Chincoteague Island to Berlin Day Trip
Directions:
Begin your Chincoteague Island to Berlin day trip by heading west 10.5 miles on VA-175 and then north on US-13 for 6.5 miles before taking a slight right at US-113. Continue 27 miles to Germantown Road. Turn left, and then turn right at South Main Street. Your trip should take about 70 minutes.
Berlin History and Attractions:
What is now Berlin's Main Street was long ago a section of the forest trail connecting Assateague and Pocomoke Indian tribal lands. Berlin sprung up as a village at the cross roads of the Sinepuxent and Philadelphia Post Roads in the 1790s. By the early 20th century was a favorite overnight stop for people on their way to Ocean City.
Your Chincoteague Island to Berlin day trip will be an experience of the lower Eastern Shore warmth and charm. Federal and Victorian homes on sycamore and magnolia shaded lawns set back from quiet streets and a newly revitalized and restored business district have earned Berlin the State of Maryland designation of a Main Street Community.
One of Berlin's restored 19th century homes, at 208 North Main, is now the Calvin B. Taylor Museum. Built in 1832, the house once belonged to the founder of the Calvin B. Taylor Banking Company, which still has ten active branches in the Berlin and Ocean City area.
Stroll along Berlin's downtown streets, past numerous antique and gift shops, and some of the best dining establishments on the Eastern Shore. Solstice, in Main Street's red brick Atlantic Hotel, is well known for its outstanding fresh seafood. If you decide to extend your Berlin day trip, you'll love the Atlantic's Hotel's authentic Victorian décor including antique double beds and claw foot tubs!
For a more intimate overnight experience, stay at Berlin's wonderfully restored Merry Sherwood Plantation on eighteen beautifully landscaped acres, or at the Holland House bed and breakfast. Berlin also offers more rustic overnight accommodations at the nearby Frontier Town and Fort Whaley Campgrounds.
Your tour of downtown will pass several art galleries, the best of which is run by the Worcester County Arts Council. Located on Jefferson Street, the gallery is committed to promoting the work of local artists and craftspeople and often has artists giving on-site demonstrations of their work.
Golfing enthusiasts will love Berlin's Eagle's Nest municipal course. Its fairways meander between wetlands and stands of grass on their approach to unparalleled marsh holes and breathtaking views of both Assateague Island and the Sinepuxent Bay. Eagle's Nest is only one of half a dozen courses around Berlin.
Your Chincoteague Island to Berlin day trip can be a gateway to Assateague Island State Park. The park is home to Maryland's wild pony herd, which is allowed to live out their lives undisturbed except for the breeding management needed to maintain their numbers at about 150.
The park has a nature center, bike trails, and two miles of public beaches. Swim, surf, sunbathe, beach comb, fish, or rent a kayak and slip away into the island's marshes and hidden coves for glimpses of some of Assateague Island's more than 300 bird species.
The truth about a Chincoteague Island to Berlin day trip is, quite simply, that you'll never be able to do Berlin justice in a single day!