A classic seaside town located on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay, North Beach is a convenient weekend getaway from Baltimore, Washington D.C., and the surrounding areas. It centers on a sandy beach and the manicured boardwalk lined with flower boxes that runs along it. The town is at its most animated in summer, when sun-seekers, shoppers, and ice-cream-toting families come to frolic on its shores. But North Beach caters to anglers and crabbers as well as swimmers and sunbathers, its public boat slips and fishing pier buzzing with activity. The views over the Chesapeake Bay grow yet more impressive during the multicolored sunrises, while summer evenings often close with live music in the town’s public spaces.

North Beach is a quick hour’s drive — plus or minus ten minutes — from the D.C. metropolitan area, Annapolis, and Baltimore. Of the region’s main airports, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is the closest, followed by Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). But even Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is less than 1.5 hours away by car. All three offer car rentals, which is the easiest way to get out to the beach. Public buses run between Washington and North Beach, but only on commuter schedules. Depending on your length of stay, you could use rideshares to get around town, as all of the attractions and amenities are within walking distance.

North Beach’s boardwalks and sandy beaches thrive in the summer sunshine from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Many of the seasonal businesses, like kayak, paddleboard, and bicycle rentals, are shuttered in the off-season, so double-check any amenities you plan to use during your stay. July in North Beach can get extremely hot, though the marine breezes help. The warm weather usually sticks around through the end of September. The annual June House and Garden Tour attracts those with green thumbs as well as design enthusiasts who come to admire the town’s best homes when the weather’s at its best, while off-season events like Christmas on the Beach draws brave travelers to the shore despite the chilly temperatures and chance of snow.

Friday Night Farmers’ Market and Classic Car Cruise-In

From May to October, this weekly event brings together shoppers and socializers. Local farmers sell produce, meat, seafood, and prepared foods alongside area wineries and artists. But what sets this open-air market apart is the fleet of classic cars driven in and parked by collectors for people to admire each week.

Wetlands Overlook Park

This small nature preserve at the north end of the area’s main drag gives you a break from the excitement and energy of the beach and boardwalk. Two piers and a gazebo offer spots to relax and look for the birds that pass through while migrating along the Atlantic coast, often pausing for their own moment of rest in the park.

Roots and Tides Scenic Byway

Take the scenic route south along Chesapeake Bay’s western shore, exploring some or all of this 47-mile route dotted with historic sites, charming towns, museums, and parks. Pause for a stroll along the Captain John Smith National Historic Trail, wander an 1898 train station at the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum, and detour to check out century-old trees in the Battle Creek Cypress Swamp.