Charming and quaint, St. Michaels is a town for fine dining, wine, and boats. We visited in the midst of a perfect sunny day. Families were out and about, ladies wearing their summer hats, and restaurants were hopping. Our first glimpse of Talbot Street was on the way to the Maritime Museum, and we saw it wasn't a large town by any means, but from what we gathered that's the way locals want it to be. It was nice and small, with just enough business running to keep the sidewalks full without being crowded, and one of the many things making St. Michaels worth visiting.

After spending the better part of a day visiting the impressive Maritime Museum, it was time to satisfy our hunger, so we decided to scoot over to the highly recommended St. Michaels Crab & Steak House for a feast (all for our readers' pleasure, of course). It was all bona fide Chesapeake Bay style: old bay crabs, steamed to perfection, hushpuppies on the side, butter sauce. Our drink selections were less traditional, me with the mimosa and Errol with his favorite vodka-sprite-OJ mix. Okay, so we could've picked less girlie drinks, but the sweetness offset the spice of the crabs really well.

The next day we set ourselves to the task of getting the scoop on what sorts of places were available in town. We started with lunch at Ava's Pizzeria. Yes, more food. Food is such a critical element of travelling, as we've discovered. It doesn't matter how pretty the town is. Your taste buds will remember more than your eyes. As it turned out, Ava's was beyond expectations as far as that homemade Italian flavor. We both agreed that if we were ever back in town again, we'd look for Ava's first.

Further up Talbot St. was the Drink Shack, an island-style open-air bar serving all manner of drinks, smoothies, and virgin cocktails. They were situated right behind Bleachers clothing store. Later, we found a pretty red café called Justine's Ice Cream Parlor. They proudly serve Oyster Reef coffe, coffee, and they had fudge, folks. Most eccentric was the Faerie Glen Book Store, specializing in books on fairy tales, mythology, and folklore.

Many travelers like to see what novelties they can find in antique stores at the towns they visit. At Antiques on Talbot, you don't have to dig to find the real antiques. Most antique stores are more like yard sales or pawn shops, but this place sold authentic items. While we were there, customers were commenting on the cleanliness of the shop. Another quality setting Antiques on Talbot apart was the well-placed lighting. Mary Harrison, the vendor present that day, said most antique stores don't light their establishments very well, as though they don't want you to see their goods. Mrs. Harrison clearly has enough confidence in her wares to brighten things up. Errol and I were also delighted to hear Mrs. Harrison's stories of her days in college during World War II, when the girls would lower baskets out of their dorm windows by ropes so the young men could send up gifts and treats. Did I mention antique stores are great places for stories as well?

Perhaps one of the finest boasts of St. Michaels was the Inn at Perry Cabin. If you've seen the movie "Wedding Crashers," you've seen the Inn, because it was filmed there. This place was La Crème de la Crème. Their original section was built in 1860, and over time the property transitioned through different uses, such as a horse farm, but returned to its original function as an inn. It was a leisurely place, with on-site activities such as a day spa, restaurant, pool, and river-front lawn and docks. Many guests will ride their boats right up to the Inn for a stay. Quiet, hominess, and privacy were the prevailing qualities of the Inn at Perry Cabin.

Based on our experience, St. Michaels was a town where everyone acts like they're on vacation. If you're visiting town, also check out Easton nearby. The towns of Talbot County are all known for their fine dining, so your taste buds are sure to take away as many memories as your eyes. Need to find a place for the younger, college-age crowd? No problem! Check out the Carpenter Street Saloon. That's all for today, and hopefully your visit to Talbot County is as good as ours was. And remember, when you visit St. Michaels, remember to ask somebody: "Why is this known as 'the town that fooled the British?'"

Written by Erik Yount. Photography by Errol Webber.