Chesapeake Boating Magazine
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Wednesday, Jun 19, 2013 | Bookmark This Page | Home


 
It's all about social media these days, or so we hear . . . via Facebook, of course. And on Twitter, and in the news, and on our fabulous website, ChesapeakeBoating.net. Well, duh! We've been doing our own version of social media here at Chesapeake Bay Magazine since the early 90s! That’s right, what could be more social than our annual Best of the Bay reader survey? Yes, our early versions of the survey were mailed out to a selection of our readership, then mailed back to us and hand tallied (on an abacus, as we recall) before the results were shared in a printed magazine. But it was social nonetheless! And it still is. . . . Of course we’re doing almost all of the voting online now, and the abacus is now part of the lovely decor in the office break room. But the results are the same: you, the readers, and friends of readers, share your favorite places on the Bay to boat, anchor out, party or relax. And you tell us your favorite marinas, restaurants, boating service businesses and more. See? It's just like Facebook, except you don't have to look at pictures of your sister's ex-boyfriend's cat in between reading about the best Bay restaurants and best marinas. Instead, you get the advantage of looking at the results of this year's  Best of the Bay Photo Contest! This year we got quite the crop of photographs, from Bay creeks far and wide, photographers near and far. And we’re happy to share them all with you—our thanks to you for sharing your opinions, photos and favorite things about the Bay with us and with your fellow readers. It's social media at its best.

And the Survey Says...

Where possible, we've listed the top 10 vote-getters in each category, in order of total votes. In cases where we felt the cutoff was unfairly arbitrary, we've listed more than 10. By contrast, in the few categories where the balloting did not reveal 10 clear winners, the lists are accordingly shorter.


ON THE MAP

Best Town for Foodies 
1. Annapolis, Md. 
2. St. Michaels, Md. 
3. Baltimore, Md. 
4. Smithfield, Va. 
5. Rock Hall, Md. 
6. Solomons, Md. 
7. Deltaville, Va. 
8. Oxford, Md. 
9. Norfolk, Va. 
9. Kent Island/ Kent Narrows 
9. Hampton, Va. 

Best Town for Families
1. St. Michaels, Md. 
2. Annapolis, Md.  
3. Rock Hall, Md. 
4. Baltimore, Md. 
5. Deltaville, Va. 
6. Solomons, Md. 
7. Smithfield, Va. 
8. Hampton, Va. 
9. Oxford, Md. 
10. Norfolk, Va. 

Best Town for Nightlife 
1. Annapolis, Md. 
2. Baltimore, Md.  
3. Rock Hall, Md. 
4. St. Michaels, Md. 
5. Norfolk, Va. 
6. Solomons, Md. 
7. Kent Island/ Kent Narrows 
8. Smithfield, Va. 
8. Hampton, Va. 
9. Deltaville, Va. 

Best Town for Sightseeing
1. Annapolis, Md. 
2. St. Michaels, Md. 
3. Baltimore, Md. 
4. Smithfield, Va. 
5. Norfolk, Va. 
6. Washington, D.C. 
6. Rock Hall, Md. 
7. Deltaville, Va. 
8. Solomons, Md. 
9. Oxford, Md. 


ON THE MENU

Best Restaurant for Oysters
1. The Kitchen at Rock Hall (Rock Hall, Md.)  
2. Smithfield Station (Smithfield, Va.) 
3. Skipper’s Pier (Deale, Md.) 
4. Harrison’s Chesapeake House (Tilghman, Md.)  
5. Harris Crab House (Kent Narrows, Md.) 
5. Waterman’s Crab House (Rock Hall, Md.) 
6. Boatyard Bar and Grill (Annapolis, Md.) 
6. Cantler’s Riverside Inn (Annapolis, Md.)  
6. McGarvey’s Oyster Bar (Annapolis, Md.) 
6. Surf Rider (Hampton, Va.) 

