Eastern Shore Waterfront

WATERFRONT HOMES, FARMS AND LAND

Much of the Eastern Shore of Maryland has a rural setting with fertile farmland and beautiful waterways. The Chesapeake Bay, rivers and creeks provide extraordinary opportunities for living on the water. Options include homes with sweeping water views and docks for boating, waterfront farms for hunting, historic homes and cottages nestled in the woods on creeks that are perfect for kayaks. Many waterfront lots are available to build your special home in a rural setting or in a community.

Kent County, founded in 1642, is the second oldest county and the smallest county in Maryland but boasts 265 miles of tidal shoreline and 134,000 acres of farm land. Surrounded by waterways, it is bounded by Delaware on the east, the Sassafras River on the North, the Chesapeake Bay on the West and by the Chester River on the South.

Talbot County is located directly on the Chesapeake Bay and offers crabbing, oyster harvesting and extensive wildlife. It has over 600 miles of tidal shoreline - the most of any county in the United States. Waterways in Talbot County include the Chesapeake Bay, Choptank River, Tred Avon River and Wye River.

Queen Anne's County offers a world of fertile farmland and scenic shoreline. The County has 414 miles of shoreline and 29.2 square miles of water area. With its many Chesapeake Bay waterways, it offers diverse real estate properties including historical homes on waterfront farms and cottages on creeks.

A Storied Past

In 1608, Captain John Smith explored the Sassafras River, landing at a Tockwogh village near present-day Rock Hall. “Heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man’s habitation,” wrote Captain John Smith while exploring the Eastern Shore.

The Chesapeake Bay was formed nearly 12,000 years ago when glaciers melted and flooded the Susquehanna River valley. The largest and at one-time most productive estuary in the United States, the Chesapeake Bay is an integral part of our natural history as well as United States history.

The Eastern Shore has long been known for its Chesapeake Bay Blue Crabs and crab feasts. For thousands of years the delectable Oyster has been an integral part of the Chesapeake Bay history. To learn more about the history of Chesapeake Oysters, the book “Chesapeake Oysters” by Kate Livie is an interesting read with historic photos.

The Nellie Crockett was built specifically to operate as a buy-boat, making the rounds of the Chesapeake Bay oyster beds to buy oysters directly from the harvesters, typically sail-powered skipjacks or oyster tongers.

The Eastern Shore lifestyle includes a wide variety of opportunities to actively embrace the great outdoors. Waterfront homes with sweeping views and deep water docks are great for boaters while cottages nestled in the woods on creeks are perfect for kayaks.

Among the many settings to choose from are waterfront condos, residences with breath taking sunset views of the Chesapeake Bay and other tributaries, hunting farms and waterfront communities.

The Eastern Shore is a great place for day trips and weekend getaways to visit the many scenic waterfront villages and historic towns along the waterways. Other destinations may include The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels or a visit to Rock Hall to explore Eastern Neck Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is a 2,285 acre island providing habitat for thousands of wintering waterfowl and over 250 species of birds for wildlife viewing. There are also 7 walking trails with expansive views of the Chesapeake Bay and the Chester River.

Visitors and residents alike who want to enjoy being outside in the natural Eastern Shore setting, have at their disposal boating, fishing, crabbing, hunting, walking trails, parks or a visit to Betterton Beach.