What Makes St. Michaels, Maryland, An Ideal End-Of-Summer Weekend Getaway

Many people lament Labor Day weekend as the unofficial end of summer, but the autumnal equinox isn’t until September 23. Meaning: there’s no reason to panic and rush through the season. You have plenty of time to soak in the sun and warmth, and if the past years are any indication—you’ll be able to enjoy what feels like summer well into October.

So if you’re a New Yorker in search of a quick escape right now, why not steer clear of the obvious Hamptons and Hudson Valley and consider St. Michaels, Maryland? Though the small town hugging the Chesapeake Bay has long been a go-to for sailing enthusiasts, in recent years it’s attracted a new generation of urbanites seeking a getaway free of crowds and pretentiousness.

As for where to call your home base, look no further than The Wildset Hotel. Quietly unveiled in the summer of 2021, the 34-key hotel situated on Talbot Street, the town’s main artery, is the accommodation St. Michaels so needed and deserved. And because it encompasses four historic buildings—including an 1830s structure that once served as the town’s schoolhouse—The Wildset fits right in with its neighbors, many of whom reside in storied structures as well.

The design mandate throughout is quiet luxury. This mindset is evident as soon as you check into your room at The Wildset’s light-drenched coffee bar and sundry shop impeccably merchandised with well-curated everyday items—think Flamingo Estate candles, Martin’s Handmade Pretzels, and cookbooks like Baking with Dorie—to elevate your hotel stay and home life.

The guest rooms and suites—whose walls alternate between a buttery white and midnight black—are sublime examples of restrained elegance. Stripped down to the essentials, my second-floor Deluxe King room with a shared balcony came with a low-slung bed dressed in crisp Parachute linens, clean bathroom amenities from Grown Alchemist, and a black fireplace—I had everything I needed to just relax. There were tasteful little touches, too, such as a Bose white noise machine, complimentary Martin’s Kettle-Cook’d Potato Chips, and books tucked away in the nightstands. (I was pleased as punch to find Zadie Smith’s Feel Free in mine.)

Ruse, The Wildet’s restaurant, offers hotel guests an on-the-house breakfast spread of La Fermière yogurt, quiches, and croissants, and opens to the public for Sunday brunch and daily dinner. Given its proximity to the water, Ruse’s specialty is fresh oysters and other sublime seafood—not just from the Chesapeake Bay, but other notable regions as well.

The raw bar features an excellent selection of lesser-known oysters, including the crisp, clean, and small-shelled varieties from Virginia’s Metompkin Bay, while the kitchen led by chef Michael Correll sends out seasonal, ingredient-driven plates of handmade tagliatelle flecked with rock shrimp, tomatoes, and corn, and crispy golden tilefish fillets drizzled with a tangy pistachio vinaigrette. (Also: saving room for the cheesecake soft serve is a must.)

Though The Wildset may not have the amenities of a traditional high-end hotel, like fitness centers and spas, you won’t miss them one bit. The beauty of St. Michaels lies in its quiet and understated charms, like having a nightcap with friendly locals at Carpenter Street Saloon, and stargazing while making s’mores by the hotel’s firepit. And no matter when you visit—even if it’s in the peak of summer—you’ll be able to carve out some peace and solitiude.