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There’s one thing for everybody in Washington County, Maryland, whether or not it’s your first journey otherwise you hold returning to your favourite scenic nature trails time and again. With summer season simply across the nook, now could be the time to start out planning your subsequent nice highway journey. Positioned about three hours from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, or 90 minutes from Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, this explicit a part of the state is filled with historic Civil Battle battlefields and scenic byways showcasing the world’s pure magnificence. Should you’re up for a memorable drive filled with historical past, mountaineering trails, charming small cities, historic inns, wineries, breweries, and loads of Americana, add these three scenic byways to your subsequent Western Maryland highway journey itinerary.
The Maryland Historic Nationwide Highway Scenic Byway
Historic Nationwide Highway – Credit score: Scott Cantner
Whereas your entire Historic Nationwide Highway reaches throughout six states from Baltimore, Maryland, to East St. Louis, Illinois, a big portion of Maryland’s stretch of it passes via Washington County, following Maryland Route 144 and US Route 40 Scenic (additionally referred to as US Route 40 Alternate), which runs parallel to US Route 40 from Frederick to Hagerstown. As you drive on the scenic byway, constructed between 1811 and 1834 and dotted with historic websites, charming small cities, and beautiful pure surroundings, it’s not arduous to think about early American settlers and merchants touring alongside the identical route of their horse-drawn carriages.
Fashionable stops inside Washington County embody Washington Monument State Park, the place you’ll be able to hike a small part of the legendary Appalachian Path and look at the primary stone monument ever created in honor of George Washington, and South Mountain State Park, which is situated close by and a part of a preferred migratory path. Go to the Nationwide Highway Museum in Boonsboro to study extra about US Route 40, the primary federally funded freeway within the U.S., and snap images of the city’s charming Nineteenth-century buildings. Nora Roberts followers may make a pilgrimage to her beloved Flip the Web page Bookstore and Café, the place she nonetheless does the occasional guide signing, or keep on the Inn BoonsBoro, a literary-themed mattress and breakfast opened by the esteemed bestselling writer and her husband in 2009. Head to Large Cork Vineyards for a glass of regionally made wine or take pleasure in a meal at Outdated South Mountain Inn, recognized for its eating since 1732.
Antietam Brewey – Credit score: Scott Cantner
Spend a while in Hagerstown, also known as the “Hub Metropolis” as a result of its location on the crossroads of a number of main buying and selling routes — by land and water — and finally, due to its many modern-day railway and freeway connections. Should you’re craving a little bit tradition in your highway journey, go to the Washington County Museum of Positive Arts or catch a present at The Maryland Theatre, the place the Maryland Symphony Orchestra relies. Stroll alongside the Hagerstown Cultural Path, which connects the theatre district with the wonderful arts museum in Metropolis Park. Only a 10-minute drive from downtown Hagerstown, Antietam Brewery is value a cease for its inventive craft brews, tasting room, behind-the-scenes excursions, and out of doors patio, whereas Blue Mountain Wine Crafters in close by Funktown gives a dog-friendly cease for lovers of all issues vino.
Subsequent, head west to Ford Frederick State Park in Large Pool, house to a novel stone fort that dates again to 1756 and as soon as protected Maryland through the French and Indian Battle — it’s additionally house to a number of mountaineering trails the place you’ll be able to spot white-tailed deer, birds, turtles, and different wetland wildlife. Close by, seafood lovers can tuck into crab truffles, crab legs, oyster po’boys, and different surf and turf delights like prime rib and smoked beef brisket sandwiches at Jimmy Pleasure’s Log Cabin Inn — simply be sure you save room for do-it-yourself coconut cake or Queen Metropolis Creamery frozen custard for dessert.
Different locations value testing alongside the scenic byway embody the City Hill Overlook in Little Orleans and, simply past Washington County’s boundaries, Rocky Hole State Park in Flintstone, the Nice Allegheny Passage (which begins in Cumberland, Maryland and ends in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) and charming small cities like Cumberland, Frostburg, and Grantsville, gateway to Casselman River Bridge State Park.
