If You Go
EAT
Known for its crab cakes and cream of crab soup with a backdrop of boats, birds and sunsets, this decades-old local favorite is in Kent Narrows, an area just east of the island with a healthy cluster of popular bars and restaurants.
This cozy restaurant at the Inn at Chesapeake Bay Beach Club channels urban chic but still fits with the low-key vibe of the island. The kitchen plucks ingredients from the chef’s garden for its seasonal menu—but the outstanding fried oysters, biscuits and cream-of-crab soup are always in season.
The menu at this beloved Italian spot goes pretty heavy on the seafood, but would you want it any other way? If you’ve had your fill of crab cakes, try the fried calamari, the Caprese salad or the penne with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and marinara sauce.
This newer spot in Kent Narrows boasts its own dock so boaters can “dock and dine,” but it’s also accessible by car. Watch locals pull fish out of the water while you savor a watermelon-feta salad, fish and chips or yet another scrumptious crab cake.
SIP
The award-winning rum and vodka distillery runs hourly tours and tastings from noon–4 p.m. daily for $5 per person. Don’t miss the dark rum and the coffee liqueur.
It’s tough to believe this relatively small island actually houses a vineyard, yet there it is at the end of a peninsula, about 10 minutes from the foot of the Bay Bridge. Stop in and grab a few bottles on the way to the beach, homing in on Nebbiolo, Viognier and Norton varieties.
STAY
Inn at Chesapeake Bay Beach Club
With plenty of outdoor space that includes beach access, a terrace with a large fire pit and a culinary garden, the modern inn is about to add three shallow dipping pools this spring. Prices range from $289–$589.
You’ll find personal touches like comfy couches near a woodstove at this four-room B&B at the end of a long driveway, with both the Chester River and a pool out back. Rooms go for $179–$272.
This gorgeous waterfront inn, surrounded by 220 acres, dates back to the 1820s and offers kayaking, lawn games, 24 rooms (some with balconies) and a popular Sunday brunch. Rates range from $200–$329.
May Events
Spring Fling Car Show – May 5
This family-friendly affair is put on each year by the Kent Island Cruisers, a club for classic car enthusiasts.
Kent Island Day – May 19
Locals celebrate the 1631 founding of Kent Island with a parade, historic exhibits, activities, food and vendors.
Family Movie Nights
Free kid-friendly movies are screened Saturday evenings from May through September in various Queen Anne’s County parks. For more information on upcoming events, visit the Queen Anne’s County website at qac.org.
Rina Rapuano is a freelance food, travel and lifestyles writer who lives in Washington, D.C. She also writes about local microbreweries in this issue. Follow her adventures on Instagram at @rinacucina.