As featured in Connextions Magazine, Issue 9. 

Annapolis

Self-proclaimed as "America’s Sailing Capital," Annapolis is a premier maritime center. Worldwide visitors enjoy the historic seaport for water activities such as: 74-foot schooner cruises, breakfast boat charters, fishing, or explore the bay by canoe or kayak. 

Not getting wet today? No worries, as you can visit the Annapolis Maitime Museum, tour the U.S. Naval Academy or stop by The National Sailing Center & Hall of Fame. Established in 2006, The National Sailing Center & Hall of Fame, is a non-profit educational institution dedicated to preserving the history of sailing and its impact on the culture. 

Plan on getting in the water? Make a stop at one of the most prestigious Yacht Clubs, The Moorings. Their newest location in Annapolis, opened in 2012, which offers bareboat sailing, as well as powered and skippered charters on the Chesapeake Bay. They have been providing fantastic powerboat and sailing vacations worldwide for over 40 years. 

Action packed water events include an Annual Classic Wooden Boat Rendezvous & Race in September, the annual United States Sailboat Show in October, or sailing races at sunset that take place every Wednesday from April through September. 

Baltimore

Boats, boats and more boats in Baltimore! From historic military ships and yachts to cruise ships and charter boats, set sail in
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. 

As one of America’s oldest seaports, welcoming ships since the 1600’s, finding a place to tie up for the night won’t be a problem in
Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The harbor boasts some world-class marinas and one top-rated service and repair yard for boats and yachts. 

If one of the most impressive collections of military vessels in the world brings you some excitement, take a tour with HistoricShip.org, (located on Pier I - 301 East Pratt Street) and climb aboard floating museums, such as: the US Sloop-of-War Constellation (the last Civil War Vessel afloat,) the US Submarine Torsk, the US Coast Guard Cutter Taney, and the Lightship
Chesapeake. Also included in the tour is the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse, which marked the entrance to the Patapsco River and Baltimore Harbor for over 130 years. 

As home to "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the United States, written by Francis Scott Key in 1814, it would be appropriate while visiting during the month of June, to check out the Star-Spangled Sailabration. During this annual week-long event, an international parade of more than two dozen ships sail into Baltimore to launch the celebration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and the penning of the National Anthem. 
 
Chesapeake Bay

Encompassing both the eastern and western shores of Maryland, The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the U.S. and is surrounded by Virginia and Maryland It has more than 150 rivers and streams flowing into it, which makes this location a boater’s paradise! 

Enjoy hour long cruises, full day excursions or week long adventures, traveling to several different ports along the bay. With  breathtaking views, sailing the bay is an adventure never to be forgotten and most certainly an experience you will want to relive. 

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is located on St. Michaels and has in depth knowledge of the local oystering industry and boat building.  The working boat yard and floating fleet provide an interactive experience.  Also featuring the Hooper Strait Lighthouse, a rare screwpile lighthouse, with its intriging history on the treacherous waters of the Hooper Strait. 

Chesapeake Lights also offers various tours of the Lighthouses in Chesapeake Bay aboard the M/V SHARPS ISLAND. Great photo
opportunities and all day tours are available illuminating the bay, its history and its wonders. 

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Interested in 20% off your accommodations?  Book now, at the Howard Johnson Oceanfront Plaza Hotel in Ocean City, Maryland and save 20% by mentioning Connextions Magazine.

First-rate, 5-star customer service at a beachfront hotel, WITH a discount!  To read the blog post about our incredible stay at the Howard Johnson Oceanfront Plaza Hotel on 12th Street, click here.

To make your reservations, click here.

To read the review of our stay, and view our photos, click here.

Howard Johnson Ocean Front Plaza in Ocean City, Maryland offers reasonable rates and 5-star customer service, as long as you stay at the 12th Street location.

We rolled into Ocean City at 9am, after an 8-hour drive.  Exhausted and anxious to get out of the vehicle, we couldn't wait to arrive in the hotel parking lot and give the car a rest.  With plans to grab a blanket and nap on the beach until hotel check-in, we were bummed when the rain drops started falling.

With limited options, we chose to lay the front seats back, cover up with a comfy sweatshirt, and call it a day. 

Traveling for business isn't always as glamorous as you may think.  Sleeping in the car on a warm summer day in August, was a walk-in-the-park compared to our trip to New Hampshire in the dead of winter.  We wanted sunrise pictures on Hampton Beach but arrived a few hours too early.  Imagine trying to nap in an uncomfortable jeep, surrounded by intensely cold ocean air.

With just a couple hours until check-in, we decided to make our way into the hotel and let them know we had arrived.  As we entered the very small lobby and waited in line to speak with the front desk, we listened as customers complained about the dirty rooms and bad service. 

When the front desk associate couldn't find our reservation, we were overjoyed!  Apparently we had been sleeping in the wrong parking lot.  We were on 24th Street, but our reservations were for the same hotel chain, only on 12th Street.

Comparing the difference between the Howard Johnson on 12th Street and the one on 24th Street is like going from Kansas to Oz!  Everything from the large, open, light-filled lobby, to the welcoming smiles of everyone at the front desk was enough of a gift to let us know we had found the accommodations we always look for during our travels.

For more details on our hotel stay, along with our incredible 3-days in Ocean City, read Connextions Magazine Issue 9.

Many thanks to General Manager Mary Susan Jones and her staff for all the smiles and outstanding hospitality!  and for the record, we never announced that we were traveling for business... the outstanding hospitality is honest!
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Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, just above a historic civil war site, is The Inn at Red Hill Bed & Breakfast. 

Cindy Neugebauer, Owner and Innkeeper, offered us a warm welcome, a cozy & clean place to stay, along with a healthy and fresh breakfast.

We recently featured our review of the Inn, inside Connextions Magazine Issue 9.

Some additional details that we would like to recognize Cindy for, are the outstanding attention to details found at her B&B.  There isn't a dust bunny to be found!  The gardens, landscaping & porch are immaculate, the bedding is soft and comfy, along with a high thread count on the sheets, and even the toilet paper in your personal bathroom is the real soft stuff!

Read the full review here.





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Connextions Magazine had the pleasure of meeting Innkeepers Bob & Tracy, while staying at their beautiful Bed & Breakfast, The Black Walnut Point Inn on Tilghman Island.

Located at the tip of the Island on the Chesapeake, this gay owned B&B offers serene views of the bay and a most welcoming atmosphere.

Read FREE - the outstanding review, including a full 10-page feature in Connextions Magazine, Issue 9.

photos are copyrighted.