Discover St Michaels: Nature, Culture and Maritime History

St Michaels brings together nature, waterways and local history, with specific offerings for a range of travel interests. When planning a hotel stay, you can first decide whether trails and wildlife watching, maritime themes, historic museums or a culinary event should shape your visit. The places and activities below offer different ways to explore these interests.

Nature Trails and Paddling Route

The St. Michaels Nature Trail is 1.3 miles long and intended for hiking or cycling. The route crosses San Domingo Tidal Creek via a covered bridge. Canton Farm Nature Preserve is a 40-acre nature preserve and wildlife-watching area in St. Michaels. So, in addition to a route for getting active, you can choose to explore a named natural area and watch wildlife during your stay.

On the water, a 3-mile kayaking route runs through St. Michaels Harbor and along the Miles River. At 1.3 miles, the Nature Trail is shorter than this paddling route; the activities also differ considerably, with hiking or cycling on one hand and paddling on the other. Water conditions and safety requirements on the kayaking route may vary by season. Take these conditions into account when planning if you intend to use the route.

Maritime History on the Waterfront

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is located on Navy Point along the Miles River in St. Michaels, Maryland. Its waterfront campus covers 18 acres. The Miles River Yacht Club is known as the “Home of the Log Canoes.”

Spectators can watch the yacht club’s Wednesday Night Races from a boat or from shore. The seasonal schedule runs from early May through early October; check the dates before your trip. This makes it easy to distinguish between the different kinds of water activities: on the kayaking route, you paddle yourself; at the races, you watch the action from a boat or from shore.

Local History and Collections

The St. Michaels Museum explores the history of St. Michaels in the 19th century through guided tours and exhibitions developed specifically by museum staff. It is located at historic St. Mary’s Square. The square is the center of the town plan created by James Braddock in 1778. The museum’s location thus brings together a focus on the 19th century and a town plan dating to 1778.

Cannonball House is also part of the town’s history: it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Classic Motor Museum focuses on a different subject. Its exhibitions generally include classic automobiles from before and after World War II, mid-20th-century muscle cars, vintage trucks, motorcycles and other collectibles with historical significance.

The Classic Motor Museum also hosts Cars & Coffee, a weekly outdoor car show held every Saturday morning from April through November. The museums differ not only in subject matter but also in format: the St. Michaels Museum focuses on local history, while the Classic Motor Museum showcases vehicles and collectibles; Cars & Coffee adds a regularly scheduled car show to this focus.

Culinary Experiences

Thursday Night Chef Experiences bring together local restaurants, wineries and taverns for chef-led culinary experiences, curated pairings and weekly offerings. Participating businesses and menus may change. If dining is an important part of your trip, check the specific offerings before making your plans.

Explore more destinations: Tilghman Island, Easton.

Return to the regional travel overview: Talbot.