# Rural Worcester County

Worcester County is best known as the location of Ocean City (which has its own article). Although many drive right through the rest of Worcester County without stopping, it has several small towns with historic buildings that make a great side trip from Ocean City.

## Get in

Worcester County is usually accessed through U.S. 50, which runs through the north part of the county and connects Ocean City and connects the county to points west. U.S. 113 runs north–south through the county, connecting most of the historic towns.

## Get around

The small towns themselves are walkable and there is no need to drive, but you will want a car to explore more remote attractions like Furnace Town and Pocomoke Forest.

## See

* 38.3928-75.2051 Historic St. Martin's Church Museum, Showell. Mid 18th century church now used for public events (updated Apr 2020)
* 38.386441-75.2001772 Showell-Mariner House. Mid-19th century mansion, now part of a vineyard (updated Apr 2020)
* 38.351371-75.2305533 Ocean Breeze Alpacas, 10304 Caleb Road, Berlin. Last full weekend of each month, 11–5. An alpaca farm with an open house on weekends, with a farm store selling alpaca textile items free. (updated Apr 2020)
* 38.3272-75.22044 Calvin B. Taylor House (Berlin). Historic house museum
* 38.316667-75.2166675 Rackliffe House. A 1740 house and plantation overlooking Assateague Island and Sinepuxent Bay (updated Apr 2020)
* 38.2515-75.29236 Queponco Railway Station. Built in 1910 (updated Apr 2020)
* 38.1756-75.39697 Julia A. Purnell Museum, 208 W Market St, Snow Hill, ☏ +1 410 632-0515. 1 April-31 October: Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM, Su 1PM-4PM. A small museum with a huge collection (obviously not all of it is on display at any given time) of artifacts related to the history of the county. There are frequent temporary exhibits from the collection, as well as from local artists and collectors. $2/50¢ children.
* 38.2047-75.47068 Furnace Town Living Heritage Museum (Old Furnace Road off Route 12, five miles north of Snow Hill). 1 April-31 Oct: 10AM-5PM. A working museum town on the site of a small early-nineteenth century bog-iron furnace town, with artisans in period costume and the like. $5/$3 children.
* 38.0938-75.39769 Girdletree Barnes Bank Museum, ☏ +1-410-632-1641. by appointment, call ahead. A small 1902 bank building (updated Apr 2020)
* 38.0747-75.567810 Isaac Costen House, Pokomoke City. Home of Pokomoke City's first mayor, now a museum (updated Apr 2020)
* 38.0756-75.569911 Sturgis One Room School. An 1850 African-American schoolhouse, the only one remaining in the county (updated Apr 2020)
* 38.0759-75.57030412 Delmarva Discovery Museum, Pokomoke City. Museum focusing on local history and nature (updated Apr 2020)

## Do

* Pocomoke Canoe Company, 312 N Washington St, ☏ +1 410 632-3971. Kayak and canoe rentals, as well as guided kayak/canoe tours, from an easy location in the town center. $10-15/hour, $40-45/day.
* 38.1328-75.43281 Pocomoke State Forest, 3461 Worcester Hwy (South of Snow Hill on MD-394 for ten minutes to enter the forest), ☏ +1 410 632-2566. Pocomoke has a lot of outdoor activities on offer, notable kayaking/canoeing (including optional guide), a great nature center with a small zoo, a day-use pool ($5/person), hunting, and hiking.

## Buy

Snow Hill, as a tourist-friendly small town, has a number of small art galleries for a fun browse, on Washington and Green streets, just off Market St downtown.

## Eat

* Four Season's Pizza, 5610 Market St, Snow Hill, ☏ +1 410-632-2007. A local favorite for a quick casual meal, with good pizza.

## Drink

* Elliott's Tavern, 208 W Green St, Snow Hill, ☏ +1 410-632-2041. The hours are pretty short for a place for drinks, but it's a good friendly option nonetheless, and fine place for casual food.

## Sleep

* 38.1483-75.28751 Mansion House, 4436 Bayside Rd Public Landing, ☏ +1 410 632-3189. A beautiful early nineteenth century mansion right on Chincoteague Bay east of the town, where you can swim, canoe, kayak, etc. The food garners rave reviews, and the hosts are laid back and helpful. $160-250.
* River House Inn, 201 E Market St, Snow Hill, ☏ +1 410 632-2722. A very dog-friendly B&B next to the historic center of town, with beautiful gardens, weeping willows along the riverfront, and friendly owners. $140-220.
* 38.324546-75.219162 Atlantic Hotel, Berlin. Historic Victorian-era hotel in downtown Berlin (updated Apr 2020)

## Go next

* Assateague Island
* Ocean City