We haven't been for a few years, so I can't be too specific. My wife and I always enjoy checking out the shops near the waterfront and on the main drag going up the hill from the harbor. We've gone back for Christmas shopping. I find walking through Fawcett's almost as much fun as the boat show. Fell's Point is supposed to be great, but I've never walked over there.

You can drive to the Baltimore Inner Harbor, St. Micheal's, maybe Oxford in about an hour or so. All worth a visit.

I live well over 2 hours away and don't get to any of those places often enough, though my marina is only and hours drive away on the eastern shore. I sailed down last time we went to the show.

Enjoy your visit.

I agree with Gary, just shopping at Fawcett's is almost worth the trip in itself. Of course stepping aboard yachts that are always immaculent is exciting. We like the kiosks that sell everything form LED lights to deck shoes. If you do any sewing like we do we like to swing by the Sailrite tent as well. My wife and I went out for dinner at the Charthouse there last year and it was a wonderful dining experience (as they say).

Hi we are also heading down to the Annopolis Boat Show this coming weekend and will be down late Friday night through Monday evening in the area.

Planning on doing the show on Saturday and Sunday.

We are also starting to plan to bring Ceiba I down to the Cheaspeake for a couple of seasons starting in 2013 - does anybody have any suggestions of Marinas and Yacht Clubs to check out while we are in the area?

Another question about MD is there a "property tax" on boats stored ashore for winter layup?

Many thanks!

Brett

[QUOTE=Ceiba;6711]Hi we are also heading down to the Annopolis Boat Show this coming weekend and will be down late Friday night through Monday evening in the area.

Planning on doing the show on Saturday and Sunday.

We are also starting to plan to bring Ceiba I down to the Cheaspeake for a couple of seasons starting in 2013 - does anybody have any suggestions of Marinas and Yacht Clubs to check out while we are in the area?

Another question about MD is there a "property tax" on boats stored ashore for winter layup?

Many thanks!

Brett[/QUOTE]

In MD you'll pay 5% of the boats value in sales/excise tax when you bring the boat into the State for over a few months. If you can document that you paid sales tax in another state, that amount may be credited against the MD tax.

In my case, I paid 2% sales tax to VA when I bought the boat, so when I moved to MD, I provided documentation of the tax paid to VA, and paid the additional 3% to MD.

Once the tax is paid, there are no ongoing taxes like the personal property tax in VA. You'll likely need to stay in MD for several years to break even against states like VA with a personal property tax system.

If you're going to have your boat on the Chesapeake for just a couple of seasons, VA might be a better deal. Middlesex County has fairly low taxes and I understand there are counties near Norfolk that have no personal property taxes on boats.

As far as Marina's I would recommend you check out Herrington Harbor North and South. HHN is in Deale, MD just south of Annapolis and HHS is in Friendship, MD about another 10 - 15 minutes further south. Its about 30 minutes driving from HHS to Downtown Annapolis. Edited to add: Herrington Harbor is consistently voted among the Best of the Chesapeake by Chesapeake Bay Magazine readers. Its expensive (my opinion) but is as much as 30% less than similar marinas in Annapolis.

RE: the boat show -- Pit Beef at the Fleet Reserve Club is the best for lunch and leave time for a Pain Killer or 3 at Pusser's. HTH's and enjoy the Bay.

If my memory is right, I believe Fawcett's has moved from what I have heard. Because of the cost in the area, They are in a different part of town I believe. But I hope I am wrong as we will anchored in spa creek if we are not to late tomorrow we hope and it is better walking there.

Sorry Randy, you are not wrong, they have moved. The new address is [FONT=Arial]919 Bay Ridge Road. [/FONT]

[QUOTE=Allan R;6741]Sorry Randy, you are not wrong, they have moved. The new address is [FONT=Arial]919 Bay Ridge Road. [/FONT][/QUOTE]

Yes Fawcett's has moved. My understanding is they wanted to expand into the service end of things (outboards and dinks?) and didn't have the room in the downtown location. I really think its a bad move for any town when a "real" business moves away to be replaced by something that only tourists will be interested in. Most of downtown Annapolis falls in that category now.

Well if you really want something different to do on your extra day, the Maryland Renaissance festival is going on in Crownsville. Just about a 45 minute ride from downtown Annapolis. Always something interesting to see there.

Try the tour of the Naval Academy. It only takes about an hour and a half and is a neat inside look at the grounds and the way these guys live. Worth the time. Info can be found here.
[url]http://www.usna.edu/NAFPRODV/VC/[/url]

It's been many a year since I was last in Crab Town, but Bancroft Hall, Memorial Hall, The Chapel, John Paul Jones' Crypt and the Sailing Center should still be some good points to see while visiting the yard.
Missed my class' 40th reunion, but I heard there are a lot of new attractions to see as well.