What it’s like to housesit in Severna Park

We discovered great things to do in Maryland while housesitting for a month in Severna Park. Severna Park was very conveniently located close to Annapolis, not too far from Washington D.C. and with easy access to Chesapeake Bay beaches. This was a cats only housesit. The cats had no special needs, so we were able to spend quite a lot of time away from the home. We had never been to Maryland before, and we were pleasantly surprised by all the activities available. Here were some of the great things we found to do.

Tour the Naval Academy at Annapolis

One of our favorite activities in Maryland was going to tour the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis. We honestly did not expect it to be as great as it was. We did not buy any tickets prior to going, but signed up for the Walking Tour when we arrived. It was only $14 per adult, and really a great time. The tours are led by retired naval officers, usually alumni of the Academy.

The tour takes about an hour and, if you are there at lunchtime, includes seeing the Midshipmen roll call in the yard before they head into the mess hall for lunch. You get a fascinating look into the Academy’s every day life and history. Very worth it.

Visit the historic Paca House in Annapolis

Another great thing to do, also in Annapolis, is to visit one of the historic houses in the town. We chose to visit the William Paca House. William Paca was one of the signers of the US Constitution and a governor of Maryland. The house tour is led by very knowledgeable and engaging docents. The gardens are fantastic, as they’ve been restored to the way the gardens were in the late 1700s. We had a great time on the tour and felt like we learned a lot.

Head to the Beach on Chesapeake Bay

One of our favorite things to do in Maryland during the month we were there was going to sit on the beach! We went to Sandy Point State Park on the western coast of Chesapeake Bay which was a new experience for us! It is not an ocean beach, but this was also lovely! We sat and read at the water’s edge (there were jelly fish around when we were there). There were lots of people-watching opportunities. You could also fish We also loved watching the ship traffic up and down the bay; the ships are far enough out so it does not feel industrial.

Go Wine Tasting

It sounds strange, right? Winetasting in Maryland? This is actually a great activity in the state! The homeowners had left us plenty of suggestions. The Basignani Winery was appealing, as there was also pizza available there. We have tasted wines in South Australia, California, and France. This was not necessarily the best wine we have ever tasted, but the tasting experience itself was great!

Visit Frederick, Maryland

For a day trip, the little town of Frederick, Maryland is a great destination! For history buffs, there is a lot of American Civil War history in the area. The National Museum of Civil War Medicine is here and really worth a visit! We learned so much about the conditions, injuries, and diseases of that terrible war. We also found a great little Thai restaurant for lunch amongst the many cute antique stores. You can also head to the Appalachian Trail from here.

Shopping and Getting Around

We found the area really easy to live in for a month. You definitely need a car though. There are several large supermarkets, liquor store, pharmacies, etc very close by. In addition to a lot of chain restaurants and fast food places, there are a few local restaurants available.

All in all, Severna Park was a comfortable place to base ourselves to explore the attractions Maryland has to offer!