Should you’re quick on time, contemplate breaking apart your Maryland Historic Nationwide Highway Scenic Byway highway journey by curiosity or part, as its Japanese and Western parts lengthen nicely past Washington County and canopy all types of historic websites, quaint nation cities, and different intriguing sights.
The Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal Scenic Byway
Lockhouse on C&O Canal close to Cushwa Basin – Credit score: Betsy DeVore
Journey alongside the C&O Canal Scenic Byway from Cumberland to Hagerstown and factors past by way of a number of Maryland routes (65, 63, 68, 56, 51, and 144, in addition to I-70 and US 40), following the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) Canal Nationwide Historic Park, an intensive 184.5-mile waterway connecting Washington, D.C. with Cumberland, Maryland. The C&O Canal Towpath runs alongside it, performing as a serious vacation spot for runners, cyclists, and anybody in want of a protracted stroll by the Potomac River. Should you want a paved path, the adjoining Western Maryland Rail Path, which runs 28 miles between Large Pool and Little Orleans, makes an important choice for these longing to stretch their legs.
Whereas Williamsport is a serious heart of exercise alongside the C&O Canal Scenic Byway, with alternatives to take a look at the inside workings of the lock throughout a 1900s-era boat experience or by spending the night time in a conventional lockhouse, there are just a few different spots value visiting alongside the canal as nicely.
In Hancock, seize a chunk or choose up some regionally made souvenirs at The Blue Goose Market, house to a preferred bakery, then cease by the customer heart to study extra concerning the city’s historical past beside the busy canal system.
Get some contemporary air by taking a hike within the Sideling Hill Wildlife Administration Space, house to among the space’s oldest geology, in addition to songbirds, white-tailed deer, black bears, grouse, and wild turkeys. If time permits, hike as much as Paw Paw Tunnel, which takes you up from the campground via a pitch-black tunnel (don’t neglect to convey a flashlight!) so you’ll be able to view waterfalls on the opposite facet. Should you’ve managed to work up an urge for food in spite of everything that, head to Buddy Lou’s Antiques and Eats for scrumptious Southern-style treats like fried inexperienced tomatoes, mac and cheese, and crabcake sandwiches.
One other widespread canal city, Sharpsburg, is understood for its proximity to Antietam Nationwide Battlefield and for being a part of its personal scenic byway.
The Antietam Marketing campaign Scenic Byway
Antietam Outdated Simon Civil Battle Soldier – Credit score Scott Cantner
Consider the Antietam Marketing campaign Scenic Byway as the last word open-air Civil Battle museum, taking guests from White’s Ferry alongside a number of Maryland Routes — 107 and 109 to Hyattstown, 355 to Frederick, US Route 40 Alternate to Middletown, 17 to Gathland State Park, 67 to Knoxville, 340 to Harpers Ferry Nationwide Historic Park, and US Route 40 Alternate — via Middletown and Boonsboro to Antietam Nationwide Battlefield in Sharpsburg.
Fashionable stops embody historic White’s Ferry, C&O Canal Nationwide Historic Park (which we simply talked about), and Little Bennett Regional Park in Hyattstown. Subsequent, you’ll hit Monocacy Nationwide Battlefield in Frederick, the place the preventing raged on and basically saved Washington, D.C. from a Accomplice invasion, Gathland State Park, house to a big stone monument created to honor Civil Battle correspondents, and South Mountain State Battlefield, which helped flip the tide of the battle in favor of the Union.
Antietam Battlefield – Credit score: Nationwide Park Service
The scenic byway ends at its most well-known cease, Antietam Nationwide Battlefield, the place on September 17, 1862, roughly 23,000 troopers have been killed in what’s now often called the bloodiest single-day battle in American historical past — examine the web site, as there shall be particular occasions held over the weekend of September 17, 2022, to mark the one hundred and sixtieth anniversary. All yr lengthy, you’ll be able to study concerning the battle and those that fought and died there on the customer heart, hear about Civil Battle drugs on the Pry Home Subject Hospital Museum, and mirror on the lives that have been misplaced at Antietam Nationwide Cemetery. Increase a glass to historical past and those that got here earlier than at Antietam Creek Vineyards, additionally situated in Sharpsburg, providing a number of regionally made classic white, pink, and rosé wines and views of the close by battlefield.
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