In summer, nothing beats a day by the water. This past Memorial Day weekend, Mark and I spent a day in the quaint waterfront town of Solomons Island, Maryland. Located just under two hours from both the Baltimore and Washington DC areas, the town makes for a great day out. Here’s what we did while there.

Our first stop upon arriving into Solomons Island was heading to the Solomons Island Boardwalk. The boardwalk isn’t very long – it’s just under half a mile each way – but walking along it was a good way to enjoy some views of the water and get acquainted with the town. The boardwalk has free parking, public restrooms across the street, and there’s also a playground which makes it a great stop for kiddos.

As we walked along the boardwalk we stumbled upon the Cone Island Ice Cream Shoppe. I can’t say no to an ice cream cone in summer, so we ordered one and sat on one of the benches along the boardwalk to enjoy it. There are a few other ice cream shops in town though, so, you do have options to pick from.

We then left the boardwalk area and drove over to the Beacon Marina for a Cruisin Tikis boat tour which we had booked in advance. Our two hour tour was really scenic; it was nice to get to see the town from the water. We were allowed to bring drinks and snacks on board, so I enjoyed a few beers while riding. Our captain was super friendly and shared information about the town’s history, best places to eat, and landmarks with us as we rode.

After our boat tour we went over to the Island Hideaway restaurant for dinner, which our boat tour guide advised is one of the best restaurants in town. While there, we were lucky enough to get seats with a view of the water. The setting inspired both of us to order seafood as our meal! I enjoyed my parmesan crusted rockfish with a side of wild rice. I’d love to try the crab dip next time!

As this was our first time to Solomons Island, we didn’t realize how much there was to do there and I regretted not arriving earlier in the morning or staying a second day. 

With more time, I would have visited some of the gift shops in town, and definitely would have seen the Calvert Marine Museum. The museum is well-rated, offers affordable sightseeing cruises, and has concerts throughout the summer including some big names like Darius Rucker and Sam Hunt. As we were walking around town, we also noticed the energetic vibe of the open-air Tiki Bar & Grill which had live music going as well as many people there enjoying tropical drinks. It looked like a fun place to be!

Our day in Solomons Island was the perfect start to summer – relaxing, scenic, and full of small-town charm. From boardwalk strolls and ice cream to a fun boat tour and waterfront dinner, it had just the right mix of laid-back fun. Next time, we’ll be sure to stay longer and explore even more.