Let’s face it—sometimes you and your number one just need to get away from it all. There’s no better reason than Valentine’s Day, the one holiday where social distancing is a plus. These hotels around Anne Arundel county offer an easy escape from home life, with enhanced cleaning protocols for peace of mind and romantic extras that aim to make your stay that much more special. With limited occupancy, reservations are limited so make your plans now so you don’t miss out.
Flaghouse Inn, Annapolis
This gorgeous B&B on Randall Street is comprised of two circa-1879 townhouses, combined into a single inn with a signature flag-bedecked porch and five unique bedrooms that feel like home, only better. The Commodore room is a favorite for its funky red toile-print wallpaper, but they all have king beds, ensuite bath, HD cable TV and slumber sound machines.
Hosts Marty and Carmel Etzel are happy to make dining suggestions from the loads of options within walking distance, and can easily arrange a surprise welcome amenity, like champagne; just ask in advance. Breakfasts are ever-changing, with dishes like apple-pecan French toast, hash brown sausage casserole, carrot cake pancakes, and there are always baked goods like muffins and cookies. Bonus: Each stay comes with free onsite parking—a rarity downtown.
Annapolis Waterfront Hotel, Annapolis
For water views in the heart of it all, you can’t beat this spot overlooking Ego Alley. The Love on the Harbor package includes overnight accommodations, a bottle of sparkling wine, and breakfast for two at Pusser’s Caribbean Grille. Choose from city-view rooms with views of St. Mary’s or the State House, or water views overlooking the harbor; all come with king beds and Malin + Goetz bath amenities.
Make your Valentine's getaway extra special with additional upgrades like a clawfoot tub or a balcony with a table for two, ideal for morning coffee. Pusser’s three-course Valentine’s menu is another great deal, with appetizer salad, entrée choice of surf & turf, salmon tower or prime rib, and New York-style cheesecake, for $40 per person pre drinks, tax and gratuity.
Inn at Horn Point, Eastport
This beautiful 1902 home-turned-inn is ideal for couples looking for old-world romantic ambiance. The six bedrooms all feature queen or king beds and period antiques, in keeping with the home’s heritage, and the Sequoia suite ups the ante with gas fireplace, clawfoot tub, rain shower and private balcony overlooking the garden. The inn’s location on the far end of Eastport’s historic residential district feels apart but is walking distance to Eastport’s Restaurant Row for in-person dining, or complimentary pick-and-delivery of meals from recommended restaurants.
Made-from-scratch breakfasts are a key part of the inn’s appeal, and weekday breakfast is available to go for guests on a schedule, as well as for the local community. On a weekend stay, settle in for a three-course feast, with internationally-inspired mains like crème brulee French toast or goat-cheese frittata served with Old Bay-dusted fried green tomatoes.
Just for readers of Annapolis Discovered, they are offering a month-long One-a-Kind Romance special, which includes champagne toast and next-day breakfast in bed, as part of a two-night stay. (Just tell them we sent you.)
Hotel at Arundel Preserve, Hanover
This contemporary boutique hotel is convenient to Arundel Mills Mall, Maryland Live! and BWI, but you don’t need to leave the property to have an escape. Their Love is in the Air Valentine’s special runs from February 10 thru 15, and includes accommodations in a generously sized standard room, plus a full bottle of wine (red or white) and chocolates delivered to your room.
For dinner, reserve a table at steakhouse Grillfire, whose three-course, prix-fixe menu includes choice of three starters, entrées (including filet Oscar and ricotta gnocchi) and desserts. Checkout isn’t until 2 pm the next day—and your package also covers two breakfast vouchers for Bagels and Grinds, next door.
Inn at Herrington Harbor, North Beach
Herrington Harbor is one of the top marinas on the Chesapeake, but you don’t need a boat to enjoy the setting for Valentine’s Day. Located in the south end of the expansive marina complex, the 45-room Inn at Herrington Harbor is a hidden gem, tucked on its own private beach overlooking the Bay. The 45 rooms and suites all have private entrances, and come in various styles, from standard guest rooms with king beds to suites with full kitchen and living rooms, and even guestrooms with private open-air patios with a hot tub.
Their Celebrate Love special runs all month, offering complimentary sparkling wine and rose petal turndown. Walk to dinner at Ketch 22, which serves up award-winning seafood and live music both indoors and on their waterfront deck. Standard checkout time is 11 am, but they’ll extend it to 1 pm for everything except the hot-tub rooms.
Live! Casino Hotel, Hanover
With the Valentine’s Day retreat package at Maryland Live! Hotel and Casino, your overnight stay comes with a slew of perks: a welcome amenity of champagne and chocolates, $50 free slots play (and 4,000 games to choose from), and a $100 dining credit. The casino has been voted best in Maryland, and for dinner, The Prime Rib has a special prix-fixe menu with options like lobster bisque, slow-roasted prime rib and surf and turf for $99 per person, or do sushi, dim sum at the Asian-fusion Luk Fu; both are available for in-person dining or carryout to your room. If you stay up late, no worries; late checkout means you don’t have to leave until 2 pm the next day.
