Annapolis for the day
For weeks you’ve been thinking about a place to go for the day. School is back and time is limited. OK stop fretting I have the answer. Do what I recently did and head to Annapolis.
If you plan you can see a lot in one day. Walking is always a good thing, but if you can’t do too much of that or are fearful you’ll miss something, then by all means hop on a trolley.
I went down to enjoy the big crafts festival they hold the first Sunday of the month (through November) so while there I decided to hop on one of those trolleys and take an one hour tour. It is narrated and it will take you to most of the historic and interesting sites in town.
You do have your choice of a 60-minute or 40-minute tour, but hey since you’re here the hour tour will provide more opportunity for sightseeing. It is well worth your time.
The trolleys arrive and depart from the Visitors Center at 26 West Street — very convenient for me since the festival is on West Street. They are in operation daily through November but the winter schedule varies. The hour tour is $18.00, the 40-minute tour $15.00. Reservations are a good idea but you can walk in and get a ticket, if there is room.
All the drivers are highly trained and I’m guessing most of them live in town. Meaning they are well informed on what you’ll be seeing. And in one hour you see a lot. When the tour is over you can ask the driver any question you have.
Along the way you’ll pass St.John’s College, the marina, city dock, you’ll drive over to Eastport, City Hall, many government buildings, the State House and the Naval Academy. And remember you’ll not just pass these places, you’ll get an explanation of what they are and a bit of history.
My goodness even I picked up some neat tidbits. For example, the dormitory in the Naval Academy houses all the midshipmen (that’s men and women) with about 4,500 residences and the Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in North America. There are more places by the way but you get the picture.
The trolleys are air conditioned and comfortable and are available for charter or shuttles. As much as I’d advocate walking around Annapolis, the trolleys are the fastest and best way to see the entire town.
You can reach them at 410-626-6000 or go to www.discoverannapolis.com.
Eddie Applefeld is a Baltimore native and a graduate of Towson University. He has been in the broadcasting profession for over 30 years. Currently he is the Promotions Director of WCBM radio. Before that, he was part of the Rouse & Company show on WQSR, host of a cable TV show called Dining Out and adjunct instructor at Towson.
His past accomplishments include being named a finalist in Baltimore Tourism’s Employee of the Year Program and winner of Toastmaster’s Speaker of the Year contest. He was also twice a heartthrob for the American Heart Association’s gala fund raiser.