CCED Tourism: Group Tour Information

Fossil Hunters: Meandering through the Miocene

During the Miocene age five to 20 million years ago, the ocean covered all of Southern Maryland. Fossil records from that epoch are now routinely found along Calvert County’s Chesapeake Bay coast. Take a trip back in time as you explore the beaches and cliffs along the bay.

Begin the day at Breezy Point Beach and Campground in Chesapeake Beach. Fossils are often found along the beach, which is also perfect for swimming and picnicking.
Head south to Flag Ponds Nature Park in Lusby, which features sandy beaches, freshwater ponds and the forested heights of Calvert Cliffs. Natural erosion exposes more than 600 species of fossils along the cliffs.
The adventurous are rewarded at Calvert Cliffs State Park, where a 45-minute hike through pristine woods leads to the majestic cliffs along the bay. Along the open beach, hunt for fossils dating back over 15 million years.
Identify your findings and explore more of the region’s rich history at Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons. Exhibits include a fossil preparation lab, a restoration of the fossil-bearing cliffs, full-scale Miocene dioramas, and a 37.5-foot Miocene giant white shark skeleton.
Indulge yourself in the village of Solomons with a reinvigorating meal at a waterside restaurant, and explore the quaint gift shops and galleries.

Solomons Island Idyll

Plan a day trip to Solomons Island, located at the southern tip of Calvert County where the Patuxent River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Whether you arrive by automobile or by boat, you will find a place of uncommon charm and unspoiled beauty.

For landlubbers there is the Riverwalk, funky shops and galleries and educational fun at the Calvert Marine Museum. Salty dogs can charter a boat, hop on a jet ski, go kayaking or learn to sail. Pick your pursuit.

Start the day with a visit to the Calvert Marine Museum, which traces the rich maritime history and diversity of the Chesapeake Bay. Climb through the hatch of the Drum Point Lighthouse or take a shuttle to the Cove Point Lighthouse, the oldest continuously working light in Maryland. A short cruise on the museum’s historic ‘bug-eye’ boat, the Wm. B. Tennison, gives a view of Solomons and the Patuxent River that is unique and unforgettable.
Back on shore, travel into the village for lunch at a waterside restaurant. Stroll along the Riverwalk. Browse the gift shops and galleries with a waterside view.
Tour the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory where you can learn about the ecology and natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay, and discover how scientists are working to protect the bay’s wildlife
Visit one of the mid-Atlantic area’s newest treasures, Annmarie Garden Sculpture Park and Arts Center. The 30-acre site features outdoor displays of permanent and loaned sculptures, many on loan from the Smithsonian Institution. Take a 20-minute walk through the sculpture garden and drink in the tranquility.
If you are feeling really adventurous, before going home visit Sail Solomons to book your first sailing lesson! Sail Solomons offers ASA certification courses, taught in a live-aboard environment to fully immerse you in the cruising experience.

The Twin Beaches: A Day on the Bay

Nestled on the Chesapeake Bay’s western shore, the neighboring towns of North Beach and Chesapeake Beach epitomize the “land of pleasant living.” Both towns support popular bayside activities, entertainment, shopping and dining.

The seven-block waterfront in North Beach contains a public fishing pier and a half-mile-long boardwalk with accompanying bike path. Located at the northern tip of Calvert County, North Beach also encompasses a wildlife refuge in its tidal marshlands, home to native wildlife and host to seasonal migrations.

Chesapeake Beach was designed in the late 1800s as a resort town, and today it still maintains that air of breezy fun. From the public beach at Bay Front Park to waterfront restaurants, a thriving charter fishing center, a water park and more, Chesapeake Beach is a great destination for fun and relaxation.

Begin your day at Bayside History Museum in North Beach to learn about the Chesapeake Bay environment and the cultures of the bayside communities. Take a leisurely stroll down the boardwalk. Stop to linger on a bench for some bay watching or hit the beach to soak up some sun.
For a little whimsy, browse the quaint boutiques and antique shops. Then, stop for a rejuvenating lunch at a North Beach or Chesapeake Beach restaurant, crab house, or deli.
Have a splashing good time in the bay at Bay Front Park where you may also find fossils, or brave the water slides, fountains, waterfalls and more at Chesapeake Beach Water Park. Dry off and take a glimpse back in time at the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum.
If your idea of the perfect day involves a fishing rod, bait, and beautiful bay iews, the Twin Beaches is a great place to charter a boat or stay dockside and fish from the fishing pier. Land your very own “catch of the day.”

Summer Indulgence

Take a day to sample life’s little luxuries and give yourself a much-needed respite. What could be better than sipping locally made fine wine and indulging in a relaxing spa treatment? It’s all within reach in Calvert County.

Begin your day of diversion at Fridays Creek Winery in Owings. Sample red, white and fruit wines in the signature red barn converted to house a tasting room, storage and aging rooms, production facilities and a small gift shop.
Seek solace with a soothing treatment at one of the County’s several day spas. Locations from North Beach to Solomons guarantee you won’t travel far to find fulfillment. You’ll find all the big-city spa services you need with the charming, friendly service you deserve.
Wander to the Running Hare Vineyard in Prince Frederick for a taste of its full-bodied Cayuga White. The beautiful rolling hills and rustic setting are also available for weddings and other special events.
Amble south to Cove Point Winery, a small boutique winery located in Lusby, for savory sips of traditional, fruit and dessert wines. While you’re there, take a short side trip to Cove Point Lighthouse, Maryland's oldest operational lighthouse.
Wrap up your vintner visitations with a stop at Solomons Island Winery set on nine acres along the shores of Hungerford Creek. Try the award-winning Sauvignon Blanc in a beautiful natural setting.
Bring the day to a delicious end with dinner at a Solomons Island restaurant and watch the sun sink over the Patuxent River. It will be a day you won’t soon forget.

Art Beats

You need not travel far to enjoy works by internationally renowned masters and regional up-and-coming artists. You’ll find world-class works amid the laid-back charm of Calvert County.

Start your tour at Annmarie Garden Sculpture Park and Arts Center in Solomons, a regional jewel hosting a magnificent collection of modern art. Here you can view permanent works by regional artisans, along with fabulous pieces by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, and Joan Miro on loan from the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Stroll through the quiet sculpture park, which includes various outdoor ‘rooms’ perfect for contemplating the artworks. For children, there’s also a fun and educational scavenger hunt. The center’s arts building includes additional exhibits, a café and a gift shop. Sign up for art classes or plan to attend a workshop.
Stop for lunch at one of Solomon’s Island’s charming waterside restaurants before taking a stroll to explore the galleries and shops with paintings, ceramics, photography, jewelry and crafts in a quaint waterside setting.
If you crave more, head north to peruse the County’s other fine galleries and shops. Prince Frederick offers a tempting trio: Main Street Gallery, CalvART Gallery, and Chesapeake Galleries. Whatever your interest – pottery, jewelry, contemporary art, woodturning, photography and much more – you’re sure to find it here.
Keep trekking north to North Beach and Artworks @ 7th which is fostering a vibrant local arts community in the bayside town and beyond.
Cap off the day with a sumptuous dinner at a North Beach or Chesapeake Beach restaurant, then stroll the boardwalk as dusk washes the bay in muted hues.