We are going to the big show. Any advice as to where to stay, what to look for, how to get around, or anything else to do in the area? We are just going to look around. Got a couple of extra days for other things there too.
Annapolis Boat Show advice needed.
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I went 2 yrs ago, what a SHOW! We stayed abt 3 mi away from the show in a Marriott Courtyard. See the Naval Academy while there. Great food (crab cakes). We took advantage of the Bare Boat Charter "sales" and booked a trip with Sunsail and saved a chunk with the "at the show special".
If you want to stay close to the show BOOK EARLY! Starting from about 4 - 6 weeks before the show all the places close by will be all booked up. You can always find a place at the last minute but you might be 20 - 30 minutes away.
Go visit Baltimore if you haven't been there.
Go visit Baltimore if you haven't been there.
During Boat Show there are free shuttles from the Naval Academy stadium parking lot. In addition, public transit in Annapolis is pretty good. See http://www.ci.annapolis.md.us/Government/Departments/Transportation/BusRoutes.aspx . Some careful choices of restaurants might make this http://www.ecruisersllc.com/pdf/eCruiser-Restaurant-Shuttle20100606.pdf useful.
If you drive one of the best places to look for parking is the elementary school on 6th St in Eastport.
Some locals rent rooms in their houses or even their whole houses out for the Show. Check the Annapolis Capital newspaper ( hometownannapolis.com ) classifieds. Hotels book up really early. The good deals have been gone for months. If you're going to come make arrangements now.
If you drive one of the best places to look for parking is the elementary school on 6th St in Eastport.
Some locals rent rooms in their houses or even their whole houses out for the Show. Check the Annapolis Capital newspaper ( hometownannapolis.com ) classifieds. Hotels book up really early. The good deals have been gone for months. If you're going to come make arrangements now.
When we go to the show we stay with my brother and his wife in Columbia, but I'm not sure he's interesated in more company. The times we stay in motels we stay in one of the places on U.S. Route 1 in the Jessup / Laurel area. There are; Holiday Inn (probably the best bet), Red Roof Motel 8 and several others. It's about half an hour from the show but it gets you out of the craziness. Several of the vendors stay in the area instead of in annapolis. Amonng the other factors it is cheaper and easier to get reservations.
Chuck...
if you will be driving, the "secret" parking deal is to park at the elementary school on the Easport side of the Spa Creek bridge. The reasonable fee goes to the student association and the walk over to the show is and easy an scenic one. The Boatyard Bar and Grill (a great sailor's hangout) is a short walk the other way nearby.
In town, my favorite spot to eat is McGarvey's on the corner of the square down from Middleton's. Bacon Cheeseburger and their home brew beer! Second favorite is the roast beef sammies at the Fleet Reserve Club, along the Ego Alley docks, West side. Cantller's crab house if you can find it! Many other good eateries as well (Chick's deli for breakfast!).
Don't miss taking a tour of the Naval Academy. With extra time, check out the town's back streets off the square as well (Hayman-Harman House and other colonial structures are quite impressive to see).
if you will be driving, the "secret" parking deal is to park at the elementary school on the Easport side of the Spa Creek bridge. The reasonable fee goes to the student association and the walk over to the show is and easy an scenic one. The Boatyard Bar and Grill (a great sailor's hangout) is a short walk the other way nearby.
In town, my favorite spot to eat is McGarvey's on the corner of the square down from Middleton's. Bacon Cheeseburger and their home brew beer! Second favorite is the roast beef sammies at the Fleet Reserve Club, along the Ego Alley docks, West side. Cantller's crab house if you can find it! Many other good eateries as well (Chick's deli for breakfast!).
Don't miss taking a tour of the Naval Academy. With extra time, check out the town's back streets off the square as well (Hayman-Harman House and other colonial structures are quite impressive to see).
