The Top Attractions in Anne Arundel County for Locals or Tourists

Anne Arundel County encompasses a mix of waterways, historic towns, preserved lands, and cultural institutions. Visitors and longtime residents can find places to explore that engage history, nature, and community life.

The selections below highlight signature sites and experiences that reveal the county’s identity in full. They reflect the depth of Anne Arundel County attractions in maritime, colonial, ecological, and recreational realms.

The U.S. Naval Academy dominates many people’s itinerary in Anne Arundel County. Located in Annapolis, the Academy campus — often called “The Yard” — features historic architecture, memorials, and ceremonial spaces. You can walk through the Main Chapel with its soaring dome, visit the Crypt of John Paul Jones beneath it, and tour Bancroft Hall, the largest dormitory in the U.S. The Visitor Center organizes tours of monuments like the USS Maine Mast and the Triton Light. Access to the grounds requires identification and certain procedural checks, but inside, you see the blend of military heritage, architecture, and waterfront exposure.

Inside Preble Hall, the U.S. Naval Academy Museum presents model ships, naval art, artifacts, and historical displays. Admission is free and ADA accessible. The museum’s exhibits track naval history from early days to modern innovations. For those drawn to maritime legacy and national service, the Academy ranks among the most compelling of Anne Arundel County attractions.

Sandy Point State Park is on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, adjacent to the east end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Its nearly 786 acres include a large swimming beach, hiking trails, picnic areas, water access, and the historic Sandy Point Farmhouse. One draws attention to the old seaborn ferry landing, an echo of earlier transit across the bay. Visitors hike through Corcoran Woods behind the main park and follow trails through forest and marsh edges.

On summer days, the park fills with swimmers, boaters, and sunbathers. Fishing and crabbing from piers or the shoreline are common. The park hosts the annual Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge in January, when participants run into the chilly bay waters in support of Special Olympics. The combination of beach life, natural woodland walks, and historic structures gives Sandy Point a layered appeal, making it one of the more visited Anne Arundel County and Chesapeake Bay attractions.

Reynold’s Tavern, located at Church Circle in Annapolis, remains one of the oldest operating taverns in the city, and the country. Its colonial-era structure still functions as a restaurant and gathering place. Visitors pass through its interior to imagine colonial social life while enjoying regional fare or drink. The tavern’s architectural features include wood beams, fireplaces, and period structural elements preserved over centuries.

The Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum occupies a historic church building in the Colonial Annapolis Historic District. Originally constructed by a free Black congregation, the Gothic-Revival structure now serves as Maryland’s official museum of African American history and culture. Inside its expanded galleries, the museum presents both permanent and rotating exhibits that explore the African American experience in Maryland, from the colonial era through modern times. Its collection includes more than 12,000 archival items, artifacts, artworks, and photographs.

Quiet Waters Park spans 340 acres in eastern Anne Arundel County, near Annapolis. It features six miles of paved trails, picnic areas, park pavilions, a kayak launch, and a fantastic dog park. The latter provides dog owners a dog beach and fenced areas for large and small dogs. Included are paved walkways, shaded seating, restrooms, and dog-wash stations, all designed to support off-leash activity and social interaction.

Throughout the year, Quiet Waters hosts outdoor concerts, gallery shows, community gatherings, and seasonal festivals. For instance, at the end of each summer, the park hosts “Pops in the Park,” a free performance by the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra. Visitors often stroll among its trails, launch small craft from the dock, visit the galleries (Willow, Garden, and Dogwood), or take advantage of playground or picnic facilities. Because the park blends recreation, environmental aesthetics, and art programming, it stands among the most versatile Anne Arundel County attractions.

Historic London Town & Gardens sits in Edgewater along the South River, offering an immersive look into Maryland’s early colonial heritage. The 23-acre site re-creates an 18th-century settlement through restored buildings, archaeological remains, and interpretive exhibits. Visitors can explore the reconstructed Lord Mayor’s Tenement, remnants of the original wharf, and the outlines of historic tobacco warehouses that once supported the region’s river-based trade.

The gardens are a defining feature of London Town, blending historic authenticity with horticultural beauty. Designed to reflect both colonial and contemporary planting traditions, the grounds include woodland walks, formal beds, and waterfront trails that provide sweeping river views. The site is also pet-friendly, leashed dogs are welcome throughout most outdoor areas, making it a pleasant outing for residents who want to explore history without leaving their pets at home.

Annapolis, often referred to as a museum without walls, offers myriad structures to explore, including the nation’s most extensive collection of 18th-century brick architecture. The city’s colonial district survives as a dense network of streets, historic homes, churches, and institutions. Many of the noteworthy homes in the city’s historic district can be viewed from the cobblestone streets (contact Watermark Tours for a walking tour of the city’s most popular historic homes and buildings).

The Maryland State House (built in 1772) still functions as the state capitol and bears the room where George Washington resigned his commission. You can also call ahead to schedule a tour of St. Anne’s Church, which was first organized in 1692. The Hammond-Harwood House and William Paca House are open year-round for tours and festive occasions, often decorated in the period style for holidays (such as the annual Pumpkin Walk at Hammond Harwood and the beautiful May Day tradition at William Paca House).

Annapolis offers a lifestyle deeply connected to the water, shaped by its position along the Chesapeake Bay, the Severn River, and Spa Creek. The city’s historic downtown and City Dock are surrounded by marinas, yacht clubs, and waterfront dining that reflect the area’s maritime heritage. Residents enjoy easy access to sailing, kayaking, and paddleboarding, while waterfront homes and condos provide sweeping views and direct access to the bay.

Annapolis’s waterfront experience comes alive through its cruise offerings, which showcase the area’s history and beauty. Annapolis Tours by Watermark hosts narrated cruises that explore local architecture, maritime heritage, and natural scenery. Schooner Woodwind Sailing Cruises adds a more immersive dimension with its 74-foot wooden sailboats that glide past landmarks like the U.S. Naval Academy and City Dock.

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Interested in Anne Arundel County real estate? Contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you find your dream Anne Arundel County home!