Author Description

Product Description North America's largest estuary, nearly 200 miles long with over 6,000 miles of shorline, a complex ecosystem supporting more than 2,500 plant and animal species, and a fascinating history of colonial settlement, fishing, and environmental conflict. The Chesapeake Bay! "Around the Chesapeake" guides travelers to great and unusual spots, while highlighting the environmental and social issues which affect communities. Illustrations, maps, and details about visiting hours make exploring easy. Learn about visiting the Drinking Swamp Farm to buy delicious local foods, take a ride on a ferry to Tangier Island to eat some soft-shell crabs, or explore wildlife refugees which dot the Bay. From the Publisher Around the Chesapeake: Bay Side Roads in Maryland and Virginia is one of our favorite gifts to give. Friends who grew up near the Chesapeake always learn something new, and head out to visit a new place. "I had never even heard of the Northern Neck Chantey Singers," said a surprised Bay-area friend about the retired African-American fishermen who preserve the old songs, "and now I've gone to three of their amazing concerts!" One older uncle, who is a history buff but can no longer travel, uses this book for armchair journeys. And we've had family members schedule visits to the DC area around some of the Maryland seafood festivals described in our book! We hope new readers, too, will find the same kind of richness in Around the Chesapeake. From the Inside Flap A Word About Maps... We have provided a few maps throughout this book to help guide you along some of the Side Roads tours. But we encourage the use of a good road map, especially for finding and driving on smaller roads. Most local tourist offices will provide maps free of charge if you call them; see our website for contact information. About the Author Bill Rau, a historian by training, is