Sunset Sailing: 4th of July on the Chesapeake Bay

A short 30 minute drive to the Chesapeake Bay is one of my favorite perks from living in DC. Eating crabs, throwing Old Bay on everything, and washing it all down with a cold Natty Boh - these foodie favorites have become synonymous with summer for me.

If you are looking for something festive and fun to do this 4th of July holiday, check out the photos below. The hubs and I booked tickets for a Sunset Sail on the Chesapeake this past weekend, it was magical! We set sail on the Woodwind, a 74 foot schooner which is actually the same boat that Christopher Walken sailed in the movie Wedding Crashers.

Grab some local crabs before cruising the Chesapeake for a truly all-in Maryland experience. We were short on time so stopped in at Buddy's along the city dock to eat. I honestly didn't have high expectations because it looked very touristy, but the service was great and the food was delish.

More details and all web links are listed at the bottom of the blog, enjoy and Happy 4th of July!

Tools of the trade

Old Bay Fried Pickle Chips

Dining at Buddy's overlooking the City Dock

Blue & white stripes are a classic look for sailing

Woodwind Sailboat in Annapolis

Sun and sails in the wind

They serve many craft beers on board, pictured here: Heavy Seas from Baltimore

Lighthouse in the distance

A modern day girl's boat shoes, metallic slip-resistant loafers from Cole Haan

Sun setting over the lighthouse

Heading back to Annapolis - what a gorgeous sunset!

Sailing Cruise

http://www.schoonerwoodwind.com

$44 per Adult

Cruise departs from the Marriott Annapolis Waterfront

Buddy's Crabs & Ribs

http://www.buddysonline.com

100 Main St, Annapolis, MD

England Part Four: York

Part Four of the England travel series covers our stay in the charming town of York. Rooted deep in history and full of charm, York was a perfect two night stay in the middle of our trip.

In AD 71 York was a Roman capital, in the 9th century the Vikings took it over as a trading town, but the lasting aesthetics and ambiance of the city are completely medieval. You can still walk atop the medieval walls, which is a fantastic way to tour the city by foot. Scroll to the bottom of the post for more details about where we stayed and all that we saw in York. Enjoy!

Walking the medieval walls that still surround the city of York

This guy was walking the wall on his lunch break, he just fit the scene so perfectly

View towards York Minster from the wall, some lovely English gardens as well

My husband ready for battle at the Richard III museum, definitely York over Tudor

Our delicious adorable lunch spot, The Star Inn The City

The Little Shambles, a preserved medieval street that feels like it will topple over any second

Welcoming the new Princess! 

The hubs and I after touring Clifford's Tower, the weather was gorgeous that day

Where We Ate
The Star Inn The City - Lendal Engine House Museum Street, York YO1 7DR, United Kingdom
Golden Lion York - 9 Church Street, York YO1 8BG, United Kingdom
Bari Ristorante - 15 Shambles, York, North Yorkshire YO1 7LZ, United Kingdom
Monk Bar Chocolatiers - 7 Shambles, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 7LZ, United Kingdom
Jorvik Viking Center - Coopergate, York, YO1 9WT, United Kingdom

Where We Stayed
Hotel 53 - 53 Piccadilly, York, North Yorkshire YO1 9PL, United Kingdom

What We Did
Walked the City Walls - Mickelgate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 6JX, United Kingdom
The Original Ghost Walk of York - The King's Arms Pub, Ouse Bridge (the famous pub that floods)
Clifford's Tower - Tower Street, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 9SA, United Kingdom
Richard III Museum at Monk Bar - 6 Goodramgate, York, North Yorkshire, YO1 7LQ, United Kingdom
York Minster - Deangate, York, YO1 7HH, United Kingdom

General Advice
The best advice I can give is to start walking the wall at keep hopping on and off. It is the best way to tour the city and is so unique! We had more fun walking the walls then anything else we did in York.
The Original Ghost Walk of York was fantastic. Spooky and historical with the occasional laugh. Very well done, it made for a great evening of learning more about the city.
You must eat at The Star Inn The City, it was so delicious and completely adorable.
Skip paying for the Richard III and Henry VIII experiences. I'm a War of the Roses/York vs. Tudor history buff and I thought both of these were poorly done. The best part was trying on the medieval armor and helmets!
Jorvik Center is cool for kids, not so much for adults. I'd pass on this museum unless you are traveling as a family.

England Part Three: Keswick and Hadrian's Wall

Part Three in the England Travel Series features what I believe to be the best part of our 10 Day Trip. When looking at a map, you may think, why would I drive all the way to Northern England? I hope the photos below help explain why.

My husband and I drove from Oxford to Keswick on the fourth day of our trip. We were entranced the minute we began to see the rolling mountains surrounding the Lake District. This part of England, just bordering Scotland, is stunning. Charming villages are nestled in valleys by the lake where clouds and fog roll over the mountain tops in the evening. It felt like a storybook was coming to life.

We stayed at The Royal Oak in Keswick, and friends, I cannot recommend this charming inn enough! The food was spectacular, the staff endearing, and the rooms idyllic. We spent hours in the downstairs pub drinking ales with locals and adorable dogs (who are also allowed in the pub, as long as they are on good behavior).

As an Interior Designer I personally had such an appreciation for the design of The Royal Oak. The scheme of cozy plaid carpets with warm wood tones and pops of color just made this place feel like home.

The next morning we went on an incredible hike of the Catbells. The hike was more intense then I thought it would be, but absolutely worth it once you get to those stunning views at the top.

Next we headed east and stopped off at Hadrian's Wall on our way to York. It was so cold and windy at Hadrian's Wall we didn't stay very long, but I would still recommend it.

More details and tips listed at the bottom of the post, enjoy!

The Royal Oak signage

The Royal Oak exterior

Lounge area inside The Royal Oak

The Cheese Plate was incredible!

Delicious breads with local rapeseed oil and butter

Pub at The Royal Oak

View from our room

Cozy room

Adorable sheep tea pot cover in the room

Goodies for a good night's rest - eye masks and ear plugs

Starting our hike by the lake

Sheep along the Catbells hike

Catbells Views, half way up

It felt a bit like Game of Thrones on this hike

Enjoying the views!

Hadrian's Wall

My husband overlooking Scotland from Hadrian's Wall

Where We Ate
The Royal Oak - Main St, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5HZ, United Kingdom

Where We Stayed
The Royal Oak - Main St, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5HZ, United Kingdom

What We Did
Hiked the Catbells - Hawse End Centre, Portinscale, Cumbria, CA12 5UE, United Kingdom
Hiked Hadrian's Wall - Military Road, Bardon Mill, Northumberland, NE47 7AN, United Kingdom

General Advice
Before heading to the Catbells stop by the Tourist Information Center (a block from The Royal Oak) and get directions. You will easily get lost trying to find the Hawse End car park to start your hike!
Take some snacks and water with you on this hike, it took us four hours round trip. Take a blanket and have a mountaintop picnic to rest before heading back down.
For Hadrian's Wall, start at the Once Brewed Tourist Center. Head north across the main road, up the hill, and through the kissing gate on the right. You will cross a pasture and then be at the base of Hadrian's Wall. Be prepared if it is a windy day, the wind gusts are treacherous up those stone steps and it is a very steep climb.