St. Michaels Maryland

If I were asked to sum St. Michaels, Maryland in a word, I'd be hard put to do just that. St. Michaels, Maryland tucked on the shore of Talbot County is a place that one can't help but fall in love with.

The moment I passed the sign on Talbot Street that said Welcome to St. Michaels I knew I was in for a special time, and the little town that has been dubbed as having been 'The Town That Fooled the British', didn't disappoint me.

What did I find? I felt like I was stepping back in time, felt like I was walking into a Norman Rockwell picture perfect postcard.

The first thing you see when you enter St. Michaels, is the lack of......Not only is St. Michaels about what it is, its about what it isn't. Its not cluttered for starters, you don't walk down the street finding a 7-11, McDonalds, Starbucks, or Royal Farms.

You find a community that the people care about their town, you find the streets swept, no trash, friendly people, stores that have customer service that makes you feel welcome, even if you don't buy anything. I went into a store looking for a sweatshirt, and 20 to 30 minutes later I walked out after having talked with the gal who was running the store about photography. You come as a stranger and leave feeling like you were not only welcome, but you want to come back. Not just because you spend your money or time there, but because the people were truly caring, kind, and proud of their town, their town's history.

While the winter months there may not be as much to do, the shops are open, the residents walk their dogs, will stop and talk to you. I walked the length of the museum, and felt such a presence of history, from the old stone church, to the screw pile light house, each and every building has been so well maintained. In the summer time they have gardens that show you the crops that were grown, at the time.

The entrance to the Maritime Museum is the draw bridge that once connected Tilghman Island to land, the bridge having been replaced reminds, once again, of the pride and heritage of the area. Leaving St. Michaels to tour the lowlands between the Eastern Bay and the Choptank River, provides stunning scenery and views from both sides of the street. Not walking distance from St. Michaels, but definitely worth the drive.

As I passed through St. Michaels both going in and leaving the town, I wondered how it got the nickname as The Town that Fooled the British, and up on reading I found that what they did to preserve the town during the Revolutionary War, the first recorded military blackout. Not only saving the town, but also preventing loss of life. The settlers had moved all the livestock, women and children, as well as valuables out of town, they then lined the trees away from the town and darkened the town. Only one house was hit, now known as Cannonball house, no other damage was sustained.

You may find a Bank of America on the Talbot Street in the heart of downtown St. Michaels, however it truly didn't and doesn't look like any Bank of America that I've seen, and had it not had the sign on it, and the one drive through window, you would have probably passed it not knowing it was a bank. Preserving the look and feel of the old world charm is important.

Many of the homes have been turned into bed and breakfasts, or hotels, even as you drive up the coast, there are a lot of waterside hotels, inns, and bed and breakfast places.

Another thing you won't find in St. Michaels is a Pet Smart, but you will find, Gabby's Pet Depot, and someone who loves to talk animals, I shared some of my photos of pets that I have taken and once again, felt like I had found a place that I felt welcome.

My first introduction to St. Michaels came to me when I read a novel written by John Grisham, The Testament, and I fell in love with St. Michaels from what he wrote. I always wondered if I was expecting too much from the mental image in my mind, and I can truly say I was not disappointed, when St. Michaels lived up to everything I imagined, and more.

My first visit was a week and a half ago, and I find myself longing to go back...