Long lines of cars across in summer are more likely to be headed to Ocean City than to one of the tiny hidden beaches tucked away on creeks and rivers of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. The state of Maryland has over 7,000 miles of shoreline—the majority on the Eastern Shore. But with miles of beaches comes a challenge: how do you find a beach where you can go with a picnic basket to enjoy the peaceful sounds of water lapping at the land’s edge? Or a beach where you can take the kids fishing? Or a beach with a tiki bar where you can sip a margarita and listen to Jimmy Buffett songs?
Wye Island
One example of a tucked-away beach you can visit is at the very end of Wye Island, which is a state-owned park in Queen Anne’s County. The best way to find the beach if you’re on foot is to check one of the park maps that are in various locations on the island. The parking area is about a half mile from the little beach. The wooded trail that leads you to the beach is shaded, beautiful, and easy enough to navigate with kids and a wagon, bikes, or simply a backpack holding your lunch. There’s even a picnic table there. The beach is very small, but is a great fishing spot.
Betterton Beach
If you’re looking for good swimming beach for the kids, Betterton’s perfect; it’s tucked away in Kent County where the Sassafrass River meets the Chesapeake Bay. A big advantage? No sea nettles- the fresh water from the River keeps them away. There’s also a lifeguard and a bath house, so this beach is very visitor-friendly. Betterton is one of two public beaches in Kent County-- the other is in Rock Hall.
Marina Beaches
Marina beaches are where you’re going to party. The combination of boats, bars, sunsets and sand combines to create a fun-loving atmosphere. Various marinas across the shore have stepped up their beach scene, offering outdoor tiki bars, island music and plenty of sand where kids can dig. Often, marinas require membership to use their beaches, but many are very relaxed- if you’re parking your boat or car there and spending money, you can hang out at their beaches.
Crab Country
Janes Island State Park, near Crisfield in Somerset County, is one of the Eastern Shore's most complete recreation spots. You can reserve a camping site or “rough it” in a luxury heated/air conditioned cabin with a private dock. Sunset views here are amazing, and you can fish and crab right from your own dock. If you bring or rent a canoe, you can venture over to Cedar Island, a tidal wetland with sandy beaches, where the only things as big as the crabs in the summer are the mosquitoes-- visit in spring or fall to avoid having to bathe in DEET.
Other Beachy Keen Spots
If you’re looking for a hidden beach with some cool birds on it, check out Pickering Creek Audubon Center in Easton, which offers canoe rentals and field trips, or the Jean Ellen duPont Shehan Audubon Sanctuary in Bozman, near St. Michael's. Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center in Queen Anne's County has 4 miles of wetland and woodland trails and a boardwalk overlooking Kent Narrows. Rental canoes are available here, too. Another really cool secret beach in Queen Anne’s County is at the end of the trail in Terrapin Park in Stevensville-- you’ll be rewarded with a gorgeous view of the sunset by the Bay Bridge.
Read more about Ocean City, Maryland.
Read about Maryland Blue Crabs.
