BringFido's Guide to Chesapeake Bay

Posted by Billy Francis

Legend states the canine ancestors of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever were some of the only survivors of an English shipwreck in the region. Fido can ride shotgun in your car and enjoy a much more comfortable arrival to the largest U.S. estuary, where he can wander along a waterfront promenade and meet local pups in a dog park bar, coast at your feet on a paddleboard adventure and trot back in time to learn about the lives of his founding “fur” fathers.

Things to Do

“Didn’t you hear? Tables are the new chairs.” Photo by Facebook.com/BarkSocialBaltimore

Historic colonial cities, tours on land or water, and epic dog beaches await you and your pooch in the Chesapeake Bay area.

Charm City

Baltimore is the main port in the upper Chesapeake Bay area and Maryland’s largest metropolis. Get a feel for the Monumental City on Baltimore’s Waterfront Promenade. This pedestrian walkway allows the public to stroll alongside the city’s most well-loved asset, the Inner Harbor, which connects it to the Chesapeake Bay. Take a short detour from the promenade to Bark Social, where dogs can play off leash while humans enjoy a beer on tap. Then, make your way to Fort McHenry, where the national anthem,“The Star-Spangled Banner,” was born. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trails and open grassy areas overlooking the inner harbor.

The Bay’s Best Beaches

Chesapeake Bay’s beaches offer calm and picturesque escapes for locals and tourists alike. On the way out of Baltimore, pay a visit to nearby Downs Memorial Park Dog Beach. Pups can paddle and play on the small beach and in the calm waters. Elsewhere in The Bay, visitors to Virginia Beach can explore First Landing State Park Beach, Old Dominion’s most-visited state park, named for the Jamestown colonists who arrived in the region in 1607. Leashed dogs are welcome on the park’s 20 miles of trails, which wind around bald cypress trees and other native plants, and on the beach. Or, wander the trails at Calvert Cliffs State Park and admire the unique cliffs from the sand.

“The whole crew is cruisin’.” Photo by Facebook.com/WatermarkJourneys

Maryland’s Capital on the Water

SUP with your pup on a pet-friendly rental from Capital SUP in Maryland’s capital city of Annapolis. Paddle around Quiet Waters Park and make stops at two dog parks and a dog beach. Sandy paws are no match for the dog wash stations at Bark 'N' Bean at the north end of the park. Grab a coffee and treat Fido to a new hairdo while you’re there. For a less strenuous tour on the water, book tickets on Watermark Journey - Cruises on the Bay. This popular pet-friendly excursion offers great views of Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse and a rundown of Chesapeake Bay’s history.

Drive Chesapeake Country

If you love to drive with your dog, Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway is a great way to see the region by road. Maryland’s first designated scenic byway will take you on a journey of more than 400 miles from Chesapeake City to Smith Island, where you’ll have to ditch your car and climb aboard a pet-friendly ferry operated by Smith Island Cruises. Along the way, pull over in historic towns like Galena and Centreville, watch wildlife thriving in wetlands and rivers, and soak up the Chesapeake atmosphere.

“They don’t call me a salty sea dog for nothing.” Photo by BringFido/Mary

Explore St. Michaels

St. Michaels is home to a historic harbor and a selection of homes that date all the way back to the 1600s. This beautiful coastal town gives visitors a glimpse into a bygone era at every corner, nowhere more so than Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Situated on 18 waterfront acres, this pet-friendly museum has a floating fleet of historic Chesapeake Bay watercraft that tell the maritime story of Chesapeake Bay. Patriot Boat Cruises docks next to the museum and welcomes dogs on board to learn more about the history of the same waters that have sustained the local area for hundreds of years.

Pet-Friendly Tour of Colonial Country

Colonial Williamsburg is a short drive inland from Chesapeake Bay. With more than four centuries and 300 acres worth of history to explore, the nation's largest living history museum invites dogs and their owners to walk the streets and learn from costumed interpreters about life in colonial times. Well-behaved pups are welcome in the Historic Area, on Colonial Williamsburg’s shuttle buses, and in the visitor center. For another blast from the past, head to nearby Historic Jamestown, where the first English settlement was built in the U.S., and take a walking tour with a park ranger, archaeologist or living history character.

Nose Around Norfolk

Norfolk boasts seven miles of Chesapeake Bay waterfront and is a must-visit destination for pups and people touring the area. First, let your dog loose at PETA's Bea Arthur Dog Park on the Elizabeth River. This well-maintained park has a nice lawn for a game of fetch with items from the toy bin provided. Be sure to time your trip to arrive for Sunday Dog Days at Norfolk Botanical Gardens, held weekly at the dog-friendly botanical gardens. Then, take Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel across the river to Grandview Nature Preserve, which is home to a winding trail that leads to a gorgeous sandy beach on The Bay.

Places to Stay

“This balcony has got me smiling!” Photo by BringFido/Hannah

Whether your furry best friend prefers luxurious lodgings or cozy B&Bs, there’s something for every dog in this welcoming region on the East Coast.

A Historic Stay

Spend the night in more modern surroundings than the nearby living history museum at The Griffin Hotel, A Colonial Williamsburg Hotel. Surrounded by nature, you and your dog can explore the property’s hiking trails before retiring to your spacious room for the night. If you book early, you can secure a room with sliding doors that lead straight to the pretty garden area outside.

Book into a “Grraduate”

Graduate Hotels is a great choice for people who want to share a unique stay with their pups, and Graduate Annapolis is no different. Four-legged guests will be stoked to receive a welcome bag with treats at check-in. Once you’re settled into your snazzy room, meet more lucky Labs at the on-site dog park. This popular pet-friendly hotel is located downtown and within walking distance of Watermark Journey - Cruises on the Bay.

