Celebrating another season aboard Patriot Cruises

Patriot Cruises will begin another season running 7 days a week on May 13th, 2017, departing daily at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. 

Beginning Memorial Day weekend, additional times on the weekends (11am and 4pm). In addition, the Island Music Cocktail Cruises will resume on Saturdays from 5:30-7:00pm but will cruise on both Memorial Day Saturday and Sunday. Check out our updated schedule and to buy tickets online go to www.patriotcruises.com.


Imagine experiencing the beauty of St Michaels from the Deck of The Patriot, a replica of a 1930's Steam Ferry while being immersed in the history of 300 year old mansions, the people who lived here and the amazing wildlife. 

The area is steeped in history dating from before the American Revolution. The ambience of the colonial and Victorian-era charm is unmistakable and can be enjoyed throughout your visit.

The 75 minute cruise on the Patriot, The winner of the Best Party and Event Cruise of the Bay by What's Up Eastern Shore Magazine, will teach you the history of St Michaels and the ever changing Chesapeake Bay. We will see beautiful 300 year old Mansions and learn their history, we will even see the Waterfront Mansions seen in the Movie "The Wedding Crashers. We will also focus on the varied wildlife on the Miles River.

The Patriot is home docked at The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum next to the World Famous Crab Claw Restaurant. Please park in the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum Parking lot. Leave the Parking lot and follow the crabs painted on the ground to the red brick walkway. The Patriot ticket booth is on the harbor outside of the Museum entrance.

The Patriot is also available in the evening for private charters, including weddings, parties, reunions and much more, starting as early as 4:00 pm on weekdays and 6:00 pm on weekends. 

Charter prices include the vessel and appropriate crew for the times and services contracted, embarking and disembarking from the Patriot’s berth in St. Michaels. Charters can accommodate up to 149 guests including caterers.  

 

Fall into St. Michaels, Maryland to be held October 17th - October 25th

The change of the season brings excitement and vibrant color to the Town of St. Michaels, as residents and businesses celebrate their annual harvest festival “Fall into St. Michaels” October 17th thru October 25th. 

The Fall into St. Michaels festivities begin with the town-wide scarecrow contest starting on Saturday, October 17, 2015. Participating area businesses are competing in the First Annual St. Michaels Scarecrow Contest, where each sponsoring business will have the chance to win first place in one of the following three categories: Traditional, Whimsical or Humorous and will seek the coveted People’s Choice award. Walk along the streets of St. Michaels, where you’ll find the scarecrows displayed in front of participating businesses and hung along the telephone poles on Talbot Street.

Visitors can vote for the People’s Choice award online from October 17th thru October 25th. The People’s Choice winner will be announced on Monday, October 26th and can be seen on the Visit St. Michaels Facebook page and www.stmichaelsmd.org.

On Sunday, October 18th, with the Annual Jack Russell Races which start at 11:00am and take place on the lawn in front of the Inn at Perry Cabin.

The following weekend, the Fall into St. Michaels festivities go into full swing, Saturday, October 24th with the start of the Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest held at the St. Michaels Community Center early Saturday morning. Participating businesses sponsor the pumpkins, which are carved by experienced and novice carvers alike, each striving for the top spot in one of the four pumpkin categories. 



The pumpkins are judged from 1:00pm – 1:30pm and then will remain on display until 7:00pm on Saturday and 10:00am thru 2:00pm on Sunday.

The Bay Hundred’s Annual Pumpkin Pie Competition will be held during the Pumpkin Carving Contest at the St. Michaels Community Center. The Pumpkin Pie Competition is open to professionals, home bakers and children. Each group will be judged on traditional or creative creations. Cash prizes will be awarded to top three winners in each category, and of course, bragging rights and a plaque go to the winners.

Each contestant must submit 2 – 3 pies of the same recipe. The St. Michaels Community Center will be selling pieces and whole pies of those entered. Judging will begin at 10:00 am on October 24th and sales will begin at 11:00am. Proceeds of the bake sale will benefit the programs and activities of the St. Michaels Community Center. Please contact Trish at the SMCC 410-745-6073 for more information or to register as an entrant. The St. Michaels Community Center is located on the corner of Railroad Street and Fremont Street.

The St. Michaels Museum at St. Mary’s Square will offer one of their signature walking tours, “Frederick Douglass, a slave, in St. Michaels 1833-36”, at 10:00am on Saturday, October 24th . The 90-minute tour gives a more detailed view of the early life of St. Michaels’ most famous 19th century resident and notably one of the most important African American Abolitionist in the Civil War Era. The walking tour is $10 per person and also includes admission to the museum. Please visit the museum’s website for more information and to reserve your space:www.stmichaelsmuseum.org

Children’s activities will be hosted by St. Michaels Events and held at St. Luke’s Church on Talbot Street on Saturday October 24th.

