there’s a lot to love in the heart of the chesapeake!
who we are
On Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Dorchester County has more shoreline than any other county in Maryland. From the Chesapeake Bay to the Choptank and Nanticoke Rivers to dramatic marshland, water is central to life here. Watermen (and women) still harvest crab, oysters, clams, and fish from these waters. You’ll find fresh and local seafood on the menu in nearly every restaurant.
Dorchester offers a mix of old and new, of wide-open spaces and charming small towns, where old-time country stores are more common than convenience stores. You’ll find unspoiled landscapes and nature to admire at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge and throughout the county. The many waterways and marshland create the perfect backdrop for incredible sunsets. No wonder Dorchester draws outdoor enthusiasts, birders, photographers, hunters, cyclists, boaters, paddlers, and others from near and far.
At the same time, you’ll find award-winning restaurants, a vibrant arts scene, and independent, locally owned shops in our largest city, Cambridge, home to 12,000 residents.
where we are
Centrally located in the Chesapeake Bay region with a physical shape that resembles a heart, Dorchester is known as the Heart of the Chesapeake. Dorchester is one of nine counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the region separated from the rest of Maryland by the Chesapeake Bay.
We’re easy to get to: about 1.5 hours from Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and less than three hours from Philadelphia. Get directions.
Find out more about the area on this site and in person at the Dorchester County Visitor Center, 2 Rose Hill Place in Cambridge, Maryland.