National Historic Trail · VA, MD, DE, DC, PA, NY
The National Park Service lists 25 things to do at Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. 18 have no extra fee, 20 need no reservation, and 23 allow pets. Each listing links to the full NPS page. Data is from the NPS snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.
Updated · NPS Data API
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.
Year-round Pets allowed
Bicycling on a section of the Southern Maryland PHT On-Road Bicycling Route between Point Lookout and Leondardtown, MD
4-10 Hours Spring, Summer, Fall Pets allowed
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.
1-2 Days Spring, Summer, Fall
Rent kayaks, canoes and stand up paddle boards from one of two boat houses along the Potomac River.
Reservation required Fee applies
Visit the Nanticoke Indian Association's museum, located in Millsboro, Delaware. Learn about the Tribe's history, traditions, and craftsmanship firsthand.
Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
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.
1 Day Spring, Summer, Fall Reservation required Pets allowed
Advertisement
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.
2-8 Hours Year-round Reservation required Fee applies Pets allowed
A short drive from Washington DC and Baltimore, Patuxent River Park boasts more than 7,000 acres of parkland along the Patuxent River.
Year-round Pets allowed
Park your car and stretch your legs! Visit four different National Parks in Washington, DC and begin logging miles on seven different National Historic or National Scenic trails!
Year-round Pets allowed
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.
Year-round Pets allowed
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.
1-2 Days Spring, Summer, Fall Pets allowed
This 3.5 mile journey along Mattaponi Creek departs from Selby's Landing within Patuxent River Park.
2 Hours Year-round Reservation required Pets allowed
Discover the natural abundance of the Anacostia River as it threads through the heart of Washington, DC. Watch birds on Kingman Island or dock at the National Arboretum and roam the forest.
1-6 Hours Pets allowed
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.
1-6 Hours Pets allowed
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.
Year-round Pets allowed
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.
Pets allowed
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…
Pets allowed
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.
Pets allowed
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.
Spring, Summer, Fall Pets allowed
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.
2 Hours Year-round Pets allowed
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.
1 Hour Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
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.
Year-round Fee applies Pets allowed
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.
Spring, Summer, Fall Fee applies Pets allowed
Freshwater Swimming
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.
Year-round Pets allowed
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.
Year-round Reservation required Fee applies Pets allowed
Check current alerts and closures, entrance fees and operating hours for Captain John Smith Chesapeake. Programs and tours can change with the season or be cancelled on short notice — confirm on the NPS page before you plan around one.
Advertisement
