Solomons Island, Maryland

We were only on Solomon's Island for a skip. We stopped at the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and then headed to the town center.

The town center is tiny, just a few old houses converted into beachy stores. At the end of the strip, and around a little bend, sat the Tiki Bar.

This was the view from our bar stools at the Tiki Bar. It reminded me a lot of Fort Lauderdale, back when it was a little seedier and filled with bikers and blue collar types.

Everyone was drinking Coors and shooting the shit. I ordered a cocktail made with fresh squeezed orange juice, but I can't remember the name of it. After our drinks we wandered through a few of the stores and took off. I can see how this might be a relaxing spot for a weekend, if all you want to do is lay around and boat.

Not much going on though.

Annmarie Garden on Solomons Island

We almost didn't stop at the Annemarie Garden. I'm so glad we did. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip.

Annmarie Garden is affiliated with the Smithsonian, specifically the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. If you have ever been to the sculpture garden here in DC, you have an idea of what Annmarie Garden is like.

Except Annmarie is even better. There is a wooded area that is filled with sculptures. There is a whole walkway filled with just sculptures of women. There are modern pieces and quirky faces in unexpected places. Some of the trees have paintings.

There is also a beautiful gallery inside. It is filled with really interesting pieces. My favorite was a mosaic butterfly. I also loved the giant, elegant rabbit in a reclining pose that looked like it should have been at the entrance to temple.

There were crazy fish and disco balls and horse heads and even some roadkill. (In case you haven't figured it out, they were exploring the animal kingdom in their exhibit.)

They don't stop there though. The museum is very interactive. There are activities dispersed all over the place. When we arrived, we were drawn to a picnic table outside set up with paints. Visitors were asked to paint a gourd with the theme of "home is where the ____ is." The gourds are going to be used for an art exhibit. The ones that are done are currently displayed in the sculpture forest in some crazy baskets.

They also have a school where they teach everything from painting to ceramics to jewelry making. Oh, and did I mention the very cool gift shop? If I lived around there, I would be at that place all the time.