The Dining Traveler Blog: Travel and Food Inspiration

As I mentioned on our previous post about our Day at the Bay stay at Loews in Annapolis, we are looking for experiences closer to home. We decided to go on a little weekend escape to Annapolis, a picturesque seaside town on the Chesapeake Bay. Just a 45 minute drive from DC, it's a world away from the Capital with its colonial homes, small town charm, and beautiful boats lining the bay. Although it was such a short drive, we truly felt as if we were on a proper holiday.

The BLT at 49 West

We began our stay with a light lunch at 49 West, a cozy coffeehouse on West St. There, we had a simple yet delicious BLT by the window and engaged in a little people watching. There, we discussed our itinerary for the next day as we listened to the jazz from the masters class practice from the back of the restaurant. We couldn't resist the urge to return the following day for coffee, this time we were entertained with the bossa nova sounds of a local guitarist.

View from the Schooner Woodwind

After our lunch, we had a leisurely walk to the dock, admiring the beautiful colonial homes which line the streets of Annapolis. At the dock, we boarded the Schooner Woodwind, a beautiful 74-foot sailboat which gives a picturesque view of the Chesapeake Bay. Although it was an unseasonably cold and cloudy June day, we truly enjoyed the tour. There, we sipped on wine and craft beers and admired the gorgeous sailboats and daydreamed about how lovely it would be to have my own sailboat. The crew was friendly, sharing their sailing stories from Annapolis and to the Virgin Islands.

The Dutchman Trying His Hand at Sailing

After sailing, we built quite the appetite and decided to have dinner at Cantler's Riverside Inn at the recommendation of the concierge at Loews Annapolis. We wanted a local experience beyond West street. After a few and turns into a residential neighborhood, we found this quaint and lively restaurant by the riverside. It was a Saturday evening, crowded, but the wait is worth it. We indulged in Maryland Crab, seasoned with Old Bay, in true Maryland style, bacon wrapped scallops smothered in tangy BBQ sauce, and a sweet ending of homemade key lime pie. The manager, Bruce gave me a tour of the restaurant where I got to see the crabs from the moment they are picked until they are steamed to perfection and delivered to the table. As we dined there, we decided to make this place a must for our upcoming guests coming from Europe for an authentic Maryland Crab experience.

Freshly Picked Crabs at Cantler's

The following day, we boarded on a Discover Annapolis Tour trolley. I usually have an aversion to big bus tours and this tour was the complete opposite. The trolley is small and intimate and Mark, our tour guide had great anecdotes to share with us as we admired the colonial mansions, the Naval Academy and the docks which line the bay. As the weather warmed up on Sunday, I was grateful we had AC on the trolley. This is a great way to see the city if you schedule your trip during a hot and muggy Maryland day.

On the Trolley

This trip came at the right time as my father is terminally ill and had the opportunity to have this experience before heading home to be with him and my family. It is great to know that only 45 minutes away from DC you can have a relaxing and beautiful experience by the sea.

*A big thanks to the Annapolis Tourism Board and Loews Annapolis Hotel for the travel tips! Curious about the Day at the Bay Package? See my previous blog post about the amazing experience

So what happens when you love to travel but you have to be grounded for the summer after celebrating your wedding in Barcelona? Look for experiences close to home. Forty-five minutes from the Nation's Capital, there's Annapolis, a picturesque city on the Chesapeake bay. When we found out Loews Annapolis offered a "Day at the Bay" package, we couldn't pass up on the experience. The package includes goodies perfect for a sailing trip: sunscreen, lip balm, and Nike visors which prepared us for our Schooner Woodwind sailing trip around the bay. It also includes free parking for one car, which is perfect for a road trip.

The Lobby at Loews Annapolis

One of the things I have noticed about the Loews Hotels is how the properties assimilate to their location. The Dutchman was recently in Miami for business where the hotel has a pastel art deco vibe which blends in with the city. The Loews Madison in DC embodies the city with its colonial wallpaper in the guestrooms. As we walked into the hotel, we automatically fell in love with the nautical decor of the lobby. We loved the beautiful wall dividers made out of rope, leather couches fitted for a luxurious yacht, and the warm colors which make you feel automatically at home. We checked into our room which had the same nautical vibe: shades of blue, beautiful wood and rope furniture, and sailing black and white photographs in the restroom.

Our Goodies

We spent our 24 hour adventure in Annapolis walking around the city, admiring the colonial style architecture, and eating Maryland crab. The hotel is centrally located on West St, lined with nice restaurants and cafes within a short walking distance. We walked quite a bit around the city but if you are tired or in a rush you can always catch the Annapolis Circulator, a free trolley service with stops at all the key attractions.

Guest Room at Loews Annapolis

Aside from the gorgeous nautical decor at the lobby of the Loews, we noticed something very cute: lots of puppies! I soon learned that Loews has a "Loews Loves Pets" program where your furry ones get tons of love from their own water bowl to dog walking services. We noticed Annapolis is a very dog friendly town so it is the perfect destination to take your pooch and not have to worry about taking your beloved pet to the kennel during your weekend trip.

Brunch at West

We concluded our stay at the hotel with brunch at West, the Loews Annapolis restaurant. We have been to brunch in Annapolis with friends and we always end up at crowded and noisy places. We loved the intimate and quiet setting of the restaurant. The package includes breakfast for two, which can be used for the buffet or a la carte choices. We chose the a la carte with eggs benedict and a omelet complimented with bottomless mimosas and bloody Mary's. We still had a little room left and ordered the crab dip with foccaccia. It was our favorite part of brunch, as the dip was seasoned with Old Bay.

Crab Dip and Focaccia at West

Overall, we had an amazing experience this past weekend at the Loews Annapolis. Although we were 45 minutes away from home, we felt as if we were on a proper holiday. We arrived home relaxed and ready to tackle a challenging week. Stay tuned for our second part of this post where we chronicle how we spent our weekend in Annapolis. *Disclaimer: The room was complimentary. We only write and share about experiences we love. post signature

Menu

Restaurant of the Month

Travel Apps

Amsterdam

Budapest

Sailing and Crabs: 24 Hours in Annapolis

Loews Annapolis Hotel: Day at the Bay