| Chesapeake Bay is not the kind of place that | | | | investigate the licensing laws and |
| you'll see looming in the distance as you | | | | regulations before casting a line in the |
| head down the highway. You can't just type | | | | hopes of reeling in some fresh dinner. |
| the name into a Web site or your car's | | | | Rockfish, drum and trout are just a few of |
| navigation system and expect it to turn up a | | | | the favorite finds. |
| specific point on the map, and when you tell | | | | |
| people this is where you're headed, expect | | | | Also out on the water you'll find a number of |
| follow up questions. Chesapeake Bay covers an | | | | boating opportunities. Yachters and sailors |
| impressive 2,500 square miles just begging to | | | | can take up their sport of choice in a prime |
| be explored, so narrow your focus and prepare | | | | location, and joining a few fellow wave |
| to encounter a geographically unique, | | | | catchers will add to your joy at being out on |
| endlessly entertaining locale that also | | | | the open water. Camaraderie, speed, and |
| qualifies as a state of mind. | | | | beautiful scenery...what more could you need? |
| | | | Marinas and docks are everywhere you look, |
| Located between Maryland and Virginia, | | | | ready to meet your needs no matter what you |
| Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary on the | | | | decide to do. |
| continent, meaning it's the meeting place for | | | | |
| freshwater rivers and the salty sea. From the | | | | Special events are plentiful here, especially |
| Native Americans of yesteryear to the | | | | during the warm weather. Easterners know how |
| world-weary vacationers of today, this | | | | to cherish warm days and sunshine, and |
| expansive stretch of open water plus the | | | | planning your visit to coincide with a |
| settlements that have sprung up around it | | | | festival will surely be worth your while. |
| have attracted all sorts of people looking to | | | | Many revolve around seafood; Crab Days and |
| live, work and play in a beautiful place. | | | | Clam Bakes bring people together for music, |
| | | | dancing, and all sorts of delicious delights. |
| If you're interested in the basic facts, the | | | | Arts and crafts are also big draws, as are |
| name means "great shellfish bay" because it | | | | boat fests and regattas and Fourth of July |
| is home to over 170 species of shellfish. | | | | celebrations. As you can see, there's rarely |
| There are also at least 350 kinds of fish and | | | | a dull moment on Chesapeake Bay. |
| a couple thousand plant varieties. Judging by | | | | |
| all this vibrant and exuberant life, there | | | | You may be tempted to dabble in all the |
| must be something life-affirming about this | | | | different points of view that the Bay |
| region. | | | | provides; from the head to the mouth goodness |
| | | | knows there's much to take in. however, in |
| Once you lay eyes on the bay, you'll start to | | | | the interest of a leisurely vacation, it |
| get a feel for what that is. No matter where | | | | would be best to settle into a vacation |
| you end up stopping off, you'll instantly | | | | rental. Give yourself a home base to be proud |
| absorb the rich history, conservation-themed | | | | of, one that will keep you and your |
| attitudes, East Coast charm, and a healthy | | | | companions living in comfort, close to the |
| sense of fun that pervades the towns. From | | | | water and to one or two city settlements |
| Annapolis to Virginia Beach, the restaurants, | | | | where you can find groceries, entertainment |
| festivals, and constant array of activities | | | | and lots of laid-back energy. |
| will be more than enough to fill a | | | | |
| memory-making vacation for you and yours. | | | | There are many choices to be made when it |
| | | | comes to Chesapeake Bay, so do a little |
| Watch the constant flow of ocean-going ships | | | | research now in order to fully enjoy yourself |
| as you walk along the bay each morning. Check | | | | later. Select the spot that tickles your |
| out historic districts that claim ties to the | | | | fancy, pick out a Chesapeake Bay Vacation |
| likes of long-ago English explorers like John | | | | Rental, whose pictures and descriptions |
| Smith, or take a narrated boat tour that will | | | | intrigue you, and prepare to be immersed in |
| fill you in on a few juicy tidbits. As you | | | | the bounties of the bay. |
| can imagine, fishing is huge here, so | | | | |