James River Week is a week-long celebration of Virginia’s most incredible natural asset, and the week is packed with lots of great outdoor activities. James River Week not only encourages participants to enjoy the James’ many benefits, but will hopefully also bring awareness to the challenges it faces. Here’s a sampling of what’s in store: James River regional cleanup, Kanawha Canal Tour, Seldom Seen Island Paddle, Gray’s Creek paddle, Chapel Island invasive species removal and tree watering, rain barrel workshop, The Great Return of the Atlantic Sturgeon Pontoon Boat Trips, batteau trips, Bald Eagle Tour, Cypress Swamp and Oxbow Paddle, and more! Sept. 11-18, various locations. Complete schedule of events (most events require registration).

This Calvert County Watermen’s Association annual event is perhaps best known for its boat docking contest, during which work boats and charter boats compete within their divisions for cash, prizes and trophies. Never a dull moment, this is a spectacular event to watch! Food and beverage sales, live entertainment, and exhibits. Sept. 19, 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm; Solomons MD. More information. 

The Susquehanna Greenway Partnership is hitting the river again this fall! Join them for the next Susquehanna Pop-Up Paddle, a 12-mile excursion from Montgomery to Milton. It's a great opportunity to explore the Greenway and the West Branch Susquehanna River Water Trail. When: October 9, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. $20 for adults, $15 for children under 13. Limited kayaks and canoes are available for $35 for singles, and $45 for tandems. Oct. 9, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm; Montgomery, PA. More information and reservations.

Free kayaking, pony rides, food, live music, and more. Join Queen Anne’s County Parks and Recreation to enjoy a day of family fun and environmental education! ShoreRivers and other environmental organizations and educators from across Maryland will teach everyone all about the Corsica River and its ecosystem and environmental preservation. Sept. 12, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm; Centreville, MD. More info.

Join Masonville Cove in Baltimore for a two-day celebration of Wildlife Conservation Day with outdoor games, fishing, birding, bird banding, Rodney’s Raptors, kayaking, and family-friendly activities. Free guided kayaking will be available for ages 13+, space is limited so be sure to pre-register. Sept. 25-26, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm; Masonville Cove, Baltimore. More information and registration.

The Calvert Marine Museum’s new exhibit, Sharks! Sink Your Teeth In! explores the diversity of the west Atlantic’s cartilaginous fish, past and present. To go along with the exciting new exhibit the museum is hosting a four-part lecture series about miocene and other sharks, shark teeth and what they tell, apex predator megalodons, and more. Sept. 16 and 30, Oct. 21, and Nov. 4; 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The lectures are free and open to the public. More information.

Come sample the many kinds of peppers grown by the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia and tour the organic garden at Potomac Overlook Regional Park. Extension Master Gardeners will answer questions about growing peppers and other beloved summer crops. They will also cover other topics such as composting, soil preparation, seed selection, protecting crops from insects and animals, and ideas for your garden this Fall. Free. Sept. 11, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm; Potomac Overlook Regional Park, Arlington, VA. More information.

There are many birds to be seen during autumn, and Irvine Nature Center in Owings Mills is an unusually good place to explore the diversity of east coast birds, both resident and migrating. Become better acquainted with the field marks, habits, and timing of dozens of migrating species which pass through Irvine's woods, meadows, and wetlands every fall, en route to warmer climes to the south. Beginning birders are welcome. $10 per class. Offered Sundays, September 26, October 10, and October 24, 8:00 am to 10:00 am; Irvine Nature Center, Owings Mills, MD. More information and registration.

Looking for a low key beach experience on Maryland’s Eastern Shore? Hidden less than an hour from the Bay Bridge, lies the charming, historic town of Betterton Beach. Betterton’s bayside beach offers jellyfish-free waves and plenty of opportunities for swimming, sun-bathing, fishing, and relaxation in a quiet, picturesque setting. Betterton was once a bustling summer destination with hundreds of people arriving by steamboat, with huge Victorian-style hotels and restaurants serving up Chesapeake Bay seafood. Read more about the fascinating history of this beach town and why it is still a great place to visit. 

Museum Day, sponsored by the Smithsonian Magazine, is a one-day event in which participating museums and cultural institutions across the country provide free entry to anyone presenting

a Museum Day ticket. Participants are allowed to download one ticket per email address. The ticket provides free general admission on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, for two people. Bay area participating museums include Annapolis Maritime Museum, the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Baltimore Museum of Industry, Riversdale House Museum, Historic London Town & Gardens, Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, Cape Henry Lighthouse, Pamunkey Indian Museum and Cultural Center, Casemate Museum, Gadsby’s Tavern, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Dumbarton House, St. Clement’s Island Museum, and many more. Search for participating museums and get your free tickets.

Head out on the water and learn firsthand the experiences of Captain John Smith's Voyage on NOAA's Chesapeake Bay interpretive Buoy System. CBIBS provides real time weather and environmental information, as well as a glimpse into living Chesapeake Bay History. You can also download the app for your Android or iPhone from the website. Note: some buoys may be offline with no data currently available.

Take a virtual tour of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail from your computer or mobile device! To help you plan your trip before you go, the Chesapeake Conservancy partnered with Terrain360 to bring you virtual tours of the trail’s great rivers. Sit back and virtually explore the Elk, James (sponsored by the James River Association), Nanticoke, Northeast, Patapsco, Patuxent, Potomac, Rappahannock, Sassafras, Susquehanna, and York rivers. Check out some of the Chesapeake’s special places like Werowocomoco, Fones Cliffs, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and Mallows Bay. We hope to eventually bring you a virtual tour of the entire Chesapeake Trail! Explore the Chesapeake's great rivers on our website.