DORCHESTER COUNTY, MD TRAVEL GUIDE
This post was previously sponsored by Dorchester County Tourism, but as always, all opinions and recommendations are my own.
I recently had the chance to take a day trip and explore Dorchester County, something I’ve been wanting to do for a while! Dorchester County is situated centrally on the eastern shore of Maryland, about an hour from OC, and a little over an hour from Annapolis + the Bay bridge which makes it the perfect location for a romantic getaway for family-friendly road trip!
I’m sure you’re like me and have been driving through Cambridge on route 50 for as long as you can remember, and have probably wondered what there is to do around the area. There’s actually so much history and the geographic location on the rive/bay makes for breathtaking views! The Hyatt in Cambridge is the perfect year-round hotel, which is conveniently located close to Downtown and so many yummy restaurants.
Ava's Pizzeria: cute pizzeria & wine bar on the corner downtown
- Bay Country Bakery: BEST local bakery and donut shop!
- Black Water Bakery: cute breakfast and bakery, must get the mimosa bucket! highly recommend making reservations
- Blue Ruin: cozy speakeasy style restaurant downtown with brunch on sundays, make sure to call to confirm hours of operation!
-Jimmie & Sook's : casual bar & grill with a hidden away garden patio
- Lil’ Bitta Bull BBQ: great bbq restaurant, perfect for grab & go if you're driving through!
- Portside : traditional eastern shore restaurant with waterfront dining overlooking the drawbridge
- RAR Brewery : brewery with comfort style foods, like pretzels and cheese, burgers, tots and more. They serve more than just beer to, highly recommend trying out a sample of the local wine!
- Theo's: steakhouse located downtown
Downtown Cambridge has some cute boutiques and local stores, like Thomas’s Fine Jewelry, Bay Country Shop, Butterfly Boutique & Free Spirit Threads.
There really isn’t a “nightlife” in Dorchester County. If you’re looking to go out, Ocean City is about an hour ride east and there’s usually always something to do. Kent Island is also about an hour west which has some fun bar/nightlife spots that are open late.
If you wanna stay in the county, I recommend:
-Suicide Bridge Dock Bar & Restaurant
-Johnny’s Tavern (has a DJ some nights)
The Hyatt Regency is the only place I recommend! It’s beautiful, secure, and there’s SO much to do! From golf, to swimming, to exploring the water and views, you’ll never be bored, and its conveniently located within 10 min to downtown!
Learn about Harriett Tubman on the scenic drive along the URR (including hitting the museum, visitor center and mural)
- Explore Black Water Wildlife Refuge and/or Hoopers Island (highly recommend kayaking if you can!)
- Have a scenic picnic on the water / Take the kids to play at the Cambridge Visitor Center
- Grab a drink! Hit up RAR Brewery or Layton’s Chance for a cold beer or glass of wine
- Spend the Day by the pool or on the golf course at the Hyatt Resort
- Enjoy a cruise along the water on The Skip Jack Nathan