I know there’s a lot of places to kayak and boat in Annapolis but are there any beaches? (More accurately what are the best places to swim near the Annapolis area? Pool or beach!)
Truxton pool
Beaches, not really great options - sandy point…is ok. Sand is really gritty - mayo - not great and shuts down at capacity - Fort Smallwood- not great anymore but was fantastic before the erosion changes. - Beverly triton - good sand, water is ok. Get there early or they won’t let you in once at capacity - Terrapin nature park (across bay bridge) - nice but small and you have to walk awhile to get there.
I see! That’s what I was assuming. I don’t have a boat or kayak at the moment but if I do end up getting one, is the Annapolis bay one of those bodies of water that’s not recommended to swim in at all? (Just in case I flip or want to hop out of the boat like in the ocean)
I wouldn’t go swimming at City Dock or anywhere close to downtown if that’s what you mean by the Annapolis bay. If you mean the Chesapeake Bay, sure, there are many places to explore by boat and go swimming.
Don’t wear a white bathing suit unless you want a brown one.
I hear people do this but watch when the sea nettles are present.
Sandy point is so disappointing. The view is fantastic, one of my favorites in the area, but the grounds are covered in litter, and the dumpsters are regularly overflowing with trash the vultures love to toss around in search of food.
+1 to Terrapin. It's an underrated park, for sure. Some of the trails get muddy, but the path to the beach is usually clear.
Most other parks will require registration in advance, else you risk being denied entry at the gate. There's nothing special about them - they're just too small for the population on the area, and most beach front is privately owned.
Tampa
Best bet is knowing someone who has access to one the beaches as most of them are privately owned 😔
Brownies beach / calvert cliffs, or whatever they're calling it now is awesome. Short drive from Annapolis.
I recall Edgewater / Mayo area had some nice places too, despite the other comments here. But it's been a long time since I've been there.
Brownies Beach is in Chesapeake Beach and they now charge non-residents for beach access. North Beach is the same. If you don't mind a two mile walk, Calvert Cliffs is down in Lusby and is a really nice beach with plenty of room. Brownies and Calvert Cliffs are great places for fossil hunting.
We were supposed to go to Calvert Cliffs for a science class field trip from Bates Jr High. I was SO excited, because I was a crazy rock/fossil hound. We got rained out and to this day, 40 or so yrs later, I'm still disappointed!
Not related to this post in any way - the comment just reminded me of my disappointment 😭
You should take a day trip and lose that regret!!
iamnotbetterthanyou is right. It makes for a great day trip, so you should really go. It's one of my favorite walking trails, as the terrain changes throughout the walk and there is usually a lot of wildlife. Afterward you can jump down to Solomons Island and hit up a good local establishment to replenish the calories you lost during the walk.
Thanks. Been a while since I've thought of either. Used to live within walking distance (closer than the parking lot trail) of the cliffs. Mom was always washing my pockets full of sharks teeth as a kid.
Ego alley, bring a noodle
Chesapeake bay foundation. As long as there are no events going on you can use their beach behind the giant building. Beach isn’t great and def stains your feet but you can swim!
Don't walk on the neighboring beach, we found out that the hard way!
- Flag Ponds in Calvert
Sandy Point in Annapolis
Brownies Beach is for Ches Beach residents only since Covid
North Beach in North Beach charges fee
I just moved here too…serious question: is it safe to swim in the water around here? I see kids doing it every day but have heard mixed things about the rivers/Bay online.
Some rivers are fine, but the bay has a lot of jellyfish and horseshoe crabs to be wary of.
It's probably better to drive towards Harper's Ferry and swim in the river up there.
Not there! That's for sure
Especially in August when the water is warmest, stay out of the water around Annapolis. Don't get in the water if you have broken skin or a cut.
Anne Arundel County monitors bacteria levels in the water and posts water quality alerts for beaches throughout the county here:
https://www.aahealth.org/environmental-health/recreational-water-quality/beach-swim-guide
Here is a general guideline from the county: "After rainfall of 1/2 inch or more, all Anne Arundel County beaches are under a no swimming/no direct water contact advisory for at least 48 hours due to predicted elevated bacteria levels from rainwater runoff and increased health risks."
You might want to check this out.
Go across the bridge to Matapeake on Kent Island - nice little beach, water is decent - just watch for jelly fish come July!
Otherwise… pools.
If you join up with ABC or YMCAMasters swimming there's some groups who do open water swimming on the side.
You can rent paddle boards and kayaks in Eastport. At least you can enjoy the water, if you can’t swim.
Terrapin nature park is nice just over across the bridge.
I wouldn't swim in Annapolis outside of a pool.
Sandy Point State Park- Beach, but will turn your feet orange, wear a bathing suit that you don't mind getting dirty, white will turn brown, but that's where a lot of people go swimming for a beach. Get there pretty early, sometimes/days the park fills up fast and you can't get in, there are signs on the highway that says if the park is full, fee to get in not expensive.
Kenneth R. Dunn Municipal Pool at Truxtun Park- Outdoor Pool, has two slides, baby pool, kid pool, and big pool, pay to get in, not expensive.
Arundel Olympic Swim Center off of Riva road- Indoor Pool, idk if there is an outdoor pool or not, I didn't go there for that, pay to get in not expensive.
Glen Burnie Aquatic Center- Indoor Pool, idk if there is an outdoor pool, I didn't go there for that, kinda like an indoor water park but small, you pay for a couple hours, pay to get in not expensive, pricing is online Google the name for website.
Those are the places I go to! I love living in Annapolis, minus the traffic. I moved here 9 years ago from Pasadena MD and I really love it here in Annapolis! I hope you like it as much as I do! Welcome!
Pools
Ducks <3
Umm …who swims anywhere near the Chesapeake? Always Alerts about not letting dogs drink it
Find a pool or lake
Lmao I JUST moved here 😂
I’ve been here for just over a year. Originally from KC. I love it here.
Where did you move from?
You’re gonna laugh but I actually grew up around here just across the bridge. In Kent island it’s quite common to go to the different beaches and swim. I always swam at the cloverfields beach or Matapeake beach! I just didn’t know if there was something similar over here.
The bay is disgusting. Def stick with pool! If anything go to ocean city
Annapolis, despite being surrounded by water, is a horrible place to swim and fish. The beaches that are around us are small and most waterfront is private property