This Maryland Town Has The Most Walkable Downtown

In Havre de Grace, you have the best of both worlds, a historic downtown district combined with a waterfront boardwalk overlooking the mouth of the Susquehanna River flowing into the head of the Chesapeake Bay. Despite almost being completely destroyed in the War of 1812, the town is still the site of many historic buildings, like the Concord Point Lighthouse, the second-oldest one in Maryland. Or you could take advantage of Havre de Grace’s optimal location to venture further out to other Maryland towns. Whether you have just arrived in town from Baltimore or have chosen to stay in town, you will not have to walk far to see what the hype surrounding Havre de Grace is about.

Pedestrian Friendly Parks

The Havre de Grace Promenade Boardwalk stretches along the head of the Chesapeake Bay between Millard Tydings Memorial Park and the Concord Point Lighthouse. Panoramic views of the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay are accompanied by signage dotted along the boardwalk.

Tydings Park encompasses eight acres on the waterfront and is designed for foot traffic to easily access the Promenade Boardwalk, which eventually connects directly to downtown.

The Concord Point Lighthouse stands at 36 feet tall within Concord Point Park. Although second-oldest in the state, it is the oldest lighthouse in Maryland that is accessible to the public. The lighthouse, along with the Concord Point Lighthouse Keeper’s House Museum, is open seasonally between April and October. The lighthouse’s location allows visitors to access other nearby historic sites and points of interest.

Havre de Grace's Heritage

Through both permanent and rotating exhibits, educational programs, and special events, the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum illustrates the story of the town’s maritime culture and heritage. The museum also includes two galleries and a working boat shop on its ground floor. Learn about the Native Americans who inhabited the land over 10,000 years ago, the first European colonizers who arrived in the 1600s, and the community that it is today.

On the other hand, the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum celebrates the town’s history of waterfowling and decoy carving. Exhibits at the museum include a main exhibit defining what a decoy is, a carving workshop, and a collection of over 1,200 local decoys.

Waterfront Dining

After strolling along the Promenade and learning about the town’s history and culture, you will want to treat yourself to something to eat. In Havre de Grace, there is no better place to do so than by dining right on the waterfront. MacGregor's has been around since 1987 and has been serving upscale-casual American fare and seafood ever since. Alternatively, the Tidewater Grille is consistently serving up fresh seafood and steaks to be enjoyed on their outside decks and lawn, inside their four-seasons porch, or their indoor dining room and bar.

But if you are just looking for a light snack and maybe a drink before seeing more of town, Market Street Brewery has you covered. As the only waterfront brewery and taproom in Harford County, you can enjoy views of the water, sip on locally brewed beer, and pick at charcuterie boards before heading back out on the town.

Arts and Events

After lunch, visit one of the town’s many art galleries, such as Arts by the Bay Gallery, which exclusively displays works by regional artists. Their works appear in a variety of media such as sculptures, paintings, photography, and jewelry, to name a few. Or you could go shopping for a memento of your time in Havre de Grace and swing by Blue Heron Gifts and Boutique, which is downtown and specializes in one-of-a-kind gifts, home decor, candles, jewelry, and other souvenirs.

If you happen to be in town on a Friday night in June or July, then double back across town to Millard Tydings Memorial Park and attend a free concert in the park.

Nearby Towns

For other towns close to Havre de Grace, you have the option of embarking further out to other towns on the Chesapeake Bay or traveling inland. Perryville is across the river from Havre de Grace and has important ties to transportation within Maryland to the great Atlantic. The Rodgers Tavern Museum is one of only a handful of 18th and 19th-century ferry sites and taverns still standing in Maryland.

Continue past Perryville to eventually get to Chesapeake City, a town split in half by the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, but packed with great places to eat such as Schaefer's Canal House which serves Maryland classics such as crabcakes and an entire array of seafood that can be enjoyed in the dining room or on their veranda, both of which have views of the canal.

To contrast with other towns, Bel Air is not directly on the water, but still within Harford County. However, it is just as beautiful as other towns on Chesapeake Bay, with places like Bynum Run Park. On only five acres, this small but mighty park is loaded with picnic tables, benches, and gazebos, which are perfect for relaxing, walking trails, and a duck pond.

Maryland's Most Walkable Downtown

Havre de Grace’s outstanding downtown leads visitors right from waterfront parks filled with historic landmarks and museums like the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum to downtown delights such as the Blue Heron Gifts and Boutique. While most towns on Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay will be luring people in who want to sit on a sandy beach or get out on the water, Havre de Grace will have you lacing up your shoes and setting off on the streets.