Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail

Audio Tour of a Patuxent Town

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.

Bicycle between Point Lookout and Leonardtown, MD

Bicycling on a section of the Southern Maryland PHT On-Road Bicycling Route between Point Lookout and Leondardtown, MD

Bicycle to a marina from Reedville, Virginia

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.

Boating in Rock Creek Park

Rent kayaks, canoes and stand up paddle boards from one of two boat houses along the Potomac River.

Delaware's Indigenous Heritage on Your Beach Trip

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.

Explore by bicycle from Westmoreland State Park

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.

Explore the tidal Potomac from the Northern Neck by boat

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.

Go Birding at Patuxent River Park

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.

Paddle Leonardtown to Colton's Point

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.

Paddle Mattaponi Creek

This 3.5 mile journey along Mattaponi Creek departs from Selby's Landing within Patuxent River Park.

Paddle the Baltimore Blueway

Choose from 30 miles of trails in the Inner Harbor, Outer Harbor, Middle Branch, and Patapsco River. Imagine yourself gliding alongside historic ships, seeing the skyline from the water, and paddling around Fort McHenry. Take a selfie with Mr. Trash Wheel or immerse yourself in nature surrounded by wetlands and wildlife. Nowhere else in the Chesapeake Bay can you find such a diverse range of awe-inspiring paddling experiences within a 3-mile radius.

Paddle the Nanticoke Water Trail

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.

Paddle the Patuxent River Water Trail

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.

Paddle the Potomac River

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.

Paddle the Sassafras River Water Trail

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.

Paddle the Susquehanna

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.

Paddle to Sunken Ships at Dutch Gap Conservation Area

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.

Paddle & Visit an Archeological Museum

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.

See Inside a Longhouse at Henricus Historical Park

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.

Skiffin’ Down to Nottingham on Mattaponi 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.

Swim in the Otsego Lake

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.

Tour Indigenous D.C.

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.

Tour Tribal Museums Near Richmond

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.