by Nancy Parode
If you ask a Marylander about things to do in Calvert County, you’re likely to hear about fossil hunting at Calvert Cliffs. While it’s true that looking for fossils is an excellent way to spend an afternoon (more on this below), combing the beach at Calvert Cliffs State Park is just one of the many family-friendly activities Calvert County has to offer.
Summer is the most popular time to visit Calvert County, even though daytime temperatures can reach the mid-80s. With 165 miles of shoreline along the Chesapeake Bay and the Patuxent River, Calvert County has much to offer vacationing families. Solomon’s Island, the county’s southernmost point, is just 90 minutes from Annapolis by car, making Calvert County an excellent daytrip destination, too. Autumn and spring are also great times to visit—as temperatures fall, the roads become less busy.
Visitors come to Calvert County to enjoy outdoor activities and explore the county’s museums. In the summer and early fall, walking tours and sightseeing cruises are popular. Farm stands and farmers’ markets feature local produce and treats.
Maryland traditions and natural beauty come together in Calvert County, giving the young and young-at-heart opportunities to make vacation memories together.
Delve Into Maryland’s Ancient Past
The Calvert Cliffs are known for their colorful layers. The beaches at the foot of the cliffs are well-known places to hunt for shells, fossils, and sharks’ teeth. Popular fossil-hunting destinations include Flag Ponds Nature Park, Calvert Cliffs State Park, Breezy Point Beach, and Matoaka Beach. You can also take a guided fossil-hunting tour with Chesapeake Heritage and Paleontology Tours.
After you’ve collected your treasures, head to Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum in Saint Leonard. This park is home to the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab, where free tours are offered on Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. The park’s kid-friendly museum focuses on Maryland archaeology, making it an excellent place to find out more about digs and found artifacts from around the state.
Farther south, the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons focuses on all things Chesapeake Bay, including paleontology. Don’t miss the life-size megalodon (ancient shark) skeleton replica—you can’t miss it, actually—or the Treasures from the Cliffs paleontology exhibit.
Experience Bay and River Traditions
While you’re at the Calvert Marine Museum, check out the exhibits on Maryland’s maritime history and the biology of Calvert County’s estuaries. Next, head to the Drum Point Lighthouse, which was moved from its location at the mouth of the Patuxent River to the museum in 1975. Sign up at the museum’s front desk for a lighthouse tour, included with your admission. Consider adding a sightseeing cruise on the Wm. B. Tennison, built in 1899, to your museum experience. The one-hour cruise takes you around Sandy Point, under the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge and up to Point Patience. (Tickets are available online and at the museum. Museum admission is not required; you can buy Tennison tickets separately.)
The Calvert Marine Museum offers tours of Cove Point Lighthouse in Lusby on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons from May through September. Lighthouses played an important role in maritime safety, and still do, although the days of the lighthouse keepers are long gone.
For a true Maryland maritime experience, head out onto the water with Solomons Island Heritage Tours. You’ll spend time on a working fishing vessel, observing (or helping with) the tasks of the day, which might include oyster dredging, checking eel pots, or learning about the gear watermen use for fishing and crabbing. Lighthouse cruises are also available.
Fun for the Whole Family
There’s something for everyone at Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center in Solomons. Shady pathways, outdoor sculptures, fairy houses, and a family discovery garden invite you to explore the grounds. In the galleries, you’ll discover juried exhibitions and the artLAB, a creative space where you can creatively repurpose everyday items. (Tip: Special events at Annmarie typically sell out in advance. Buy tickets early to be sure your family can attend.)
K&K Adventure Park in Prince Frederick offers summertime fun for children and adults alike. Mini golf is open to all ages. Children ages 5 and up who meet height/weight restrictions can ride in bumper cars or climb the rock wall. Sluggers aged 6 and older can hone their baseball skills in the batting cages.
There are 188 geocaches in Calvert County as of this writing. Geocaching involves using GPS coordinates and/or a geocaching app to locate hidden caches (usually a container holding a logbook and other items). Geocachers log their finds online and sometimes leave small objects of their own in the cache for others to find. It’s a modern-day treasure hunt!
Rainy Day Activities in Calvert County
Maryland’s weather can be somewhat unpredictable, but rain doesn’t have to ruin your Calvert County experience. Older children will enjoy a visit to the Calvert Marine Museum or the museum at Jefferson Patterson Park The younger set might prefer to explore the Imaginarium in Solomons, which features play kitchens, a child-sized firehouse, slides, and plenty of room to burn off energy. Another option is the Let’s Play Indoor Playground in Prince Frederick, which offers a toddler playroom and inflatables (bounce houses of various types) for children ages 2 to 10.
Lodging
The Springhill Suites Marriott in Prince Frederick is located next to K&K Adventure Park. If you prefer to cook some of your meals while vacationing, you can use the barbecues behind the hotel. Cool off at the end of the day in the heated indoor pool.
The Rod ‘N’ Reel Resort on the waterfront in Chesapeake Beach features a new rooftop pool, a bandshell for summer concerts, and on-site restaurants. The Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum, which showcases the railroad that once brought tourists to Chesapeake Beach, is near the front entrance, and the Chesapeake Beach Water Park is across the street. The resort is open for business during ongoing renovations.
Head to VisitCalvert.com to learn more about Calvert County’s family-friendly attractions.