Best Restaurant for the View
1. Smithfield Station (Smithfield, Va.) 
2. Skipper’s Pier (Deale, Md.)  
3. The Crab Claw (St. Michaels, Md.) 
4. Waterman’s Crab House (Rock Hall, Md.)  
5. Hemingway’s (Kent Island, Md.) 
6. The Tides Inn (Irvington, Va.) 
7. Aqua (Cape Charles, Va.) 
7. Stoney’s Pier (Solomons, Md.) 
8. Pussers Caribbean Grille (Annapolis, Md.) 
9. Chart House (Annapolis, Md.) 

Best Restaurant for Maryland Crab Soup
1. Skipper’s Pier (Deale, Md.)  
2. Waterman’s Crab House (Rock Hall, Md.) 
3. Harbor Shack (Rock Hall, Md.) 
3. Mango’s Bar & Grill (Friendship, Md.)   
4. Petie Greens (Deale, Md.) 
5. The Crab Claw (St. Michaels, Md.)  
5. Stoney’s Seafood House (Broomes Island, Md.) 

Best Restaurant for Cream of Crab Soup
1. The Kitchen at Rock Hall (Rock Hall, Md.)  
2. Smithfield Station (Smithfield, Va.) 
3. The Narrows Restaurant (Kent Narrows, Md.) 
4. Mango’s Bar & Grill (Friendship, Md.)   
5. Waterman’s Crab House (Rock Hall, Md.)  
6. Skipper’s Pier (Deale, Md.)  
7. Petie Greens (Deale, Md.)  
8. Harbor Shack (Rock Hall, Md.) 
8. Annie’s Paramount Steak & Seafood House (Kent Narrows, Md.) 

Best Restaurant for Crabcakes
1. The Kitchen at Rock Hall (Rock Hall, Md.) 
2. Smithfield Station (Smithfield, Va.) 
3. Stoney’s Seafood House (Solomons, Md.) 
4. The Crab Claw (St. Michaels, Md.) 
5. Skipper’s Pier (Deale, Md.) 
6. Waterman’s Crab House (Rock Hall, Md.) 
6. Stoney’s Seafood House (Broomes Island, Md.) 
7. Surf Rider (Hampton, Va.) 
7. Cantler’s Riverside Inn(Annapolis, Md.) 
8. Mango’s Bar & Grill (Tracey’s Landing, Md.) 

Best Restaurant for Steamed Crabs
1. The Crab Claw (St. Michaels, Md.) 
2. Cantler’s Riverside Inn (Annapolis, Md.) 
3. Skipper’s Pier (Deale, Md.) 
4. Waterman’s Crab House(Rock Hall, Md.) 
5. Harris Crab House (Kent Narrows, Md.) 
6. Mike’s Crab House (Riva, Md.) 
7. St. Michaels Crab & Steak House (St. Michaels, Md.) 
8. Harrison’s Chesapeake House (Tilghman, Md.) 
8. Abner’s Crab House (Chesapeake Beach, Md.) 
9. Fisherman’s Inn & Crab Deck (Kent Narrows, Md.) 


ON THE HARD

Best Canvas Work
1. C2 Custom Canvas (Deltaville, Va.) 
2. Ship’s Tailor (Deltaville, Va.) 
3. Canvas Connection (Tracey’s Landing, Md.) 
4. Quantum Sails (Solomons, Md.) 
5. Ullman Sails/Latell Sailmakers (Deltaville, Va.)
6. Meade Breese (Rock Hall, Md.) 
7. Canvas by Victoria (Rock Hall, Md.) 
8. Signature Canvas Makers (Hampton, Va.) 
9. Wendy’s Custom Yacht Canvas (Deltaville, Va.)  
10. North Sails (Annapolis, Md.) 

Best Electronics Work
1. Marine Technical Services (Tracey’s Landing, Md.) 
2. Marine Electronics of Hartfield (Hartfield, Va.) 
3. Mid-Shore Electronics (Cambridge, Md.) 
4. BOE Marine (Stevensville, Md.) 
5. Zahniser’s Yachting Center (Solomons, Md.)  
6. Gratitude Marina (Rock Hall, Md.) 
7. Deltaville Boatyard (Deltaville, Va.) 
8. Bristol Marine Technologies (Solomons, Md.) 
8. Haven Harbour Marina (Rock Hall, Md.) 

