Rediscovering America_ Exploring the Small Towns of Virginia & Maryland - Bill Burnham [142]
St. Edmonds United Methodist Church was originally built of logs in 1865 to serve the African-American community as a school and church. The original burned and the present structure was built in 1893. (3000 Dalrymaple Road, Chesapeake Beach, tel. 410-535-2506)
TRIVIA: It’s believed the wooden horses on the Chesapeake Beach Carousel were carved by Gustav A. Dentzel of Philadelphia. The carousel was sold in 1974 to a resident historian in Prince George’s County who saw an advertisement offering it for sale. It’s now at Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro (tel. 301-218-6700). The carousel operates 10 am-7 pm, daily except Monday in summer, weekends only in September; a ride is $1.
Dining
In Chesapeake Beach, Rod ’N’ Reel Restaurant is all about seafood. There’s a Friday night seafood buffet and outdoor dining at the Boardwalk Café. (tel. 410-257-2735, 301-855-8351 or 877-763-6733, www.rodnreelinc.com). Also at the Rod ’N’ Reel dock is Smokey Joe’s Grill, offering ribs and chicken (tel. 410-257-2427).
Abner’s Crab House is a Chesapeake Beach favorite of local watermen, with a tiki and raw bar (3748 Harbor Place, tel. 410-257-3689). Chaney’s on the Chesapeake has a waterfront tiki bar, beach volleyball and horseshoes (8323 Bayside Road, tel. 310-855-2323), and Vic’s Italia by the Bay serves homemade ravioli, lasagna and wood-fired pizza. (3800 Harbor Road, tel. 410-257-1601)
The menu at Lagoons Island Grille combines the tastes of the Caribbean, Southwest and Cajun. Live music on weekends. (8416 Bayside Road, tel. 410-257-7091)
There are two Chinese restaurants: Little Panda (7863 Bayside Road, tel. 410-257-2545), and Peking, Inc. (3801 Chesapeake Beach Road, tel. 410-257-3333)
Chesapeake Beach has two coffee shops. Bayhill Accents has tables inside and out on the deck, and sells gourmet food products and antiques. (7544 Bayside Road, tel. 410-257-2349) One of a Kind Gallery and Espresso Bar features an art gallery, framery, gift shop, and bakery in addition to the coffee bar. (3725 E. Chesapeake Beach Road, tel. 410-257-7580, www.artspresso.com)
In North Beach, there’s the Coffee, Tea and Whimsey coffee shop (9122 Bay Avenue, tel. 410-286-000, a Tastee Freez (8831 Chesapeake Avenue, tel. 301-855-0585), Neptune’s Seafood Pub (8800 Chesapeake Avenue, tel. 410-257-7899) and Thursday’s Bar and Grill at the end of the boardwalk serving steaks and seafood. (9200 Bay Avenue, tel. 410-286-8695)
Lodging
Bay Views is a waterfront bed & breakfast with a “whimsical, tropical flair.” There’s a third-floor waterfront suite and a smaller room overlooking the garden. Children 12 and older welcome. (9131 Atlantic Avenue, North Beach, tel. 410-257-1000, www.bayviewsbb.com, $$)
Serenity Acres Bed and Breakfast is a five-acre mini-estate about 10 miles south of Chesapeake Beach. Four rooms with private bath, and children are welcome. (4270 Hardesty Rd, Huntingtown, tel. 410-535-3744, www.bbonline.com/md/serenity, $$)
Breezy Point Beach & Campground is open May-October (Breezy Point Road, Chesapeake Beach (tel. 410-535-0259). Breezy Point Cabins is open April-November and has boat slips and a fishing pier. (5230 Breezy Point Road, Chesapeake Beach, tel. 410-535-4356, $)
There are no hotels in either Chesapeake Beach or North Beach. The nearest is the Holiday Inn Express in Prince Frederick (tel. 410-535-6800 or 800-565-8815, $$), where there are also a couple of B&Bs. However, the owners of Rod ’N’ Reel Restaurant have plans to build the Chesapeake Beach Hotel and Spa adjacent to the restaurant, right on the beach. Plans at the time of this writing were to be open for business sometime in 2003.
Information
Town of Chesapeake Beach, tel. 410-257-2230 or 301-855-8398, www.chesapeake-beach.md.us.
Town of North Beach, tel. 301-855-6681, www.ci.north-beach.md.us/in