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A great day trip, especially if you are staying nearby, is Maryland’s colonial capital of St. Mary’s City.  This was Maryland’s first settlement and the fourth permanent English settlement in the New World.  Located in St. Mary’s County off Route 5, St. Mary’s City is open Wednesday-Sunday 10 AM- 4PM.  Admission was $32 for our family of four.

Trying to beat the heat and the crowds, we were the first visitors of the day arriving 10 minutes before the 10 AM opening.  On our last visit, COVID was raging and most of the interpreters were absent.  This time we were greeted immediately as we reached the re-creation of a native Yaocomaco village (Woodland Indian Hamlet).  The children (12 & 9) were able to ask questions, touch the powder being ground from oyster shells and were immediately interested in everything around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After examining the village, we headed up the path to the reconstructed Town Center.  As we approached the first building, the Print House, we were greeted by a fantastic interpreter named Luke.  He gave an enthusiastic history of the site, the current building, and demonstrated the printing press.  The children were also able to try the press and Liam came away with his own printed contract enabling the holder to become a lawyer in colonial Maryland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luke next led to us up the path to the next building, Smith’s Ordinary, where he gave another excellent explanation as well as answering everyone of the children’s questions.  He was incredible and kept the children engaged the entire time.  I cannot believe that we were fortunate enough to have this amazing interpreter all to ourselves for an extended period of time!

We left the Town Center and headed for the Maryland Dove, since we only had a couple of minutes to visit on our last visit.  The Dove was one of the ship’s that accompanied the original settlers in 1634.  Unfortunately the exact plans for the Dove are lost.  This new Dove is the same type of ship and a built using the best known information. We were rewarded by an amazing private tour by the ship’s bosun.  He was funny, engaging and thorough.  Once again the children were encouraged to interact and he even coaxed Fionnuala (9) aboard when neither parent could get her to leave the pier.  It truly was a fantastic presentation.  I can’t believe how fortunate we were to have these two amazing interpreters to ourselves until we were ready to move on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By the time we left the ship we had been there about 1:45 and the children were hot and tired.  We began the walk back toward the Visitor’s Center.  On the way, we stopped at the Town Center and Luke gave us another excellent presentation, this time on Cordea’s Hope (one of the few storage houses in colonial Maryland).  We then headed to the car after completing our visit in a little over a two hours.  There are a lot of different picnic table options, but we had our eyes on something different for lunch.

Since it was lunchtime, we made the 25 minute drive to Solomon’s Island.  The whole family has really enjoyed each visit to this town.  Today we ate lunch at the Lighthouse Restaurant and it’s my new favorite.  The view of the water was relaxing and scenic.  Everyone enjoyed their meals, Sarah’s Mahi Mahi tacos and my crab cake were especially delicious.  They don’t take reservations, but we were able to get an outdoor table immediately at 12:45 PM.  What an enjoyable meal!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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