Our 36-hour Frederick, MD Staycation

With everyone's travel plans getting thrown off because of the pandemic, we decided that now was a good time as ever to become tourists in our own state. If you're wary of flying or traveling a long distance right now, I highly suggest checking out somewhere new in your own backyard!

For as long as we've lived in Maryland, neither of us have spent any time in Frederick. It's a quaint little town with thriving restaurants, coffee shops, and fun shops to peruse.

Our schedules only allowed for a quick trip this time, so we crammed as much in as possible to 36 hours!

Outdoor Things to Do in Frederick

There are so many things to do in Frederick and the surrounding area and I had no idea. We spent the afternoon in Harper's Ferry, WV - only 25 minutes from Frederick. The history of Harper's Ferry is outstanding and since it was a gorgeous day, we spent our time floating down the Susquehanna River. I'd suggest making reservations, but you can read all about their COVID-19 precautions here. We wanted a relaxing day, we so chose the Slow Ride, which took about 2.5 hours to float about 4-5 miles down the river. It was so pretty and would be a lot of fun to do with a group of friends!

We spent a full day in Harper's Ferry - it has a ton of hiking trails, gorgeous views, and rich history to catch up on - we could have spent a few days here! You can visit the old, historic General Store and see old meeting houses, as well as read all about the buildings that were destroyed in the flood of 1870. So much rich history that got washed away!

Frederick has no shortage of things to do, either. If you are a history buff, this is the place to go - Civil War museums, the Monocacy National Battlefield, and Rose Hill Manor and Museum. If you're looking for family fun, there is Adventure Park USA, Escape Rooms, and lots of nearby pick-your-own orchards.

Frederick, MD Breweries

Another thing Frederick has no shortage of is breweries.

One of my new favorites is Attaboy Brewing. I had their beer before at an event in Baltimore, but never visiting the Brewery or Barrel House. We were graciously hosted by the staff and had a great time! Both the brewery and Barrel House have modified hours, so be sure to check if you plan to go. The Barrel House is 21+ and no dog friendly - so plan accordingly!

I tried the Mermaid Blood Blonde Ale and hubby had the Fredhead Red IPA - both are highly recommended! The people there are amazing and we had such a great time, despite the regulations put into place to keep everyone safe. There are hand sanitizers everywhere and markers on the floor to maintain distance while ordering drinks at the bar.

We walked a short 15 minutes downtown to Brewer's Alley, another great brewpub (Frederick's first!) and had a great time!

Time for Dinner

Downtown Frederick has amazing restaurants and places to find a bite to eat. Every place we passed had strict precautions listed on the doorway and there was temporary outdoor seating for most restaurants along the sidewalk.

I recommend making a reservation somewhere to ensure zero wait time if you know where you want to eat. We had reservations at Firestone's Culinary Tavern and I have to say - we were both really impressed. The service was incredible, the tables were more than 6 feet apart, giving everyone plenty of distance, and the entire staff wore whole face shields and masks.

But what really stood out was the food. When we visit a new place, hubby and I always share a bunch of things instead of ordering our own meals. This way we get to try more and the best of the best.

We started with a cheese board like always, and loved the selection of cheeses and acroutments. Our favorite, Monocacy Ash from Cherry Glen, was available and we were thrilled. Next, was the Rockfish Ceviche. I could have eaten 3 orders of it! So fresh and bright and delicious. Whenever we go to a new restaurant and there are mussels on the menu, I have to order them. I was not disappointed! It came with warm bread to soak up the garlic and butter sauce (which is always one of my favorite parts!)

The real star of the show was the main entree - duck. Corn risotto and duck sausage accompanied the best duck I've ever had!

Staying Frederick, MD isn't the most glamorous place, but there is so much to do and such wonderful history. A stay-cation is the best way to get a change of scenery without having to do any long distance traveling and staying safe. We loved exploring our own backyard!

Safe travels!