Visitors to Annapolis find a vibrant city, proud of its heritage and charm, offering the latest in dining and shopping, unique sightseeing, and entertainment.

From its founding as a colonial Chesapeake Bay seaport, Annapolis has emerged as the sailing capital of the world, home to both the US Naval Academy and the third oldest college in the country, and the Maryland state capital.

The waterfront historic district is a well-preserved colonial seaport with cobblestone streets and more original 18th century structures standing than any other city in the United States. Many of the Founding Fathers visited the city, including George Washington, who traveled to Annapolis to resign his commission in the Maryland State House when the city briefly served as capital as the United States. Today, this easily walked historic district presents a blend of preserved structures, museums, restaurants, shops, live music, and nightlife. Throughout the historic district you will find a mix of visitors, groups on walking tours, uniformed Navy midshipmen, people in colonial garb, working and recreational boats, legislators, sailboat race crews, statues, and public art.

Some things to do while in Annapolis

• Walk the historic district, with its shops and nightlife
• Take a guided tour of the historic district or US Naval Academy
• Try steamed blue crabs or Chesapeake Bay oysters
• Take a 2-hour sail on the schooners Woodwind or Liberte
• Enjoy a tour of Annapolis by water on the Harbor Queen
• Rent an electric boat to tour the harbor
• Attend the second-largest Renaissance Fair in the country (late August into October)
• Fish for rockfish (striped bass) on a charter boat
• Enjoy the nightlife at City Dock
• Visit the Banneker-Douglass Museum and Annapolis Maritime Museum
• Paddleboard, canoe, or kayak the harbor
• Visit Washington DC (40-minute drive to capitol building)

Our Annapolis Training Center

Our relocated and fully updated training facility was opened in 2023 to provide maximum comfort for our participants.

The Aarcher Institute training center is located inside the Annapolis historic district, less than a block from restaurants, historic pubs, music venues, and art galleries. The facility is an easy walk to City Dock (the most active part of the historic district), the US Naval Academy grounds, and all of historic Main Street.