The skipjack is a type of sailboat developed on the Chesapeake Bay for oyster dredging. It succeeded the bugeye as the chief oystering boat on the bay, and remains in service due to laws restricting the use of powerboats in the Maryland state oyster fishery. It has long been an icon of the Eastern Shore. You may arrange to take a ride on a skipjack on Tilghman Island and experience a part of Eastern Shore history. For schedules and fees, visit the site of the Rebecca T. Ruark.

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It was the gathering storm over blue crabs that brought Michael Paolisso, a researcher who had never studied crabs, to the lower Eastern Shore to meet watermen like Horseman and Ford. New to the crab wars, Paolisso is an anthropologist, not a biologist, and he came here to study not the crabs, but the crabbers.

Read more at Chesapeake Quarterly

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Cruise on one of the most exciting attractions offered on Maryland’s Eastern Shore… The Choptank Riverboat Company’s reproductions of authentic 80 foot turn-of-the-century paddlewheelers. Fully enclosed with heating and air conditioning. Savor the scenery along the Choptank River on a sightseeing cruise or enjoying a delicious lunch or dinner prepared by the Suicide Bridge Restaurant, the home harbor and embarkation point of our river-boat cruises. Dine on the area’s freshest seafood at our waterfront restaurant as you watch the waterfowl dine with you. You may also see watermen returning, aboard their workboats, with their daily catch of fish, crabs or oysters fresh from the Choptank River. Our enclosed, heated, and air-conditioned pavilion is available for catered events accommodating up to 300 guests for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduation parties, crab-feasts, reunions, and any other gathering imaginable.

For current rates and schedules, visit their website.

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Believed to be the site of a former Indian village, the park is bordered by the Choptank River and Watts Creek. Today, Martinak State Park offers 105 acres of protected plant and animal habitat comprised of hardwood and pine forest. Anglers may enjoy the opportunity to catch bass, perch, sunfish and catfish while others enjoy a modern campground, hiking trails, picnic area and visitor center.

Located approximately 2 miles south of Denton, Maryland, Martinak State Park is a nature lover’s playground. Folks of all ages enjoy a visit to this small, pristine park. Park staff offer an array of nature programs throughout the year. Bird watching events, kid’s fishing derby, owl prowl, country auction, and summer concerts are just a sampling of the events that attract both locals and tourists. The campground features sixty-three campsites and several cabins. Sites and cabins have varying amenities. Picnicking is a favorite pastime due to the lovely location overlooking the Choptank River. The river, along with Watts Creek attracts bass, perch, sunfish and catfish anglers. Handicapped amenities at the park include a camp loop, a bathhouse, picnic area and nature center.

Learn more about Martinak State Park 

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Established in December 1962, the Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge is a 2,285-acre island that serves as a major feeding and nesting ground for thousands of migratory and wintering waterfowl especially black duck. The refuge is also home to the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel and the threatened bald eagle. Management for the fox squirrel includes forest and cropland management, running a cooperative farming program and keeping the deer in check.

Nearly six miles of roads and trails are open to visitors most of the year. Four wildlife trails and a handicapped accessible boardwalk and observation tower are available for those wishing to observe the varied habitats of the refuge.

Visit the Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge 

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