Best Engine Work
1. Cook’s Marine Service (Tracey’s Landing, Md.) 
2. Deltaville Boatyard (Deltaville, Va.) 
2. Deltaville Yachting Center (Deltaville, Va.) 
3. Zahniser’s Yachting Center (Solomons, Md.)  
4. Gratitude Marina (Rock Hall, Md.) 
5. Norton Yacht Sales (Deltaville, Va.) 
6. Seven Seas Yacht Services (Grasonville, Md.) 
7. Bay Shore Marine (Annapolis, Md.) 


ONLINE

Best Boating App
1. Navionics 
2. NOAA apps 
3. Active Captain 
4. EarthNC Charts 
4. BoatU.S. 
5. Drag Queen Anchor Alarm 
5. iNavX 

Best Boating Website
1. Active Captain (activecaptain.com) 
2. BoatU.S. (boatus.com)
3. Chesapeake Bay Magazine (chesapeakeboating.net) 
4. NOAA (noaa.gov) 
5. Waterway Guide (waterwayguide.com) 
6. Sailboat Owners (sailboatowners.com) 
6. Tidalfish (tidalfish.com) 
7. Sailing Anarchy (sailinganarchy.com) 


ON THE DOCK

Best Mom & Pop Marina 
1. Deltaville Yachting Center (Deltaville, Va.) 
2. Yankee Point Marina (Lancaster, Va.) 
3. Lankford Bay Marina (Rock Hall, Md.) 
4. Spring Cove Marina (Solomons, Md.) 
4. Mears Yacht Haven (Oxford, Md.) 
5. Zahniser’s Yachting Center (Solomons, Md.) 
5. Calvert Marina (Solomons, Md.) 
6. Mobjack Bay Marina (North, Va.) 
6. Deltaville Marina (Deltaville, Va.) 

Best Boatyard
1. Herrington Harbour North (Tracey’s Landing, Md.)  
2. Deltaville Boatyard (Deltaville, Va.) 
3. Deltaville Yachting Center (Deltaville, Va.)  
4. Zahniser’s Yachting Center (Solomons, Md.) 
5. Gratitude Marina(Rock Hall, Md.) 
6. Bert Jabin Yacht Yard(Annapolis, Md.) 
6. Yankee Point Marina (Lancaster, Va.) 
7. Norton Yacht Sales (Deltaville, Va.) 
8. Bluewater Yachting Center  (Hampton, Va.) 
8. Spring Cove Marina (Solomons, Md.)
9. Haven Harbour (Rock Hall, Md.)

Best Tackle Shop
1. Tyler’s Tackle Shop (Chesapeake Beach, Md.) 
2. J&W Seafood (Deltaville, Va.) 
3. River Rock Outdoor Store (Rock Hall, Md.) 
4. Bunky’s Bait & Tackle Shop (Solomons, Md.) 
5. Anglers (Annapolis, Md.) 
6. Fish On Bait & Tackle (Deltaville, Va.) 

Best Marina for Natural Environment
1. Herrington Harbour South (Friendship, Md.) 
2. Herrington Harbour North (Tracey’s Landing, Md.)  
3. Smithfield Station Marina (Smithfield, Va.)  
4. Deltaville Yachting Center (Deltaville, Va.) 
5. Osprey Point Marina (Rock Hall, Md.) 
6. Spring Cove Marina (Solomons, Md.) 
7. Yankee Point Marina (Lancaster, Va.) 
8. Deltaville Marina (Deltaville, Va.) 
9. Zahniser’s Yachting Center (Solomons, Md.)  
10. Bay Creek Marina (Cape Charles, Va.) 

