Melanie Sutrathada shares her top six reasons to visit Annapolis, Maryland..jpg

Ready to get away? Me, too. That's why I recently jumped at the chance to visit Annapolis, Maryland, a sailing city filled with charm and history. Whether you're visiting on land or sea, you'll fall in love this beautiful city by the bay. It's the perfect place for a weekend getaway!

Here are seven reasons to visit Annapolis, Maryland this weekend:

1. Annapolis is super convenient to get to.

This was probably one of the biggest surprises of visiting Annapolis for the first time because a trip from New York City is only about four hours by car, while Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are only about an hour away. Who needs the crowds and craziness of the Hamptons during the summer when you could fall in love with the quiet charm of Annapolis instead? The city is definitely one that you'll want to visit over and over again whenever you need a break from the big city.

2. The magic of Main Street.

Main Street is easily one of the most charming streets I've ever been to. It has tons of cute places to eat, drink, and shop and is the perfect place to mill around on a weekend morning. The area is super sweet and looks like it could have been created straight out of a book.

One of the cutest places to shop on Main Street is Lilac Bijoux. They have the cutest jewelry and always have great window displays that will help inspire you to update your wardrobe. This adorable boutique features a great curation of gorgeous handmade pieces made by local artisans and designers.

Melanie Sutrathada shares her top six reasons to visit Annapolis, Maryland this weekend including her go-to places to eat in town.jpg

Melanie Sutrathada shares her top six reasons to visit Annapolis, Maryland this weekend including her go-to places to eat.jpg

3. The food is everything you've ever dreamed of and more.

Y'all know I'm a foodie (understatement of the year), so I don't say this lightly about how good the food is in Maryland. We're talking the most phenomenal homemade pop tarts at Iron Rooster, the best monkey bread at Miss Shirley's Cafe (if you saw my IG Stories, you know that I pretty much devoured the entire plate singlehandedly - #noshame), and the freshest seafood you'll probably ever have. I had my first real traditional Maryland-style crab cake at Boatyard Bar and Grill, and swear that I've never had a crab cake that good before. The restaurant's legendary jumbo lump Chesapeake Bay-style crab cakes are "All Killer, No Filler" and are as fresh as it gets, attracting locals and sailors from all around. And, don't even get me started on the oysters. I could literally talk about them all day. Like, all day. Don't take my word for it though - just hop on the Amtrak and get to Annapolis to try the dishes yourself. While you're at it, go ahead and bring me back a crab cake or 15. Please and thank you.

4. Annapolis is "America's Sailing Capital."

Annapolis is right on the Chesapeake Bay and the Severn River so there is just about every type of boat and ship in this part of Maryland. One of my favorites, of course, is the Schooner Woodwind. Name sound familiar? That's probably because it was featured in a little ol' movie called "Wedding Crashers." Go ahead and hop aboard the Woodwind, the very same boat that was used for filming in 2004 with Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, and more. The view from the water is beautiful and the crew may even let you take a hold of the steering wheel. I would definitely recommend splurging on a bottle of bubbly while you're sailing through the bay - it's 100% worth it!

5. Annapolis is a walkable city.

Having a car is always helpful when you're traveling, but there's something so wonderful about not having to worry about parking or getting stuck in traffic. Luckily, Annapolis is a great city to explore on foot. During my trip, I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Annapolis right in the heart of the Art District and was only steps from the Maryland government offices and less than a mile from the Naval Academy. Main Street was less than a 15-minute walk away and waterfront dining was also within walking distance.

6. You can indulge your history buff side in Annapolis.

The city dates back to the mid-1600s and actually served as the seat of the Continental Congress in the late 18th century. That being said, there are tons of museums and historical sights to visit like the Maryland State Senate and the Navy - Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

One of the coolest historical aspects about Annapolis is that it's also the home of the United States Naval Academy. Say hello to over 4,000 midshipmen! It seemed like everywhere I went, the locals were talking about the Ring Dance, Herndon Monument Climb (think 50 pounds of grease + shirtless midshipmen trying to climb a statue to get a dixie cup hat), and Commissioning Week. Get ready for summer whites and dress blues!

7. The locals are the nicest!

I can't remember the last time I was welcomed so warmly. Maybe I'm a little jaded from having lived in the Big Apple for the past five years, but I distinctly remember feeling so surprised that the locals would ask how my day was going and and actually wait for an answer. For my readers in the mid-west, this may seem like common courtesy - having lived in big cities on the east and west coast my whole life, though it definitely is not an everyday occurrence. My entire weekend spent in Annapolis was filled with chatting with locals, laughing over funny stories (looking at you, Shaun, from Hilton Garden Inn), and I absolutely have to mention that nearly every person I met asked how I was liking the city so far. The hospitality in Annapolis is unlike any city that I've ever been to!