Annapolis Sports & Outdoors Tips by grandmaR Top 5 Page for this destination

Quiet Waters County Park

We visited Quiet Waters Park by boat from an anchorage in Selby Bay. Bob started the engine driven refrigeration compressor and we motored over to Duvall Creek in Hillsmere.

We ran aground a couple of times trying to get in past the creek entrance, so we anchored and Bob lowered the dink, and motored in. Ed (a retired friend of Bob's from work) came back with him - Nancy (Ed's wife) can't swim and is afraid of water so it was understandable that she wouldn't come with them in the dink.

When he went in to pick Ed up, Bob had gotten additional advice about getting into Duvall Creek, so we tried it again and were successful this time. The trick is to really grease the green markers to port and then aim for a house and garage on shore - close to port. Bob yells at me when I go that close to markers (he tells me that the ospreys who are on the nests complaining are saying "Too close, too close"), and we know, because we ran aground briefly on the correct side of a marker, that they are not always in an optimum position. But in this case, close was good.

Dropped Ed off at the dock - depth down to 5'7" on our gauge. Motored around to Harness Creek. An Island Packet went in ahead of us (passed us on the port side and tried to keep us from coming out into the channel of the South River - the burdened vessel - i.e. the one who should give way, is both on the port and passing) and turned around and came right back out. So we were afraid there would be no space. However a motor boat left as we were coming back down the creek, so we slipped into his spot.

No wind at all. .

Equipment: Saw Ed on the dock, so Bob lowered the dink and went in. Ed wanted to take us out to dinner, so we arranged to meet them later. We changed, and dinghied back to the rental dock and locked the dink to the dock where the guy indicated that we could. There was a group of kayakers getting ready to go out. I used the pay phone to download pocket mail while we were waiting for Ed.

We walked up with Ed to the parking lot. He drove into Annapolis and the Spa Creek bridge had traffic at a standstill.

We were a little late getting out of dinner, and were afraid the park would be closed (Park Hours are 7:00 a.m. - Dusk, Closed Tuesdays), but there was a big party there, so the gate was open. We got to the parking lot, and Ed said - I might as well drive you down to the dock - there's no one here now. So he did, much to Nancy's dismay. He just drove over the grass around the little post that blocks access to the one lane macadam park road.

It was very peaceful except that someone was partying down near the entrance to the creek, and shouting and carrying on for a little while.

The next morning, the little motor boat next to us, which has no bimini or cover at all, apparently had someone spending the night there - we see them sit up in the apparently empty boat .

We watch a few people get underway - the wind kicked up a little around 7:30. We pulled the anchor and exited Harness Creek about 9:00 am

This is a county park which is between the South River and Harness Creek. Visitors can walk, jog, or bike on over 6 miles of paved trails winding through hardwood forests and past grassy fields, play at the brand new large, multi-level children’s playground, enjoy the vistas of the South River Promenade and Scenic Overlook, or picnic among 340 acres of beautiful park land.

Boating opportunities are available seasonally. The park’s Visitor Center includes formal gardens, art galleries and public restrooms.

Address: 600 Quiet Waters Park Road

Directions: From Balto. I-695to I-97 S to US-50 E and immediately take Exit 22 – Rt. 665 (Aris T. Allen Blvd). Go to Forest Dr + 2 mi. Turn R. on Hillsmere at Exxon. (Sign in front of Exxon “Quiet Waters Park-Next Right”). The park entrance is 100 yards on right

Phone: (410) 222-1777

Theme: Boating/Sailing

White Rocks Marina

Marinas in Central Maryland i.e. including Annapolis are in the Magothy River, Severn River, South River.

I took this picture on Rock Creek which is off the Patapsco in Baltimore, so technically this marina might be considered in Baltimore (it is in Pasadena which by car is halfway between Baltimore and Annpolis), but you can see that there are a plethora of marinas in this area. The list below explains what services each marina offers.

G = Gasoline for sale E = Electric hook-ups P = Pump-out station S = Showers L = Laundromat R = Restaurant

Magothy River Marinas

Cypress Marine, Inc. Magothy River/Cypress Creek (410-647-7940) Y Y Y Y
Deep Creek Restaurant & Marina. Magothy River/Deep Creek. (410-757-4045) Y Y Y
Ferry Point Marina & Yacht Yard. Magothy River/Deep Creek. (410-544-6368) Y Y Y
Gibson Island Marina. Magothy River/ Grays Creek. (410-360-2500) Y Y Y Y
Magothy Marina. Magothy River/Crystal Beach. (410-647-2356). Y Y Y Y Y
Podickory Point Yacht & Beach Club. Chesapeake Bay/Podickory Creek. (410-757-8000).

Equipment: Severn River Marinas

Annapolis City Dock. Spa Creek. (410-263-7973) Y Y
Annapolis City Marina, Ltd. Spa Creek. (410-268-0660) Y Y Y Y Y Y
Annapolis Harbor Boat Yard. Spa Creek. (410-267-9050) Y Y
Annapolis Landing Marina. Back Creek. (410-263-0090). Y Y Y Y Y Y
Annapolis Marriott Marina. Spa Creek. (410-268-7555) Y Y Y
Annapolis Md. Capital Yacht Club. Spa Creek. (410-269-5219) Y Y Y
Bert Jabin's Yacht Yard. Back Creek. (410-268-9667) Y Y Y Y
Chesapeake Catamaran Center. Spa Creek. (410-280-2288) Y Y Y
Chesapeake Harbor Marina. S. of Back Creek. (410-268-1969) Y Y Y Y
McClearys Pier 4 Marina. Spa Creek. (410-990-1753) Y Y Y
Mears Marina Annapolis. Back Creek. (410-268-8282) Y Y Y Y
Olde Towne Marina Ltd. Spa Creek. (410-263-9277) Y Y
Petrini, Inc. Spa Creek. (410-263-4278) Y Y
Port Annapolis Marina. Back Creek. (410-269-1990). Y Y Y Y Y
Sarles Boat & Engine Shop, Inc. Spa Creek. (410-263-3661) Y Y
Smith's Marina. Browns Cove. (410-923-3444). Y Y Y Y
The Yacht Basin Company. Spa Creek. (410-263-3544) Y Y Y Y Y Y

South River Marinas

Anchor Yacht Basin. South River/Selby Bay. (410-269-6674) Y Y Y Y
Holiday Point Marina. South River/Selby Bay. (410-956-2208 or 301-261-4282) Y Y Y
Liberty Yacht Club & Marina. South River/South River Bridge. (410-266-5633) Y Y Y Y Y
Little Island Marina, Inc. South River/Ramsey Bay. (410-798-0276) Y Y Y
Oak Grove Marina. South River/Gingerville Creek. (410-266-6696) Y Y Y Y Y
Pier 7. South River/South River Bridge. (410-956-2288) Y Y Y Y
Selby Bay Yacht Basin. South River/Selby Bay. (410-798-0232) Y Y Y Y
South River Marina. South River/Ramsey Bay. (410-798-1717) Y Y Y
Turkey Point Marina. South River/Ramsey Lake. (410-798-1369) Y Y Y Y
Warehouse Creek Marina. South River/Warehouse Creek. (410-956-1880) Y Y Y

Theme: Boating/Sailing