The Ruse, a restaurant on site, has garnered accolades for its seafood-centric fare. It offers a raw bar and a beverage program focused on small-production beers and wines as well as contemporary cocktails.

Rates including Continental breakfast range from $249 to $559. thewildset.com; ruserestaurant.com

Against a traditional backdrop of shiplap siding and weathered oak floors, Merida introduced a fresh palette of white walls and upholstery that reflects the light, ensuring the owner’s distinctive paintings, sculptures and collections take center stage (vintage sand pails from the 1930s playfully displayed on a bookshelf, for instance). Pieces done by the owner also adorn the walls—primarily collages of textiles, paper and paint. 

No sooner was the project completed than Hurricane Ian arrived. “The owner barely got one season,” Merida says ruefully. Though the main floor was destroyed, luckily most one-of-a-kind pieces were saved. Designer and client are already at work restoring the home.

Architecture: Leslie Kelly, Leslie Kelly Architecture LLC, Wilmington, Delaware. Interior Design: Jamie Merida, Jamie Merida Interiors, Easton, Maryland. Builder: The Wolter Group, Fort Myers, Florida. Landscape Architecture: R.S. Walsh Landscaping, Fort Myers, Florida. Styling: Charlotte Safavi.

Sited on a hill overlooking vast plains, the 5,000-square-foot home was conceived in what the designer calls “California Spanish Modern” style—a distilled interpretation of Spanish architecture that embraces local vernacular with archways, stucco siding and a terracotta-tile roof. Walls of steel-framed glass create flow between airy interiors and outdoor spaces, which include sheltered gathering areas, a swimming pool and terraced gardens.

Boutlier clad the floors inside and out with limestone tile. He weighed in on room size and door placement and mocked up archways. Against crisp-white walls, he established a modern aesthetic with Italian furniture, abstract art and sculptural lighting. 

“The house is really meant for family to get together; the rooms are scaled well, so it feels intimate,” observes the designer. As a bonus, he adds, “On a clear day you can see all the way to the beaches of Del Mar—and to Tijuana.”

Architecture: Friehauf Architects, Solana Beach, California. Interior Design: Christopher Boutlier, Christopher Boutlier Interiors, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Anne Decker, AIA, Anne Decker Architects, Bethesda, Maryland. Builder: Mulvey Custom Builders, Del Mar, California. Landscape Architecture: TCLA Studio, Capistrano Beach, California. Styling: Anita Sarsidi.

Just after sunset on a June outing, Sites watched as a great blue heron alighted on a rock near the historic beacon. “Clouds were so thick that the sky lit up yellow. I was sort of in the dark so the heron didn’t notice me,” he recalls. “It was an opportunity to get a picture of him.”

Sites loves capturing the beauty of the bay all year round. “I go out whenever I can,” he affirms. “It relaxes me.”

Eventually, the ships—dubbed the Ghost Fleet—evolved into artificial reefs that protect fish, birds, turtles and other species. And in 2019, the former ships’ graveyard was designated a national marine sanctuary.

When shooting his photo of Mallows Bay, “I laid down flat in my kayak to get close to the water,” Turcik recalls. “The angle made the ship look quite tall and proud.”

Meals are served at two restaurants, while the spa offers an array of treatments, from massages to salt-room sessions and cryotherapy.

On The Water - The inn’s 130 rooms and suites—including the Lookout Room (pictured above)—are appointed in Craftsman style and boast lake and mountain views. Rates from $449. mirrorlakeinn.com

Now housing three interactive exhibits, the reimagined museum aims to engage visitors and inspire environmental stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay and its surroundings. In Bay Health, an aquarium  compares the quality of the bay’s waters now and in the pristine era before human contact, while an interactive journal explains the local watershed; Oyster Industry reveals oyster-harvesting methods while sharing the heritage and personal stories of the trade via a holographic waterman; and Annapolis Waters invites visitors to virtually join a boat race mid-stream, spend time on an oyster boat or kayak across the bay. Says AMM president Alice Estrada, “There’s nothing more stimulating than a great exhibition. Our new exhibits not only provide high-tech learning experiences but also deliver on the wonderful art of storytelling.”

Grand Reopening - For more information, visit amaritime.org.

To help spread the word, the Chesapeake Wine Trail was formed in 2009; it showcases wineries and vineyards in the state’s Atlantic Coastal Plain growing region.

“It’s one of several trails that run throughout Maryland,” says Judy Crow, owner of Crow Vineyard near Chestertown and president of the Maryland Wineries Association. Currently, the group includes 14 venues, from Dove Valley Winery near Elkton in the north to Bordeleau Winery near Salisbury in the south. Most hold tastings and special events year-round—and the fruits of their labor are getting noticed. Crow Vineyard, Chateau Bu-De and Dove Valley all won awards at the 2020 Maryland Governor’s Cup competition.

Day Trip - Judy Crow enjoys hosting visitors from metropolitan areas.

“They are in awe of the beauty and openness of the Eastern Shore,” she remarks. “To be able to stop and immerse themselves in these farm wineries is really important. And finding out that there are good wines here is icing on the cake.” maryland wine.com/wine-trails

Clodagh designed the expansive Penthouse Suite, which boasts a garden terrace complete with fire pit; a posh living room with bespoke furnishings; a writing desk; and a marble-clad bathroom with a heated floor. Doyle bar and The Pembroke restaurant lure locals and visitors alike. \

Dupont Debut - Standard rates at the 327-room property from $245. doylecollection.com/dupont