The Alderton Guide
Annapolis, Curated
Ten experiences hand-picked by our concierge team. Everything within striking distance of your room.
Curated by our concierge
10 Annapolis Essentials
Maryland State House
The oldest U.S. state capitol in continuous legislative use, the Maryland State House is where George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief in 1783, and where the Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris in 1784 — officially ending the Revolutionary War. The dome, built without a single nail, is the oldest wooden dome in the country still in regular use.
Concierge tip:Ask a docent about the Tiffany-glass panels in the old Senate chamber.
Historic City Dock
Annapolis’s working waterfront has been the heart of the city since the 17th century. Today Ego Alley — the narrow stretch where boaters motor in for a promenade — is the most reliably entertaining people-watching in Maryland. Wooden sailboats, skipjacks, and mega-yachts jostle for space while the smell of steamed crab drifts from every direction.
Concierge tip:Arrive by 9 am on summer Saturdays for the farmers’ market.
Chesapeake Bay Sailing Tours
The Chesapeake Bay is one of the great sailing waters of the American East Coast, and Annapolis is its capital. Our concierge can arrange private half-day sails, skippered sunset cruises, multi-day passage charters, and introductory ASA sailing courses. The Bay in September and October — when the summer haze clears and the water turns crystalline — is extraordinary.
Concierge tip:Book the sunset cruise for evenings in August–October: light on the water is spectacular.
Annapolis Maritime Museum
A deeply personal and movingly told story of the Chesapeake Bay waterman community — the oystermen, crabbers, and fishermen who shaped this coast for three centuries. The museum is housed in a restored seafood-packing house at the water’s edge and features oral histories, working boats, and objects collected over generations. The best introduction to what makes the Bay sacred to Marylanders.
Concierge tip:The oyster roast events in fall are the most fun you can have on a Tuesday night in Annapolis.
U.S. Naval Academy
Founded in 1845, the Academy occupies 338 acres along the Severn River at the heart of Annapolis. Guided tours of the grounds, the Bancroft Hall dormitory (the largest in the world), and the Chapel — where Admiral John Paul Jones is buried — are available to the public most days. The Noon Formation, when the Brigade of Midshipmen marches to lunch, is not to be missed.
Concierge tip:Noon Formation runs weekdays at approximately 12:05 pm when the Academy is in session.
Maryland Avenue Antiques
Maryland Avenue and its surrounding streets form one of the Mid-Atlantic’s best concentrated antiques districts. Naval memorabilia, Early American furniture, colonial silver, and Chesapeake Bay decoys sit alongside rare books, maps, and prints. Several dealers specialize in Maryland-specific history, and several more in 19th-century marine art.
Concierge tip:The Maryland Inn Building dealers are open Monday; many others are Friday–Sunday only.
Old Farmer’s Market at City Dock
Saturday mornings, April through October, the City Dock comes alive with the region’s most celebrated farmers’ market. Chesapeake oysters, Eastern Shore produce, Maryland honey, local wines, and artisan cheeses are available from vendors who have been selling here for decades. The hot crab soup from the Whitmore Farm stand is worth setting an alarm for.
Concierge tip:Arrive early — the best vendors sell out by 9:30 am.
William Paca House & Garden
Built in 1765 by William Paca, one of Maryland’s four signatories to the Declaration of Independence, this five-part Georgian mansion and its two-acre pleasure garden are among the finest intact Colonial-era properties in America. The terraced garden, restored to its 18th-century plan using a 1772 portrait of Paca, is extraordinary in spring.
Concierge tip:The garden is at its peak in mid-April when the formal parterres are in bloom.
Ceremony Coffee & Roasters
Annapolis’s finest specialty coffee roaster has its flagship here — a carefully designed space where single-origin pour-overs, seasonal espressos, and extraordinary pastries make the first hour of any morning better. Ceremony sources directly from producers in Ethiopia, Colombia, and Guatemala, and their roasting philosophy is deeply thoughtful.
Concierge tip:Their Kenyan espresso in summer is one of the best cups of coffee in Maryland.
Sandy Point State Park
The closest stretch of open-bay beach to Annapolis sits at Sandy Point, with views across the water to the twin spans of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Kayak rentals, a sandy beach, osprey nesting platforms, and a Blue Crab fishing pier make this the perfect half-day excursion for guests with a car. Our concierge arranges car service.
Concierge tip:Best on a weekday morning: parking is ample, the beach is quiet, and the osprey are active.
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