located in Elk Neck State Park (in North East, MD), this historic lighthouse sits at the head of the Chesapeake Bay and provides sweeping views of the Bay and surrounding area. Although only a 35-foot tower, the 100-foot height of the bluffs on which it stands makes it the third highest light off the water in the bay. This lighthouse is also well-known for the large number of women who served as lightkeeper.
Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse: 39° 17′ 0.9708” N, 76° 36′ 19.3068” W
Relocated from a Patapsco River shoal, this 1855 screw-top lighthouse is preserved as a museum at Pier 5, east of the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. Built in 1856, it is one of the oldest Chesapeake lighthouses still in existence and offers terrific views of the Baltimore Harbor.
Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse: 39.0589997°N, -76.3988476°W
Located just north of the mouth of the Magothy River, Baltimore Harbor Light sits 1.5 nautical miles off the shore of Gibson Island, where it marks the southern entrance to the Craighill Channel. Commissioned in 1908, Baltimore Harbor Light was the last lighthouse constructed on the Chesapeake Bay, and the most challenging to build.
Bloody Point Bar Lighthouse: 38.83400 N, -76.39200 W
Off the southern tip of Kent Island, MD, a light was requested for this location as early as 1868 to mark both the bar and the northern entrance to the Eastern Bay. A 1960 fire gutted the structure, leaving it now as an iron shell with a steel ladder inside for access to the lantern.
Sandy Point Shoal Lighthouse: 39.01587 N,-76.38456 W
Located offshore of Sandy Point State Park and about 1.5 miles north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the eight-sided, red brick tower was erected in 1883. the Sandy Point Shoal Light Station was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002 as an example of the caison-style lighthouses that were built specifically through the Chesapeake Bay.
Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse: 38.8990031°N, -76.4352346°W
Built in 1875 and arguably the most widely recognized lighthouse in Maryland Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is the last “intact” lighthouse of its kind left in its original location. Now a National Historic Landmark, The Thomas Point Lighthouse is the only screw-pile light on the Chesapeake Bay still in its original location, just north of the mouth of the South River and south of Annapolis.
