ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND – There’s always something new to experience in Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Here are a few activities you might want to treat yourself to in the lazy, hazy days of summer ahead.
Wine and Dine Under the Stars – Enjoy an intimate evening of music, wine and pizza under the stars during Great Frogs Winery’s new Date Night. Held the last Friday of the month through September, patrons are invited to sample Great Frogs’ newest selection of wines before choosing a bottle to share. Guests have the option of choosing from among three farm to table pizzas. Limited tickets are available. Reservations are recommended. http://www.greatfrogs.com/, 410-626-6193.
Test Your Survival Skills – Opened in May 2016, Mission Escape Rooms at 40 West Street in Annapolis is a new, interactive entertainment destination that provides real-life escape experiences designed for small groups of 6-14 people. Your mission is simple: work together as a team, testing your wits and skills, to escape from a locked room in an hour or less. While the goal is simple, the game is challenging. Getting through the locked door is dependent upon finding clues, solving puzzles and working together. Think of it as a real life game of Clue! Mission Escape Rooms is comprised of four themed rooms: Edgar Allen Poe, Military, Boudoir, and Black and White – a hypnotic themed room. Each room has a unique storyline and clues to solve. http://www.missionescaperooms.com, 410-263-3333.
Rediscover the U.S. Naval Academy – In May 2016, the U.S. Naval Academy officially opened a new, high-tech exhibit that greets visitors as they enter Halsey Field House on their way to the Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center. Serving as a ‘quarterdeck’ for the Naval Academy, the exhibit features several interactive screens, including a 20’ x 6’ touch screen wall map that pinpoints sites to see around the “Yard”. Another video screen features midshipmen and recent graduates discussing admissions, academics, midshipmen life and career options. A third screen hosts the Alumni Association directory. Other exhibit highlights include nearly 700 photos and videos of life at the academy and photography of iconic moments. www.usna.edu, 410-293-2292.
Set Out on a Family Fishing Adventure – Children ages 5 to 16 and their families can now cast off on a 1.75-hour trip aboard a 30-foot U.S. Coast Guard certified fishing vessel – the Sea Dragon – to learn how to fish, crab and preserve the Chesapeake Bay. Owner Chris Hendershot began offering the excursions out of Annapolis City Marina in spring 2016. His company leads a hands-on adventure – teaching kids how to use a fishing rod and reel, bait and operate lures and equipment, discover and identify local marine life, haul crab pots and explore the Chesapeake Bay. Young and seasoned anglers are welcome. http://familyfishingadventures.com, 410-279-8325.
Launch Your Own Boat – Annapolis and Anne Arundel County visitors and residents have yet another option for getting out on the water. In spring 2016, Anne Arundel County officially opened a $4.9 million boat ramp at Fort Smallwood park in Pasadena. It’s the first public boat ramp owned by Anne Arundel County. Prior to its opening, area residents and visitors had two options for launching a boat from a public boat ramp in Anne Arundel County – Sandy Point State Park and the City of Annapolis’s Truxtun Park. In addition to the public boat ramp, Anne Arundel County has also opened up Fort Smallwood Park to swimming this summer. http://www.aacounty.org/services-and-programs/fort-smallwood-park-boat-ramp, 410-222-0087.
