Great Oak Manor, a bed and breakfast inn on Chesapeake Bay's Eastern Shore near Maryland's historic Chestertown and Rock Hall, is a palatial 1700's-style Georgian house set on 12 manicured acres.

The manor stands on land originally granted to Marmaduke Tylden from Lord Baltimore in the 17th century. The home was built at a time when grandeur was more important than cost and craftsmen were truly artisans. All these many years later, the manor, a member of Select Registry, lists on the Maryland Historic Register and has earned distinction from Washingtonian Magazine as Maryland's Best Romantic Inn on the Eastern Shore.

Country Inns Magazine has described the manor as "regal," and the home's high ceilings, intricate dental moldings, and a sweeping circular stairway off the main hall certainly hearken back to the glory days of European aristocracy. Each of 12 guestrooms has a private bath, air conditioning, and a telephone. Six of the rooms have working fireplaces, and seven guestrooms offer fabulous views of Chesapeake Bay.

The 12,000-square-foot mansion is specifically designed to take maximum advantage of its waterside location. A "Great Hall" on the first floor runs the width of the house and opens into a library, music room, and spacious dining room whose grand entrances feature majestic double doors with unique, scenic carvings up above. A "Chesapeake Room" located just off the dining room offers guests a casual place to meet. There you will find a fireplace, television with VCR, and a unique wet bar tucked underneath the stairs.

Mornings at the manor start with a full breakfast -- a prelude to the many adventures that lie ahead.

Great Oak is most valued by return guests as an escape from the hectic pace of everyday life. In this private and secluded setting, the only honking you'll hear is that of geese, the closest highway is the geese flyway, and the magical sunsets are sure to calm the soul and lighten the heart.

Of course, there's no more popular place to explore in this neck of the woods than Chesapeake Bay. And as guests of the manor, you will have full access to the property's private beach.

From there, you may want to launch a lazy afternoon daydream in a canoe or a kayak. Or, maybe you'd like to pick a spot to go fishing.

There are 10-speed bicycles available at the Inn, and a swimming pool, tennis court, and nine-hole golf course are available next door at Great Oak Landing.

Those who love the great outdoors will want to visit the wildlife refuge, while history buffs will certainly want to spend time in the historic districts of both Chestertown and neighboring Rock Hall.

You'll also turn back the pages of time with a tour of nearby Washington College. Washington D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia are all within a 90-minute drive.