Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network America’s Best Idea: National Park Getaway
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The white triangle of a sail against a backdrop of azure makes one of the most iconic images of summer. So too do the colors of a sunset reflected in a body of water and the wooden boards of a picnic table set with lemonade, coleslaw and crab cakes. You’ll find all of these epitomes of the season on the eastern shores of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland and Virginia. This region—the focus of this week’s travel article in the National Park Getaways series—makes the ideal summer destination. Come for a weekend or a longer visit, and let the Getaway help you plan your trip. Landlubbers can get a crash course in the region’s seafaring heritage at the Chesapeake Bay and Richardson maritime museums, which also appeal to those with some experience in plying the waves. To get such experience, go for a sail or a paddle. Nathan of Dorchester, a replica of a historic skipjack, sails from Cambridge, Md. In Janes Island State Park, also in Maryland, paddling opportunities abound. In addition to places where you can head out to sea, the Getaway points you to historic towns, as well as spots for feasting on crabs, a specialty of the region. for previous Getaways and this week’s feature. Fifty-eighth in the series of articles, the Getaway about the Chesapeake Bay area introduces you to a network of sites where you can enjoy nature and culture in the company of those you love. The National Park Service coordinates the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network, more than 165 exceptional parks, wildlife refuges, museums, sailing ships, historic communities, trails and more.
See houses available in Cambridge, MD
See houses available on Tilghman Island
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Be sure to reserve your boat now!
An experience that is not to be missed is getting out on the water. The Eastern Shore takes on a whole new perspective when you see it from the shoreline--the grand estates, the natural wildlife, the landscape and the simple beauty of the area really comes to life. It's a great way to spend time with your family, fishing or crabbing, or just pack a picnic and find a place to drop anchor.
We are proud to work with Blackwater Paddle and Pedal to assist our customers with boat rentals. They provide state of the art equipment, excellent customer service and will go the extra mile for our guests. Click here to visit their site or call them at 410-901-9255.
Sample boat from BPPA--all boats are 17' Triumphs with a 70 hp engine, seats max of 6.
BPPA offers ESVR guests:
MOTOR BOATS
17’ Triumph Dual Console w/ 70 H.P. Yamaha Engine. View triumph boats at www.triumphboats.com
Rental Program: $1800.00 per week or prorated as follows;
$500.00 for 1st day, add
$300.00 for 2nd day, add
$200.00 for 3rd day, add
$200.00 for each additional day
Fee includes delivery and pick up, all Coast Guard required safety equipment, dock lines, instruction by United States Coast Guard Licensed Captains and personal floatation devices (pfd)
Boats come with first tank of fuel and oil
Security Deposit of $1500.00 required for boat regardless of rental period. Lesser and lessee will inspect the boat upon delivery and at pick up.
If necessary Blackwater Paddle and Pedal Adventures is authorized to issue DNR 30 day temporary boater safety certificate at no charge. Please request in advance.
A $500.00 reservation deposit is required to hold the boat for your vacation. You will receive a full refund of your deposit if a cancellation is made 7 day’s prior to your scheduled rental date. Deduct $50.00 per day for each day less than 7 days.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
ESVR has a new mobile site!
While vacationing with us you might find yourself wondering where to eat in the new town you are exploring, or looking for something to entertain the kids, a sunset sail to take advantage of the beautiful evening or even a babysitter!
With our new mobile site, this information is at your fingertips! Simply browse to www.easternshorevacations.com on your smart phone and you have access to:
- Restaurant and Attraction information with autodialing
- Have a kayak or crab feast delivered to your home
- Services such as babysitters and shuttles to the Western Shore
- Report property maintenance or ask guest services a question
- Get local real estate information immediately
Your perfect Eastern Shore Vacation is as near as your phone! Don't let another season pass you by!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Where are the rates?
We have had a lot of great feedback regarding our website, the enhanced photography, mapping and reviews, however, we do seem to get asked the same question, "Where are the rates"? Even a few have wondered if we are hiding something!
We don't publish the rates anymore because we have switched to a new system that calculates the rates based on availability, time frame and number of nights. Gone are the days of weekly vacations on forced turn days, now most of our homes are available with as little as a three night minimum even in the summer! Prefer to vacation during the week? Great, you'll save with non-peak day rates! Desperately need to get away but can't take a week off? You can savor a long weekend at an ESVR home without committing to a week.
Pricing will fluctuate based on these factors, however, all prices are available simply by calculating the rate in the box to the right of the calendars. Price ranges for comparison purposes are also posted--in full daylight.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Best of the Bay!! We have it all right here!
Congratulations to our local areas and towns for the numerous mentions in Chesapeake Bay Magazines annual "Best of the Bay" issue.
There were several mentions for "best crabcakes", "best steamed crabs", "oysters" and "best for foodies" for St. Michaels. After all, who can resist the breezes of waterfront dining, the smell of Old Bay and fresh crabs to linger over on a relaxing afternoon? Crab picking not your style? There are other great options from fine dining to irresistable pizzas to be found here! To learn more about dining on the Eastern Shore, click here for a list of our favorites.
Nightlife on the Eastern Shore? Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing and it isn't listening to the sound of crickets! Our guests are continually surprised at the variety of entertainment options awaiting them after a long day of being on the water. Local bands, up and coming acts and even a famous one here or there pepper our historic streets. Also look for free concerts in the parks and in town, entertainment at the Farmers Markets and more. Check out NightCat and the Avalon Theatre for more information. Congratulations to St. Michaels for being named a best for Night Life on the Bay!
