Cambridge, Maryland: Where Fun and Adventure Collide – Best Places to Visit and Things to Do!

The Richardson Maritime Museum is the models and Ruark Boatworks is where they actually build the boats. The Choptank River Lighthouse is the copy and the 1871 one was the original of it. Nathan of Dorchester is the last skipjack still working out on these waters at all. Blackwater is the birds out there and the Choptank River is where all the fishing is. Windmill.

You are planning a trip to Cambridge, Maryland and wondering what to do. You have timed it. This town runs a great deal, from the historical side to the country around it, the maritime heritage, time outdoors, the downtown and the events.

To work Cambridge, Maryland is to work the years. The town’s history, which runs deep, shows in the architecture, the courthouse and the Harriet Tubman Museum & Education Center among it. But it is not only the past, because Cambridge also runs the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and the Choptank River Lighthouse.

Somebody who follows the natural world, somebody who follows history, or somebody who simply wants to be outdoors, Cambridge covers all three. From kayaking and fishing to shopping and eating, this town runs it. So pack your bags and get out here.

Key Takeaways

Cambridge, Maryland is a charming town with a rich history and modern attractions.
Visitors can explore historical glimpses, natural wonders, maritime heritage, outdoor activities, downtown delights, and special events.
Cambridge offers something for everyone, from nature lovers to history buffs to those just looking for some outdoor fun.

Exploring Cambridge, Maryland

Welcome to Cambridge, Maryland. This small town on the Eastern Shore is one most people drive past, and it runs a range of things to do. History follower, somebody who follows the natural world, or simply somebody after a strong few days, Cambridge covers all three.

First, the history. Cambridge holds the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center. This museum earns the stop for anybody who wants to work the life and legacy of this American figure. You can take a self-guided tour and work Tubman’s life in slavery, her work as a conductor on the Underground Railroad, and her activism for women’s suffrage.

If you follow the natural world, take the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. This 29,000-acre refuge runs a range of habitats, tidal wetlands, freshwater lakes and hardwood forests among them. You can hike, bike, or take a guided tour to see the wildlife that lives on Blackwater, bald eagles, ospreys and river otters among it.

And no visit to Cambridge is finished without a walk through the town itself. Cambridge’s downtown runs shops, restaurants and galleries. You can also walk along the Choptank River with the water beside you.

And if you want something lighter, head over to Fun Spot East of Cambridge. This amusement park covers everybody, from go-karts and mini-golf to batting cages and an arcade. It is how to spend an afternoon with family or friends.

So Cambridge, Maryland may be a small town, but it is packed with things to do and places worth the stop. History, the natural world, or simply a strong few days, you will find what you came for in this town.

Historical Glimpses

If you follow history, Cambridge is where to work it. Here are the historical stops not to miss:

Harriet Tubman Trails

You have probably heard of Harriet Tubman, the abolitionist and political activist who helped rescue enslaved people through the Underground Railroad. But did you know she was born and raised in Cambridge? You can work her legacy and her life by following the Harriet Tubman Trails. These trails take you to the significant sites, the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center among them, where you can work her life and what she left behind.

Maryland Governors’ Legacy

Cambridge also holds a number of Maryland governors, Governor Thomas Holliday Hicks among them, who opposed the secession of Maryland during the Civil War. You can work their legacy at the Governor’s House, which was built in 1760 and is now a museum.

Civil War Echoes

And on the Civil War, Cambridge mattered in that conflict. The town was occupied by both Union and Confederate forces during the war, and you can still see what that left. You can visit the Dorchester County Courthouse, which was used as a hospital through the war.

Stained Glass Wonders at Christ Church

Cambridge also holds serious stained glass, at Christ Church in particular. The church’s windows were designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, and they will stop you where you stand. If you follow art or architecture, do not miss this one.

Spocott Windmill’s Charm

And if you want a historical stop you will not get elsewhere, check out the Spocott Windmill. This 18th-century windmill is one of the few left in the United States, and it opens the period up properly. You can also climb to the top for the countryside opening out around you.

So there they are. Harriet Tubman, Maryland governors, the Civil War, stained glass or windmills, Cambridge runs all of them.

Natural Wonders

If you follow the natural world, Cambridge, Maryland is where to be. From wildlife reserves to the rivers, this city runs country across the board. Here are the spots to take:

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge will hold anybody who follows birds and wildlife. The refuge runs over 250 bird species, bald eagles, ospreys and snow geese among them. It also sits on the Atlantic Flyway, which makes it a stop for migrating birds. You can take a guided tour or work the refuge on your own. And bring your binoculars and camera, because you will want them.

Chesapeake Bay Marvels

Chesapeake Bay is the one you cannot miss when you are in Cambridge. The bay is the largest estuary in the United States and opens the water and the land out around you. You can take a boat tour or rent a kayak and work it. And take the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum to work the history and culture of the bay.

Choptank River Adventures

The Choptank River runs through Cambridge. You can take a boat tour or rent a kayak and work the river and the ground along it. The river holds a range of wildlife, bald eagles, ospreys and river otters among it. You can also fish it for striped bass, bluefish and other species.