There are lots of places to stay in Annapolis. You can spend a bunch of money and stay at the hotels close to the harbor (Marriot), or a bit further (Loews or Westin up West Street) go further away for cheaper rates. If you are not going to have a rental car and wish to walk around town and the show, then you can find a room or a hotel nearby, but book ahead of time. If you have a car, then you can travel out of the harbor area and find hotels and motels for less money. Back in the late 70's and early 80's when one didn't have as much as a selection, you could always find something at Glen Burnie and then drive every day to the show, but now there are tons more hotels/motels, etc. and selection is better, but don't wait until the last minute. Google the topic and you will find lots to look at. For restaurants I would consider Mikes on the South River and Solomon's Island Road (hwy 2) for eating steamed crabs on paper by the dozens. Or Cantler's (smaller place liked by many). O'Brien's Seafood has to be one of the best seafood restaurants around on Eastport side (across Spa Creek). Same area is the Freight house (used to be a Trumpy plant) which is good for a cocktail if not dinner and a great salad bar. Or try Carol's Creek near the Annapolis Yacht Club (Eastport). The old sailor's bar Marmaduke's is not a Ruth Chris steak house, but Lewne's is considered one of the best places for steak too. A cool hole in the wall sailor's bar is Davis' Pub. These are all on Eastport side. Near the show, good places to eat are McGarvey's (try their crab balls) and Middleton Tavern (a must is their raw oyster shooters). The treaty of Paris down stairs bar is good for an after dinner cocktail. Peanuts is the bartender there - great guy. There are sushi places near the harbor, French Restaurants, Italian Restaurants, up the hill off State Circle is an Irish Pub too. No shortage of places to eat. Also try Sam's in a small little harbor near Bay Ridge Road on the way to some of the larger marinas on that side. For site seeing, there are lots of things to see and the Annapolis Academy is cool. Go to the crypt of John Paul Jones and Prebyl Hall and the Maritime Museum. You can go through the sentry on Gate one (near the show) and tell them you want to walk around. Check out the marina. There are stores abound. Drive across the Bay Bridge on the weekend and look at thousands of boats on the Bay. Have a Yuengling beer for me. Oh, and don't forget to go to the show.
There are lots of places to stay and things to do. DC is also not out of the question when looking for some where to say. But my biggest advice would be to spend the extra money and go on VIP day which is the Thursday before the show.
Going on VIP days gives you lots of room to move around on what is a narrow dock and also really talk to people. You can also mange the whole show in one day this way. The none VIP days are very crowed and you may not be able to get someones undivided attention.
Good luck and we will se you thee.
Going on VIP days gives you lots of room to move around on what is a narrow dock and also really talk to people. You can also mange the whole show in one day this way. The none VIP days are very crowed and you may not be able to get someones undivided attention.
Good luck and we will se you thee.
We have been to that show 6 times...we love it. My wife has to drag me away from that place. Thursday is the VIP day and the crowds are light however the price to enter is double. Save up all your boat buys for that show as you will get the best deals there. Kent Island is a quick 15 minutes away with better hotel/motel rates (right on the water too). Spend time walking around the side streets and enjoy the architecture of the homes. Go for good beer and grub at the Rams Head and they also have the best entertainment too.
Bill, Mikes is on Riva Road at the South River, not Rte 2.... I think "Freight House" you mean the "Chart House"?... Yes, on Davis' Pub in Eastport. It is a good place to go if you go to the Weems-Plath's sale or the Sailrite store.... I'm surprised you didn't mention The Boatyard Grill. Is is now the sailor's home in Annapolis, and was rated the number 13 sailors bar in the world by one of the boating magazines.... If you can't get an Annapolis room, try Bowie/Rte 301 area. It is easy to come in Rte 50 to the Navy stadium to catch the shuttle parking. Hhmmm...maybe I should rent out my boat???
VIP day used to be trade day. In the 80s Thursday was free to people in the industry. Now it is the day people willing to pay a bunch more show up. As it happens, "the trade" generally doesn't show up on Thursday anymore. The crowds are indeed a bit thinner but those who show up are (generally) more difficult to deal with. Not worth the angst in my opinion. I can get on and off the boats faster on Friday than Thursday and the people tend to be more considerate on one another.
I go on Friday and Sunday but that's just me. YMMV.
My perspective is from someone going to the Boat Show every year since about 1982, and living aboard in Annapolis since 2006.
We like Middletons and McGarveys in winter but they are more than a bit touristy in summer and certainly during the Show. The oyster shooters at Middletons draw the locals in. When they have music upstairs that pulls locals in also.
Chick & Ruth's is up Main St. It's a pit. Cantler's is on Mill Creek off Whitehall Bay. It's an expensive pit.
Also up Main St is Joss - best sushi in town although a little crowded.
