THINGS TO DO IN NORTHEAST, MD

In the center of the county on the North East River is Charlestown. Established in 1742, Charlestown is the county’s oldest incorporated town. A walking tour (410-287-8793) features the eighteenth century taverns and houses that keep this town much as it was in colonial times.

North East

[Fig. 16] This little town, with the flavor of Main Street USA, sits at the head of the North East River, about 9 miles east of Havre de Grace. Visitors stroll along the streets licking double-dip ice cream cones and investigating shops filled with antiques and collectibles. Favored attractions include Cramer’s 5 & 10 and the Day Basket Factory. At the 5 & 10, shelves are filled with penny candy and other items from the 1950s. At the Day Basket Factory on the corner of Main Street and Irishtown Road, artisans make split-oak baskets that have been traditional for more than a century. Also popular are the antiques and collectibles of the Shoppes of Londonshire.

Gilpin Falls Covered Bridge

[Fig. 16(15)] About 5 miles north of North East, where North East Creek intersects MD 272, is Gilpin Falls Covered Bridge. Built about 1860, the 119-foot restored wooden structure has withstood the elements longer than any other covered bridge in the state. The much-photographed bridge is visible and easily accessible from MD 272.

Hiking at Elk Neck State Park

Short hiking trails named for the color of their blazes lead through Coastal Plain marshes and hardwood forests, affording good opportunities to spot birds and wildlife.
The 1.5-mile Red Trail loops through a deciduous hardwood forest with a canopy of oak, hickory, beech, maple, locust, and tulip poplar. Mountain laurel and flowering dogwood bring the understory to life with their pink and white blooms in spring. Patches of ferns, mosses, and wildflowers add to the beauty. The trail is of moderate difficulty and connects the North East Beach entrance road off MD 272 with the chapel at the Mauldin Mountain area.
The 1-mile Green Trail is an easy hike between the visitor center and the Bohemia camping loop that goes through a hardwood forest and by a freshwater pond. Spring peepers (Hyla crucifer) shrilly announce their presence on spring evenings, while a bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) adds its low thrum to a summer night. Look for the tracks of a raccoon at water’s edge. The front feet look much like tiny human hands.
The Black Trail is a 2-mile hilly loop of moderate difficulty featuring a hardwood forest, a marsh, and beaches of the Elk River. Tracks of the web-footed, playful river otter may be located along water’s edge. The trail is accessible across from site 12 in the Susquehanna campground or in the Wye camping area between sites Wye-2 and Wye-3.
The 2-mile, easy Blue Trail leads to a loop at Turkey Point Lighthouse, with views of the bay and Elk River. Overgrown fields give hikers the best opportunity to find wildflowers. The trailhead is at the southern end of MD 272, where a chain blocks the road. The parking area is on the left.

Turkey Point Lighthouse

[Fig. 16(18)] Perched on a 100-foot bluff, the 35-foot tower of the Turkey Point Lighthouse stands as high above the bay waters as any other light. Built in 1833, this is one of the oldest lighthouses in continual operation. The last keeper before automation was Fannie Salter, who lived at the lighthouse from 1925 until her retirement in 1947. The U. S. Coast Guard tore down the keeper’s house. Only the oil house and white tower with its flashing light remain. The lighthouse appears in the Clint Eastwood movie Absolute Power. The lighthouse is not open to the public.
Near the center is the Big Elk Creek Covered Bridge, one of just five covered bridges in the state. The bridge was built in 1860 at a cost of just $1,165, then heavily damaged in 1938 and again in 1950 when trucks broke through the flooring. The cost of a 1992 reconstruction was $152,000—130 times the original construction price 132 years earlier. The bridge received the state’s Historic Civil Engineering Landmark Award in 1994.
A Fair Hill brochure, a trail map, and a calendar of events are available at the visitor center.

• Directions: From Elkton, go 8 miles north on MD 213. Go right on scenic MD 273. Fair Hill NRMA is on both sides of the highway along MD 273. The race track is on the right. The office is on the east side of MD 213 at the junction with MD 273.
• Activities: Steeplechase and flat races with pari-mutuel wagering, fox chasing on horseback, hiking, freshwater fishing, mountain biking, camping for organized youth groups, seasonal hunting by permit.
• Facilities: Equestrian center with stables, turf race course, visitor center, nature center, trails, trout stream, youth-group campground, tea barn, food concession, picnic pavilion, activity building (new).
• Dates: The grounds are open sunrise to sunset, year-round. Races are generally scheduled for Memorial Day and in the fall. A three-month bow-hunting season runs from Sept. 15 to Jan. 31 on a designated 650 acres. A managed deer hunt (with shotgun) is held in Jan.
• Fees: There is a parking fee and a rental fee for many buildings, including stables, a tea barn, and a picnic pavilion.
• Closest town: Elkton is 8 miles south.
• For more information: Department of Natural Resources–Fair Hill, 376 Fair Hill Drive, Elkton, MD 21921. Phone (410) 398-1246

Chesapeake City

[Fig. 16] Picturesque Chesapeake City on the C&D Canal has been featured in Southern Living magazine. The rooftops of the colorful homes are visible from the MD 213 bridge that crosses the canal, dividing the town in two. A side trip into town reveals dozens of restored homes with beautiful gardens, antique and gift shops, art galleries, four bed and breakfast inns, and five restaurants.
Many buildings and houses are steeped in history. Most are located on George Street and Bohemia Avenue, which are on the southern side of the canal and the eastern side of MD 213. The Bayard House Restaurant (circa 1780) at 11 Bohemia Avenue is one of the oldest buildings in the city. Today, visitors can sample both traditional and innovative Eastern Shore fare year-round at a moderate price as they watch boats navigate the canal.

• For more information: Historic district and walking tour, phone (410) 885-2795 or (410) 885-2997. Bayard House Restaurant, phone (410) 885-5040.

Restaurants of Cecil County

The county’s location at the head of the Chesapeake Bay is reflected in the many fine seafood restaurants here. A few are listed here.
Howard House Restaurant. 101 West Main Street, Elkton. Fine dining in a historic building, circa 1846. Moderate. Phone (410) 398-4646.
Bayard House Restaurant. 11 Bohemia Avenue, Chesapeake City. Sample traditional Eastern Shore cooking with a hint of the Southwest. The restaurant overlooks the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. Maryland crab cakes and Eastern Shore crab imperial are favorites. Serving lunch and dinner daily. Inexpensive to moderate. Phone (410) 885-5040.
Chesapeake Inn Restaurant & Marina. 605 Second Street, Chesapeake City. Enjoy lunch or dinner overlooking the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal. Continental cuisine with Italian flare. Accessible by boat. Moderate. Phone (410) 885-2040.
Woody’s Crab House. 29 South Main Street, North East. One of Maryland’s top 10 restaurants for steamed crabs and crab cakes. Voted Best of the Bay in 1997 by Chesapeake Bay Magazine. Features local art, casual atmosphere. Open Mar. through Dec. Moderate. Phone (410) 287-3541.
Fair Hill Inn. Fair Hill, Elkton. Lunch and dinner are served at this old inn (circa 1714), which is on the National Register of Historic Homes. Located at MD 273 and MD 213. Moderate. Phone (410) 398-4187.