Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Welcome to the “Land of Pleasant Living”
With its variety of lifestyles and natural beauty, the Eastern Shore of Maryland is an enticing place to live, work and play. As a newcomer, your residential choices range from peaceful rural towns to shoreline villages scattered along the area’s many rivers and tributaries, the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. To make the adjustment to your new home even easier and more enjoyable, this guide provides valuable information on neighborhoods, schools, health care facilities and transportation. You’ll also find a list of attractions and leisure activities for every age group and interest.
Exploring the area’s secluded byways and major thoroughfares of the Eastern Shore reveals a countryside where each corner has a unique charm and appeal. A panoramic blend of residential havens, modern conveniences, covered bridges, manor homes and patchwork farmland grace the region. Beautiful beaches, vast wetlands and abundant wildlife complement the proud heritage displayed in fascinating museums and historic inns where visitors like Lafayette and George Washington once hung their hats.
Economy and Transportation
The local economy depends heavily upon trades that have been the mainstay of the shore communities for generations: the harvesting and production of seafood and agriculture. The work of many residents follows the seasons, from fishing and clamming in the early spring to crabbing and tilling the soil as the days grow longer. Some add to their income by chartering their impressive boats. In fact, the watermen’s unhurried lifestyle — relatively unchanged over the past 200 years — has served as a strong magnet for visitors and vacationers seeking a respite from the city’s hectic pace.
Tourism plays a vital role in many of the beach communities, where wonderful bed and breakfast inns combine with quaint shopping districts and fine restaurants capable of pleasing the most discriminating guests. Along with vacationers come yachtsmen, sailors, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. Over the decades, the Eastern Shore has become a mecca of large estates, cozy cottages and summer homes for families who live in other parts of Maryland or the Northeast. Commercial development, manufacturing plants and government offices expand the employment opportunities in some of the area’s larger cities like Cambridge, Easton and Salisbury.
Although a network of highways provides an easy trip between the Eastern Shore communities and links the area to Baltimore and Washington, D.C., the crowning jewel of transportation amenities is the 4.3-mile span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The very magnitude of the Chesapeake Bay is astounding. With over 3,000 miles of shoreline and 185 miles in length, it nearly divides Maryland in half before joining the Atlantic Ocean. It was the construction of this massive bridge that truly opened the wonders and delights of Maryland’s Eastern Shore to the world.
Education and Healthcare
The Eastern Shore is no exception to Maryland’s reputation for quality public education. The state’s impressive track record includes top rankings in SAT scores and per-pupil expenditures. Area youth receive an outstanding education in neighborhood schools, where programs for the gifted as well as the challenged meet the needs of every student. Extensive computer training adds new-millennium skills to a strong traditional curriculum, preparing tomorrow’s leaders for success in a highly competitive world.
Vocational-technical schools and community colleges offer a network of convenient educational opportunities, from specialized training to college-track programs. Regardless of where you settle on the Eastern Shore, the resources of a community college are guaranteed to be minutes from home. Residents can take choose from the wealth of institutions of higher education within the greater Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas, or take advantage of the four-year colleges and universities right on the shore. Choices range from the intimate atmosphere of a private college like Washington College or state-supported institutions like Salisbury State University and the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore.
The Eastern Shore’s state-of-the-art healthcare system is characterized by easy access to a wide variety of cost-effective facilities. Shore Health System functions as a vital contributor to the region, coordinating a regional network of hospitals, primary-care physician practices, home health services and emergency medical care. Located in Salisbury, the Peninsula Regional Medical Center is a 377-bed acute-care hospital with comprehensive medical and surgical services and a full range of specialties that include cancer care. Health and social services are enriched by volunteers and skilled staff members alike, from prevention programs and nursing/clinical services to counseling centers and hospices.
Lifestyle
Life on the Eastern Shore is slow and easy, a place where water rhythmically caresses the bay and ocean shoreline. In spite of its modern efficiencies, the area seems oblivious to the passing of time. Crimson and gold hues fill the early evening skies, sailboats tilt in the breeze as they head for safe harbor, and artisans craft white oak baskets just as their ancestors did 100 years ago. Many of the region’s small towns still reflect the feeling of a simpler and gentler time, an era when young boys dropped a fishing line into the local river or small children stopped by the Main Street store to pick out penny candy.
Many of the newcomers to the Eastern Shore first discovered this paradise on vacation, lured by pristine beaches or some of the nation’s finest fishing and hunting areas. From modest vacation bungalows to sprawling estates, the shore communities offer an attractive selection of older homes and newer construction in every imaginable price range and style. Choose from surroundings that range from gently rolling hills or woodlands to prime waterfront locations with private boat ramps. Handsome townhouses and modern condominiums offer a maintenance-free lifestyle complete with Chesapeake Bay views. Meticulously preserved or restored Victorians and colonials grace historic districts, while rural stretches offer rambling farmhouses shaded by beautiful old trees.
