Cruising the Bay in Annapolis

Situated on the Chesapeake Bay near the Severn River, Annapolis is the capital of Maryland and was once the capital of the United States. This historic city is home to the United States Naval Academy, the third-oldest college in the country, St. John's College, and the homes of four signers of the Declaration of Independence. Also known as America's sailing capital, Annapolis and its nearby communities have many boating companies that offer public and charter dinner cruises suited for charter bus groups wanting to spend a little time on the water.

Annapolis Sailing Schooner Woodwind Cruises operates two boats for charter bus sightseeing cruises and special event sailings. Maryland charter bus visitors can help steer, raise the sails or just enjoy the view from Chesapeake Bay. Special event dinner cruises last two and a half hours and include meal options such as bison, crab, chicken, salad, vegetables and dessert. In addition to the meal, charter bus passengers will get food lessons from the chef. This includes where to find locally grown foods, what to look for when shopping, recipes and how to prepare the food served during the cruise. Woodwind Cruises can accommodate 48 passengers on each ship, ideal for larger charter bus groups.

Some Annapolis companies offer dinner cruises for private charters. Liberte the Schooner carries up to 49 charter bus passengers on Chesapeake Bay cruises. Passengers choose when they want to sail and for how long, music played on the cruise, and what food and beverages are served. Some companies, such as Admiral of the Bay, offer a variety of cruises and ships for trips on Chesapeake Bay. Charter bus passengers can choose motor, sailing or other type of ship as well as where they want to go and what they want to eat. Admiral of the Bay can arrange cruises for up to 240 people.

Spirit of Baltimore sails from Baltimore, along the Patapsco River, a short charter bus ride away. Located about half an hour by charter bus outside of Annapolis, the Spirit of Baltimore offers lunch, dinner, theme, holiday and charter cruises for up to 450 passengers. Dinner cruises include a DJ, live performers, dancing and a meal. Passengers can dine on salad, beef, pork, chicken, salmon, pasta, vegetables and dessert. Spirit of Baltimore has two enclosed decks and one upper patio deck, perfect for charter bus groups planning a celebration with a difference.

The Black-Eyed Susan, located within easy charter bus access in Baltimore, is a two-deck paddlewheel riverboat. The lower deck is enclosed while the upper deck has a canopy top and clear sides that will fold down when the weather is not ideal. Able to carry 149 charter bus passengers, the Black-Eyed Susan is used mostly for private charters but does offer special theme sailings on the Patapsco River, including dinner cruises. Typically, dinner cruises last three hours and include a murder mystery. While trying to solve the whodunit, charter bus visitors can dine on salad, beef, crab cakes, potatoes, vegetables and a dessert buffet.

For a visit to Maryland with a difference, plan a cruise together with your charter bus trip with the assistance of Bus Charter Maryland.

Museums in Maryland

Maryland's diversity and pivotal in the founding of the United States, has led the the state to sometimes being known as "America in Miniature." Charter bus visitors can take on a different perspective of America and the world through the eyes of the artist at one of Maryland's art museums. Whether it's authentic tribal masks from the African continent or original van Gogh masterpieces, Maryland's art establishments have something to offer the cultural charter bus visitor, who usually arrives in Maryland on a bus, charter bus, coach bus, party bus, mini bus, passenger coach or school bus chartered from Bus Charter Maryland.

Take your charter bus over to Columbia, and visit the African Art Museum. First opened in 1980, the African Art Museum bills itself as Columbia's first museum. As its name suggests, the museum highlights the artistic work of various African tribes and African Americans, including authentic carvings, baskets and masks from the African continent. Special exhibits bring awareness to various social and cultural issues, both in Maryland and the greater global community.

Located just a short charter bus ride away in Baltimore, the American Visionary Art Museum is the United States' national museum of self-taught art, meaning the work featured is by individuals who have no formal art training. The museum's mission revolves around breaking art traditions. Thus, you won't find sections devoted to specific periods of art history as you would in a traditional museum, instead, discovering art as themes that explore society's connection with art. Past thematic exhibits have explored peace, religion and political liberty.

For Maryland charter bus visitors wanting their art presented in a more traditional way, the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore is a classical art museum. You'll find paintings, drawings and physical objects dating as far back as pre-dynastic Egypt. Notable highlights include jewelry from the Middle Ages and rare books from Renaissance Europe. When you're done exploring the various galleries, you can enjoy sandwiches, salads and dessert at the on-site cafe, or buy a souvenir at the museum's gift shop.

The Baltimore Museum of Art is one of the largest museums in Maryland, and a favorite with charter bus visitors. Its comprehensive collection of art takes you through each of the continents, plus the Pacific Islands. One of the museum's biggest draws is its collection of paintings by such renowned international artists as Renoir, Picasso and van Gogh. Regular workshops and programs for family members of all ages help bring art to life through hands-on projects, after which you can enjoy fine-dining at the on-site Gertrude's Restaurant.

For a cultural trip through Maryland, give Bus Charter Maryland a call to arrange your charter bus needs. Bus Charter Maryland will help you organize your charter bus trip with a selection from their fleet of fully equipped charter vehicles and friendly, personalized service.