The largest inland tidal body of water on the Atlantic seaboard, the Chesapeake Bay is a cruiser's paradise, sheltered from the Atlantic swells and offering a wonderful combination of unspoiled natural beauty, timeless history, lively urban areas, and easy access.A major part of the Chesapeake's charm derives from the numerous creeks, coves, and inlets - gunkholes, in Chesapeake parlance - with which its shores abound. The difficulty of finding and entering many of these secluded hideaways discourages less adventuresome cruisers - or at least it used to.Cruising the Chesapeake offers accurate, up-to-date navigational information to pilot the reader into practically every point of interest on the Bay, from the secluded east fork of Langford Creek to the hearts of such major cities as Baltimore, Washington, or Norfolk. At each spot you are told how to approach, where to anchor, what sort of dockage facilities or provisions are available, what has happened here in the past, what there is to see now, and what there is to do.But this is much more than just a pilot guide. It is a loving portrait of the Bay, its history, its peoples, its wildlife, and its environment. It is also a plea for the Bay's preservation. This Guide distills one family's 20 years of experience cruising the paths less traveled into an easy-to-use guide that is written with appreciation and respect for the Bay's fragile ecosystem. Read Less