Cambridge (Maryland)

Cambridge is a small town of 10,000 on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Understand

The harbor town of Cambridge was founded in 1684, making it one of the oldest cities in the state. It's seen ups and downs throughout its long history, at times a residence of choice for wealthy colonials, and not long ago a site of conflict and heavy job losses in the 60s during desegregation, racial violence, and the closing of the local cannery. It also has had several very famous residents: Harriet Tubman, Annie Oakley, and even a president of Liberia have all known the town as home. Today's Cambridge has seen rising fortunes from tourism (especially following the construction of the huge Hyatt resort) and professionals moving in who like the laid back, charming, maritime atmosphere.

  • Visitor Center, 2 Rose Hill Pl, ☏ +1 410 228-1000, . If you enter Cambridge from the north you will cross the Choptank River on Route 50. Your first stop is the Visitor's Center at Sailwinds Park. The staff here are available to give information about the area's history, and advice on what to see when. They also offer a self-guided walking tour of the town's historic center, or a self-guided 105-mile driving tour of Underground Railroad sites. The Center is on the grounds of Sailwinds park, which has a children's playground, picnic tables a path along the river and spectacular views of the bridge. 

Get in

By car

Cambridge is about halfway between the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Ocean City on US-50, the Ocean Gateway. Maryland Ave leads right from the highway to the historic town center.

By boat

The town harbor is just up the Choptank River from the bay. The most busy marina belongs to the Hyatt; the city's marina is just north of the historic center:

By plane
  • Cambridge-Dorchester Airport (FAA:KCGE) is a small, regional airport with no scheduled commercial flights. Private planes park within walking distance of Kay's restaurant. Courtesy transportation to town may be available.

Get around

The town center is small and easily walked, while getting around surrounding areas will require a car or a bike (the Eastern Shore is good bike riding territory—not a hill in sight).

See
  • 🌍 Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park (formerly Choptank River Fishing Pier) (Both sides of the Choptank River next to Route 50), ☏ +1 410-820-1668. Fishing piers 24 hr. Surrounding trails sunrise-sunset. Talbot County side closed Dec 31- Mar 31. A pedestrian fishing pier parallels Route 50 across the Choptank river on the north side of Cambridge. You can enter the park on either side of the river but the pier is not continuous, so you can't walk all the way across the river. The pier spans 1 mile on the northern side and 1/2 mile on the southern side of the river. Fishing and crabbing are the main attractions, but there are picnic areas and sandy beaches (no swimming.) Free. 
  • Harriet Tubman Museum, 424 Race St, ☏ +1 410 228-0401. A small museum dedicated to the famous African-American abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor who lived here. The museum is small—call ahead to make sure it will be open. The staff offer tours within and outside Cambridge, of places where Harriet Tubman lived, worked, prayed, etc. 
  • Richardson Maritime Museum, 401 High St, ☏ +1 410 221-1871. W Su 1PM-4PM, Sa 10AM-4PM. Suggested donation: $3. 
  • Ruark Boatworks, Maryland Ave & Hayward St, ☏ +1 410 221-8844. M W F 9AM-2PM. Though affiliated with the Richardson Maritime Museum, this is no museum—it is an active boatworks working exclusively on wooden boats and models. Visitors get to see how it's done, and can participate in model building. Suggested donation: $3. 
  • Spokott Windmill (Route 343 about 6 miles west of Cambridge). Windmill, colonial tenant house, one-room school house and blacksmith shop on display. The Lloyd Country Store Museum is open only on special occasions. 

Art galleries

There is a vibrant artist community in Cambridge.

Do
  • 🌍 Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, 2145 Key Wallace Dr (Take MD-16 (Church Creek Rd) south from the town, then turn left on MD-335 (Golden Hill Rd)), ☏ +1 410 228-2677. dawn-dusk daily; visitor center: M-F 8AM-4PM, Sa Su 9AM-5PM. The prime visitor attraction here is the Wildlife Drive, which visitors can drive, walk and cycle on in order to get close to the local wildlife. In addition, the Refuge has four land trails and three paddling trails, as well as hunting/fishing/crabbing opportunities. Finally, the Refuge staff and volunteers also offer a variety of environmental educational opportunities for young people at both the Refuge Visitor Center and also at the Refuge environmental education building, located at the entrance to the Wildlife Drive. If you are in the mood to see a bald eagle soaring over the Chesapeake wetlands, this is the place. 
  • Skipjack Nathan (Long Wharf Park at the end of High St), ☏ +1 410 228-7141. The wooden skipjack is the traditional sailboat of choice for Chesapeake oystermen, and remains in use to this day in parts of the bay where motorboats are not allowed. The Nathan is moored here only for pleasure, though, and offers several activities for visitors, including sailing cruises and educational programs with Chesapeake watermen. 
  • 🌍 Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument, 2145 Key Wallace Drive (At Maryland State Park, next to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge), ☏ +1 410 221-2290. National monument to Harriet Tubman, abolitionist, suffragette and the best-known conductor on the Underground Railroad for having led seventy former slaves to freedom. (38 0 26'N, 76 0 07'W) 

Buy

There is a good collection of shops and art galleries along High Street, Poplar Street and Race Street in the historic center.

Eat and drink

Sleep

Go next
Routes through Cambridge
Annapolis ← Easton ←  W  E  → Salisbury → Ocean City


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