Best Resort Marina
1. Herrington Harbour South (Friendship, Md.) 
2. The Tides Marina (Irvington, Va.) 
3. Smithfield Station Marina (Smithfield, Va.) 
4. Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort (Cambridge, Md.) 
5. Herrington Harbour North (Tracey’s Landing, Md.) 
5. Bay Creek Marina (Cape Charles, Va.) 
6. Zahniser’s Yachting Center (Solomons, Md.) 
6. Osprey Point Marina (Rock Hall, Md.) 
7. Mears Marina (Annapolis, Md.) 
8. Spring Cove Marina (Solomons, Md.) 


ON YOUR TO DO LIST

Best Dockside Bar
1. Red Eye’s Dock Bar (Kent Narrows, Md.) 
2. Skipper’s Pier (Deale, Md.)  
3. Harbor Shack (Rock Hall, Md.) 
4. Pussers Caribbean Grille (Annapolis, Md.)  
4. Mango’s Bar & Grill (Friendship, Md.)   
5. Tiki Bar (Solomons, Md.) 
6. Foxy’s Harbor Grille (St. Michaels, Md.) 
7. Calypso Bay Dock Bar & Restaurant (Tracey’s Landing, Md.) 

Best Maritime Museum
1. Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (St. Michaels, Md.) 
2. Calvert Marine Museum (Solomons, Md.) 
3. Deltaville Maritime Museum (Deltaville, Va.) 
4. Mariners’ Museum (Newport News, Va.) 
5. Annapolis Maritime Museum (Annapolis, Md.)
6. Reedville Fishermen’s Museum (Reedville, Va.) 
7. Nauticus (Norfolk, Va.) 

Best Waterfront Event
1. Annapolis Boat Shows (Annapolis, Md.) 
2. Pirates & Wenches Fantasy Weekend (Rock Hall, Md.) 
3. Harborfest (Norfolk, Va.) 
4. Urbanna Oyster Festival (Urbanna, Va.) 
5. Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum OysterFest (St. Michaels, Md.) 
5. Lights Parade (Annapolis, Md.) 
6. Patuxent River Appreciation Days (Solomons, Md.) 
7. Bay Days (Hampton, Va.) 
7. Tug of War (Annapolis, Md.) 

Best Regatta
1. Southern Bay Leukemia Cup (Deltaville, Va.) 
2. Screwpile Regatta  (Solomons, Md.) 
3. Hospice Turkey Shoot Regatta (Irvington, Va.) 
4. Governor’s Cup (Annapolis to St. Mary’s City, Md.) 
5. Hampton Cup Regatta (Hampton, Va.) 

Best Fourth of July Celebration
1. Herrington Harbour South (Friendship, Md.) 
2. Rock Hall, Md. 
3. Annapolis, Md. 
4. Solomons, Md. 
5. Deltaville, Va. 
6. Baltimore, Md. 
7. Smithfield, Va. 
8. St. Michaels, Md. 
9. Norfolk, Va. 
10. Yorktown, Va. 

ON THE WATER

Best Cruising River
1. Chester River 
2. Rappahannock River 
2. Wye River 
3. Choptank 
4. Patuxent River 
5. Potomac River 
6. James River 
7. Miles River 
7. Pagan River 
7. Sassafras River 

Best Quiet Anchorage
1. Dun Cove (Choptank River) 
2. Swan Creek (Rock Hall, Md.) 
3. Still Pond Creek 
4. La Trappe Creek (Choptank River) 
4. Rhode River 
5. Jackson Creek (Deltaville, Va.) 
5. Shaw Bay (Wye River) 
6. Corrotoman River 
7. Dividing Creek (Wye River) 

Best Party Anchorage
1. Fairlee Creek 
2. Annapolis Harbor 
2. Dobbins Island (Magothy River) 
3. Rhode River 
4. Shaw Bay (Wye River) 
5. Little Bay (off Fleets Bay) 
6. St. Leonard Creek 

Best Bay Beach
1. Herrington Harbour South (Friendship, Md.) 
2. Fairlee Creek 
2. La Trappe Creek (Choptank River) 
3. Sandy Point State Park 
4. Cape Charles Town Beach (Cape Charles, Va.) 
4. Chesapeake Beach, Md. 
5. Betterton Beach, Md. 
5. Windmill Point (Rappahannock River) 


PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS