Winter in Maryland is a quieter season on the Eastern Shore. Once the summer crowds leave Rock Hall, the streets settle down, tundra swans return to the Chesapeake Bay, and December brings a lighted boat parade and Main Street celebrations. If you’re planning a winter getaway in Maryland, here is how to spend a few days on the Shore and where to stay while you’re here. For a year-round list of activities, see our guide to things to do on the Eastern Shore.
Go Birding at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge
A short drive from the Inn, Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge is one of the best reasons to visit the Eastern Shore in winter. Bald eagles nest at the refuge and are present year-round, and it is a major stop for migrating waterfowl, osprey, and songbirds throughout the seasons. The refuge is open daily from dawn to dusk but closes to the public on scheduled hunt days, so check the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s visitor page before you go.
Tundra swans are the headline arrival each winter, typically returning to the refuge in mid to late November and staying through the season. Our guide to tundra swan migration covers timing and where to look for them if swans are the main draw for your trip.
Ducks and geese move through in large numbers too, including canvasback ducks, mallards, American black ducks, lesser scaup, and Canada geese. Our guide to winter waterfowl watching on the Bay explains what to expect and how much you can see without leaving the property. If regulated waterfowl hunting interests you more than birdwatching, our guide to waterfowl hunting guides near Rock Hall covers licensed guides and seasons for the area.
You can start birding before you get in the car. The Inn’s own 70 acres include several distinct ecosystems and more than 70 recorded bird species, and the walk to the water along the Grassy Promenade, past Woodside Pond and the Wedding Pergola, makes a good morning loop before breakfast.
More Things to Do on the Eastern Shore in Winter
Birding fills the early hours. For the rest of the day, here are more winter activities within a short drive of one of the best Maryland Bed and Breakfasts.
Walk Historic Chestertown
Chestertown sits on the Chester River about twenty minutes from the Inn. Its historic district covers several blocks of Water, High, and Church Streets, where sea captains and merchants built homes in the 1700s and 1800s, and many still stand. The shops and galleries along High, Cross, and Cannon Streets are almost all locally owned, which makes for an easy afternoon of browsing on a cold day. Our guide to things to do in Chestertown, MD covers the walking route, the galleries, and where to eat.
Shop the Chestertown Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market
The Chestertown Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market sets up on High Street on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon, year-round. In winter, fewer vendors come out, and the market runs weather permitting, but it is still a good stop for local bread, honey, and homemade goods from Kent County growers and makers.
Catch Live Music or a Show
The Mainstay, a 125-seat music venue about three minutes from the Inn, presents concerts in Rock Hall year-round. In Chestertown, the Garfield Center for the Arts at the Prince Theatre stages community theater, concerts, and films in a restored downtown theater. Check each venue’s calendar before your trip.
Visit an Eastern Shore Winery
Wine tasting is an easy indoor outing on a cold afternoon. Crow Vineyard and Winery in Kennedyville is a Kent County option, and our guide to Maryland wineries on the Eastern Shore lists more to try. Hours can change, so call ahead before you drive out.
Eat in Rock Hall
Rock Hall is a small waterfront town, and seafood is a big part of its dining scene. Bay Wolf Restaurant boasts Austrian and Eastern Shore cooking and is one of the local restaurants that stays open through the winter months. For more options in town, see our guide to restaurants in Rock Hall, MD.
Make It a Christmas Getaway
If your trip lands in December, Rock Hall adds its own holiday lineup: a lighted boat parade through the harbor, carolers and a fire pit on Main Street, and a community Christmas tree built from hand-painted crab baskets. Nearby Chestertown holds a Dickens-themed holiday celebration each year, about twenty minutes from the Inn. Our guide to Eastern Shore Christmas events has more on each one. Dates change each year, so confirm the current schedule to plan your trip.
Plan a Valentine’s Day Getaway
February brings Valentine’s Day, and a private cottage with a fireplace makes a comfortable base for a couples’ weekend on the Shore. Our Valentine’s Day getaway guide offers weekend ideas, and our roundup of romantic getaways in Maryland covers more of the Eastern Shore.
When to Visit
Winter on the Eastern Shore runs from late fall into early spring. Wintering waterfowl are most active at Eastern Neck from November, when tundra swans arrive, through the end of March, when most species have moved on. No single week is best to book within that window. Come in December for the holiday events, in January for quiet birding mornings, or in February for a Valentine’s Day weekend.
Stay at Our Bed and Breakfast in Rock Hall
Our Bed and Breakfast in Maryland sits on 70 acres a few minutes from downtown Rock Hall, with five guest rooms in the Main House and seven private cottages on the grounds. Every stay includes a full country breakfast, complimentary wine and beer, and plenty of room to walk the property between outings.
Breakfast at the Inn
Guests gather for a full country breakfast every morning at 8:30 in the Main House. The menu always includes fresh orange juice and another seasonal juice, local fresh fruit, farm-fresh eggs, two kinds of premium breakfast meats, a sweet that changes daily, LeBus sourdough toast, gourmet coffee, and tea. If you’re gluten-free or have allergies, let us know, and we’ll accommodate you. See more on our breakfast page.
The library is stocked with complimentary premium wine, beer, and soft drinks, homemade salted chocolate chip cookies, and shelves of books and music for a cold evening in.
Guest Rooms in the Main House
The five guest rooms in the Main House each have their own color scheme, a private bath, and down bedding, with king-size Tempur-Pedic-topped beds (twin beds are available in select rooms). The Grays Inn Room, a corner room on the second floor, overlooks the pond, the Pergola Garden, the meadows, and the front lawns.
Private Cottages
For more space and privacy, our seven private cottages each come with a fireplace, a bistro kitchen, and a deck or patio. Fireplaces vary by cottage: several, including Pond Cottage, have a gas fireplace, while others have an electric one. Pond Cottage pairs its gas fireplace with a king bed, hickory floors, a spa tub with a separate shower and toilet room, and heated bathroom floors. Its raised deck looks out over the pergola garden, the fields, and the pond, a good spot for coffee on a clear, cold morning.
Planning something special? Browse our getaway packages and specials for current add-ons. Book your winter getaway today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to do on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in winter?
Near Rock Hall, you can go birding at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, walk historic Chestertown, shop the Chestertown Farmers’ and Artisans’ Market on Saturday mornings, catch a concert at The Mainstay, visit a winery (call ahead for hours), and, in December, take in the holiday events.
Is Rock Hall, Maryland open in the winter?
Yes, though some restaurants and attractions scale back for the off-season. Bay Wolf Restaurant is one local spot that stays open through the winter, and Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge is open daily except on scheduled hunt days.
What wildlife can I see on the Eastern Shore in winter?
Bald eagles are present at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge year-round, and the refuge is a major wintering stop for tundra swans, canvasback ducks, mallards, American black ducks, lesser scaup, and Canada geese, among other species.
Are there Christmas events near Rock Hall, Maryland?
Yes. Rock Hall hosts a lighted boat parade, a Main Street Christmas celebration, and a community tree lighting each December, and nearby Chestertown holds its own Dickens-themed celebration. See our guide to Eastern Shore Christmas events for details and current dates.
Is breakfast included at the Inn at Huntingfield Creek?
Yes. Every stay includes a full country breakfast, served at 8:30 each morning in the Main House.
Ready to plan your trip? Book your winter getaway at the Inn at Huntingfield Creek.
