The capital of Maryland is located just an hour or so outside of D.C. and it’s a great day trip option! Annapolis is home to the United States Naval Academy and is filled with plenty of history to indulge in. Many people usually think of Baltimore, but Annapolis is a very cute and quaint town that is definitely worth the visit.
Did you know that the Maryland State House, in Annapolis, was once the capitol of the United States? That was from 1783-1784, so it wasn’t the capitol for too long! In this location, the Treaty of Paris was also ratified. I think that’s pretty neat! I had to start my day at the State House for a free self-guided tour.
My next stop was the William Paca House, the former home of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence from Maryland. The cost was $12 and that included a guided tour of the inside of the home, two brief museum exhibits, and a self-guided tour of the gardens. I really enjoyed this tour and the guide was very informative!!
I had several recommendations for lunch but I chose to eat at the Iron Rooster! Not only did their menu look amazing, but the food was so good! They also serve breakfast all day, but I got a burger as that was what I was in the mood for. If I had planned to do breakfast/ brunch in Annapolis, this would have been the spot!
After lunch, I did a bit of shopping down Main Street, which boasts tons of boutiques and other various types of stores. Lots of cute local clothing boutiques for women!! Annapolis is really a great place to take a stroll and take in its beauty.
The parking situation can become similar to D.C.- parallel paid parking for about 2 hours max, then you have to move your car. If its crowded and mid-day, then that can get tough. There are parking garages that you can utilize for the day, though. Depending on how much time you plan to spend in Annapolis will determine if you have any time left for additional attractions.
