The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in St. Michaels, Maryland (MD)

Covid: Yes we are open! Sail Selina II Boat Tours sails daily from St Michaels MD April-Oct. limited to just 6 guests for a personal experience of the history of sail. Built in 1926 during the Great Gatsby era, climb aboard go back in time when yachtsmen enjoyed the elegance of freshly varnished mahogany and brightly polished brass. Available on a per person basis or private charter, we offer day sails, Champagne Sunset Cruises, moonlight sails, sailing lessons, wine tasting and beer tasting excursions, small weddings, engagements, birthdays & anniversary celebrations. Once we cast off lines we tour the harbor and enjoy the sights that dot the shoreline of our quaint little seafood town. Hear the stories of the historic boats on display at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museums, and see where the movie "Wedding Crashers" was filmed. Once we leave the harbor we go out into the Miles River, put up the sails and follow the wind. Guests are invited to participate or simply sit back relax.

This is a great shop on the eastern shore, having won the most unique gift shop on the eastern shore by What's Up Magazine. It is a very eclectic shop with something for everyone from a Kid's room with childrens & baby clothing and unique toys and books not found in your big box stores. When you walk into the shop you will find an extensive selection of signs with the ability to custom signs as well as wine glasses, pottery, coasters, and more. The shop is stocked with Woodwick candles, Jim Shore, Willow tree, homemade soaps and candles, wine accessories, and of course what would a shop on the eastern shore be if they didn't sell crab glasses, trays, wine bottle stoppers, napkins, towels and more. A great shop for eveyone in the family with prices unheard of in St. Michaels!

LYON RUM Distillery is a micro distillery located in Saint Michaels, Maryland, steps from the Chesapeake Bay. Founded in 2012, the distillery launched with a signature line of rums paying tribute to the rich, spirited traditions of the Eastern Shore. Hand-crafted from start to finish, LYON RUM begins as intentionally-sourced raw ingredients, and are hand-crafted – mashed, fermented, and double-distilled in small pot stills – every step of the way, resulting in a superior and unique final product. The goal is to create distinct spirits – working to define the category of new American rum. The distillery is also home to Gray Wolf Craft Spirits, a boutique operation offering grain-to-glass spirits.

*Before visiting, please visit welcome.cbmm.org for updates on our reopening. Each time you experience the Chesapeake Bay with us, you’ll find something different. Be sure to talk to our Shipwrights and apprentices in our Shipyard for insight into their current work in progress. Additionally, CBMM offers changing exhibitions, educational programs, boat rides on the Miles River, small craft rentals, and annual festivals celebrating Chesapeake Bay culture, boats, seafood, and history. With a waterfront, park-like setting, including numerous outdoor and indoor exhibitions, a Museum Store (with an ATM machine), and a member’s marina, you’ll find us on the Miles River in the heart of the historic town of St. Michaels. With two-day general admission, we encourage you to take a harbor-side stroll over Honeymoon Bridge to enjoy unique shopping, delicious dining, and fabulous lodging experiences. And be sure to check out the local brewery, winery, and distillery, and other town-wide events.

Note: Full access to the lighthouse is limited due to COVID-19. Please visit welcome.cbmm.org for details. Ascend the steps of the Hooper Strait Lighthouse and travel back in time to learn how 19th century lighthouse keepers tended their station in the middle of the Bay. Through this hands-on exhibit, visitors can climb the sea hatch, tend the huge lens, or stand watch on the lookout for ships or fog, experiencing firsthand the solitary, often heroic lives of Hooper Strait lighthouse keepers. The 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse, now standing on Navy Point, was originally built in 1879 to light the way for boats passing through the shallow, dangerous shoals of Hooper Strait, a thoroughfare for boats bound from the Chesapeake Bay across Tangier Sound to Deal Island or places along the Nanticoke and Wicomico Rivers. As a “screwpile” lighthouse, it is built on special iron pilings which were tipped with a screw that could be turned into the muddy bottom for a depth of 10 feet or more.

Imagine taking in the beauty of the Miles River and St Michaels on a replica of a 1930's steam ship called "The Patriot". We help you become familiar with the area as we cruise upon the beautiful Miles River, part of the Chesapeake Bay Estuary which is the largest in the Western Hemisphere. Learn about our local beginnings, view historic homes and wildlife, and watch local watermen harvest clams, oysters and the famous Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab during their respective seasons.The PATRIOT offers more than the historical scenic cruises for which it is famous. Four daily cruises are scheduled as well as evening charters for a variety of events. Let our captain and crew cater your small intimate affairs with close friends, family reunions, corporate events and more! Relax while you and your guests enjoy beautiful views along the Miles River that change with the seasons. Check our Patriot Cruises website for availability.

Historic and picturesque island in Chesapeake Bay.