If you want to settle into the sailing scene and likely run into the experienced vendor folk from the show your best two chances are Davis' Pub and Boatyard Bar and Grill in Eastport. Saturday night the EYC Bash at Eastport Yacht Club in Eastport (1st Street) is your best deal. If you want to get away from the some of the boat show surge try Jack's Fortune on Bay Ridge near Giant Food. You may be surprised who you run into on the sidewalk on your way in or out.
Fleet Reserve Club has pretty good lunches. Depending on the music booked the patio at Marriott can be a good place to take a break. All the restaurants along the east side of the show have offerings but it is cramped on that side.
Once you leave the show there are a number of good places to eat on West St. Parking is rough during the show so take the free shuttle from City Dock or park at the garage near Westgate Circle. Fado's Irish Pub is good (free wifi - fast). So is Lemongrass (for Thai). Carlson's Donuts & Thai (no kidding) is pretty good also.
In the Chesapeake Bay forum on Sailnet there is a Chesapeake Bay Eats thread that may be illuminating.
The Boat Show is a great experience and worth the time.
sail fast and eat well,
I go on Friday and Sunday but that's just me. YMMV.
My perspective is from someone going to the Boat Show every year since about 1982, and living aboard in Annapolis since 2006.
We like Middletons and McGarveys in winter but they are more than a bit touristy in summer and certainly during the Show. The oyster shooters at Middletons draw the locals in. When they have music upstairs that pulls locals in also.
Chick & Ruth's is up Main St. It's a pit. Cantler's is on Mill Creek off Whitehall Bay. It's an expensive pit.
Also up Main St is Joss - best sushi in town although a little crowded.
If you want to settle into the sailing scene and likely run into the experienced vendor folk from the show your best two chances are Davis' Pub and Boatyard Bar and Grill in Eastport. Saturday night the EYC Bash at Eastport Yacht Club in Eastport (1st Street) is your best deal. If you want to get away from the some of the boat show surge try Jack's Fortune on Bay Ridge near Giant Food. You may be surprised who you run into on the sidewalk on your way in or out.
Fleet Reserve Club has pretty good lunches. Depending on the music booked the patio at Marriott can be a good place to take a break. All the restaurants along the east side of the show have offerings but it is cramped on that side.
Once you leave the show there are a number of good places to eat on West St. Parking is rough during the show so take the free shuttle from City Dock or park at the garage near Westgate Circle. Fado's Irish Pub is good (free wifi - fast). So is Lemongrass (for Thai). Carlson's Donuts & Thai (no kidding) is pretty good also.
In the Chesapeake Bay forum on Sailnet there is a Chesapeake Bay Eats thread that may be illuminating.
The Boat Show is a great experience and worth the time.
sail fast and eat well,
We went in '08 ...
and we are planning to go this year as well. We stayed at the Double Tree somewhere on the outskirts. It was very nice and I don't remember the price so it was probably reasonable. We were able to make a last minute reservation but we only stayed on Thursday night. They provided free transportation to the center of town. Our plan was to make a liesurely drive on Thursday and enjoy the evening in Annapolis. We went to the show on Friday and drove home. By 4:00 we had easily visited everything we wanted to see so our plan worked very well for us. The day was sunny and warm and there was a crowd, but we had no problems doing what we wanted. We seemed to have plenty of time to spend looking at what we wanted to see. We made an appointment to have our boat fitted for a cover and we bought a few other items as well. The crowd was actually very sociable so we had a good time!
This year we are going to do the same thing, but we will stay over on Friday night and visit DC on Saturday.
and we are planning to go this year as well. We stayed at the Double Tree somewhere on the outskirts. It was very nice and I don't remember the price so it was probably reasonable. We were able to make a last minute reservation but we only stayed on Thursday night. They provided free transportation to the center of town. Our plan was to make a liesurely drive on Thursday and enjoy the evening in Annapolis. We went to the show on Friday and drove home. By 4:00 we had easily visited everything we wanted to see so our plan worked very well for us. The day was sunny and warm and there was a crowd, but we had no problems doing what we wanted. We seemed to have plenty of time to spend looking at what we wanted to see. We made an appointment to have our boat fitted for a cover and we bought a few other items as well. The crowd was actually very sociable so we had a good time!
This year we are going to do the same thing, but we will stay over on Friday night and visit DC on Saturday.
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