Aug 19, 2016

Photos and text by Algerina Perna

: Fishermen fish shortly before sunrise at Romancoke Pier on Kent Island. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: A fisherman is silhouetted by the sunrise at Romancoke Pier. Kent Island has much to offer visitors. The largest island in Maryland boasts fishing piers, beaches, water trails, nature parks, historic buildings, restaurants with bay views, and many other attractions. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: A view of the waterways of Kent Island is seen from the tower of the Chesapeake Heritage Center. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Bloody Point Bar Lighthouse as seen from the southernmost point of Kent Island marks the entrance to the Eastern Bay. The lighthouse is visible from Kent Point Marina Bait House & Seafood. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Gulls congregate on a stone jetty at Kent Point Marina, located at the southernmost point of Kent Island. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Early risers can watch the sunrise from the grounds of Romancoke Pier on Kent Island. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: From Kent Point Marina, one can glimpse a cove of private beaches at the southernmost point of Kent Island. In 1631, this land was part of a trading settlement known as Kent Fort. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Early risers can sit under pine trees or fish at Romancoke Pier. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Kent Island, the largest island in Maryland has much to offer visitors: beaches, fishing piers, water trails, nature parks, historic buildings, restaurants with bay views, and many other attractions. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Located at the southernmost point on Kent Island, Kent Point Marina Bait House & Seafood sells items for watermen, tourists and the local population. Watermen who rent boat slips from the Marina paint the crab pots, pictured, in different colors so watermen can distinguish their pots from one another. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Jason Dinh, 38, paddle boards off Matapeake beach with the Bay Bridge as a backdrop. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: At right is Stevensville Bank of Queen Anne’s County which is currently leased to a calligraphy business. The bank, which first operated in 1909, is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the oldest banks in the county. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: The Stevensville Train Station terminal building was part of Queen Anne’s Railroad Company that provided transportation east and west from Queenstown, Md. to Lewes, Del. The station was originally located in Love Point on Kent Island in 1902. After the Bay Bridge was built in 1952, the terminal became obsolete, and was subsequently donated along with the train car to the Kent Island Heritage Society in Stevensville, Md. which restored them. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: The Stevensville Train Station terminal building used Morse code as part of its communication. The train station was part of Queen Anne’s Railroad Company that provided transportation east and west from Queenstown, Md. to Lewes, Del. The station was originally located in Love Point on Kent Island in 1902. After the Bay Bridge was built in 1952, the terminal became obsolete, and was subsequently donated along with the train car to the Kent Island Heritage Society in Stevensville, Md. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: The Stevensville Train Station terminal building, train and tracks were originally located in Love Point on Kent Island in 1902. After the Bay Bridge was built in 1952, the terminal became obsolete, and was subsequently donated along with the train car to the Kent Island Heritage Society in Stevensville, Md. which restored them. In the foreground is a herbal garden belonging to the Cray house, the oldest home in Stevensville, planted with herbs that would have been used at the time the home was built. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Christ Church and Rectory built in 1880 is located on Main Street in Stevensville. According to the Kent Island Heritage Society, Inc., it is “the fifth church of this Christ Church parish founded in 1631, and is the oldest continuous Episcopal congregation in the United States.” Along with other historical sites in Stevensville, the church is open the first Saturdays of the month from May to October. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Nancy Cook, chair of the Historic Stevensville Arts & Entertainment District, and chair of the Historic Sites consortium of Queen Anne’s County, is pictured inside Christ Church and Rectory built in 1880 in Stevensville. According to the Kent Island Heritage Society, Inc., it is “the fifth church of this Christ Church parish founded in 1631, and is the oldest continuous Episcopal congregation in the United States.” Along with other historical sites in Stevensville, the church is open the first Saturdays of the month from May to October. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Nancy Cook, chair of the Historic Stevensville Arts & Entertainment District, and docent who gives tours of historic buildings in Stevensville, is pictured in the doorway of the old Stevensville Post Office. According to The Kent Island Heritage Society, Inc., the building served as the post office for the first half of the 20th century. Along with other historical sites in Stevensville, the post office is open the first Saturdays of the month from May to October. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: George Cook, grandson to Nancy Cook, chair of the Historic Stevensville Arts & Entertainment District, examines an old typewriter in the historic post office in Stevensville, Md. According to the Kent Island Heritage Society, Inc.: “The government paid rent of $18.75 a month and the outlandish sum of $25 a year to heat the structure.” The building date is unknown but it is pictured on an 1877 map. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Nancy Cook, a docent with The Kent Island Heritage Society, Inc., holds up a small children’s bank from The Historic Stevensville Bank of Queen Anne’s County. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: The interior of the Cray house built in 1809, making it the oldest house in Stevensville. A painting of the home exterior sits on top of the pie cupboard at right. The home is furnished with period pieces. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Displayed in the Cray house, the oldest house in Stevensville built in 1809, are Spanish coins, cut into pieces of eight, and used in playing card games. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: The Kent Island Heritage Society, Inc. in Stevensville, Md. restored this train car and the Stevensville Train Station terminal building, as well as many other historic sites in Stevensville. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: The history of Kent Manor Inn in Stevensville dates back to 1820 when the original wing at the far left was constructed. The center section at right was added prior to the Civil War. The restaurant is open to the public on Sundays for brunch. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: A view of the Kent Narrows bridge which connects Kent Island to the Eastern Shore is seen from the tower of the Chesapeake Heritage Center. The Center not only provides visitors with tourist information, but also features a permanent historical exhibit about the area, and a rotating exhibit of local artists. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: This view of Kent Island is taken from the tower of the Chesapeake Heritage & Visitor Center Piney Narrows Road. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Kent Island boasts many scenic views and peninsulas jutting into the bay. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

Kent Island isn’t just an island hop on the way “downy Ocean.” Maryland’s largest island is a destination in itself, boasting beaches, fishing piers, bike trails, boat rentals, water trails, nature parks, historic buildings and other attractions.

Inhabited first by Native American tribes, the island was later settled by Englishman William Claiborne in 1631. The Chesapeake Heritage & Visitor Center in Chester houses a permanent history exhibit of the island and also offers expansive views from the center’s three towers.

Travelers can begin their island tour watching the sunrise over the Romancoke Pier, followed by visits to the historic post office, train station and oldest house in Stevensville, as well as Christ Church, recognized as the oldest Christian congregation in the state. Restaurants in Kent Narrows and throughout the island provide sustenance with an emphasis on crabs.

The 276-acre Terrapin Beach Nature Park on the west side joins with the Cross Island Trail through marshlands, wetlands and woodlands, giving the visitor a first-hand encounter with the local flora and fauna.

Before retiring to one of the many hotels or the Historic Kent Manor Inn built in 1820, one can take in the sunset over the Matapeake Pier on the Chesapeake Bay.

Destination: Kent Island

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