Planning a Trip

Getting There

The best way to get to Easton is by car, via U.S. Route 50 from all directions. Follow the signs on Route 50 near Easton to get to St. Michaels, Tilghman, and Oxford. All are reachable by boat as well, with plenty of dock space.

Easton Municipal Airport, on U.S. Route 50 (tel. 410/822-0400), serves local planes and runs a charter with three- and eight-passenger planes. Greyhound (tel. 800/231-2222 or 410/822-3333; www.greyhound.com) offers bus service to the Fast Stop Convenience Store, 9543 Ocean Gateway (Rte. 50), across from the airport.

Visitor Information

Contact the Talbot County Office of Tourism, 11 S. Harrison St., Easton (tel. 410/770-8000; www.tourtalbot.org). The Tidewater Times, a good pocket magazine with maps, is available in many shops.

Getting Around

The only way to get around is by car, or, if you're lucky, by boat (though Easton itself is landlocked). Maryland Route 33 from Easton will take you to St. Michaels and Tilghman Island; Maryland Route 333 goes to Oxford.

The shortest (in miles, not time) and most scenic route from Oxford to St. Michaels is via the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry (tel. 410/745-9023; www.oxfordferry.com), across the Tred Avon River. Established in 1683, this is the country's oldest privately operated ferry. The 3/4-mile trip takes 7 minutes. You can catch the nine-vehicle ferry from Bellevue, off routes 33 and 329, 7 miles from St. Michaels, or from Oxford, off Route 333. From March through November, the ferry runs every 20 minutes, Monday through Friday from 7am to sunset, Saturday and Sunday from 9am to sunset. There's no service December through February. Rates for a car and driver are $9 one-way and $14 round-trip; vehicle passengers pay $1; walk-on passengers $2; bicyclists $3; and motorcycles $5. Trailers and RVs can be accommodated, but call first. This tiny ferry offers a short, fun ride to a long country road leading to either St. Michaels or Easton. Or take the round-trip sunset ride -- it costs $2 a passenger.

To rent a car, call Enterprise, Route 50 and Dutchman's Lane (tel. 410/822-3260). For cab service, try Scotty's Taxi (tel. 410/822-1475).

Special Events

The Waterfowl Festival (tel. 410/822-4567; www.waterfowlfestival.org), held the second week in November, turns Easton into a celebration of ducks, geese, and other birds. The 3-day festival draws some 20,000 visitors. You don't have to like hunting to attend. Some 400 artists' works are displayed, and venues around town display Federal Duck Stamp paintings, duck decoys, and carvings so realistic you'll want to smooth those ruffled feathers. Don't miss the duck-calling contest. Admission is $12 for adults and free for children under 12, with free shuttle buses running from site to site. If you visit wildlife refuges around Maryland, you'll see where the proceeds of this event are used -- about $4.5 million has been raised over the years to protect and conserve wildlife habitats.

Oxford Day (www.oxfordday.org), held the last Saturday in April, is a fun local fest, with music, entertainment, and crab races.

The St. Michaels Food & Wine Festival (tel. 443/205-2185; www.stmichaelsfoodandwinefestival.com), held the last weekend in April, offers wine tastings, cooking classes, and lots of dining opportunities. Tickets are available online or at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.