Maryland's Eastern Shore

.Labor Day seemed like a perfect excuse to head over to Maryland's Eastern Shore. It was a beautiful, sunny day, perfect for a leisurely drive. I took the Bay Bridge over which is a pretty cool bridge with some beautiful views, but it doesn't seem like there is anyplace to stop and take any pictures.

On the way to St. Michaels. I stopped at a farm stand and bought some really nice tomatoes that had been picked that morning, or so the man running the stand said. I drove through without stopping in St. Michaels, because I wanted to go a bit further than that to Tighlman Island which is surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay. There was very little traffic, which made it really pleasant. To get to the island, you have to cross the Knapps Narrows Bridge which is a drawbridge and unlike some, there is no charge to cross.

Tighlman Island is a very quiet, non-commercial area, certainly not touristy by any standards. The pace of life certainly looked slower there.

The house in the center doesn't really show much. I just thought it was a cool and unusual looking house! I just drove along some quiet country roads there until I could not go any farther, then I turned around drove around a few more and took the bridge back.

St. Michaels is a cute little town, with plenty of shops for tourists, but the downtown area was not strictly for the tourists, which I really like. I don't like seeing a downtown that has nothing to draw the locals. I did check out some of the shops, and drove around some of the streets near the water and it's a very pretty town. I didn't do a whole lot of exploring there because I didn't want to run out of time. I would not mind spending more time there if the opportunity presented itself. The area around it was one of many places I have been where I thought, 'I could happily live here'.

I decided to take the car ferry which goes between Bellevue and Oxford. This is said to be the oldest privately run ferry in the country. It started to run in the 1680's.

#9 Eastern Shore

I started in Bellevue and got off in Oxford, which is a sleepy little town, with a decent ice cream place where the owners make the ice cream in small batches. They are also generous with the whipped cream! :-)

All in all, it was just what I needed, a pleasant, relaxing day with great views.