Cambridge, Maryland, Is the Perfect Late Fall Getaway

Top 5 Can’t Miss

• Book a room at Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina, a Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards winner.
• Explore the four land trails in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge by bike or on foot.
• Discover the Underground Railroad Scenic Byway by car.
• Grab a bite at Black Water Bakery, a local favorite serving house-made pies and cakes.
• Visit in the fall for the bird-watching and stunning fall foliage.

Maryland’s Eastern Shore, located an hour east of Washington, D.C., is known for its charming waterfront towns, seafood restaurants, and diverse wildlife. While St. Michaels and Easton may be more well-known names in the area, there’s another destination worth a visit just a short drive away: Cambridge, a historic port city on the Choptank River.

Founded in the late 1600s, Cambridge has a vibrant downtown dining scene, epic outdoor pursuits, and a T+L reader favorite resort. It’s also the site of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, a major stop on the Atlantic Flyway as birds migrate south. Every November, more than 35,000 geese and 15,000 ducks can be spotted here. Blackwater’s 30,000 acres are home to more than 250 bird species, including one of the largest bald eagle populations in the world. Visitors can explore Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge by bike, kayak, or on foot, and learn about its storied history and most famous resident, Harriet Tubman, who was born and raised on a nearby farm.

Although Cambridge has a population of roughly 13,000, it is located in one of the most rural counties in the state, a fact that lifelong resident and naturalist Matt Meredith says contributes to its authenticity.  “The culture of the Eastern Shore is intact here, from the agriculture to the working watermen to the preserved historical sites,” he tells Travel + Leisure. Meredith’s family has owned land here since the 1600s, and he calls a visit to Blackwater, with its marshes, forests, and abundant wildlife, “a chance to see the landscape of the Eastern Shore in full effect.”

Read on to discover why Cambridge is the perfect coastal fall escape.

Best Hotels & Resorts

Aerial view of Hyatt Cambridge Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort.

Hyatt

Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina

This 400-key waterfront resort is a T+L reader favorite in 2025 among mid-Atlantic properties. With an 18-hole golf course, a full-service spa, indoor and outdoor pools, and a marina for on-site boating and fishing, it’s a family-friendly spot where you can take advantage of Cambridge’s outdoor adventures.

Cambridge House Bed & Breakfast

This 1847 sea captain’s mansion is located in the heart of downtown historic Cambridge, ideal for walking to area restaurants, pubs, and art galleries. With six rooms, expansive porches, and a full breakfast included, it makes for a cozy stay after exploring the nearby attractions.

Best Things to Do

Blue Herons and Egrets spoted in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Alton Marsh/Adobe Stock

Visit Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Known as the “Everglades of the North,” Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is home to the largest breeding population of bald eagles on the East Coast (north of Florida). The refuge has several miles of hiking and cycling paths and 17 miles of paddling trails through its tidal wetlands. Head to the visitor center and view a rotating display of exhibits, see a real bald eagle’s nest, and see live footage of nesting bald eagles. While the visitor center is closed on Mondays and federal holidays, the outdoor public spaces are open 365 days a year.

Learn more about Harriet Tubman’s legacy.

Cambridge is near the birthplace of Harriet Tubman, and her legacy lives on at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park. The visitor center here acts as a gateway to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway, a 125-mile driving loop that follows historic sites along the Underground Railroad. A few miles from Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, the 1830s-era Bucktown General Store is the site where Tubman suffered the fateful head injury that led to her vision of creating the Underground Railroad.

Book an adventure with Blackwater Adventures.

With two locations in Cambridge—one within the perimeters of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and another inside the Hyatt Regency property—Blackwater Adventures has guided group and private fishing, birding, and kayaking expeditions in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. The outfitter also offers bike rentals for trail exploration, as well as small boat, personal watercraft, and kayak rentals.

Follow the Chesapeake Country Mural Trail.

The Chesapeake Mural Trail is a series of hand-painted murals throughout the region celebrating the culture and history of the Chesapeake Bay. More than 20 murals—including the award-winning “Take My Hand” work of Harriet Tubman, painted by muralist and Cambridge area resident Michael Rosato—depict Native American life, watermen culture, and African American history.

Dive into local maritime history.

Cambridge has a rich maritime history dating to the 1600s. The Richardson Maritime Museum is dedicated to preserving local maritime history, including wooden boat building techniques. There’s no better way to experience the Eastern Shore’s boating culture firsthand than by sailing on the 45-foot-long skipjack Nathan, an authentic wooden skipjack available for public sails or private charters on the Choptank River.

Best Restaurants

The exterior of RAR Brewery in downtown Cambridge, Maryland.

Benjamin C Tankersley/For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Black Water Bakery

Start your morning at the family-owned Black Water Bakery, which serves mouthwatering baked goods and a full menu of breakfast and lunch entrees. The menu is heavy on local favorites like the savory crab dip, Old Bay-rimmed bloody marys, and crab-stuffed omelets. Be sure to save room for a cup of Chesapeake Coffee Roasters coffee and a slice of coconut cake.

RAR Brewing

With four unique drinking and dining spots in one downtown location, RAR Brewing is a local favorite with something for everyone. At Chessie Burger, dig into family-friendly dishes like wings, chili dogs, and crabcake sandwiches. The maritime-themed Dive Club serves tropical cocktails and locally sourced dishes like snakehead tacos and blue cat po’boy sandwiches, while the Taproom is the place to enjoy the rotating lineup of IPAs and lagers brewed in-house.

Vintage 414

This women-owned restaurant and specialty foods store is the perfect spot to purchase the makings for a picnic or a bottle of wine from an extensive collection. A small seating area and bar serve a seasonal menu of small plates, soups, flatbreads, and thoughtfully curated cheese boards.

Blue Ruin

Blue Ruin is the spot for sophisticated entrees and craft cocktails. A speakeasy-style bar and restaurant, it has plenty of local crab and seafood dishes, plus an extensive list of more than 150 craft cocktails.

Best Times to Visit

A birdwatching walkway in Maryland’s Blackwater Wildlife Refuge.

Cavan/Adobe Stock

For bird-watchers and foliage seekers, fall is the ideal time to experience the diverse wildlife and coastal sites of Cambridge. Summer is also the perfect time for fishing and boating, from sailing the Choptank River to paddling the salt marshes of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. In May, the longest-running powerboat race in America, the Cambridge Classic, takes center stage, while September brings thousands of competitors out for Ironman Maryland, one of the only Ironman competitions held on the East Coast.

How to Get There

A walking bath through the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Scenic Corner/Adobe Stock

Cambridge is located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, less than a two-hour drive from Washington, D.C. The closest airport is Salisbury Regional Airport (SBY), although many choose to fly into Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) and make the drive across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, passing by Annapolis, St. Michaels, and Easton.

How to Get Around

Downtown Cambridge is easily navigated on foot, but you’ll want a car to explore Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, located a few miles from town. A car is also the easiest way to experience the Underground Railroad Scenic Byway and nearby waterfront towns like Easton and St. Michaels. Cambridge is just an hour’s drive from the beaches of Ocean City, Maryland, and Assateague Island.