If you were given the chance to design the perfect retreat from the chainstore world the United States seems to be turning into, your result would probably be much like the town of Greensboro.  Nestled between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, Greensboro winds along the Choptank river which flows through the town.  This small town of about 1600 people remains one of undiscovered gems of the Eastern Shore.  There are many Victorian houses with their beautiful gingerbread trim waiting to be found throughout Greensboro.

For such a small town, there are several good restaurants to choose from.   Harry's is located in the historic Goldborough House and offers fine European cuisine. The Riverside Hotel offers fine food and beautiful veiws of the Choptank River.  The Riverside Hotel also has 12 rooms available when you discover that Greensboro is a destination, and not a town that you drive through on the way to somewhere else.  The Greensboro Restaurant is famous for their Thursday night Chicken and Dumpling dinner.  If you're more the outdoors type, then grab some sandwiches and drinks at Mr. D's Carryout and head out in your canoe to experience Greensboro from the river that first brought settlers here in the early 1700's. There's also a beautiful park near the river with picnic tables waiting for you.

Have you ever gone on vacation to some tourist trap, only to find that all the souviners were made in China?  One of the focal points of Greensboro is the Greensborough Trading Company, which offers crafts and artwork made locally.  This store should be your starting point on any visit to Greensboro. Here you can grab a cup of gourmet coffee, browse through the store, and catch up on all the latest gossip.  At the back of the store, you'll see a row of mugs on pegs.  Local residents have their own mugs and will wander in for a cup of coffee and warm converstion in the back of the store.  The store also doubles as the town's cultural center. Nighttime classes are offered in such things as Art for Kids, Stained Glass, Pottery, Watercolor, Belly Dancing, and more.

Because Greensboro is between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, it makes an ideal place to enjoy the best of both worlds.  If you want to have fun with lots of other people, then head East.  Rehobeth Beach and Dover, Delaware are just a short drive away.  They offer tax free outlet shopping, beaches, slot machines, NASCAR racing, ocean fishing, and much more.  You can also take a trip on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry to the Victorian town of Cape May New Jersey.

If you want something quieter, why not drive a little further down the Choptank?  Suicide Bridge Restaurant in Secretary offers paddle wheel dinner excursions down the Choptank to Cambridge.  Nearby are Tuckahoe State Park and Adkins Arboretum (more than 4000 acres combined) on the Tuckahoe River is a beautiful expanse of woodlands and meadows open for walking, biking, or boating.

With so much to see and do, you're not going to be satisfied with just one visit to Greensboro.