A Quiet 24 Hours on Maryland’s Eastern Shore

Last summer, Tom and I managed to sneak away for about 24 hours without the kids, which is something we do not do nearly enough.

We realized we had about 24 hours between dropping one kid off at camp and picking the other one up. It was not a grand plan or something we had been mapping out for months. It was simply a small window that opened up, and instead of heading straight home, we decided to take advantage of it and point the car toward Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

We checked in at Inn at Huntingfield Creek, and almost immediately everything felt quieter.

Settling In at the Inn

The property is beautiful in a simple, understated way, with open fields, water views, and Adirondack chairs scattered around the grounds.

After we dropped our bags in our room (we stayed in the Fairlee Room and it was exactly what we needed), we wandered for a bit without any real plan, just taking in the quiet and the space.

The inn keeps wine, beer, soda, and water available at all times, which felt like such a thoughtful touch. It made the whole experience feel welcoming, like home.

There is a small pool tucked into the property, and we spent part of the afternoon floating and relaxing. It is funny how something so simple can feel indulgent when you’re used to running from one kid activity to another.

That evening, we drove into Rock Hall for dinner.

Dinner in Rock Hall

The night we spent in Rock Hall, we had dinner at Waterman’s Crab House. Rock Hall sits right on the Chesapeake Bay and has that small town, waterfront feel that naturally slows you down.

Dinner was exactly what you would hope for on the Eastern Shore. Fresh seafood, water views, and no one rushing you through your meal. We lingered over dinner, talked without interruption, and enjoyed not having to manage anyone else’s schedule.

After dinner, we stopped at Ferry Park, right along the water. We sat on the beach and watched the water and a few families playing nearby as the evening settled in. It was simple and quiet and relaxing, and it felt like the perfect way to end the night before heading back to the inn.

When we returned to the inn, I took full advantage of the clawfoot tub in our room. A long soak in a quiet space felt like a reset.

A Slow Morning in Rock Hall

Breakfast at the inn the next morning was absolutely delicious. It was one of those meals where you plan to eat and move on, but instead you sit a little longer because everything is that good.

We ended up chatting with other guests and even one of the owners during and after breakfast, which made the experience feel personal in a way that larger hotels never quite do.

After breakfast, we stopped at Java Rock and grabbed a smoothie for me and a coffee for Tom before wandering through town. With drinks in hand, we explored the little shops around Rock Hall without much of an agenda. The town is small, quiet, and easy to walk, and it felt good to stretch the morning out instead of rushing to the next thing.

An Afternoon in Chestertown

Chestertown is just about 20 minutes from Rock Hall, which is conveniently where we needed to pick Charlie up from Washington College.

We made the short drive to Chestertown and spent the afternoon wandering. Chestertown is one of those towns that feels best explored on foot, with brick sidewalks, local shops, and water nearby.

We had a late lunch at Bad Alfred’s, and the wood-fired pizza was so good. Tom and I shared a pizza, which is perfect for us. It was casual and relaxed, exactly what we were in the mood for before continuing to explore.

After lunch, we stopped at Sugar Doodles Sweet Shop and shared a bubble waffle sundae that was completely over the top and completely worth it.

I also picked up sea salt caramels from Bespoke Chocolates, because I can never pass up a great sea salt caramel!

We stretched the afternoon as long as we reasonably could before heading to pick up Charlie and returning to regular life.

Why 24 Hours Matters

It was not a long trip, and it was not far from home, but it felt important.

Tom and I have been married 15 years now, and our life is full and busy in all the best ways. Still, stepping away, even briefly, reminded me how important it is to reconnect without being Mom and Dad first.