Your Annapolis CME conference.

Annapolis after your study day

Study days finish at 2:00 PM Annapolis time. For an easy afternoon, choose one outing: a stroll around City Dock, a walk over the Spa Creek Bridge to Eastport, or the small shops and antique stores of Maryland Avenue. Visit Annapolis says City Dock is the launching point for most of the city’s water tours.

Parking is the practical caution. The City of Annapolis manages downtown parking, and Visit Annapolis calls the garages the simplest option. Its advice is to park in a West Street garage and ride a shuttle to City Dock rather than circle for a street space.

Travel, lodging and admission are arranged separately by you. The city is the setting around a conference you follow on your own phone or laptop.

City Dock, Main Street and Maryland Avenue

City Dock sits on Dock Street in the historic downtown. Boats sail in from the harbor to the spot nicknamed Ego Alley, and waterfront restaurants and boutique shops line the area. Visit Annapolis says the dock stays open during construction and points to the City Dock Project website for current updates. Annapolis boat shows are held here, and the tourism board highlights Wednesday night sailboat races.

Main Street runs through four centuries of preserved architecture, with boutiques, galleries, a bookstore and souvenir shops. Maryland Avenue is three brick-paved blocks a block from Main Street and Church Circle, near the Maryland State House.

The State House is the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use, according to the Maryland State Archives. The Continental Congress met there from November 1783 to August 1784, when George Washington resigned his commission as commander-in-chief and the Treaty of Paris was ratified. The General Assembly still meets there for three months each year. Check the State House’s visitor information before you go, because it is a working government building with offices for the governor and legislative leaders.

Eastport and the water

Visit Annapolis describes Eastport as a waterfront neighborhood with views of the Naval Academy’s domes and spires. You can walk over the Spa Creek Bridge from downtown or take a water taxi from City Dock. Kayaking is a highlight, and some street-end parks let you wade into the bay.

The Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park covers the region’s seafaring history and the ecology of the Chesapeake Bay. It lists skipjack cruises aboard the historic Wilma Lee from April through October and a 12-acre Park Campus with trails, a boardwalk and a pier. The museum is closed on Mondays, so compare its hours with your 2:00 PM finish.

The Naval Academy

The Naval Academy’s visitor page says general public visitation resumed on May 11, 2026. Visitors without a Department of Defense credential park outside and walk in through Gate 1. Visitors 18 and older need a REAL ID-compliant license or state ID, a passport or an Enhanced Driver’s License, and large bags such as duffels and backpacks are not allowed.

The Academy points visitors to the Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center for tours. For parking, the Academy lists garages, Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and two-hour meters around City Dock. Check current access rules before you plan an afternoon here.

West Annapolis and beyond downtown

West Annapolis is a residential, village-like neighborhood across the Naval Academy Bridge from downtown. Visit Annapolis lists antique shops, a framing gallery, a consignment shop and casual spots for coffee and baked goods. It describes the area as without touristy crowds.

Arundel Mills, a large shopping, dining and entertainment complex in Hanover, is about 15 miles north of Annapolis, according to the tourism board. The county advertises more than 500 miles of shoreline, so a boat or park outing is also possible beyond the city center.

When to visit Annapolis

City Dock also hosts a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in March, a Military Bowl Parade in December and fireworks on New Year’s Eve and July 4. Visit Annapolis lists a Spring Sailboat Show at City Dock in April. In the fall it lists the Maryland Renaissance Festival, and for winter it lists Snowflake Alley, Midnight Madness, the Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade and the Annapolis Holiday Market. Check current dates for each.

May–June and September–October are the milder seasons. Use the local forecast before you plan water-side time, especially for kayaking and cruises.

Getting to Annapolis and your study setting

Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) is the arrival point shown in this guide. The airport says it is 9 miles south of downtown Baltimore and 32 miles northeast of Washington, D.C. Visit Annapolis says the Welcome Center at Terminal A baggage claim is Maryland’s official welcome center for air travelers. It also lists boat, train, car and plane as ways to arrive, and a BWI Express service for the Annapolis area; check that service’s current status.

The map shows straight-line distances from Shift’s designated center. These are orientation distances, not driving distances or travel-time estimates. Check your exact address against the conference’s check-in area before booking.