Escape to Cecil County…Just a Daydream Away! View All ItinerariesLocated between Philadelphia and Baltimore on I-95, Cecil County’s vibrant small towns, waterways, foodie destinations, and scenic countryside provide a perfect get-away escape. Experience outdoor recreation, specialty shops, horses, history, farms, waterfront fun, and more! This three-day journey takes you from Rising Sun to North East, and from Chesapeake City to the Sassafras Region. It’s packed with waterfront vistas, local history, the great outdoors, authentic regional cuisine, and shopping for treasures. Let Your Senses Take Flight in Cecil County – FEEL the breeze as you paddle a shimmering waterway… or as your horse trots across a country field; HEAR the call of a seagull soaring overhead… Or the echo-o-o of your voice inside a covered bridge; TASTE perfectly seasoned crabs, sizzling steaks, and other Chesapeake Bay dishes, after a day of hiking and bird watching; WATCH a deer munching foliage along a wooded trail… Or a brilliant sunset burst across the horizon at the end of the day; SMELL fine leather saddles as horse and rider ready for an adventure… Or the scent of delicious breakfast drifting beneath your door at a peaceful inn! DAY 1 The Great Outdoors & More! CENTRAL CECIL With easy access from I-95 Exit 100, start your day driving north on Rt. 272 past Gilpin Falls Covered Bridge for a morning outdoor activity. Choose one or two from: Plumpton Park Zoo – www.PlumptonParkZoo.org Foot golf at Chesapeake Bay Golf Club Rising Sun – www.ChesapeakeGolf.com Disk golf at Calvert Regional Park – 304 Brick Meeting House Rd Trail Ride at Fairwinds family farm – www.FairwindsStables.com Ready for lunch? Chart your course for the Town of North East. Drive south on Rt. 272, past Pulaski Highway (Route 40) and into the charming town of North East. Park your car and walk to restaurants and specialty shops with fashions and accessories, gifts, antiques, chocolates, baked goods, coffee, and local wine. The flavor of restaurants in town varies from family fare to seafood and fine dining. Following is an alphabetical list of walkable eateries: Pier One – www.pier1restaurant.com Port House Grill – www.porthousegrill.com Snatchers Creekside– www.snatcherscreekside.business.site Steak & Main – www.SteakandMain.com Woody’s Crab House – www.WoodysCrabHouse.com Woody’s Tacos and Tequila – www.WoodysTacosandTequila.com Add a few blocks to your walk: Nauti Goose Saloon – www.NautiGoose.net UnWined – www.UnWinedMD.com And Shop, Shop, Shop! Wander Main Street shops after lunch. Afternoon Outdoor Recreation: Hit the water, enjoy scenic views, and walk a trail. Linger at one or two of the following, or pack the afternoon with fun at all three. Kayak and/or paddleboard – Bay Venture Outfitters (Seasonal) Walk or drive to Church Pt Rd, www.BayVentureOutfitters.com; North East Community Park – Walk or drive to Walnut Street. The park is located along the shores of the Northeast River and Creek. Bring a fishing pole and bait (or purchase in town at Herb’s Tackle Shop) for “license free” fishing. Enjoy the waterfront walking path, playground, Upper Bay Museum (seasonal), picnic pavilions, town pier, and waterfront views. Turkey Point Lighthouse at Elk Neck State Park – Drive 8.5 miles south of North East on 272 for a State Park with over 2,000 beautiful acres bordered by the Elk and Northeast Rivers. Hike a mile along the lighthouse trail for a breathtaking view from Turkey Point Lighthouse, atop a 100’ bluff above Chesapeake Bay. Elk Neck State Park also offers campsites, rustic cabins, boat launch, picnic pavilions, and river beach. Sure to Please Dinner: Head back to North East for a fabulous dinner or venture a few minutes outside town to The Wellwood in Charlestown with steamed crabs and fried chicken, to fine dining. (fireside dining in chilly months, and water taxi in warm months) www.wellwoodclub.com After Dinner: I-95 Exit 93 – Hollywood Casino Perryville, offering a friendly community atmosphere with slots, table games, Off Track Betting, and gift shop. Overnight Stay: Whether you choose a different accommodation for each night, for proximity to daily itinerary locations, or one accommodation for the entire stay, you have great options. Select from B&Bs, hotels, or on-line rental houses. Trusted hotel brands in North East and Elkton: Best Western North East Inn – www.BestWestern.com Comfort Inn – North East – www.ChoiceHotels.com Hampton Inn – Elkton – www.HamptonInn3.Hilton.com Holiday Inn Express – North East and Elkton – www.ihg.com LaQuinta Inn – Elkton – www.LaquintaNewarkElkton.com North East area inns: North Bay (marina-side) www.NorthBayInc.com/bedandbreakfast Fairwinds Farm (rustic farmhouse) www.FairwindsStaables.com Elkton area inns: Elk Forge B&B (historic) www.elkforge.com Sinking Springs B&B (cozy) www.sinkingspringsweddingvenue.com Chesapeake City inns (all in historic district): Blue Max Inn – www.BlueMaxInn.com Inn at the Canal – www.Innatthecanal.com Ship Watch Inn (waterfront) – www.ShipWatchInn.com Port Deposit: Rolling Hills Ranch B&B (horse farm) – www.rollinghillsranch.org DAY 2 Off the Beaten Path CANAL & SOUTH CECIL Welcome to the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal and Southern Cecil County! Chesapeake City, a 19th Century picturesque village spans both banks of the C&D Canal. South Chesapeake City is on the National Register of Historic Places and offers wonderful restaurants, inns, boat rides, and specialty shops. Ships and pleasure vessels from around the globe pass through the canal and slip beneath the town’s majestic bridge on their way to ports near and far. Morning Fun! Start your day with a hike or bike along the Ben Cardin Recreational Trail that connects North Chesapeake City MD on Lock St, to Delaware City in DE. Hike the entire 17 miles or take a short stroll on a portion along the international shipping canal. Lunch for Foodie Fans: South Chesapeake City: Bayard House – www.BayardHouse.com Chesapeake Inn & Marina – www.ChesapeakeInn.com Prime 225 – www.Prime225.com Tap Room – www.TaproomCrabhouse.com North Chesapeake City: Schaefer’s Canal House – www.SchaefersCanalHouse.com Taste Local! Hop in your car and head south on Rt 213 for your choice of one or two local wineries that are well worth the visit. Both host numerous events and activities throughout the year. Chateau Bu De – www.ChateauBuDe.com Broken Spoke Winery – www.BrokenSpokeWinery.com The South Cecil region also boasts manor houses and farms along the Chesapeake Country National Scenic Byway. And don’t be afraid to take a slight detour on Rt. 310 for a glimpse of impressive horse farms. A Must-See! Mount Harmon Plantation and Nature Preserve is a beautiful 200-acre waterfront estate circa 1700s, located at what old maps called – “World’s End”. Travel 213 South. Turn right on 282 and follow signs. Travel into the past as you ride along the tree-lined entry lane, winding through the woods and past farm fields. Arrange for indoor or outdoor tours of the manor house, trails, and out-buildings including a colonial kitchen, slave quarters, education barn, prize tobacco house, and more. This special destination is a hidden heritage gem! www.MountHarmon.org Call ahead for a visit to nearby Painted Sky Alpaca Farm to meet and greet the adorable animals, visit the fiber mill, and find furry treasures in the gift shop. www.PaintedSkyAlpacaFarm.com Dinner & Beyond: Nearby your afternoon attractions is Fish Whistle at the Granary along the shores of the Sassafras River. www.fishandwhistle.com or return to Chesapeake City to try another of the town’s eateries. After dinner relax on a canal-side restaurant deck or at Rummers Lounge at Inn at the Canal, (seasonal entertainment at businesses) DAY 3 Adventure Awaits! Hop Aboard! Enjoy a boat ride and tour on the C&D Canal. South Chesapeake City: Chesapeake City Water Tours – www.ChesapeakeCityWaterTours.com North Chesapeake City: MV Bay Breeze – www.MVBayBreeze.com After your ride visit C&D Canal Museum 815 Bethel Rd, S. Chesapeake City, before lunch. Eat & Shop: Following your delicious lunch, visit the selection of shops along Bohemia Ave. and add in a coffee break at Café on the Bay. Longing for some local brew? Check out nearby Bayheads Brewing Company – www.BayheadsBrewing.com Afternoon Fun: Choose from the following activities: A paintball adventure at Outdoor Extreme Chesapeake City – www.OXCC.com Numerous and creative theme courses add to your paintball experience. OR enjoy one or more of the DAY ONE morning activities you didn’t have time for: Plumpton Park Zoo Foot Golf at Chesapeake Bay Golf Club Disk golf at Calvert Regional Park Trail Ride at Fairwinds Farm Before heading home: End your adventure with mouthwatering homemade ice cream at Kilby Cream Farm in Rising Sun – www.KilbyCream.com For help in customizing your tour, call Cecil County Tourism at 410-996-6299 www.SeeCecil.org www.FoodieCecil.com