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Can’t decide if you prefer a walk, a bicycle ride or an excursion on the water? An exploration around the Port Tobacco Historic District provides opportunities for all three. Near La Plata in Charles County, Port Tobacco was once the second largest city and deep water port in Maryland, importing goods from Europe and exporting hogsheads of tobacco. The Part of Plenty B & B—“Plenty” was the name of the original farm—is a base from which to explore. From the B&B, it’s ¾ of a mile to the former Port Tobacco Courthouse and a one-room school house and another 1.7 miles to Thomas Stone National Historic Site, named for a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Operated by the National Park Service, the Site includes a restored house and opportunities to stroll the 322 acres of Haberdeventure, a “dwelling place in the winds.” To access the water or to find a meal, head south on Shirley Boulevard from Port Tobacco Road–the marina at the end of the road is across from Chapel Point State Park, accessible by kayak and canoe. To access the Park by bicycle, take a short ride south from the historic Courthouse to Saint Ignatius Church at the top of the hill where you are rewarded with a sweeping view of the Port Tobacco and Potomac rivers. A compliment to the landscape, the area embraces a portion of the Religious Freedom National Scenic Byway and is used for Indian Head 100 Bicycle Ride (September). For more information, visit the Charles County, MD, Port Tobacco website. Region: Southern Maryland |
Last updated: February 7, 2017