Historic Bed and Breakfast Close to Downtown Annapolis

In the late 1800s, before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge was built to connect Maryland’s eastern and western shores, taking a ferry was the only way to get into Annapolis from certain directions. But it was expensive—especially if you needed to get into the city for work every day—and so a sprawling farmhouse about a mile from downtown was put to use housing workers during the week. Known as the Annapolitan Bed and Breakfast, the circa-1870 house still welcomes guests to this day. Period details include wood furnishings, brass chandeliers, a fireplace in the living room, and a wraparound porch. Conveniently for visitors, the inn sits within walking distance of downtown Annapolis and Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

There are only five rooms at the Annapolitan, and each is unique. Rooms feature romantic decor, such as handsome sleigh beds and crimson linens, and nautical touches recalling the city’s seafaring heritage.

In the morning, you’ll wake up to a lavish three-course breakfast prepared by owners John Holt and Joetta Smith. John’s french toast is particularly popular with guests. After breakfast, you can wander the inn’s landscaped grounds before heading out to explore Annapolis. Make sure to stop at Crush Winehouse downtown, where you can use your included $20 voucher toward a wine tasting.

Annapolis, Maryland: Maritime Heritage and 18th-Century Buildings in the First State Capital in the U.S.

Situated on Chesapeake Bay about 30 miles east of Washington, DC, Annapolis is a maritime city steeped in history. The city claims one of the highest concentrations of 18th-century buildings in the nation, with colonial spires and brick row houses lining cobblestone streets. Stationed a few miles east of the bed and breakfast is the United States Naval Academy’s copper-domed chapel, which holds the marble crypt of Revolutionary War officer John Paul Jones. A short walk will bring you to the academy’s waterfront visitors’ center, which displays Freedom 7, the first American space capsule.

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