Land Activities
casual dining
If there is one thing almost every tourist agrees on, it is that Smith Island food is second to none! With the availability of fresh crab meat, oysters, and authentically made Smith Island cakes, there is no need to ever leave hungry! We highly encourage guests to eat at the local restaurants to get not just a taste of Island food, but also a full serving of Island hospitality. Learn more about our dining options here!
children’s activities
Smith Island is truly a children's paradise! Unlike most areas on the mainland, children run and play rather freely. The Smith Island Inn's Scavenger Hunt © which provides 50 clues in Ewell for children to find. This has also become a favorite for children of all ages, including adults! For children who wish to share their visit, we highly recommend bringing a camera to capture amazing views, enchanted sunrises and sunsets, vibrant flowers, local birds, and working watermen. We invite guests to share these photos on our Facebook page! Parents are welcome to link them to your own page. Ewell has two playgrounds for children to play. ! Bring your favorite baseball, kick ball, or dodge ball or organize a game at our ball field. It features lots of unobstructed space for frisbees and kites too! Check out our selection of cards, board games, and our own Smith Island children's books.
A local teen also provides a 45-60 minute lesson in “chicken necking” crabbing. He provides all the needed equipment and bait. Guests can catch and release or pay an additional nominal fee for steaming and delivery to the Inn.
smith island cake bakery & crafts
Featuring homemade Smith Island Cakes and hand-crafted arctician gifts including quilts with custom designs all hand-made and assembled on Smith Island. Smith Island Inn proprietor, Nathan Davidson, has his award-winning wood carvings featured here along with more than 40 other venders from the Eastern Shore who ship their items to the Island for display and sale. Approximately 70% of items are hand crafted by Islanders. Open year round, customized cake making classes and quilt and craft class packages available.
bicycling
Complimentary bicycles are provided for our guests. We have a variety of bicycles, including single women's, men's, and a tandem bike. Guests with children are encouraged to bring children’s bikes which are accommodated on the ferry for a nominal fee.
Guests can pedal to Rhodes Point and the end of the Island and on clear days, catch a view of our Southern neighbor, Tangier Island.
historical tours
Sit back and enjoy this scenic guided historical tour in a 7 passenger air conditioned van. The tour, which lasts 45-60 minutes, provides a glimpse into the unique history, island culture, and customs. The tour guide points out historical buildings, community places of interest, and various details and facts that appeal to everyone from inquisitive guests to the most devout historian. Maximum Guests: 7
walking explorations
Many guests prefer walking as they explore the Island. We often see our guests walking at sunrise and well into the evening. Walking provides an opportunity for guests to see, smell, and hear the unique sounds of Island life. Ewell is one square mile if you remain on the "figure eight", although a few additional lanes would provide a bit more distance, but not a lot. The road to Rhodes Point is approximately 1.5 miles through the marsh on a raised road. It is said that if you walked all of the roads, it would equal approximately 4 miles. We invite guests with a pedometer to give us an exact number!
local attractions
The Smith Island Museum and Cultural Center is a located in the center of Ewell. The museum includes various artifacts and pieces that reflect the life and culture of watermen living on the Island for generations. An extremely well done short film creates the mood and provides information along with a small gift shop is well-appointed with unique Island treasures. Guests often stroll the cemetery looking at our gravesites. A memorable of Islanders who have served in War can be found to the east of Ewell Church in a quaint garden area. Guests comment that many grave markers date back hundreds of years.
The Bayside Inn Gift Shop is located within the restaurant and offers a nice selection of nautical shirts, nautical items, lawn
Bayside Gifts is on the same property as the Bayside Inn in front of golf and bicycle rentals and offers a number of other gift options including a book collection of Chesapeake Bay and Smith Island themes. Island cook books and historical hard to find books are available here. They have a selection of children's souvenirs, Smith Island mementos, shirts, hats, and other odds and ends.
church-based activities
Church Service Times
Ewell United Methodist Church 9:00 AM
Tylerton United Methodist Church 10:30 AM
Rhodes Point United Methodist Church Noon
Smith Islanders are very much vested in the churches on the Island and faith is deeply embedded in their life on the water . The United Methodist churches on the island include Ewell, Rhodes Point and Tylerton. On Smith Island, all faiths are warmly welcomed and many come-here's (folks who are not natives but move to the Island) and part-timers of other faiths worship beside their neighbors. If you are interested in attending a church service, please let us know as we are happy to adjust our breakfast schedule to accommodate church attendees.