Eastern Shore Getaways: The allure of a slower pace calls. Discover the mystique of small Maryland and Virginia towns and find places where you can relax and unwind. This is where you’ll find superb seafood, adventurous shopping, and dozens of ways to connect with the region’s pristine natural beauty on land and water.
Drive time from Dulles: 2.5 hours
Small towns aren’t typically hotbeds of culinary excellence, but Easton, Maryland, with its population of 17,300, is giving metropolitan centers a run for their money. In this unassuming Talbot County gem near the Tred Avon River, only a 2.5-hour drive from NoVA, the charms of small-town life blend beautifully with the cosmopolitan ingredients of big-city living. There’s a walkable downtown, independent shops, cultural activities, historical relevance, exquisite fine dining, and even a Champagne and caviar bar with a million dollars of scotch in stock.
Easton has boomed in the past decade, thanks in large part to energy tycoon Paul Prager and his Bluepoint Hospitality Group. Prager, a New Yorker who relocated his family and his business to Easton during the height of the pandemic, desired to give himself and his employees the finer things in life that they’d miss from the city. His first concept, Sunflowers & Greens, was inspired by his daughter’s craving for a good salad, complete with Russ & Daughters smoked salmon on top.
Other successful concepts, including the James Beard Award–nominated restaurant Bas Rouge, the aforementioned cocktail bar The Stewart, and pastel-perfect Bonheur Pie & Ice Cream followed. Now, Prager owns roughly half of downtown. At Bas Rouge, you may overhear a local say, “We’ve never had anything like this in Easton!” Lucky for us, money doesn’t appear to be an object in Prager’s projects. From rare antique furnishings to the finest wines, his eye for detail has elevated the Eastern Shore town.
When you’re not eating or drinking, how about some antiquing? Amble down the red-brick sidewalks to find anything from vintage curios to museum-quality pieces at sellers like Vintage Books & Fine Art, Easton Antiques and Art Gallery, and Flying Cloud Fine Art Posters. Consider visiting in July when the 20th annual Plein Air Easton festival takes over the streets for its live outdoor art competition and sale featuring nearly 200 artists, across Easton, Oxford, and Tilghman Island.
Check the calendar for other cultural events, including this June’s Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival, featuring artists from across the world. In the fall, the beloved annual Waterfowl Festival celebrates Maryland wildlife and art over three days. Check out the historic Avalon Theatre for regular events, including live music, book talks, and children’s theater in an intimate, art deco building.
American history buffs will have plenty to see around Easton, starting with the bronze statue of Talbot County native Frederick Douglass in front of the courthouse. Check the spots on the Frederick Douglass Driving Tour for other Easton stops, including the site of a jail where Douglass was held after an attempt to seek freedom.
Where to Eat
Start your evening with a scotch cocktail or glass of Champagne and sumptuous small plates (like lobster rolls, sashimi, and french fries with caviar) at The Stewart before moving to Bas Rouge, the buzzworthy contemporary European restaurant that earned chef Harley Peet a James Beard Best Chef Mid-Atlantic nomination this year. Every morsel, sip, and detail of the experience is exemplary, down to the background music and china selections. Add the wine pairing option to your three- or four-course meal, where the menu highlights include a fonio and date tabbouleh appetizer and a seared sea scallops entrée.
Epicurean market and wine shop The Wardroom serves up lunch, brunch, and dinner; get a signature sandwich and Bundt cake during the day and return for feature nights like gnocchi Tuesdays. (Tip: Save room in your luggage to bring home some wine, as bottle prices are lower than you’ll find closer to DC.) Piazza Italian Market also has an impressive selection of packaged Italian products, as well as gelato, wine, paninis, and more. Love independent coffee shops? Grab a fair-trade cup of joe at Rise Up Coffee Roasters, the popular regional chain that’s headquartered in Easton.
Where to Stay
Stay in the heart of Easton at The Tidewater Inn (rooms from $189 in low season and $209 during the peak season), a historic 84-room hotel just steps from shops and the Avalon Theatre. For more of a charming, upscale bed-and-breakfast vibe, try Tidewater House (rooms from $329 a night), the inn’s mansion property with six varied, impressively on-point themed rooms — the opulent French room, with its gilded, French chateau inspo, is surely popular with bridal parties, so book far in advance!
A new on-site Terrasse Spa offers a range of treatments including wrinkle-repair facials and couples massages. Another perk? The bustling Hunters’ Tavern, a casual spot popular with locals and visitors alike, where crowd-pleasing fare like crabcake sandwiches and brunch cocktails keep the masses coming back.
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Feature image of Easton, stock.adobe.com
This story originally ran in our May issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