“The grreat outdoors.” Photo by Brampton Bed and Breakfast Inn

Share a 5-Star Stay

Brampton Bed and Breakfast Inn in Chestertown is tucked away amongst 35 acres of gorgeous gardens, peaceful meadows, and flourishing forest on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Guests with large pets can stay in Robin’s Nest, the largest option at the dog-friendly B&B, or bring smaller dogs for a weekend in Russell’s Cottage, a private lodging located in a converted 1860 smokehouse. At check-in, pups receive homemade biscuits from the inn’s pastry chef, a water bowl, towels and pet blankets. Call in at Brampton Inn on your picturesque drive along Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway.

A Charming Kimpton on the Harbor

After a long day of exploring Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, you won’t want to traipse across town to lie down. Instead, book a stay at Kimpton Hotel Monaco Baltimore Inner Harbor, where pets stay for free near the waterfront. Dogs and their owners can hang out in boutique rooms with city views or deluxe rooms with canine-themed murals on the wall before Kimpton’s famous happy hour begins at 5 p.m.

“Cuddles imminent.” Photo by BringFido/Jackie

Founders Keepers

The Founders Inn & Spa offers a retreat for Retrievers in Virginia Beach. Leashed dogs can explore the 26-acre grounds that are shared with Regent University and pay a visit to the on-site dog park for an off-leash romp with other canine guests. At dinnertime, book a table on the patio at the hotel’s Swan Terrace Grill and find a menu full of fresh seafood items.

Norfolk Nights

When the sun starts to set on your time in Norfolk, retire for the night to the Big Blue Beach Cottage. This quintessential Chesapeake Bay beach house provides sweeping views across the water from the deck and through the large windows in the open-plan living area. Big Blue is conveniently located near Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel for easy exploration of the surrounding area.

Historic Home in St. Michaels

Put the cherry on top of your St. Michaels experience by staying in one of the famous historic homes. Located in the heart of town near Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Carpenter St. Cottage has recently been renovated but keeps its old-school charm. Hang out with your hound on the large screened porch and watch the world go by, or cozy up inside for the evening.

Dog-Friendly Restaurants

“Put another log on the fire for me!” Photo by Facebook.com/Chatham Vineyards

Diners with dogs can treat their pups to hearty meals and specialty ice creams at these restaurants in the Chesapeake Bay area.

Walkies at the Vineyard

Dogs can join you on a tour through the rows of grapes at Chatham Vineyards & Winery in Machipongo. Owned and operated by the owners of Chatham Farm, a working farm for four centuries, this historic vineyard is a picturesque place to sample Merlot with your mutt. If you’re feeling peckish, this pet-friendly hangout with a fire pit serves up artisanal cheese boards and hand-crafted chocolates for dessert.

Bittersweet Eats

Citrus is the breakfast place of Fido’s dreams. Find a table on the large patio outside and get ready to feast on steak and eggs, blueberry pancakes and more. Meanwhile, four-legged diners can salivate over a menu made just for them with offerings like scrambled eggs with bacon, a grilled hamburger patty or chicken breast with rice and pupsicles for dessert. Meals for dogs are served up on a Frisbee that your pup can lick clean and keep forever.

Sail Away, Sail Away

Annapolis is known as America’s Sailing Capital. Every Wednesday evening from April through September, crowds gather to watch more than 100 yachts sail into the Chesapeake Bay sunset. Join revelers on the dog-friendly patio at Boatyard Bar and Grill to cheer on your favorite schooner with your Shih Tzu and a plate of crab cakes.

“Is this guy Sly Clyde?” Photo by Facebook.com/SlyClydeCiderworks

Cider Works!

Sly Clyde Cider Works in Hampton welcomes dogs to join in the fun both inside and out. Mosey down memory lane with a Colonial-style cider, or try another unique flavor like blackberry mint or habanero rosemary. Sly Clyde doesn’t have a kitchen on the premises, but partners with local food trucks on a rotating schedule to keep cider lovers fed. Keep an eye out for adoption events at the cidery to raise money for local animal shelters.

Baltimore’s Best Bites

The Fells Point neighborhood in Baltimore is full of bustling restaurants that showcase food from around the world as well as local favorites. Start your day the right way when you order a coffee and pastry at the doggy walk-up window at The Daily Grind. Later on, get a taste of Maryland’s blue crabs at Riptide by the Bay. Don’t forget to save room for dessert at BMore Licks. This funky ice cream shop serves up mouthwatering flavors like Cuban Coffee Oreo, Pumpkin Pie and Maple Walnut for humans, and a vanilla or peanut butter dish for dogs. Fido’s soft serve ice cream cup comes topped with a dog biscuit.

“Nothing beats a beer garden on a sunny day.” Photo by Facebook.com/wasserhundbrewing

Brews in The Bay

Located near The Founders Inn, Wasserhund Brewing Company is all about dogs. This German-style brewpub serves a selection of specialty pizzas that are inspired by canines like The Doberman Pinscher and the Mutt, and beers also pay homage to hounds with names like the Haywire Husky Coffee Lager and Pick of the Litter Lager. Pups are welcome on the patio.

Catch the Best Seafood

From oysters and crabs to bass, catfish and more, Chesapeake Bay is full of seafood delights. Jumpin' Shrimp showcases some of the region’s freshest catch and serves it up to pet-friendly tables overlooking Virginia Beach.

Have you ever been to the Chesapeake Bay region with Fido? Leave a comment or tweet us @BringFido!

Banner photo by George Sass.