Colonial-Style Bed and Breakfast Built in 1862

The Sands House, located in Annapolis’s colonial district, once hosted George Washington. In fact, it’s the oldest building among quite a few old buildings in Annapolis, which served as the capital of the United States from 1783 to 1784. Right next door to the Sands House is the Academy Bed and Breakfast, which was built in 1862 as another private home for members of the Sands family. It’s preserved many of its 19th-century features, including old-growth hardwood flooring, the parlor's original oak fireplace, and an iron perimeter fence salvaged from dorm balconies at the nearby Naval Academy. The Academy Bed and Breakfast stands out from the rest of the neighborhood with its blue clapboard façade, gold trimmings, and a bright red front door. Inside, 19th-century furnishings are mixed with modern amenities in five individually decorated suites. The academy-view room presents a nautical theme with a large sailboat oil painting, navy-blue woodwork, and sail duvet covers. The city-view room, located on the second floor, evokes Victorian style with ornate upholstery and gold mirrors. In the morning, scrambled eggs and the owner’s signature french toast are served on an antique breakfast table designed by famous American Craftsman artist Gustav Stickle. Later in the day, feel free to unwind fireside in the parlor and then head to Crush wine bar to enjoy a wine-tasting sampler.

Annapolis, Maryland: Sailing and 18th-Century Buildings at the United States’ First Capital

Situated on the Chesapeake Bay about 30 miles east of Washington, DC, Annapolis is a maritime city steeped in political history. The city claims one of the nation’s highest concentrations of 18th-century buildings, with colonial spires and brick row houses lining cobblestone streets. Stationed a few blocks behind the bed and breakfast is the United States Naval Academy’s copper-domed Academy Chapel, which holds the marble crypt of Revolutionary War officer John Paul Jones. Take a short walk and you’ll find the academy’s waterfront visitors’ center, which hosts Freedom 7, the first American space capsule. Annapolis’s social culture revolves around Chesapeake Bay and the City Dock, located one block from the bed and breakfast. On public boat cruises and private sailing lessons, you can explore the bay’s historical lighthouses. White sails typically speckle the water; luxury yachts line the docks; and fishermen harvest oysters, clams, and blue crabs.