Maryland's Most Under-Rated Eastern Shore Spot Is...

Will you trek to the Eastern Shore Labor Day weekend to enjoy the last gasp of summer before kids head back to school with a stroll on the Ocean City boardwalk or a glimpse of the wild ponies on Assateague Island? The travel website Orbitz says that Marylanders are overlooking a "coastal gem," namely St. Michaels in Talbot County. The town of roughly a thousand residents is overshadowed by the flashy OC, and even the Coolest Small Town In America, Berlin.

But the place travelers are missing on Chesapeake Bay "that’s still wonderfully under-the-radar and equally charming" is historic St. Michaels. The town was established in the 1600s as a trading post for tobacco farmers and trappers. Today, it's filled with great seafood restaurants, ice cream parlors and sidewalk cafés, along with souvenir shops.

Here are the 5 things Orbitz says about St. Michaels, the overlooked coastal gem:

1) Crazy amounts of crab: "Food is one of the best ways to get to know a destination and based on the offerings here, St. Michaels could be called Crab Town, USA." The writers suggestBistro St. Michaels for breakfast, then lunch at St. Michaels Crab & Steak House, then Stars for dinner.

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2) Locally owned Main Street: "In St. Michaels, you won’t find a single chain or big box store. From home goods and antiques, to clothing boutiques and pet stores, the people of St. Michaels have you covered."

3) Get out on the water: "You can’t come to St. Michaels and not see the town from the water." Visitors can take an afternoon sail or a kayak or paddle board adventure. Foodies might like an oyster or lobster tour to see where their dinner comes from. Or learn about naval history from the sailors at the St. Michael Maritime Museum.

4) Happy Hour, Maryland style: You and your dog can stop in at Eastern Shore Brewing to sample a flight of beers. Or the adjacent St. Michaels Winery offers year-round tasting of its vintages.

5) Plenty of places to stay: "The people of St. Michaels have made it easy on visitors. From B&Bs to cozy inns, this town has no shortage of places to rest your head. … One of the best parts about visiting St. Michaels is that the town is completely walkable and the streets are lined with beautiful historic homes that you can easily spend an afternoon admiring. Many of the charming accommodations are in old homes as well, so you’ll get to experience some of the history of the town during your visit."

Patch file photo of Chesapeake Bay Bridge, via MdSHA