Things To Do
Frederick
We will already be spending a lot of time in Downtown Frederick as our venues are all within or nearby downtown. The area has a lot to offer as it is a walkable historic district with beautiful boutiques, antique shops, cafes, and art galleries. A couple notable spots are Carroll Creek Park, offering a great scenic walk where you will pass many restaurants and breweries, Baker Park, one of the most scenic parks that is shows more of Carroll Creek (you may recognize a few features such as the Bell Tower from our engagement photos) and for those interested in history, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. Expanding from downtown, October in Frederick is great for hiking. There are many locations within the county, but our top recommendations are Sugarloaf Mountain, Cunningham Falls, and the C&O Canal. Additionally, there are a multitude of Civil War sites near downtown including Monocacy National Battlefield.
Restaurants
If you're looking for recommendations on where to eat, consider a few of our favorites. Downtown there are a number of great spots, such as Wine Kitchen, Cucina Massi, Tasting Room, Lazy Fish, Black Hog, and Hootch & Banter. If you're a Top Chef fan or a lover of elevated dining, Bryan and Michael Voltaggio operate Wye Oak Tavern, located within the Visitation Hotel. Housed in a beautifully restored former convent, the restaurant combines historic charm with modern elegance, featuring soaring cathedral ceilings, stained glass windows, and a majestic pipe organ.
Wineries, Breweries, Distilleries
There are many different wineries, breweries, and distilleries to check out! Downtown Frederick offers quite a few. Our top brewery recommendations are Idiom, Steinhardt, RAK, and Attaboy. For distilleries, McClintock and Tenth Ward are great stops. While there aren't any wineries downtown, the Wine Kitchen is the best stop for flights and top tier selections. For those able to travel a little further, consider expanding to other parts of Frederick, or nearby Montgomery County and Northern Virginia, where you can sit back and enjoy the picturesque mountain and farm scenery.
Maryland
Us Marylanders just love our state! While it was hard to come up with a short list of activities, we tried our best. Visit Annapolis to explore the U.S. Naval Academy and stroll the historic waterfront. In Baltimore, enjoy the vibrant Inner Harbor, National Aquarium, ancient art at Walters Art Museum, and historic Fort McHenry. Nature lovers can hike Cunningham Falls, explore Catoctin Mountain Park, or see wild horses at Assateague Island. Relax by Deep Creek Lake or wander the charming streets of St. Michaels. History buffs can tour Antietam Battlefield or the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal. For a unique experience, visit Blackwater Wildlife Refuge or enjoy shopping and dining at National Harbor. Stroll historic streets in Ellicott City, enjoy scenic views at Sugarloaf Mountain, shop and dine at National Harbor, or explore the art galleries and theaters at Glen Echo Park.
Washington, D.C.
We recommend spending at least a couple of hours in DC if you have never had the opportunity to visit. Some of the top stops are the National Mall and Monuments, US Botanic Garden, Smithsonian Museums, and Georgetown.
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia (NoVA) has a lot to offer! October is a great time of year for the Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park as you'll get to take in all the fall foliage. There is also the Virginia side of Great Falls park, and Mount Vernon, the historic home of George Washington.
Pennsylvania
Gettysburg offers a deeper dive into American history with tours, museums, and preserved sites from the Civil War, and the town of Gettysburg also offers shops and restaurants. Also in PA, Hersheypark is fun for fans of theme parks and chocolate, and Lancaster County (AKA Amish Country) has local goods and quaint small towns.
West Virginia
Country roaaaaads, take me hoooooome.... a requirement on your road trip playlist. One of our favorite states to visit, West Virginia has some great outdoor activities to offer, including Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, Blackwater Falls State Park, and Berkeley Springs State Park. Morgantown, home of WVU, is a vibrant college town that offers charming shops and cafes along with beautiful views along the Monongahela River.
Fall Fun
There are lots of area pumpkin patches, hayrides, and corn mazes. For the fans of haunted house experiences, Markoff's Haunted Forest is an awesome evening activity! There are a couple of haunted experiences here in addition to fall drinks, bonfires of tree trunks, and even an aerial obstacle challenge.