Where to Go, What to Know

Post travel writer Andrea Sachs drove to Western Maryland's Garrett County this month for some close-to-home dog sledding. Her reporter's notebook:

WHERE TO STAY

* The Casselman Inn (113 E. Main St., Grantsville, 301-895-5055, http://www.thecasselman.com) has a main hotel with four rooms featuring cozy granny furnishings as well as a more modern motel in the back. Its restaurant serves hearty breakfasts and sells tasty home-baked goods. Doubles from $52 a night.

* LakeStar Lodge (2001 Deep Creek Dr., McHenry, 301-387-5596, http://www.lakestarlodge.com) has 21 rooms with views of Wisp's slopes and Deep Creek Lake. From $99.

* At the Haley Farm B&B Retreat Center (16766 Garrett Hwy., Oakland, 888-231-3276, http://www.haleyfarm.com; from $145), a former dairy farm, you can be super active (trout fishing, cross-country skiing, corn picking) or ultra-slothful (spa treatments, hammock swings, fireplace naps).

WHERE TO EAT

* DC's Bar and Restaurant (296 Marsh Hill Rd., McHenry, 301-387-4911) creates elegant dishes just off Wisp's slopes. Have a cocktail in the fireplace-warmed bar, then head to the dining room for seared lamb with chutney ($24), pasta a la vodka ($17) or wasabi tuna ($20).

* For filling country food, Annie's Kitchen (414 S. Main St., Accident, 301-746-8578) prepares basket specials (e.g., fish and fries for $6.75), hot sandwiches with mashed potatoes and coleslaw ($7.75) and boarding house dinners (from $9.95).

* Santa Fe Grill (75 Visitors Center Dr., McHenry, 301-387-2182) does Tex-Mex right with nachos (from $5.95), chicken or steak fajita pizzas (from $8.25), mesquite specials (from $12.75) and more.

WHERE TO DOG SLED

* Husky Power Dogsledding (2008 Bumble Bee Rd., Accident, 301-746-7200, http://www.huskypowerdogsledding.com) organizes dog-sledding tours and events throughout the year. Choose from an array of excursions, such as kennel visits and 30-minute sled rides. The ultimate outing is the Musher Experience ($195 per person or $150 each with two to four participants). Book early, spots fill up fast.

WHAT ELSE TO DO

* Get active: Hike or cross-country ski in Swallows Falls State Park or Savage River Greenways, boat or fish on Deep Creek Lake, ski at Wisp, etc.

* Take a $10 pony ride or $30 horseback trail ride at the Circle R Ranch (4151 Sand Flat Rd., Oakland, 301-387-6890, http://www.deepcreeklakestable.com). Pleasant Valley Dream Rides (1689 Pleasant Valley Rd., Oakland, 301-334-1688, http://www.pleasantvalleydreamrides.com; $10) leads horse-drawn sleigh and carriage rides.

INFO: Garrett County Chamber of Commerce, 301-387-4386, http://www.garrettchamber.com.