Lastly, as a way to give back during the harvest months, the St Michaels Business Association is combining their “Fall into St. Michaels” festivities with their First Annual Food Drive for the St. Michaels Food Pantry.

The St. Michaels Food Pantry, which is housed in Christ Church on Talbot Street, is supported through individual food and financial contributions as well as donations from area businesses and organizations.

It serves Talbot County residents requiring food assistance. A satellite program on Tilghman Island operates out of the Tilghman United Methodist Church. 

The St. Michaels Food Pantry also provides complete Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to those in need. “Many members of our community struggle with providing healthy, nutritious food for their families. We hope our first annual food drive is the first of many to come that will help fill the shelves of the St. Michaels Food Pantry and help Talbot County residents in need.” said Kim Hannon, Secretary of the St. Michaels Business Association.

While the St. Michaels Food Pantry appreciates every single food donation, they strive to offer a variety of food items that help balance nutritional intake, especially important to children, seniors, those with health challenges and those with culturally diverse diets. Drop off your donation items at the St. Michaels Community Center on Railroad Ave. during the hours of the Pumpkin Carving & Pie Baking contest on Saturday, October 24th 10:00 am until 7:00 pm and Sunday, October 25th 10am until 2:00 pm.

For a list of accommodations, please visit our website.

Shop. Eat. Play. Stay - Visit St. Michaels www.stmichaelsmd.org or call 410.745.0411.

POSTS

Like Another World in St. Michaels, Maryland

Like Another World in St. Michaels, Maryland

By Tracey Munson - Photos by Tracey Munson

As you cruise, paddle, or sail along the Miles River—or stroll among historic homes and storefronts, it’s easy to imagine yourself in another world while visiting the waterfront village of St. Michaels.

That’s because the authenticity of this Chesapeake town is abundantly preserved along its picturesque harbor, and among its historic district of boutique shops, romantic inns, four-star restaurants, and museums. 

It’s a peaceful place that includes all the modern-day amenities you would expect—minus the neon hustle and bustle that often comes with a resort town.

St. Michaels dates back to the mid-1600s, when it served as a trading post for area tobacco farmers and trappers. Throughout the 1800s and early 1900s, St. Michaels’ economy focused around the booming shipbuilding and seafood industries, which carries forward today in restaurant offerings of Maryland blue crab and other local seafood.

Located about halfway along the Chesapeake Bay’s Eastern Shore, St. Michaels shares 600 miles of Talbot County shoreline. This well-preserved port is situated between the Miles River and Michener's Broad Creek.

As legend goes, St. Michaels gained its name as "the Town that fooled the British” during the War of 1812. St. Michaels’ residents—forewarned that British barges were positioned to attack with cannon fire—hoisted lanterns high into the trees above the town. This fooled the British into overshooting St. Michaels’ houses and shipyards.

Today, families, couples, boaters, and other visitors are the focus of attention in St. Michaels, with tourism the modern-day economic engine of this vibrant town. It’s a place of celebration and reflection, and home to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, where the maritime cultures and traditions of the region are shared along 18 waterfront acres, without a single “do not touch” sign in any of its 12 exhibit buildings. A climb to the top of the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse reveals a spectacular view of St. Michaels and the Miles River.

St. Michaels is also home to world-class spas and a Pete Dye golf course, not to mention friendly locals with a laid-back style. Biking and walking trails, waterfront parks, and various on-the-water activities— including kayaking, guided river cruises, crabbing, and fishing—give adults and families plenty to do. The town is also very dog friendly, with pets welcome at several inns and B&Bs, and water bowls found at dockside bars and local shops everywhere you turn.

The town also hosts several festivals throughout the year, including Eastern Shore Sea Glass and Coastal Arts Festival, WineFest in St. Michaels and St Michaels Brew Fest in the spring, and OysterFest in the fall. On select, summer weekends, log canoe sailing races can be watched on the Miles River, either by boat or on land.

A local winery, brewery, and distillery are situated along the town’s main street, with samples, tours, and demonstrations offered to visitors. 

Mementos from your trip won’t be found in plastic tchotchkes or through chain stores. Instead, you can enjoy the town’s boutique shops, where unique finds are yours to take home and treasure.  

Nightlife in St. Michaels brings the culinary treats of award-winning chefs to the docks and tables of numerous restaurants. Alfresco dining and live music make for memorable evenings, while the cool breezes from the Miles River envelope visitors walking the town’s historic neighborhoods and harbor by lamplight and foot.

While Baltimore Clipper ships and seafood processing plants are no longer found in this waterfront town, one thing remains—St. Michaels is like visiting another world—with its shipbuilding and seafood traditions carried forward in a way that engages the visitor in a truly authentic experience, one to be treasured and remembered for a lifetime. 

For more information, visit www.stmichaelsmd.org.