Widely diverse recreational activities abound, from nature’s own bounty to premier health and tennis clubs, country clubs and championship golf courses. Hundreds of miles of shoreline, sparkling lakes, rushing rivers and the Atlantic Ocean invite boaters, anglers, windsurfers and swimmers. The Chesapeake Bay shoreline guarantees exciting and challenging boating opportunities for all levels of expertise, while the protected creeks and secluded coves are delightful for cruising. Public fishing lakes and reservoirs are available at every turn. For a tranquil and unusual setting, residents can visit the nearby Assateague and Chincoteague Islands, home of the wild ponies that have roamed the isolated beaches for centuries.
Nature lovers can escape to Elk Neck State Park with 2,100 acres of lush, waterfront forest. Just a few miles down the road, nestled in the heart of “horse country,” is the Fair Hill Natural Resource Area. This expansive and beautiful facility not only hosts equestrian events throughout the year but offers over 5,600 acres of wilderness and 40 miles of trails for biking, hiking or horseback riding. State parks and forests offer camping options with modern facilities or primitive, undisturbed sites.
Newcomers to the Eastern Shore will be sharing their home with an abundance of wildlife. Over 2,700 species of plants and animals inhabit the Bay, including over 250 species of fish. Many are protected at such renowned preserves as the Wildfowl Trust of North America or the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. These graceful wild creatures have inspired generations of artists – especially decoy carvers.
Aficionados of shopping can take their time browsing through the hidden treasures of the Eastern Shore. Tucked away in many of the hamlets and villages are fascinating collections of antique dealers, one-of-a-kind shops, galleries, eateries, collectibles and crafts. Just a short drive away in the larger cities and towns, you’ll find a pleasing mix of outlet stores, upscale boutiques, department stores, retail shops and convenient services.
Although the world-class cultural and shopping amenities of Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are easily accessible from the Eastern Shore, residents can enjoy a wide selection of visual and performing arts just around the corner from home. Quality organizations and venues are available throughout the region, including the Chesapeake Performing Arts Center in Wye Mills, Church Hill Theatre, the Mid-Shore Symphony Society, and the Historic Avalon Theatre in Easton — a superb restoration of a 1921 art-deco vaudeville house. Area colleges and universities enrich the cultural scene with lectures, workshops, fine-art exhibits, live stage performances and children’s programs.
An art form of a different nature can be found in the shore’s plethora of restaurants, where world-famous, mouth-watering recipes usually revolve around the catch-of-the-day. Nothing compares to the Chesapeake Bay seafood experience, where crabs, oysters, clams and fish are caught by watermen and served fresh on your table. Dubbed the Crab Capital of the World, the town of Crisfield is probably the most famous locale in this respect. Its watermen have literally “lived off the Bay” for three centuries.
It’s difficult to imagine a vacation destination surrounded by a natural paradise, but Ocean City fits the description. Although this premier family destination is a playground for the entire nation, it is most accessible to the residents of the Eastern Shore. The famous boardwalk, exceptional shopping centers, ten golf courses and a variety of amusement parks are just a few of the attractions that draw thousands of visitors to these white-sand beaches each year.
The beauty of the Eastern Shore and its myriad of waterways, the endless recreational opportunities, the tranquility of a rural setting, and the ambiance of living history combine for an unparalleled quality of life. Add to this list a full calendar of colorful festivals and events, outstanding schools, cutting-edge healthcare, and handsome homes in a variety of scenic settings. Take in great salty breezes, the earthy scent of the fields and the intoxicating perfume from floral gardens. Listen to honking flocks of migrating geese, the electrifying sounds of live concerts, a splendid stage performance, or simply absorb the sense of serenity. Little wonder that so many newcomers are drawn to Maryland’s Eastern Shore as an alternative to the hectic pace and crowded conditions of urban living. From retirees to professionals and young families, everyone appreciates the relaxed lifestyle and friendliness of a lovely small town.
The Shoreline’s Vibrant Seasons
Spring
Nature displays her brightest palette of vibrant colors on hillsides covered with violets, pink moccasins and Quaker ladies. Hike through the deep forests, gather a wildflower bouquet, or paddle the Pocomoke River where downy ducklings are taking their first plunge.
Summer
Warmed by the intensity of the sun’s direct rays, the sea reigns over the sand and surf from crimson dusk until golden dawn. Ride the curling waves, stroll the boardwalks, or venture inland where fat bass ripple the tranquility of a shady pools.
Autumn
Under deep blue autumn skies, waves of Canadian and snow geese ripple southward to their winter haven. As enchanting as the ground cover of brilliant leaves, fall brings a kaleidoscope of home-spun delights and crisp, cooler temperatures.
Winter
Potters, weavers and other artisans demonstrate centuries-old crafts as hardy beach-combers stop to collect shells along the tide line. The season glows with hospitality in towns where festivals and holiday lighting create a wonderland of heart-warming sights and sounds.
State Symbols
State Capital
Annapolis
State Bird
Baltimore Oriole
State Tree
White Oak
State Flower
Black-Eyed Susan
State Song
Maryland, My Maryland
State Boat
Skipjack
State Nickname
Free State or Old Line State
