Encompassing more than 600 miles of Chesapeake Bay waterfront, Talbot County combines rural and urban influences, making it a unique place to explore.

From touring museums and galleries to dining at numerous restaurants to visiting some of the county’s numerous historic sites, there’s plenty to do in Talbot County, Maryland. Whether you’re planning a visit or looking to move to the area full time, be sure to add these activities to your to-do list.

Visit the Rural Life Museum of Trappe

The Rural Life Museum of Trappe works to preserve the history of the area’s rural homes, farms, and industry. During your visit to the museum, you’ll explore crafts, music, transportation, art, and tools created by locals throughout the town’s history. You can also learn about Trappe’s interesting and impressive historical residents like Nathaniel “Nace” Hopkins, a former slave who went on to serve in the Union Army and founded a school for African American children.

The museum consists of four historic buildings, each housing different exhibits. These include the Carriage House, which showcases an exhibit on Trappe’s African-American history and heritage; the Slaughter Smokehouse, an old farm smokehouse in which you will find a collection of vintage hand and farm tools; the Defender House, which features exhibits on the region's steamboat era and early baseball teams; and the Scale House, in which you can get an up-close look at canning industry artifacts.

A visit to the museum is a great place to start your visit to Trappe and to learn about the area’s history.

Explore the Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park

Enjoy some time in nature with a visit to the Bill Burton Fishing Pier State Park. This 25-acre park consists of property that’s split between Talbot County and Dorchester County, and the Choptank River runs through the park. The Talbot County side of the park features a mile-long pier. While the pier is currently closed for renovations, it is well-known in the area as a great destination for fishing. You can catch perch, striped bass, croakers, sea trout, and catfish.

While pets are welcomed in the park, they must be kept on leashes. Bring lunch and enjoy it at a picnic table, or use a free-standing grill. You can bicycle or hike in the park, and you just might see deer, muskrats, and other wildlife.

Enjoy the Pickering Creek Audubon Center

Consisting of 450 acres, the Pickering Creek Audubon Center in Talbot County is the perfect place to reconnect with nature. You’ll find numerous habitats throughout its grounds, including tidal and non-tidal wetlands, a tidal creek, a hardwood forest, and more.

The center features more than 4 miles of walking trails, as well as bird viewing blinds and platforms, so you can watch the local wildlife. There’s also water access where you can launch your canoe or kayak in the summer months.

The center hosts various programs throughout the year, including webinars, birdwatch and talks days, nature walks, kids’ summer camps, and nature photography classes. There are also plenty of volunteer opportunities if you’d like to help out.

Learn at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

Learn all about Chesapeake Bay’s history and culture at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. The museum opened in 1965 and is located on an 18-acre campus. You’ll explore historic structures, exhibition galleries, and a floating fleet of vessels.

Take a self-guided or docent-led walking tour, enjoy a scenic cruise, explore the latest museum exhibitions, or visit the working shipyard to learn about the craft of building and maintaining wooden ships.

There are also plenty of educational programs to participate in, including an “apprentice for a day” program at the shipyard, a speaker series featuring historians, artists, and industry experts, and classes on building model skiffs.

Experience the Frederick Douglass Driving Tour

Learn about Maryland’s famous abolitionist, writer, and orator, Frederick Douglas, by visiting the places that made him who he was. While there are stops throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C., the Frederick Douglass Driving Tour also has several stops in Talbot County.

Make your way to Easton to see the statue of Douglass in front of the Talbot County Courthouse, where he gave his “Self-Made Men” speech in 1878. While here, you can also visit five other driving tour stops, including the Talbot Historical Society.

In St. Michaels, you’ll find six more stops on the driving tour. These include Frederick Douglass Park-St. Michaels, the Mitchell House, where Douglass’s sister Eliza Bailey lived with her family, and the St. Michaels Museum at St. Mary’s Square, which features the “Frederick Douglass: His World 1818-1895” exhibit.

Make Talbot County Your Home

The destinations listed here are just the very beginning of what Talbot County has to offer. From fantastic dining to activities on the water, there’s a rich culture and plenty of entertainment options for your whole family.

Learn more about Brookfield Residential’s Lakeside at Trappe Community and why it's one of the best places to call home. Here, you’ll enjoy community amenities, including a lake, dog parks, a pool, a playground, and trails, with easy access to local Talbot County attractions.

Our sales team is excited to help you find your dream home in your dream location at Lakeside at Trappe. Explore the community and connect with our sales team when you’re ready to learn more. We’ll be expecting you!