Autumn is such a glorious season.  There is no better way to enjoy the beauty of nature’s annual colorful splendor than embarking on a long, leisurely drive to nowhere.  The air is cool and crisp – sweeping vistas are filled with a kaleidoscope of reds, oranges, and yellows, and the adventure of the open road beckons the curious traveler.  What sights, sounds, and tastes wait around the next bend?  Does it seem like a far-away fantasy?

Western Maryland has what you’re looking for.  Just a few hours away from the urban hustle and bustle of Washington D.C. and Baltimore lays the idyllic fall foliage and mountain scenes that most people think require a lengthy trip to New England to experience.  Here’s a weekend blueprint for your own journey of relaxing, autumn bliss – without ever leaving the state.

DAY ONE

Starting from Frederick, head west on I-70.  Almost immediately, the rolling hills of Central Maryland give way to the Appalachians of the west.  Travelers are greeted with scenic views across wide, expansive valleys that are blanketed with quilted squares of ripening farmland, ready for harvest.  Fields of mature corn, soybeans, and field grasses are bordered with trickling streams or stands of sycamore, walnut, and oak trees.  Rounded hay bales dot the landscape.  Dairy cattle leisurely graze the shortening days away in fields of deep green.

Buddy Lou’s Eats, Drinks, & Antiques in Hancock, Maryland is the perfect place for lunch on the journey ever westward.  Located just 55 miles west of Frederick, it is a funky and eclectic eatery housed in a colorful building loaded with vintage antiques in the basement gallery – all for sale (of course).  If the weather is nice, sit outside on the patio and enjoy a craft beer or cocktail, then dive into an appetizer of chicken livers with chipotle aioli or a plate of fried green tomatoes.  Bring back some childhood memories (or start some new adult ones) with a classic fried bologna sandwich, served with onions and pickles on sourdough bread.

After lunch, the open road calls again.  Just outside of Hancock, pick up I-68, the gateway to Western Maryland.  Soon, a looming cut in the mountain ahead draws your curiosity.  Pull off at the Sideling Hill rest stop and marvel at the engineering that created a 340-foot deep notch in the top of the mountain, allowing the highway to pass.  The cut exposes almost 810 feet of layered stone, one of the best rock exposures in the state.  Millions of years of geologic history can be viewed from the pedestrian bridge that crosses the highway.  Turn around and marvel at the scenic vistas behind you – just a taste of what is to come as the mountains beckon you onward.

Each mountain you encounter is a bit higher than the last, and the palate of fall color becomes more vibrant.  If the highway is not your speed, jump off onto Route 40, which snakes and intertwines along with I-68 on its westward course.  Soon you spot today’s destination.  Rugged mountains cradle a large 243-acre tranquil lake on your right, home of the Rocky Gap Resort and Casino, just east of Cumberland.

Check-in to a lake-facing room and get outside to enjoy nature.  Take a hike around picturesque Lake Habeeb, ride a mountain bike, or rent a pontoon boat or canoe and lazily paddle the afternoon away.  As daylight wanes,  sip a cocktail in a comfy Adirondack chair by the fire pit and watch as a sun silently dips behind the mountains, enjoy a signature burger or flatbread at LB’s Place (one of the resort’s many eateries), then try your luck at blackjack or slots in the resort’s casino to round out your day.

 

DAY TWO

Indulge yourself with a breakfast buffet at the resort, then get moving towards the “Queen City” – downtown Cumberland – just minutes away to the west.  Today, you’ve got a date with the scenic Western Maryland Railroad and a mid-day journey chugging along the rails through the Allegheny Mountains for an intimate look at the rugged Maryland back country.  Feel the “clack-clack” of the rails and hear the wail of the train whistle as it echoes through mountain passes, over bridges, round a horseshoe curve, and passes through a tunnel as it ascends 1,300 feet in elevation.   Various seating options are available and reservations are highly recommended.

As the roughly 30-mile round trip journey reaches its midpoint at the Frostburg Depot, you’ll have a chance to depart the train and watch the engine get turned around on a giant turntable or explore this quaint college town for lunch.  Grab a panini and coffee at the Mountain City Coffee House and check out the building’s gothic architecture, outdoor seating, and college vibe.

After exploring the mountains by train, return to the Rocky Gap Resort and explore the bird sanctuary in adjoining Rocky Gap State Park, where many native species of birds of prey that cannot be released back into the wild live out their days in safety and comfort, providing a close-up glimpse of nature’s wild side.  Not into birds?  Indulge yourself in a spa treatment at the resort – or how about a well-deserved nap in a lakeside lounge chair?

Tonight it’s dinner is at the resort’s Lakeside Restaurant Buffet or at Signature’s Bar and Grill.  Then after dinner, get your giggle on at a comedy show or rock out to a concert at the resort’s entertainment venues.  Check their website for scheduled acts.

 

DAY THREE

Our last day begins with a drive into Cumberland for a stop at historic Caporale’s Bakery (151 N Mechanic Street).  Stroll into this 100-year old landmark for a take-out breakfast of hot, fresh cinnamon rolls or their legendary (and huge) pepperoni rolls.  Nourished and refreshed its back onto I-68 to continue the journey westward.  The altitude is increasing with each mountain, and the last one is the biggest.  Savage Mountain will take drivers an impressive 2,830 feet above sea level.  Large wind turbines can be viewed on the ridgetops and travelers cross over the Eastern Continental Divide, which marks the boundary for the main watersheds of the eastern United States.  Water on the eastern side of the divide eventually flows into the Atlantic Ocean and water of the western side winds up in the Gulf of Mexico.

The terminus of this weekend’s westward journey is just off of Exit 22, east of Grantsville, MD.  Stop in to the Hilltop Fruit Market (12579 National Pike) and prepare to be amazed.  Fresh produce, delicious local apples, and a wide variety of specialty jams, pickled vegetables, and spice mixes line the shelves.  The real star of the show; however, is Hilltop’s claim to fame – Candyland.  Over 900 varieties of candy are on display and over 400 pick-n-mix candies are available.  Pick up a bag and start stuffing it full of childhood favorites like BB Bats, syrup filled wax bottles, or Swedish fish.  If you remember it from your childhood, chances are Hilltop Fruit Market has it in stock.  Lug your overstuffed bag to the counter and pay for your treasures by the pound.

Laughing like a little kid, its time to begin the trek east and head for home.  Don’t fill-up on all of your candy just yet, because you’ll want to stop for a late lunch at Puccini Restaurant, located just east of Cumberland.  Savor lightly battered zucchini sticks or some crab-cake sliders, then move on to one of their mouth-watering wood-fired pizzas at this local favorite before finishing up your trip.

What a journey!  The mountains of Western Maryland beckon you to explore them in their peak season, and at only 230 miles round trip from Frederick, it really is closer than you think!