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I’m starting a new feature here on SuperNoVAwife! It’s called “Blasts from the Past” to document our travels and other life events before we started blogging!
These posts will be pretty light on text and heavy on the photos, but I still hope readers find them fun and interesting.
This week’s Blast from the Past is a trip we took to Solomons Island, Maryland in August 2008.
Walking Along the Waterfront
Solomons Island is a fantastic little waterfront town on the Patuxent River, right by the Chesapeake Bay. Even though we went in the month of August, the breezes coming off the water made the hot weather much more enjoyable. Best of all, it was just a 90 minute drive from the DC area, and the route consisted of quieter back roads.
As you approach Solomons Island, you cross the long Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge, and it provides a fantastic view of the island as you approach it.
When we arrived, we started by parking in a parking lot at the waterfront and walking along the Riverwalk.
The Riverwalk has great views of the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge (pictured in the distance)
As we walked along the Riverwalk, we were able to take in many sights, like sailboats on the river, beautiful foliage, and just the peacefulness of the water splashing on the rocky shore.
There were also many quaint shops right across the street from the Riverwalk.
Point Lookout State Park
Back across the river from Solomons Island is Point Lookout State Park, right at the confluence of the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac River.
We spent a lot of time here, driving to the various sites in the park and then walking around. There were lots of folks fishing along the shore.
We took lots of pictures, and Ken balanced himself well on the rocky surface.
I, on the other hand, was a klutzy mess trying to walk across the uneven surface.
There was an historical lighthouse at the park, but it was closed when we were there.
It was really a stunning place, but it also has a dark past. It served as a POW camp during the Civil War, holding Confederate soldiers. Of the nearly 50,000 held there, 4000 died due largely to poor sanitation.
Now that I have discovered that I enjoy camping, I think Point Lookout State Park would be a great camping location for us in the future.
Calvert Marine Museum and Drum Point Lighthouse
Our time in Solomons Island also took us to a beautiful maritime museum and lighthouse called Calvert Marine Museum.
Many lighthouses near the Chesapeake Bay are hexagonal shaped, so they’re not the normal tall, round lighthouses you might think of. The Drum Point Lighthouse, located next to the Calvert Marine Museum, is that style.
You can walk up into the lighthouse and enjoy the (very tight) interior, and to see the views of the water below.
There were also many maritime-related artifacts inside the museum building.
Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center
One of our last stops on our weekend trip to Solomons Island was the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center. It was beautiful, and really unique the way the incorporated art and sculpture all throughout the grounds.
And of course, there were flowers in full bloom all throughout the gardens.
Accomodations
We stayed at the Fairfield Inn Lexington Park, not far from Solomons Island. I had a Chase Marriott credit card many years back, and I had a free weekend stay certificate at any category 1–4 (or maybe it was a 1-5) hotel. This hotel fit the bill, so we only had to pay for one night in the hotel.
There you have it. It was pretty fun to reminisce about a trip we took nearly six years ago! Solomons Island was a very charming place, and I’d definitely recommend it.
