Adventure: Annapolis!

With a four-day weekend to enjoy but no plans to really go away, Jeff and I decided it was the perfect time to select a destination and do some splunkin' and splorin' in places we didn't know well. While the delicious quest for the perfect bagel got us out the door on Friday morning, it was a suggestion from this awesome book from our best friend, K, that kept us moving.

The 36 Hours series is a really neat concept from The New York Times. It's exactly what it sounds like: weekend trips that can be done in 36 hours all around the country. Yesterday morning, it was the Annapolis page that caught my eye, and, while we didn't have 36 hours, the suggestions for each city are so malleable that I knew we could fit in at least a few sights while adding in appealing ones of our own.

Main Street, Annapolis

After locating a parking garage on West Street, our visit to Annapolis began with a leisurely (which was a necessity in the 90+ degree heat!) stroll down the Main Street, heading to the water. As you know by now, Jeff's love of being on the water brought us right to one of 36 Hours' first suggestions: the bright red umbrella of Watermark boat cruises. After purchasing our tickets for a 40-minute harbor cruise, we found ourselves with a few minutes to hang our legs over the side of the dock and take in the beautiful day that so many sailors were enjoying.

One of the many sailing schools having a lesson in the harbor

Though the Harbor Queen herself was a bit of a tacky rendition of a traditional southern riverboat, the trip itself was incredibly informative as the guide narrated information about the Naval Academy, the Severn River, and Annapolis itself. In spite of the smattering of clouds, we eventually found ourselves coming below decks from our original location topside in hopes of avoiding too much sun.

Back on dry land, it was time for a fishy lunch--in the best possible way! McGarvey's answered our cravings with delicious crab balls (like mini crab cakes) and a blackened mahi sandwich. We couldn't eat too much, though, knowing that Annapolis boasts some pretty phenomenal homemade ice cream that was calling our names.

A short meander through brightly painted houses took us to the main gate of the United States Naval Academy, which we knew was a necessary stop during our day in Annapolis (and not just because 36 Hours told us so!). Jeff had never set foot on the campus before, and I hadn't been there in over a decade (since one of my cousins graduated in 1997). Since my family has a great deal of US Naval history, I'm always humbled by the sight of the Naval Academy, from the austere buildings to the plebes jogging to and fro to the wide harbor that outlines the campus.

A proud photo with my namesake inside the entrance to Halsey Field House

We spent nearly an hour wandering around the fields and buildings of the Naval Academy, chatting as we walked about the incredible commitment of the men and women who train and study there in order to defend our country. Still, when we happened upon the statue of Billy the Goat, the USNA's mascot, Jeff couldn't resist a playful moment!

Feeling like we'd successfully gotten in our exercise and might just melt in the heat if we stayed out in it any longer, we headed for our final destination of the day: the Annapolis Ice Cream Company.

Now, we're not big ice cream eaters, but this place still had a lot of hype to live up to. And it did. Oh boy, did it--though I suppose that's not so hard when your delicious decadence is made with 17% butterfat!

Jeff indulged in their most popular flavor, Peanut Butter Oreo, which didn't disappoint (according to him, as I don't do the peanut butter thing). I was a huge fan of my Blackberry Cobbler, the perfect combination of fruit and crunchy bits of pastry.

Tummies full, minds expanded, legs stretched, we headed back to the car. If 36 Hours could make a mere 8 hours this much fun, imagine what it will have in store when we choose a destination for an entire weekend!