North Beach makes for a great day trip as it’s only about 40 minutes from Annapolis and it has a lot to offer. There’s a wonderful boardwalk along the bay, a beach, shops, restaurants, playgrounds, and more. We parked in the free public lot right next to the Plaza Mexico Restaurant. We took a walk along the boardwalk and made our way to the beautiful Sunrise Garden and we hung out by the Koi Pond and the kids named all the koi fish! We then went down to Callis Park, at 9017 Dayton Ave., where we played on a really nice playground. From there we walked up and through the Wetlands Overlook Park, located at 4030 11th Street which is a small nature park where we were able to observe the wildlife inhabitants of the wetlands and the migratory fowl. The park includes a pier and two gazebos for visitors to sit and relax while viewing and photographing the wildlife and wetlands. Restrooms are available at the small air-conditioned Visitor Center. Wetlands Overlook Park is open year-round from dawn to dusk. For lunch, we ate at the Hook and Vine restaurant and got ice cream and coffee nearby. We didn’t even go to the beach and we easily spent a half-day here. If you are looking for a nice day out with the family, this is a great option. The beach is free for local residents, so if you want to be on the beach you will have to buy tickets which you can do online.
Also, you can now have extra fun the First Friday of each month from May through October! From 6 to 9 pm, enjoy DJ music, classic cars, food trucks, beer and wine vendors, small pop-up shops, craft vendors, and free beach access.
Address: 9200 Bay Ave, North Beach, MD 20714
Distance from Annapolis: 40 minutes
Cost: Depends what you do
by Frank Bolinsky, Contributor, Parks & Rec
