Cumberland, MD
Friday: Shop ‘Til You Drop. Spend a little or spend, well, a little more. Whatever your pleasure, stroll along Baltimore Street – a pedestrian-only town center – for antiques, clothing, collectibles and sweet treats. Pop in Meg Romero Studio to marvel at her creative art furniture and have lunch at City Lights American Grill. Crab cake sandwich, anyone? Next, head one block over to Canal Street for the Shops at Canal Place and its unique offering of stores. While there, satisfy your sweet tooth at Queen City Creamery.
Saturday. All aboard! Historic trains and stunning scenery draw folks to take an excursion on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, says Donna Corley, office manager and frequent passenger. “A narrator shares the background of the areas as you pass through,” which include The Narrows, Helmsetter’s Curve and Brush Tunnel, she adds. During the layover at the Frostburg Depot, grab a bite to eat and visit downtown shops. Back in Cumberland, step off the train and explore – by foot or two wheels – the C&O Canal Towpath, which runs parallel with the Potomac River. The path connects with the Great Allegheny Passage, popular among hikers and bikers. It offers a crushed limestone surface built on abandoned rail beds.
Sunday. From readings to concerts, the Allegany Arts Council will introduce you to the creativity of local artisans. Art walks, self-guided treks through the Cumberland Arts & Entertainment District, begin in the spring. Browse art galleries, enjoy theater performances and listen to live music.
Cost Roundup: City Lights American Grill (lunch $5-$12); Queen City Creamery ($3-$6); Western Maryland Scenic Railroad ($16-$30 for coach seating). During art walks, the majority of activities are free.
Before You Go
Allegany County Tourism Dept.
800-425-2067
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
800-872-4650
Great Allegheny Passage
301-777-2161
Allegany Arts Council
301-777-2787
Inn on Decatur
Bed and breakfast located two blocks from downtown Cumberland. $104-$134 per night price range.
800-459-0510
The Bruce House Inn
Four guestrooms in an 1840 Federal-style home. $109-$169 per night price range.
866-777-8181
7C’s Lodging
Quaint cabins with all the comforts of home just 12 miles from Cumberland. Call for prices.
301-478-3535
Civil War Stop: Hagerstown
The largest town in Washington County, Hagerstown, Md. offers up a historical walking tour that showcases significant sites associated with its namesake, Jonathan Hager. But the jaunt also features buildings that were an important part of the Civil War. Among the stops along the tour, the city parking deck – former site of the Franklin Hotel – is where Hagerstown’s Dr. Norman Scott tended to both Union and Confederate soldiers.
According to the tour website, the town’s original fire station, which was altered in 1881, also served as a hospital during the war. Intoxicated Union soldiers looted the local barber shop, which was owned by freed African-Americans William and John A. Wagoner. Inside the Miller House, visitors can browse Civil War items, along with exhibits of a doll collection, clocks and family pottery.
For more on the tour, call 301-791-3246.
