This week started with a realization: the first chapter of The Local Wander was all about that energetic, childlike feeling of discovering new places. When I first arrived in Maryland, I made it a mission to tour a home and then walk into a neighborhood business. I needed a crash course in vibe because I was new here—not a Marylander by birth, just by curiosity.

As the week kicked off, I chased that childlike energy again. I went to a networking event, met new amazing business owners, and was reminded how much I love cheering people on and sharing hidden gems. And then—I caught the worst cold ever. My long-awaited first adventure got shelved for a week while I coughed into my tea and started drafting this post instead of live-posting the action.

So consider this your inside scoop: these are the places I’m actually going to visit in the coming weeks. I’ll circle back and report exactly how each one holds up, what stood out, what fell short, and of course the quirks that only show up in person. But for now, here’s the list I’ve been chomping at the bit to tell you about.

Here is The List

Thyme + Stain

Let’s start with the one that checks all my boxes: New England coastal vibes, vintage Italian/Tuscany pieces, and all the curated home decor that makes me want to redecorate everything I own. That’s exactly what you’ll find at Thyme + Stain in Annapolis. They lean into European‑meets‑coastal furniture and artful home goods that feel effortless but elevated. If wandering through a space that sparks ideas and makes your home feel more you is your jam, this will be a long visit. Their hours are a bit niche (Thursdays 9–2, Fridays & Saturdays split shifts) so plan ahead.

This is one I want to really take my time with—sit with the pieces, ask the owner where things came from, maybe find a statement piece for my own house.

South Mountain Creamery

Okay, full transparency: I’ve spent money here (books the feeding experience every Mother’s Day), and I’ve never actually gone. I swear, it’s not that my family doesn’t love me—they just always have something else lined up. But this year the plan is real. South Mountain Creamery is a working farm that offers tours, events, and yes, actual calf feeding experiences. They have dairy products, fresh ice cream, and farm tours that include seeing the milking barn, maternity ward, and more.

I’m pumped because this feels like one of those genuinely local experiences—not a theme farm, a real working farm. I want the ice cream, I want the cows, I want the pictures with actual baby calves.

Backwater Books & Bibliopub

This one is legitimately baffling—why haven’t I been here yet? Backwater Books is described as an indie bookstore with a bar upstairs called The Bibliopub where you can have a drink, sit with a book, and even catch events like book club or live music.

I can’t imagine a more perfect lazy Sunday or quiet date night. Bookshelves, local vibes, craft cocktails, and a community energy that I’ve been craving since I moved here.

The Sourceress Vintage Furniture – at The Distillery Collective

I already have a weird little love story with this one: I bought a lamp from The Sourceress before she even had a permanent space, and that lamp has been a spark of joy in my kitchen ever since. That’s reason enough to go back and chase the nostalgia. Now that she has a more stable presence inside The Distillery Collective, I can’t wait to scope it out and see what treasures she’s curated this year.

The Distillery Collective is basically like one massive vintage + antique warehouse with tons of vendors, so I’ll probably get pleasantly lost there for a while. Old wood, vintage curiosities, mid‑century chairs, cool lighting — the kind of things you walk past and then circle back to because you didn’t even know you wanted them until…you do.

Peabody Heights Brewery

I’ll admit something: I’ve enjoyed the beer from Peabody Heights Brewery, but I don’t yet know how to pronounce Peabody (Pea‑body? Peebuddy? Being from Boston really messes me up sometimes – I’ll report back). I’m especially intrigued by what their Lost Python Ale represents. This session IPA is brewed in support of environmental clean‑up in the Baltimore harbor—every pint contributes to keeping the trash wheel turning.

Beyond that, the brewery is a nice mix of indoor and outdoor spaces, rotating food trucks, and even a vintage arcade. That’s exactly the kind of “stay awhile” place that makes for a good Saturday afternoon with friends.

What’s Next

That’s the list. Honestly, typing this out made me even more excited to actually get out and do it. I’m lining up visits to each of these places over the coming weeks—some solo, some with friends, all with curiosity in tow—and I’ll be bringing you updates from the front lines of local wandering.

If you’ve been to any of these places before, drop a comment or shoot me a message. Tell me what I have to try, what I should skip, and what I absolutely need to order or see when I’m there.

Until the next adventure,