Annapolis in March

Hi,

My wife and I are planning a weekend in Annapolis March 9-11 2007. She will be 6 months pregnant, so all day walking tours are probably not the best idea. We%26#39;ll probably stay at a B%26amp;B State House Inn looks nice--any feedback or other suggestions?

Ani ideas on how to have a pregnancy friendly weekend in Annapolis in March?

Thanks

Annapolis in March

for the evenings, one thing i%26#39;d do is check the schedule at the rams head tavern. i looked....two of the nights you%26#39;ll be there are apparently unbooked at this point. ?

but there are other places to hear live music as well...49 west has jazz, and it%26#39;s a very very nice place.

this might sound really stupid, but during the day....if she%26#39;s never done it before...just drive over the chesapeake bay bridge. it%26#39;s pretty spectacular. a friend of mine from indiana did it for the first time a month ago %26amp; she was flabbergasted. and there ARE some towns on kent island that could have some nice shops to visit....i can%26#39;t swear to that, i%26#39;m always hell bent for leather to get to the beach when i drive that route.

Annapolis in March

Check this site for reviews of the State House B%26amp;B. For the most part it gets very favorable reviews. I know where it is but have never stayed there. Great location and very close to everything....literally outside your door. As you get closer check www.whatsupannapolis.com. It is a monthly publication that contains everything that is going on but they have a web site too.

If you want to drive a less hectic and more scenic route, you can drive to Annapolis from Philly and go on the Eastern Shore, (Route 213 or 301). This way you will cross the Bay bridge (not pay the tolls) and enjoy a better ride than 95. Unless you go into towns like Chestertown, or Easton, there is not much shopping or activity at this time.

Why not book something at a day spa for your wife? There are a couple downtown, one is called Annapolis Day Spa and Salon. I would recommend making reservations for dinner when you come depending on the restaurants you wish to eat at. Some places don%26#39;t take walk ins so when they are booked they are booked. I could give recommendations if you like.

You will be right by the State House (obviously) and you can enter the building for free. It is quite interesting and there is a visitor%26#39;s section there that has brochures and information for the whole state.

Maybe if the weather is favorable they may offer boat excursions, but I don%26#39;t know how flexible the scheduling is for these companies. There are quite a few historic homes that you can tour if that interests you. There are usually places to sit while the guide talks so your wife would not have to be on her feet all the time.

The Naval Academy is also very interesting and has a huge visitors center that is also a mini museum. You just need your Driver%26#39;s Licenses to enter. Hope this helps.

I definitely agree with 6tareg about the drive from Philly to Annapolis ... skip 95 and go do the Eastern shore and over the Bay Bridge to Annapolis. If you stay on 301S, you will make good time. However, 213 is an interesting scenic route. I would especially suggest spending a couple hours in Chestertown.

The Bay Bridge is an interesting ride. However, do not try to go over it east bound at rush hour. There are usually back-ups on Route 50 through Annapolis prior to the Bridge.

Besides the waliking tours, there is also a bus/trolley tour. They do a nice job and might point out a couple of places that you want to explore further. (I took some guest on the bus tour after I lived here 5+ years and still found it informative). They usally leave from the Vistitors Center but it is under a major renovation. So you might want to call the Vistors Center and see where the tour leaves from now.

I would suggest visting some of the historic homes. The Harwood Hammond House and Paca House are interesting.

Be sure to make reservations for dinner a week in advance. Harry Brownes in nice and close to your B%26amp;B.

We%26#39;ve booked at the State House B%26amp;B ( I%26#39;ll review it adter we get back). Thanks for the advice on taking the Eastern Shore route. I%26#39;ve driven on 95 too many times (sister in law went to William and Mary, and her sister liked to go visit. Often.)

Friday, we plan on driving down, stopping en route if there is anything we can%26#39;t resist. I%26#39;ll check out Kent Island, thanks for the tip.

After we check in, I think some shopping, browsing is in order.

She and I like blues, so the group playing the Ram Tavern that night looks good. Can someone explain the seating to me. I looked at their website, and it looks like the band plays ina corner of the restaurant. Since we are just a party of 2 (well, 2.66 at that point), would we need to share a table with another couple? Not too wild about that.

Saturday--The State house and the Academy, then it depends on how long she wants to spend on her feet. The bus tour someone mentioned sounds good. I%26#39;ll check into that. Dinner--somewhere nice (not coat and tie nice), but nice.

Sunday--catch up on what we skipped earlier, then off to home --stopping by the Carter%26#39;s outlet in DE perhaps :o)

Thanks to all who%26#39;ve helped so far and any who suggest things now.

';She and I like blues, so the group playing the Ram Tavern that night looks good. Can someone explain the seating to me. I looked at their website, and it looks like the band plays ina corner of the restaurant. Since we are just a party of 2 (well, 2.66 at that point), would we need to share a table with another couple? Not too wild about that.';

It%26#39;s not really much different than sitting next to people in a theater. I go to the Rams Head fairly often. Almost always sit with people I don%26#39;t know, since most of the tables are for 4 or 6. (There are a couple of tables for 2, but they are the furthest from the stage and I looked for March 9 and they are sold for that night anyway)

Sometimes I end up talking to the other folks at the table, sometimes the only interaction is a nod or a smile when you first sit down. It%26#39;s not a big deal. And you do get separate checks lol.

Don%26#39;t wait too much longer if you want to go on March 9 - there aren%26#39;t many seats left.

IrishFan described the Ram%26#39;s Head shared table environment correctly. You share the table, but since you have bought tickets it is more like theator experience. I hate mingling and small talk (I mean really hate it!), but have never had a bad experience sharing a table at Ram%26#39;s head. Conversation is completely optional before the show and during the show it is a concert environment. Like Irish, I have had some conversations at the table and other times none.

The concert room in the Ram%26#39;s Head is seperate from the restaurant and bar. It is used exclusively for concerts. The have a formal stage and decent sound equipment. You have to purchase a ticket to enter the room and seating assignments are strictly enforced. I would suggest booking tickets early if you want to attend. The accoustics are much better in the main room than the side room (to the far right of the stage).

I don%26#39;t know if you%26#39;ll find too much too do on Kent Island. There are a few stip malls along the highway, and a few shops off the beaten path, but it is not really a destination. If you are going to stop, I would suggest going off the path to a more quaint town like Chestertown or St. Michaels.

Since you mentioned the Carter%26#39;s outlet, there is an outlet mall in Queenstown at the intersection of 301 and 50. You might want to pop in there (you%26#39;ll drive right by it). I think that they used to have a Carter%26#39;s outlet, but I am really not sure.

By the way, Annapolis is a casual town. With so many boaters, the dress in most restaurants even the upscale ones do not require coat or tie. So don%26#39;t limit your choices by this.

By the way, as a previous poster mentioned there are outlets in Maryland right on your way in or out of Annapolis. You don%26#39;t have to go to Delaware unless you want to save the 5% in taxes but then pay for the fuel. Queenstown outlets have a Carter%26#39;s, Gymboree, Gap kids %26amp; baby, OshKosh B%26#39;Gosh, and others that sell baby clothes. They are about 7 miles from the Bay Bridge on the Eastern Shore. Happy shopping.

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

Any comments on Buddy%26#39;s Crabs and Ribs (www.buddysonline.com) for dinner? My wife wants the fun? of dealing with crabs in the shell.

There are better places to have the ';experience'; but if you don%26#39;t want to leave downtown, it may be your best option. Make sure they have em.