I am attempting to continue my somewhat erratic efforts to be a Chesapeake Bay tour guide.

 At the suggestion of our multi-media editor, I'm going to try to post these travel bits every Thursday, in order to give anyone who wants to go a little planning time. We'll call them "Local travel."

First, let me say that the winter is a great time to explore the Shore. When I visited Cambridge two weeks ago, I had one of the town's top bed and breakfasts all to myself...and I would venture that anywhere you go, it will be the same, especially if you're able to travel on a weeknight.

Why Cambridge? Well, this Dorchester County city sits on the Choptank, and its downtown is getting a facelift. There are at least four restaurants, three antique shops, several upscale boutiques and art galleries. Here's a list of all of them, courtesy of Main Street Cambridge, which has been working to breathe new life into the town. I particularly liked A Few of My Favorite Things, an eclectic store featuring chocolate, coffee, piggy banks and lots of flamingoes.

(For those looking for a bargain, they have two thrift shops. But act quickly: I saw a $5 plastic kitchen I wanted to buy for my daughter, but when I went back 1 hour later, it was gone.)

There is wireless internet for everyone downtown, and Main Street has put up these computer kiosks that tell you in real time what's happening around town and who is offering discounts on what, so you can decide to get a last-minute massage or stay overnight if a special becomes available.

Where to stay? Cambridge is known for the Hyatt, but I can never seem to get a rate quote of under $300, so I don't stay there much. And the Holiday Inn on Route 50 is certainly clean enough and probably a fine choice if you want a certain atmosphere. But I would recommend staying in the historic district so you can really take in this very walkable town.

I stayed at Cambridge House, a Bed and Breakfast on High Street, for a small fraction of what the Hyatt usually charges. The rooms had TVs, a great selection of magazines and charming innkeepers. The Mill Street Inn also looks very nice. Both are walkable to all attractions. Ask if they allow children; they might, even if their web site doesn't specify it.

What to do there? Shop, of course.  And there's the sailwinds park, which offers sweeping river views. There are also a few small museums. At the moment, I don't know of any place that rents boats, but with Cambridge surrounded by water, that seems like it would be a fine addition. And if you bring your own, there are many options.

The people of Cambridge have long been trying to coax people off of Route 50 and into their town. If you, like me, have often bypassed the place in your rush to get to the beach or some other place, you will likely be surprised at how much it has changed since your last visit. I sure was. The last time I was there was a couple of years ago, and there wasn't much happening.