Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County
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| Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County | |
|---|---|
| Name | Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County |
| Type | Destination marketing organization |
| Founded | 1990s |
| Location | Annapolis, Maryland, United States |
| Area served | Anne Arundel County, Maryland |
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County is the official destination marketing organization promoting Annapolis, Maryland, Anne Arundel County, Maryland and surrounding communities along the Chesapeake Bay. The organization markets maritime heritage, historic sites, culinary tourism, and festival programming to domestic and international visitors while collaborating with public and private institutions across the region.
History
The agency developed during a period of increasing heritage tourism interest connected to Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, Jamestown Settlement, Gettysburg National Military Park, and the broader Chesapeake Bay tourism corridor, aligning strategies with entities such as the Maryland Office of Tourism Development, Visit Baltimore, Greater Baltimore Committee, and Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Conference and Visitors Bureau. Early partnerships linked United States Naval Academy outreach with municipal efforts from City of Annapolis, Maryland and county initiatives from the Anne Arundel County Council. Over time the bureau coordinated campaigns referencing cultural resources like U.S. Naval Academy Museum, Historic Annapolis, St. John's College (Annapolis/Santa Fe), William Paca House and Garden, and national registers including the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmark programs. Collaborations extended to regional transportation hubs such as Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Amtrak, MARC Train, and the I-97 corridor for visitor access.
Attractions and Landmarks
The area promoted by the organization features prominent historic and cultural sites including United States Naval Academy, Maryland State House, William Paca House and Garden, Banneker-Douglass Museum, Annapolis Maritime Museum, Historic London Town and Gardens, Sixes Tavern, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Broom's Bloom, Arundel on the Bay, Sisters' Hope, and Quiet Waters Park. It highlights architectural landmarks tied to figures such as Samuel Chase, Johnathan Roberts, Thomas Johnson (jurist), Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Francis Scott Key, and institutions like St. John's College (Annapolis), Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Theatre of Maryland, and Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts. The region’s nautical heritage is interpreted alongside vessels and maritime collections referencing skipjack, schooner Virginia, Chesapeake Bay skipjack Fleet, USS Constellation (1854), USS Torsk (SS-423), and exhibits curated by entities such as the Smithsonian Institution and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration partnerships.
Events and Festivals
Annual programming promoted includes regattas and maritime events connected to Annapolis Yacht Club, United States Sailing Association, Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum boat shows, and Annapolis Boat Shows. Civic celebrations reference historical commemorations like Fleet Week, Independence Day (United States), and anniversary observances tied to the American Revolution including activities aligned with The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation standards. Cultural festivals range from music and arts festivals associated with Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, Maryland Film Festival, Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum events, Arts Council of Anne Arundel County exhibitions, and community gatherings supported by Anne Arundel County Public Library, Historic Annapolis, Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park, and regional partners like Visit Baltimore and Baltimore County Arts Council.
Outdoor Recreation and Waterfront Activities
Promoted outdoor offerings include sailing and racing through Annapolis Yacht Club, Severn River, Spa Creek, Herrington Harbor, Rock Hall, Maryland excursions, and paddling near Sandy Point State Park and Calvert Cliffs State Park. The bureau links visitors to recreational resources such as Baltimore & Annapolis Trail, Bikeway, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park connections, birding hotspots noted by Audubon Society, and fishing charters that dock at marinas hosting fleets like those tied to Maryland Seafood harvests and regions like Tilghman Island. Eco-tours and interpretive cruises coordinate with organizations such as Chesapeake Bay Foundation, National Aquarium, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, and state agencies including Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Visitor Services and Transportation
Visitor services coordinated by the organization interface with transportation providers including Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Amtrak, MARC Train, Seaboard Air Line Railroad legacy routes, regional bus carriers, shuttle operators, and ferry services linking to Kent Island and the Eastern Shore via the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. The bureau provides travel planning tools and promotes accessibility through partnerships with Annapolis Visitors Center, Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks, Annapolis Towne Centre, Historic Annapolis Foundation, and hospitality associations such as the American Hotel & Lodging Association and Maryland Restaurant Association.
Accommodation and Dining
The region’s lodging network includes historic inns near City Dock (Annapolis), boutique hotels referencing preservation standards from National Trust for Historic Preservation, bed and breakfasts proximate to King George Street (Annapolis), and resort properties in communities like Glen Burnie, Maryland and Arnold, Maryland. Culinary promotion emphasizes Chesapeake cuisine featuring seafood dishes tied to Maryland blue crab, oysters, and dining venues celebrated in guides by Michelin Guide, AAA, Zagat Survey, and regional publications including Baltimore Sun and Annapolis Capital Gazette. Partnerships extend to culinary institutions and festivals supported by Chefs Collaborative, James Beard Foundation, and local farmers allied with Anne Arundel County Farm Bureau.
Economic and Cultural Impact
The bureau quantifies impacts in collaboration with entities such as Maryland Department of Commerce, Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, Greater Annapolis Chamber of Commerce, Smithsonian Institution, and universities like United States Naval Academy and University of Maryland campuses for research on visitor spending, employment in hospitality sectors, tax receipts, and heritage preservation outcomes. Cultural metrics are tracked with arts organizations including Maryland State Arts Council, Maryland Historical Trust, Historic Annapolis Foundation, Annapolis Maritime Museum, and community stakeholders such as Annapolis Tenants Association to evaluate benefits for historic districts, waterfront resiliency projects funded by National Endowment for the Arts grants, and cooperative marketing with regional tourism entities like Visit Baltimore and Eastern Shore of Maryland programs.