Cambridge, Maryland gets called the “Everglades of the North” for the amount of wildlife and country around it. Bird watcher, kayaker, or simply somebody who follows the natural world, you will find something here.

Maritime Heritage

If you follow boats and the water, you have timed it. Cambridge, Maryland carries a maritime heritage that runs deep. Here are the places to take:

Richardson Maritime Museum

The Richardson Maritime Museum earns the stop for anybody who follows boatbuilding. On Maryland Avenue and Hayward Street, this museum is given over to a local boatbuilder who mattered here. You get ship models, boatbuilding artifacts, and craftsmen actually at work in front of you. It is where to work the history of boatbuilding in Cambridge.

Choptank River Lighthouse

The Choptank River Lighthouse is the other stop not to miss. On Pier A in Long Wharf Park, this lighthouse was built in 2012 to mark the original that stood on the same spot from 1871 to 1964. You can climb to the top for the Choptank River and the ground around it. It is where to take the photographs and work the history of lighthouses in Maryland.

Nathan of Dorchester

If you want something you will not get elsewhere, check out the Nathan of Dorchester. This authentic skipjack is a National Historic Landmark and is the last of its kind still working the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. You can tour the boat and help raise the sails. It is how to work what life actually was for Chesapeake Bay watermen.

Boatbuilding, lighthouses, or the history of the Chesapeake Bay, Cambridge, Maryland runs all three. Take these stops and work the maritime heritage of this town.

Outdoor Activities

Want to be outside in Cambridge, Maryland? There is plenty to choose from. Here are the strongest ways to get out and take the air:

Bike and Boat Tours

What better way to work Cambridge than on two wheels or on the water? Rent a bike or take a boat tour and see the place from somewhere else. You get moving and you get the country going past. And bring your camera.

Fishing and Crabbing

If you want something slower outdoors, try fishing or crabbing. There are plenty of spots to drop a line and see what comes up. And if you time it, you may end up with dinner.

Sailing on Skipjack

For something you will not get elsewhere, take a ride on a skipjack. These traditional sailing boats are part of what the Chesapeake Bay is, and they put the country around you in a way nothing else does. You will feel like a sailor by the time you are back in.

Wildlife Drive

If you follow the natural world, do not miss the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Take a drive through the park and see how much of the native wildlife you can find, bald eagles, ospreys and more. And if you want a run at something, bring your binoculars and walk one of the park’s trails.

Whatever you follow outdoors, Cambridge, Maryland runs it. So get outside, take the air, and work it.

Fun Spot East runs the go-karts, the mini-golf, batting cages and an arcade. The Wildlife Drive at Blackwater works from inside the car itself out there. The lighthouse has stairs to the top, which the children will want to climb. You can help raise the sails on board the Nathan of Dorchester itself. And the Riverwalk at Long Wharf Park runs flat the whole way along.

Downtown Delights

Welcome to Downtown Cambridge, which is where this city actually lives. With its historic character, its culture and its restaurants, Downtown Cambridge holds a day or two easily. Here are some of our favorite parts of it:

Shopping on High Street

If you shop, you will take to High Street. This historic street runs boutiques, antique shops and art galleries you will not see twice. Vintage clothing, handmade jewelry or local artwork, it is all on High Street. And stop by the Cambridge Main Street Farmers Market for fresh produce, baked goods and handmade crafts.

Dining Delicacies

Cambridge is known for its seafood, and some of the strongest seafood restaurants sit in Downtown Cambridge. From crab cakes to oysters on the half shell, it is all here. But that is not all of it, because Downtown Cambridge also runs cooking from much further out, Thai, Italian and Mexican among it. And take a drink at one of the bars and pubs in the area.

Art and Culture at Dorchester Center

If you follow art and culture, take the Dorchester Center for the Arts. This non-profit organization works to put the arts in front of the community, and they run classes, workshops and events through the year. Work their galleries for the work of local artists, or take a concert or a play in their performance space. And stop by the gift shop for something to carry home.

So there they are, some of the parts of Downtown Cambridge, Maryland worth the time. Shopping on High Street, eating seafood, or working the art and culture at Dorchester Center, all three will hold you.

Special Events

Ironman Maryland in June

You are not the only one who has thought about becoming an Ironman. Every June, Cambridge, Maryland hosts the Ironman Maryland triathlon, where you can watch some of the strongest athletes anywhere work through a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a full marathon.

And if you are feeling brave, you can sign up and compete yourself. Just come ready, because it will take everything you have. But even if you do not finish, you will still have done more than most.

August Festivities

August is the month to be in Cambridge, Maryland. The weather holds, the sun is up, and the town runs events the whole way through.

First is the Cambridge Beer Festival, where you can work some of the strongest craft beers in the region. And if beer is not your thing, there are plenty of other festivals.

There is the Taste of Cambridge, where you can work food from the local restaurants. There is also the Dorchester Showcase, which marks the history and culture of the area, and both run deep. And if you want a run at something, try your hand at crabbing with the annual Crab Cook-Off.

