Annapolis City Guide
Image by Smallbones via wikipedia

United States

Annapolis City Guide

Maryland

Annapolis is Maryland's capital, known for its maritime history and the Naval Academy. The city has a walkable downtown with well-preserved historic buildings. It's quiet but close to Baltimore and Washington D.C., so it's good for those who want a calm base with cultural options nearby.

Lifestyle🍽️

🍽️
Food Scene
Excellent
8

Local seafood like blue crabs and crab cakes stand out. International cuisines include Italian, Mexican, and Asian. Vegetarian and vegan options are growing. Some late-night food options exist on weekends.

Local Dishes:
Maryland blue crabs, Crab cakes, Oysters
International Cuisine:
Italian, Mexican, Asian
Vegan FriendlyVegetarian Friendly
🌙
Nightlife
Good
7

Nightlife is lively around Main Street and City Dock with pubs, bars, and live music venues.

Coffee Culture
Good
7

Coffee culture is expanding with local roasters and cafés, often enjoyed in historic or waterfront settings.

💰
Tipping
Required
15%

Tipping is standard across services.

Top Attractions
United States Naval Academy
Historical
Famous naval training school with tours available.
Maryland State House
Historical
Oldest state capitol in continuous use in the U.S.
City Dock
Leisure
Waterfront area with shops and restaurants.
William Paca House and Garden
Historical
Historic colonial house and gardens.
SIM Cards

You can buy SIM cards from AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon stores. Coverage is good. Prepaid SIM cards usually don't require ID.

Available at:
AT&T Store
T-Mobile Store
Verizon Store
Recommended Apps
Uber/Lyft(Transportation)
DoorDash/Grubhub(Food Delivery)
ParkMobile(Parking)
Google Maps(Navigation)
Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County(Tourism)

Services & Infrastructure

Street Cleanliness
Excellent
8

Streets and public places are generally clean with regular waste services.

24/7 Services
Limited
5

Some 24/7 pharmacies and minimarts. Late-night food mainly fast food or diners. Emergency rooms open 24/7.

Groceries
Giant Food
Safeway
Whole Foods Market

Supermarkets like Giant, Safeway, and Whole Foods carry international products. Fresh markets run seasonally. Stores open early and close late, including Sundays with shorter hours.

Cashless Payments
Widely accepted

Most places accept credit and debit cards. Cash is less used for daily purchases.

ATMs

ATMs are common in banks, grocery, and convenience stores. Out-of-network withdrawals can cost $2.50 to $5.00 in fees.

Schools
Local only

Local schools include Annapolis High School and St. Mary's High School. International schools are rare locally but available in the wider region. Instruction is mainly in English.

Available Schools:
Annapolis High School
St. Mary's High School

Work & Digital💻

Coworking Spaces
Available
6
Available Spaces:
Launch! Annapolis
Professional coworking with meeting rooms. Some 24/7 access.
24/7 Access
The Collective
Shared workspaces with flexible options.
Regus - Annapolis
Business center style coworking.
Work-Friendly Cafés
Good
City Dock Coffee
Local café with good Wi-Fi and workspaces.
Starbucks
Multiple locations with reliable Wi-Fi.
Panera Bread
Chain café with spacious seating.
Ceremony Coffee Roasters
Specialty coffee and quiet environment.
Rise Up Coffee Roasters
Quality coffee and relaxed vibe.
Alternatives:
Anne Arundel County Public Library - Annapolis Regional Library
Quiet public library with Wi-Fi.
Hotel lobbies
Graduate Annapolis and Waterfront Hotel have Wi-Fi and seating.
Community centers
Some offer Wi-Fi and workspace.
Digital Nomad Community
Limited
4

The digital nomad scene is small but growing, with casual meetups and coworking available.

Nature & Activities🌿

Green Spaces
Excellent
8

Good parks like Quiet Waters and Truxtun Park offer green space for relaxation and exercise.

Running
Excellent
8

Good running routes include B&A Rail Trail and Quiet Waters Park. Mostly safe, with running clubs available.

Gyms
Available

Several gyms and fitness centers are available across the city.

Available Gyms:
Annapolis Athletic Club
Crunch Fitness - Annapolis
YMCA of Central Maryland - Greater Annapolis
Planet Fitness
Tennis
Good
6

Public and private tennis courts exist with some booking needed. Equipment rentals mainly at private clubs.

Padel
Poor
1

Padel courts are not common here.

Yoga
Good
7

Many studios offer styles like Vinyasa and Hatha, with drop-in classes common.

Martial Arts
Good
6

Dojo options for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, Karate, and boxing exist with English-speaking instructors.

Skiing
Poor
1

No local ski resorts. Nearby options are several hours away in other states.

Water Sports
Excellent
8

Kayaking, paddleboarding, and sailing are popular on the Bay. Rentals and tours are widely available.

Surfing
Poor
1

No ocean surf; Chesapeake Bay isn't suitable. Ocean City offers surf 2.5 hours away.

Diving
Poor
2

Limited diving mostly for wrecks. Not great for snorkeling due to visibility.

Health & Safety🏥

Healthcare
Excellent
8

Anne Arundel Medical Center provides quality care with English-speaking staff. Pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens are common and often have drive-thru services.

Hospitals:
Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center
Pharmacies:
CVS
Walgreens
Tap Water Safety
Safe to drink

Tap water is safe to drink here.

Common Scams
Online fraud, Phone scams (like IRS calls), Credit card skimming

Community & Family

Family Friendly
Excellent
8

Parks, kid-friendly cafés, and ease of finding baby supplies make it family-friendly. Attractions like the Maryland State House and Maritime Museum are good for kids.

LGBTQ+ Friendly
Good
7

Generally inclusive with local groups and safe spaces. Discrimination is low.

Pet Friendly
Excellent
8

Pet-friendly parks, dining, and vet services are common. Quiet Waters Park has a dog park.

Communities
Annapolis & Anne Arundel County Visitors Bureau (Tourism)
Annapolis Moms (Community)
Annapolis Community Forum (Community)
Nextdoor (Community)
Annapolis Capital Gazette (News)

Quick Facts

Population
40,812
Power Reliability
Excellent
8/10

Power is mostly reliable, though outages can happen during storms or hurricanes.

Beach Access
Available

Sandy Point State Park near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge has a beach and is 10-15 minutes away. Ocean City beaches are about 2.5 hours by car.

Languages
English(90%)
Emergency
911
Police, Fire, Ambulance
(410) 268-4141
Non-emergency Police

⚠️Natural Disasters Risk

🌊
Tsunami
Very Low Risk
1
🏔️
Earthquake
Very Low Risk
2

🌦️Seasonal Issues

Extreme heat and humidity
July, August
Summers can be hot and humid.
Pollen
March, April, May
Spring brings high pollen levels.
Hurricanes/Tropical Storms
August, September, October
Late summer and fall storms can cause heavy rain and wind.

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