Family vacations are the fastest growing segment of our tourism market as what was once considered a destination for retirees or weekenders has blossomed into a quality family vacation. Leave the crowded beaches behind and discover the Eastern Shore for your next family vacation. Enjoy a waterfront home, crabbing from the dock, family attractions such as the maritime museum, Chesapeake Bay Pirates, kayaking, or strolling for an ice cream. You can't have quality time on a go kart, but we hear over and over again about the fun our guests have just "being" with their kids. Old fashioned fun like catching lightening bugs or discovering how to fish can build memories to last a lifetime. For family fun ideas, click here.
Again, congratulations to all who were recognized!! SEE ALL THE WINNERS!
Saturday, May 22, 2010
ESVR MOVES TO NEW LOCATION
ESVR has moved to its new downtown Easton location at 21 S. Harrison Street in the heart of the Historic District. Right next to the Talbot County Visitors Center and amongst landmarks such as the Avalon Theatre, Tidewater Inn and Academy Art Museum, our new office location will give our visitors a better sense of what our area is all about and increase exposure for our homeowners. With available parking in the rear of the building, guests can come and go easily for key pick up, or plan to stay and shop and dine in downtown Easton before heading off to relax at your home. We look forward to seeing you at our new office!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Don't be fooled! Fact and Fiction in the Vacation Rental world
Today is April Fool's Day and with all the practical jokes and hokey e-mails going out about good deals and things too good to be true, I thought I'd offer some practical advice.
As professional vacation rental managers, it is our job to match the house the guest and make sure that you choose a property that meets or exceeds your expectations. I remember vacationing with my family as a young girl and everyone had butterflies in their stomach as we got closer wondering what the house would look like--after all, we only saw an out of focus thumbnail shot, read fluffed up copy and had the assurances from someone hundreds of miles away on the phone that the house is booking quickly and we better get our deposit in soon.
Today's information has come a long way. On line calendars with real time availability let you see the real picture. A word of caution--the advent of online calendars has given travelers the freedom to wait until the last minute to choose a spot. Perhaps you'd be surprised to know that 50% of our reservations come after Memorial Day--so just because a home has a lot of weeks left doesn't mean it isn't a great house or that you can wheel and deal a great price--that's just sad theatre!
ESVR has invested heavily in our website to be sure that what you see is what you get. We do not allow out of date photo shoots and virtual tours, and while our photographs are professional, they are a real representation of the property, not a staged photo session to make the property look like an HGTV special, only to find it more like "this old house" when you get there.
We include floor plans so you can see the layout of the home. Perhaps our spacious is your chicken coop, or knowing that bedroom is a pass through will 'ahem' cramp your style. We want you to see the layout, then you can fight over the bedrooms BEFORE you get there.
We also have mapping and will provide addresses upon request so you can view the home via Google Earth. Our waterfront homes really are on the water, not across the street, over the dune and only from the second floor balcony.
If you don't want to take our word for it, we put all guest comments on our site. Some people have called us to say, "Are you crazy, why did let the guest comment about the house smelling musty go on the site"? Our answer to that is we want you to see the whole picture--maybe the house is old, some find that charming, others won't. Perhaps the owner remedied this by replacing the carpet--we want you to know what we do to solve the problems. Are we perfect? Yes! (No, not really, but pretty close). When we make a mistake, we want you to see it, and also what we did about it. That is when we shine.
We hope you'll consider choosing an ESVR home and that any sick feelings as you pull up to your house are from the roadside crabcake stand and not the house you see!
As professional vacation rental managers, it is our job to match the house the guest and make sure that you choose a property that meets or exceeds your expectations. I remember vacationing with my family as a young girl and everyone had butterflies in their stomach as we got closer wondering what the house would look like--after all, we only saw an out of focus thumbnail shot, read fluffed up copy and had the assurances from someone hundreds of miles away on the phone that the house is booking quickly and we better get our deposit in soon.
Today's information has come a long way. On line calendars with real time availability let you see the real picture. A word of caution--the advent of online calendars has given travelers the freedom to wait until the last minute to choose a spot. Perhaps you'd be surprised to know that 50% of our reservations come after Memorial Day--so just because a home has a lot of weeks left doesn't mean it isn't a great house or that you can wheel and deal a great price--that's just sad theatre!
ESVR has invested heavily in our website to be sure that what you see is what you get. We do not allow out of date photo shoots and virtual tours, and while our photographs are professional, they are a real representation of the property, not a staged photo session to make the property look like an HGTV special, only to find it more like "this old house" when you get there.
We include floor plans so you can see the layout of the home. Perhaps our spacious is your chicken coop, or knowing that bedroom is a pass through will 'ahem' cramp your style. We want you to see the layout, then you can fight over the bedrooms BEFORE you get there.
We also have mapping and will provide addresses upon request so you can view the home via Google Earth. Our waterfront homes really are on the water, not across the street, over the dune and only from the second floor balcony.
If you don't want to take our word for it, we put all guest comments on our site. Some people have called us to say, "Are you crazy, why did let the guest comment about the house smelling musty go on the site"? Our answer to that is we want you to see the whole picture--maybe the house is old, some find that charming, others won't. Perhaps the owner remedied this by replacing the carpet--we want you to know what we do to solve the problems. Are we perfect? Yes! (No, not really, but pretty close). When we make a mistake, we want you to see it, and also what we did about it. That is when we shine.
We hope you'll consider choosing an ESVR home and that any sick feelings as you pull up to your house are from the roadside crabcake stand and not the house you see!
