How many guests does The Bayside Escape sleep?

Up to 24 guests across 6 bedrooms and 5 queen sleeper sofas. Sleeping breakdown: 1 King, 4 Queens, 4 Twins, and 5 Queen sofa sleepers (all in the main house).

Is The Bayside Escape pet-friendly?

Up to 2 dogs, $150 per stay. No cats.

What are the check-in and check-out times?

Check-in is at 4 PM and check-out is at 10 AM. Early check-in and late check-out are not available — back-to-back bookings require full turnaround time.

How do I book The Bayside Escape directly?

Book direct at thebaysideescape.com: there's no platform service fee, you earn 8% back in Bayside Rewards credit on every stay, and you deal with the owner directly.

What is the cancellation policy?

Full refund if you cancel 14 or more days before check-in. For a stay 14 or more days away, a 30% deposit is charged at booking and the remaining 70% balance is auto-charged 3 days before check-in; closer in, the stay is paid in full at booking. Inside the 14-day window, the booking is non-refundable.

Is parking available at The Bayside Escape?

Yes — the driveway accommodates 10 cars, including space for boat trailers.

What is the Flex Barn at The Bayside Escape?

The Flex Barn is a 1,600 sqft multi-use space included free with every booking. It features 16-ft ceilings, a 16-ft sliding barn door (drive-in capable), and rubber flooring. Perfect for yoga, corporate workshops, indoor games, movie nights, or gear storage. It is not a sleeping space — all sleeping is in the main house.

Blog/Easter & Spring Family Gatherings on the Chesapeake Bay

Trip Ideas5 min read· June 2026

Easter & Spring Family Gatherings on the Chesapeake Bay

Spring is when the Eastern Shore comes back to life — and it's a wonderful, underrated time to gather the family. Whether you're planning an Easter weekend or just a spring break together, a water-view house with room for everyone turns the season's first warm days into a proper celebration. Here's how to do it on Hooper's Island.

The big backyard and play area at The Bayside Escape, ready for a spring family gathering

A spring holiday with room to roam

The best part of gathering at a house is that the whole family is together with space to spread out. Six bedrooms mean everyone stays under one roof; the big yard is made for an Easter egg hunt; and the gathering rooms and deck give the grown-ups somewhere to sit with coffee while the kids run wild. Cook a holiday dinner in the full kitchen and let the day unfold at its own easy pace.

Spring on the Bay

The timing is lovely. By spring, the ospreys have returned to their nests over the water, the marsh is greening, and the days are mild and bright. Maryland's crabbing season opens April 1, so depending on your dates you might catch the very first crabs of the year, and the soft-shell season gets going by late April. Best of all, it's shoulder season — quieter and better value than the summer peak, with the Bay just waking up.

The front deck at The Bayside Escape, looking across the road to the marsh and the bay in spring

An all-ages weekend

Spring on Hooper's Island gives every generation something to love: an egg hunt and the play area for the kids, easy kayaking on calm spring water, the first crabbing of the season from the shoreline, birdwatching as the migrants move through, and cozy fire-pit evenings once the sun goes down. It's an active-but-unhurried kind of weekend — exactly what a family holiday should feel like.

Gather the family this spring

The Bayside Escape sleeps 24 on the Chesapeake Bay in Fishing Creek, MD — a big yard, a full kitchen, and the season's first crabs. Create a free account and get $100 toward your first direct booking.

Create account and claim $100 Check your dates

Plan-ahead tips

Book early for the Easter weekend — spring holidays fill up for a big house.
Bring the egg-hunt supplies and any holiday decorations from home.
Stock up in Cambridge (about 29 miles) on the way in for the big meal.
Pack layers; spring days are mild but evenings by the water still turn cool.
Check crabbing dates and rules if you're hoping to catch the season's first.