Things to Do in Mitchellville

Chesapeake Bay is 200 miles long, but that’s not the only reason it’s the United States’ largest estuary. The Bay also serpentines off into hundreds of rivers and creeks, accessible with South River Boat Rentals’ vessels. Seafarers explore the estuary’s fringes in the powerboats and sailboats, cruising past historic sites, such as Jamestown and Tangier Island. Alternatively, fishing parties set sail for piscatorial hot spots, casting from the boats’ decks. To teach newbies the ropes before they hit the water, the company’s team hosts sessions on boating basics, from steering to stopping at fish crossings.

In October, representatives from regional, local, and national craft breweries gather inside the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to pour samples of geek-lovers brews. Visitors sip on signature standards from breweries such as Oskar Blues, Union Craft Brewing, Old Dominion, Starr Hill, Heavy Seas, and Flying Dog Brewery, along with special varieties of bourbon-barrel-aged stouts, whiskey-barrel-aged ciders, and hearty IPAs.

When not enjoying beer-related activities, festival-goers can check out one of the eight live bands playing all afternoon on two stages or take in the display of antique and exotic cars. The stadium catering company serves local delicacies such as Maryland crab cakes, shucked oysters on the half shell, and crab-and-cheese pretzels. More than 60 merchandise vendors offer artisan crafts and specialty food items.

For the last two years, runners from across Maryland have gathered for the Be Great 5K Run & Fun Walk to benefit the Annapolis Boys & Girls Scholarship Trust. The trust has provided financial support to more than 25 students to help them attend college over the last 10 years, and proceeds from the race go toward the scholarship fund. Before the race, runners are given a bib that tracks their time and pace better than an hourglass taped to their torso. After crossing the finish line, racers are rewarded with refreshments, and a lucky few are awarded prizes.

Parker Jones worked his way from the ground up to helm Capital Bicycle, which first opened in 1970. He started his career at Capital in 1996 as a once-a-week employee looking to get a good deal on parts and escape the mournful howls of his neglected sedan, but within months he became a store mechanic. A year, he later took control of the entire store, and ultimately, he became its sole owner.

Jones set out to expand the shop’s services in both scope and size, and today, Capital resides in a 4,000-square-foot shop and is one of the region’s first concept stores for California-based bicycle manufacturer Specialized. Customers flock to the shop to purchase Specialized bikes and Bellwether apparel, and they can find their ideal bicycle fit with the help of an in-house certified body-geometry technician. Capital also fosters its own cycling community with a schedule of group rides and helps cyclists to keep tabs on other local events.

Annapolis Ghost Tours' thrill-seeking guides lead walking ghost tours and pub crawls around the city's historical district, examining and explaining the lives of its long-dead citizens while occasionally enjoying each pubs' choicest sips. Tours eventually wind their way to the graveyard, where a guide recounts spine-tingling tales of the buried dead and their favorite back scratchers. They also lead craft-brewed beer tours and historic pub crawls that fill tour goers' heads with titillating tales of the Founding Fathers and the drinking game that wrote the Constitution.