Whatever you follow, Cambridge, Maryland has plenty on through August. So get your friends and family together and take it.

Where to Stay

Looking for somewhere to sleep after a day working Cambridge, Maryland? We have that covered. Cambridge runs options at every budget and every taste, from resorts to inns and B&Bs.

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort

If you want the smart version, the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort is the answer. This waterfront resort opens the Chesapeake Bay out in front of you and runs enough on site to fill a week. Take a round at the River Marsh Golf Club, take the Sago Spa & Salon, or get into one of the resort’s three pools. The Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort also runs several places to eat, Water’s Edge Grill and Blue Point Provision Company among them, serving fresh seafood and plenty else.

Quaint Inns and B&Bs

If you want somewhere closer in, Cambridge runs several inns and B&Bs. The Cambridge House Bed & Breakfast is a restored Victorian home with comfortable rooms and a homemade breakfast every morning. The Mill Street Inn, in the heart of downtown Cambridge, is the other strong option, running smart rooms and a location that puts everything in reach.

Wherever you stay in Cambridge, the time will hold. Just book ahead, because the rooms go through the peak season.

Nearby Attractions

Looking for more to do in the area? The nearby towns of St. Michaels and Oxford are the answer.

St. Michaels

A short drive from Cambridge, St. Michaels is a waterfront town known for its historic homes, its shops and its seafood. Take a walk down Talbot Street and work the boutiques and galleries, or head to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum to work the area’s maritime past, which runs deep.

But what carries St. Michaels is the food. From fresh oysters to crab cakes that come apart on the fork, some of the strongest seafood in the state is here. Check out the Crab Claw Restaurant for their steamed crabs, or head to Ava’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar for wood-fired pizza.

Oxford

If you want somewhere quieter, head to the town of Oxford. This small waterfront community holds just over 600 residents and is known for the views and for the people talking to you.

Take a walk down Morris Street and work the historic homes and the gardens, or head to the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry for a ride across the Tred Avon River. And if you are hungry, stop by the Robert Morris Inn for farm-to-table cooking that holds up.

So if you want more to do in the area, take St. Michaels and Oxford. Neither will let you down.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to spend a weekend in Cambridge, MD?

That depends what you follow. If you follow history, take the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center. If you follow food, walk the Cambridge Farmer’s Market and work the local produce. And if you want to be outdoors, take Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge for birdwatching or kayaking.

Any hidden gems or off-the-beaten-path attractions in Cambridge?

Yes. If you want something you will not get elsewhere, check out the Richardson Maritime Museum. It is a small museum that carries a great deal, given over to the history of boat building and the Chesapeake Bay. The other one is the Ruark Boatworks, where you can watch craftsmen build wooden boats by hand.

Yes. The Brannock Maritime Museum earns the stop for anybody interested in the history of the Chesapeake Bay. It sits in a former oyster-packing plant and runs exhibits on boat building, crabbing and fishing. And if you follow anything on the water, do not miss the Skipjack Nathan of Dorchester, a historic oyster dredging boat that runs public sails.

What’s the most Instagram-worthy spot in Downtown Cambridge?

Without a doubt, the High Spot Gastropub. This restaurant and bar sits in a former bank building and runs high ceilings, exposed brick walls and a stained-glass ceiling that stops you where you stand. And their craft cocktails and farm-to-table cooking will do the rest.

Any tips for finding unique accommodations in Cambridge, MD?

If you want somewhere different, check out the Cambridge House Bed and Breakfast. This Victorian-era home has been restored properly and runs antique furnishings and a wraparound porch. Or, if you want it rougher, book the Blackwater Lodge, where you sleep in a cabin and wake to whatever is outside.

What’s the best way to explore the Choptank River Lighthouse?

The strongest way to see the lighthouse is from the water. Take a cruise with the Choptank Riverboat Company and get the lighthouse and the waterways opening out around you. Or, if you would rather stay on land, head to Long Wharf Park and walk the Riverwalk, which opens the lighthouse and the Choptank River out in front of you.

Frequently asked questions about Cambridge, Maryland

What exactly is inside the Harriet Tubman museum over at Cambridge, then, really now, these days here?

Harriet Tubman was born and raised right here in Cambridge itself, on this very ground. The museum covers the whole of her life in slavery and her work on the Underground Railroad. It also covers all of her activism for the women’s suffrage in all the years afterwards. Self-guided.

How old exactly is the Choptank River lighthouse over at Cambridge, then, really now, in the end?

The one standing out there now was built back in 2012 to mark the original one. That original one stood on the very same spot from 1871 right the way until 1964. You can climb right up to the top of it for the whole Choptank River below you. Pier A.

Which museum in Cambridge covers all of the boatbuilding, then, really now, in the end?

The Richardson Maritime Museum, over on the Maryland Avenue and the Hayward Street there. You get the ship models, all of the boatbuilding artifacts and the craftsmen actually at work. Ruark Boatworks is the other one of them, where they build all the wooden boats by hand. Skipjacks.

Keep exploring Cambridge, Maryland