If you love small artsy towns with historic flavor and colorful structures, the Historic Stevensville Arts & Entertainment District, tucked away on the northeast side of the Bay Bridge, is your place!

On the first Saturday of each month from May through November, Stevensville’s historic sites open for free tours from Noon until 4:00 pm.  In town and nearby, you will also find  restaurants, parks, art galleries and studios, unique shops, inns, wineries and breweries, a library, and the Cross Island Trail.

Suggested Saturday itinerary:

Breakfast & Morning Adventures
  • Start your day in Stevensville at early as 8:00 a.m. with good coffee, delicious smoothies, and light breakfast treats at Groundwork Coffee and Juice (and gift shop) at 111 Cockey Lane (941) 321-1968. An option for take-out and take-home breakfast pastries (and other delectable baked goods) is Peace of Cake, across the street at 314 Love Point Road.
    410-604-0355.  Open 9:00 – 3:00.
  • If you’re looking for a full breakfast, consider Ram’s Head Shore House not quite a mile away at 800 Main Street (opens at 8:00 am— 410-643-2466), or Big Bats Café (opens at 11:00 and serves breakfast all day —410-604-1120) at 216 St. Claire Place near Route 8.
  • After breakfast, enjoy views of the Chesapeake Bay by taking a walk at Terrapin Nature Park (191 Log Canoe Circle), offering more than 2 miles of trails. Accessible by car, the park can also be accessed by bicycle or foot via the Cross Island Trail (300 Old Love Point Road in Stevensville).
  • If you have little ones with you, the Queen Anne’s County Library on Kent Island, located nearby at 200 Library Circle, offers Saturday Story Time today from 9:15 until 10:00 am for children ages 2 – 5 with a caregiver.
Later in the morning, visit a few Historic Stevensville shops:
  • Down the road from the library, you’ll find The Half Full Gift Boutique at 480 Main Street, Suite 100. Open 10:00 – 4:00, this boutique features unique local and global artisan-made feel-good merchandise. 443-249-3008.
  • My Little Studio & Island Arts (321 Love Point Road) opens at 10:00 on Saturdays. They not only offer art classes and host receptions but also sell local artists’ creations. 410-604-0721
  • Doll Boutique and More (324 Main Street) is open 9:00 – 2:00. If you know an American Girl doll fan, this is your place: They sell refurbished American Girl dolls, clothing, and accessories! 410-490-1169
Ready for Lunch?
  • The Amalfi Coast and Wine Bar, a well-known and-loved Italian restaurant located at 401 Love Point Road opens at 11:00 and offers outdoor seating. 443-249-3426. Of course, Ram’s Head and Big Bats are also open as is Classic Pizza at 112 St. Claire Place – 410-643-7533.Between the hours of 12:00 and 4:00 pm, enjoy free tours of *six historic sites open this First Saturday:

Between the hours of 12:00 and 4:00 pm, enjoy free tours of six historic sites open this First Saturday:

Historic Christ Church

Start your walking tour at 121 E. Main Street, the location of Historic Christ Church (1880). One of the most carefully preserved Victorian churches in Maryland, Historic Christ Church has roots dating back to the 1630s here on Kent Island (at Kent Fort).  410-758-2502.

Take a look at the exterior of the unique cedar rectory next door, built in 1840.  The red maple in the front yard was a gift from the Duke and Duchess of Kent (Prince Edward and HRH Katharine) in 1984.   

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Cray House

Walking back to the center of town, the Cray House (1809) is a must-see at 106 Cockey Lane. The oldest house in Stevensville and one of the few remaining structures of its kind in the state, this is a perfect example of early American homes.

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Stevensville Train Station

Behind the Cray House, you’ll find the Stevensville Train Station (1902), which once stood on the northern edge of town along the tracks leading to Love Point, where passengers and goods transferred from Queenstown to steamboats heading to Baltimore. The caboose, a children’s favorite, was built in the 1920s at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company.

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Stevensville Bank Building

Next, walk out to the main road to find the Stevensville Bank Building at 409 Love Point Road. This is the oldest bank building on Kent Island (1909) and looks much as it did in the early 20th century, with an original pressed-tin ceiling a wood teller counter, and iron vault.

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Stevensville Post Office

Across the street sits the circa 1877 Old Stevensville Post Office. This immaculately restored building, located at 408 Love Point Road, once provided mail services for generations of townspeople.

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Kirwin House

The sixth historic site is just over three miles away. The 1889 James E. Kirwan House and Store at 641 Dominion Road (Tr. 552) in Chester is open noon – 4:00 pm. This  meticulously maintained house and general store were owned by State Senator Kirwan, who led the effort during WWI to save Kent Island from becoming a military weapons testing proving ground (which was later established at Aberdeen).

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Sweets and Treats in the Afternoon

If you need a sweet break, visit Tasty Toucan, offering handcrafted ice cream and paleta-pops (made of real frozen fruits and fresh ingredients) at
400 Love Point Road.

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  • Afterwards, visit Kent Island Federation of Arts (KIFA) and the Cascio Clay Center  – Open 1:00 – 4:00, the Clay Center (405 Main Street) offers classes, workshops, exhibits, and a gift shop.  410-643-7424 www.kifa.us.
  • Note: From 2:00 until 4:00 pm, the Library Makerspace welcomes all ages (under 8 with a caregiver) to engage in creativity, curiosity, and innovation with 3D printers, a laser cutter, a vinyl printer, sewing machines, and more.
  • Just over two miles away at 1169 Shopping Center Drive back in Stevensville, you’ll find Cult Classic Brewing, which offers a wide selection of craft beers as well as from-scratch hand-tossed pizzas, hand-pattied burgers, fresh-never-frozen jumbo  wings, and more. 410-980-8097.

Wine and Dine

If wine is more your thing, three wineries are nearby:

  • Love Point Vineyards and Winery, located at 305 River Shore Lane in Stevensville (at Love Point) sits right on the Chester River. 12:00 – 5:00 pm. 443-786-2765 https://lovepointvineyards.com/
  • Chesapeake Manor Vineyard & Winery can be found at 2015 Love Point Road on a bayside lot across from Love Point Vineyards. 12:00 – 6:00 pm. 443-249-3335 https://www.chesapeakemanorvineyard.com/
  • Cascia Vineyards is located across Rt 50 at 1200 Thompson Creek Road with a beautiful waterfront view of Cox Creek.  410-604-2127. 12:00 – 4:00 pm. https://mcascia.wixsite.com/cascia-vineyards

If you’ll stay in Stevensville for dinner, in addition to the restaurants mentioned above, here are just some of the other local offerings:

Libbey’s Coastal Kitchen and Cocktails: 410-604-0999
Knoxie’s Table: 443-222-0401
Stevensville Crab Shack: 410-604-2722
18Twenty Restaurant and Bar: 410-643-5757
Bark Barbeque Café: 443-618-3676
Tokyo Bay Japanese Steak House: 43-249-3007
Pour House Pub: 443-249-3242
Love Point Deli, Wine & Spirits (carry-out): 410-604-2447
El Jefe Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar: 410-604-1234
4 Sisters Kabob and Curry: 443-249-3005