Once the site of the Indigenous town of Quomocac, Jefferson Patterson Park is an archeological site and home to the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory. A kayak launch provides visitors with access to the Patuxent River and St. Leonard's Creek.
If the tide is high, navigate a skiff through the twists and turns of Mattaponi Creek. Picnic at Nottingham, a colonial tobacco port active in the 1600s.
This 3.5 mile journey along Mattaponi Creek departs from Selby's Landing within Patuxent River Park.
2 Hours
Dutch Gap Conservation Area is a wooded area in Chesterfield County, Virginia that surrounds Henricus, the second successful English settlement in Virginia. Paddle the Lagoon Water Trail to view abandoned barges, relics of the river's industrial past.
2 Hours
A short drive from Washington DC and Baltimore, Patuxent River Park boasts more than 7,000 acres of parkland along the Patuxent River. It boasts some of the best birding in the state, along with trails, a boat launch, museums of rural life, and a replica American Indian village.
Discover thousands of years of archeology at Jefferson Patterson Park & Museum. Over 65 archeological sites tell the story of American Indian technology, innovation, and craft within the Chesapeake Bay landscape. Take an audio Tour the museum, laboratory, and woodland village, walk the park trails, and paddle the Patuxent river.
Visit the Nanticoke Indian Association's museum, located in Millsboro, Delaware. Learn about the Tribe's history, traditions, and craftsmanship firsthand. The museum features an exhibit on traditional clothing, a store with items made by tribal citizens, and more.
The Pamunkey Indian Museum is the museum of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and is located on the tribe's reservation in coastal Virginia. On display are objects that showcase the tribe's history, artistic traditions, and role in historical events.
The town of Henricus was built by the English a few years after the establishment of Jamestown. The area was formerly occupied by the Arrohateck people, who were displaced by English arrival. At Henricus Historical Park, tour a recreated Arrohateck village and learn about the well-known indigenous people, such as Pocahontas, who came to Henricus.
1 Hour
Swim in the clear waters of the Otsego Lake, the northernmost point of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Public beaches are available within Glimmerglass State Park.
Rent kayaks, canoes and stand up paddle boards from one of two boat houses along the Potomac River.
Park your car and stretch your legs! Visit four different National Parks in Washington, DC and begin logging miles on seven different National Historic or National Scenic trails!
The Susquehanna River is the longest river in the Eastern United States and the 16th longest in the country at 444 miles long. The Susquehanna forms from two branches that meet in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. The North Branch comes from Cooperstown, New York and the West Branch that rises from the borough of Carrolltown, Pennsylvania.
Bicycle from Reedville, an historic village at the northeastern part of the Northern Neck of Virginia, to a marina for a fishing trip or charter tour on the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay.
1-2 Days
With Westmoreland State Park as a base, ride a loop connected with the Northern Neck Heritage Trail to explore Stratford Hall, the birthplace of George Washington, Colonial Beach, wineries, historic sites and the Potomac River shoreline. A map and more information is available from the Northern Neck Tourism Commission at www.northernneck.org.
1 Day
Explore the Chesapeake Bay region as a modern day treasure hunter. All you need is a smartphone and a sense of adventure! Just download a geocaching app, and soon you’ll be following a trail of clues to a hidden treasure, called a cache.
Discover the natural abundance of the Anacostia River as it threads through the heart of Washington, DC. Watch birds on Kingman Island or dock at the National Arboretum and roam the forest. The Anacostia River corridor has lots of options for outdoor fun and the Anacostia Water Trail can help you find them.
1-6 Hours
The Sassafras River Water Trail is a 22 mile-long route located in the Upper region of the Chesapeake Bay. The river trail offers several options for paddle trips in beautiful landscapes that are rich in history.
The Patuxent River Water Trail offers visitors the opportunity to paddle the river, camp along its banks and visit its numerous parks, historic sites, sanctuaries and wildlife areas. The 110 mile-long river is unique in that it is the longest river that flows entirely within the state of Maryland.
Beginning at Jennings Randolph Lake to the mouth of the Potomac, you may choose to paddle the 355 miles to the Chesapeake Bay or take a single or multi-day trip; all will give you a different view of the ways that previous residents used the river and its banks for their livelihood, transportation and recreation.
Launch your canoe, kayak, or boat from public piers along the length of the Nanticoke River and Fishing Bay. Local museums tell the story of the river's history, including its significance to American Indian communities like the Nanticoke and Nause-Waiwash.
Our nation's capital is full of American Indian heritage - if you know where to look. Use your mobile device to take a self-guided tour of Washington DC that highlights monuments, museums, historic sites, and artworks relevant to the indigenous community. Learn about the original inhabitants of the land on which DC now stands and visit the world-class Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.
Paddle approximately 12 miles from Leonardtown to Colton's Point via kayak or canoe, stopping at Newtowne Neck State Park. The trip is mostly on Breton Bay, but joins the Potomac and the mouth of St. Clement's Bay near Colton's Point.
1-2 Days
Bicycling on a section of the Southern Maryland PHT On-Road Bicycling Route between Point Lookout and Leondardtown, MD
4-10 Hours
Through the watermen’s heritage tour program, visitors to Tidewater Virginia, including the Northern Neck, can experience the time-honored history and traditions of working watermen through a customized tour.
2-8 Hours