As two people who love to travel and have spent much of the past decade doing just that, it’s embarrassing how little of our own state we have yet to explore. But that ends now! Just one hour north of where we live in Maryland is the charming, historic town of Havre De Grace where we recently spent one day eating and drinking the best it has to offer.
Residents of Maryland are lucky to have an array of landscapes all within three hours of driving. We’ve got beaches, farmland, mountains and waterfront cities like this one which turned out to be well worth the one day visit!
Where to Stay for One Day in Havre De Grace
Vandiver Inn
My inner Gilmore Girl squealed with delight stepping into this beautiful inn. With only one day to eat and drink our way through Havre De Grace, staying downtown in an area that was walkable to the nearby restaurants and breweries was very important to us. There are but a few places that fit the bill, and for us it was Vandiver Inn that won us over. The rooms are cozy, stylishly decorated and outfitted with luxurious toiletries. Many even come equipped with their own fireplace. We were eager to warm up next to ours after our clothes got drenched on our evening walk in the cold December rain.
Each evening, the staff welcomes guests to enjoy a complimentary beverage in a sort of happy hour where you can relax and mingle with the other guests. As Matt and I already had our sights set on the nearby breweries, we settled for an early coffee (also complimentary 24/7) to give ourselves a little caffeine boost and enjoyed the pick-me-up on one of the many balconies the property has to offer.
Breakfasts are made to order each morning so unbutton your pants and make room for waffles!
Nearby Hotels in Aberdeen
If B&B’s aren’t your style or you’d rather save your cash and trade in some of those hard-earned credit card points, you’ll have to head to nearby Aberdeen for the more popular branded hotels. Too far for walking, but with a designated driver or utilizing Uber or other taxi services, you can be in downtown Havre De Grace in just a few minutes.
Where to Eat For One Day in Havre De Grace
The Vineyard Wine Bar
More often than not, it’s the wine that lures us to our destinations. Like that time when we traveled to Turkey to work among the vines or stayed a month in Tbilisi to sample the world’s (arguably) oldest wines. This latest trip was no exception and when The Vineyard Wine Bar appeared on our radar we knew it would be the focal point of our one day eating and drinking in Havre De Grace.
Stepping into this restaurant, we immediately sensed it was going to live up to the hype. We grabbed two seats at the bar and quickly the other empty stools around us were filled in by tourists and locals alike. When even the locals are regulars, you know you’ve landed upon a gem of a place. Behind the bar, a lineup of labels we were unfamiliar with, sourced from boutique wineries both domestic and foreign.
A glass of bubbles to start followed by interesting reds from Spain, Croatia and beyond. Half pours are available so that you can sample a larger variety without stumbling away at the end. We easily could have filled up on the grapes, but the food is just as, if not more (gasp!) drool-worthy. It is a bit pricey, but every bit worth the splurge. We indulged ourselves in the pork belly, duck flatbread, and rosemary lambchops – oh my!
MacGregor’s Restaurant and Tavern
After a day of drinking, late night bites are vital and this family-owned restaurant hits the spot. We stumbled in here by mistake but as usual, the Universe knows best. We tucked inside to get out of the rain and grabbed two seats in the bar. It had a much more lively atmosphere than the nearly dead dining room (late night, whatcha expect?) With reasonable prices and a dang excellent Rueben sandwich and hand-breaded chicken tenders, we can happily recommend this place to our friends. It also seemed to be the locals hangout as well!
Where To Drink for One Day in Havre De Grace
Market Street Brewery
Man (and begrudgingly, woman) can drink only so much wine, and that’s why breweries exist. For a tiny town, Havre De Grace sure does deliver. Just a short walk from our B&B, Market Street Brewery is an excellent way to spend an afternoon or evening. The space is large for a nanobrewery and has a wide selection of brews on tap. We were fortunate enough to arrive at a time with live music. Nearby, we were surrounded by tables full of furry friends and their human companions. We were shocked at the amount of (good!) beer this place pumps out with only a few tanks.
Battery Island Brewing
I was looking forward to sampling the brews here, but unfortunately they were closed during our visit. Battery Island Brewing is also very easy to reach on foot if you are staying in the downtown area. Next time we’re in town, we’ll be sure it’s during their open hours!
Hopkins Farm Brewery
This brewery is located just a few miles outside of downtown, which made it the perfect place to pop in for a pint before checking into our room. Perhaps it was just the holidays, but even at noon on a Wednesday, Hopkins Farm Brewery was hopping. Inside, besides the malts and hops, there’s a meat cooler that’s just begging to be shopped. Local cuts that looked delicious, but as we had no cooler, or frankly a desire or way to cook that evening, we settled on one of the meat sticks and a fashionable new trucker hat to go. We were saving our appetite for the wine bar, but there is a food truck lineup here!
Mount Felix Vineyard & Winery
Maryland and wineries aren’t exactly synonymous, so Mount Felix was never part of our plan. But is it even possible to keep on driving when you spot a sign for pumpkin wine while barreling into town? It was definitely the smart marketing tactics that lured us in for a flight and the ambiance of the property that wowed us. The indoor seating area overlooks the vines which are mostly comprised of Chardonnay and Chambourcin varietals. The owners, Peter and Mary, were a pleasure to chat with and as sweet as the wine that graced our lips.
Other Activities for your day in Havre De Grace
It takes a certain kind of champion (err, sloth) to do nothing but eat and drink their way around town. So, if that’s not you – there is plenty else to fill your one day in Havre De Grace. The sky rolled out a welcome mat of monsoon-esque weather for us, so walking wasn’t enticing. On any other, drier day, you can take a stroll around the promenade and admire the lighthouse and waterfront views.
If you’re into shopping, there are several antique shops that are full of relics and treasures. We popped into one that was three stories and found ourselves ooh-ing and ahh-ing for a solid twenty minutes before the clock dinged beer.
Golf enthusiasts will be pleased to know that Bulle Rock is nearby. This course is open to the public and a great way to spend the morning.
Final Thoughts
Our one day in Havre De Grace was a good reminder that you don’t need to travel too far beyond your own backyard to have an adventure. If you live in Maryland and haven’t yet been to this charming little town, what are you waiting for? Friends further away – can you think of somewhere new near you worth exploring?
Cheers friends,
Megan + Matt
