Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Annapolis

One way we make the drive to the beach fun is to stop and look around at some of the places on the way.

It takes us about 7 hours to drive to the beach. It's a little more than 400 miles there.

We take our time and stop a lot. We stayed in Annapolis and wandered around the colonial streets (what a wild, wooden domed state capitol) and ctiy docks on the Chesapeake Bay. Last year we even rode the water taxi.
















There's something about funny hats in that town. Sure some of these folks are paid to bring the colonial flavor alive. But how do you explain the girl with the bird hat or the two popes of Annapolis? Tess likes going into the Hats in the Belfry hat shop, etc.
When we drive back on U.S. Route 50 to head to the beach we also had fun on the Bay Bridge. It was Grandpa's first time across it and Tess and Amy played a game to see who could hold their breath across the span.

Bay Bridge Facts (www.livinginmaryland.com & www.roadstothefuture.com/Chesapeake_Bay_Bridge.html):

• Original two-lane bridge opened in 1952.
• The parallel structure opened in 1973 and has three lanes for westbound travelers.
• Carries 65,000 vehicles a day. Is it more on weekends for beach traffic?
• It spans 4.3 miles shore to shore.
• It's $2.50 to cross the bridge if you're headed East. It's free on the way back.