Easton: The gem of Maryland’s Eastern Shore

Gracing Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Easton is the little town that can.

Named one of the nation’s best small towns to live in, Easton skillfully balances itself as a tourist destination and business hub. 

Easton offers all the quaint amenities of a tourist destination: an old-fashioned soda fountain; several bed-and-breakfasts; antique stores; diverse art galleries; and more than a dozen downtown bars and restaurants.

But you don’t get more than 16,000 year-round residents on tourism alone. Easton has one of the most modern hospitals on the Shore, sparking growth in the town’s health care industry. Easton also is developing its light-industry base by attracting high-tech companies. This means many Easton residents can live and work in the town — and that means many housing options are available.

Not everyone can live in the multimillion-dollar waterfront mansions that dot the shore, but you can find a starter home for under $190,000. As your family grows, you can find larger homes at reasonable prices. 

If you love watersports, Easton can’t be beat. Boating and fishing are at the top of the list and residents can take advantage of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries to go sailing, canoeing, kayaking and crabbing.

One of the best parts about living in a vibrant tourist destination is that residents have access to all the festivals and activities Easton has to offer its guests.

Residents also can enjoy Easton’s spooky Chesapeake Ghost Walks; the three-hour restaurant crawl, Eating Easton; the sounds of the two-week Chesapeake Chamber Music Festival in June; and the Old Tyme Fourth of July celebration featuring music, food, carnival rides and a fireworks display.

The largest event in Easton is the three-day Waterfowl Festival in November that celebrates the best in wildlife art. The festival attracts thousands of tourists from around the country, more than doubling the town’s population during the weekend event. 

And for residents who want a taste of big-city life — or just want to avoid some of the event crowds — Easton also has easy access to Baltimore, Annapolis, Washington and Wilmington.

So if you’re looking for that easy-going, small-town lifestyle visit this jewel along the Shore and make Easton your home.