Our middle daughter and her friends were coming to the city ...
Our middle daughter and her friends were coming to the city for the weekend and going to a concert. Since there were 10 of t...
My overseas trips have again been curtailed again in 2021. I, like many of my guests, have begun to dig in to my local area and really explore activities and attractions that are available within in a short drive. I have been pleased to find some real gems! Much of this I had literally no idea about, and many I would have not taken the time to visit had I not been forced to stick around.
1. Winetime! Maryland actually has a pretty decent viniculture scene; Virginia's is even better and all is within an easy drive of me. Pictured is Catoctin Breeze Winery which is about 15-20 minutes from my cottage. Much of the local farmland in Maryland and Virginia has been converted to grape growing, with a few of my favorites (cab franc, viognier) being well suited to this climate. Wineries typically have outdoor seating, so in transitional lockdown stages, they were are great place to visit at low risk. And most are pet friendly, which is a plus for us and our guests.
2. Skiing and Snowboarding! I had no clue that there was a ski resort, Ski Liberty, within a half hour of our cottage. If you want to laugh, watch me try to learn to ski. My guests had mentioned this place and I always thought it must be really far away. But no! Its quite convenient. I honestly was oblivious to this. But many bruises later, I had checked it out.
3. Axe throwing! Have some irritation that you need to release? How about throwing an axe? There is an axe throwing place dangerously close to my primary house (some would say "throwing distance" lol), and about a half hour from our Airbnb. Ours cater to individuals and small groups, and serve beer and wine. Its cathartic. I highly recommend this if you have any similar opportunities around you. The one in my local area is called, appropriately, Stumpy's.
4. Ghost tours! Has the supernatural always fascinated you? How about taking a ghost tour in Gettysburg, PA? To be honest, Gettysburg never really lit my fire until I started exploring the ghost-y aspect of the town. A famously haunted inn with a creepy child ghost was enough to get my attention. Gettysburg is about a half hour from our Airbnb. And of course, its a must see for any Civil War history buffs.
5. An Actual Saint! Whether you are Catholic or not, religious or not, visiting the shrine of Elizabeth Ann Seton, America's first native-born saint is really interesting and inspiring. A peaceful, contemplative place, its a mere 17 minutes from our Airbnb. It was something I vaguely knew about, but never would have explored if not for being forced to stick around in Maryland.
6. Riding the Rails! Have fantasies of returning to the days of steam train travel? Well guess what--- there is an actual heritage railway complete with steam engine and passenger cars a mere 16 minutes from our Airbnb. You can dine, participate in a train murder mystery, or ride with Santa on the Walkersville Southern Railroad.
7. Covered Bridges! They aren't just for Madison County. There are a number of covered bridges and cool old stone bridges within a pretty drive of our Airbnb. There are several driving tours published, and the history of each is really fascinating. One is even on the way to the winery pictured....just sayin'.
8. Art! I am a little ashamed to say I had not visited the Delaplane Arts Center in Frederick, MD until this year. Its pretty darn amazing. And I paint and love to talk and collect art, so there was literally zero excuse (not to mention I used to live within walking distance.) For our guests who want to experience the work of some truly talented local artists, the 5 floor museum is a real treat. And its in Frederick, which is a cute and vibrant town about a half hour from our Airbnb.
9. Peacocks (and meditation!) Okay, this one is a bit of a cheat as I can walk my dog by it from my primary house, but its 37 minutes driving from our Airbnb. Xá Lợi Temple is a Buddhist temple and sanctuary that is sometimes open to the public for mediation. And they have PEACOCKS that roam the grounds. When walking my dog, we often hear them (they are LOUD.) Very peaceful and they have open festivals which are incredibly interesting.
I would love to hear about your own discoveries in your area. I am rewriting our house guide with all of my new favorites so that guests can check them out as well.
