A summer reset at the C&O Canal National Park

By WP Creative Group

Celebrating 50 years as part of the National Historical Park Service, the park and nearby towns offer travelers a wealth of nature, culture and history for a fresh start to post-pandemic life. 

 After a year of uncertainty, many people are eager to move forward. About 90 percent of vaccinated travelers now feel ready for a getaway, while about 87 percent of U.S. residents overall expect to travel this summer. For those from the D.C. area in particular, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park is an ideal destination for this moment. Reachable by car and offering 20,000 acres of peaceful nature, hundreds of historical structures, and lively nearby towns to explore, the park is grounded in the past while providing inspiration for the future. 

What’s more, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the C&O Canal National Historical Park joining the National Historical Park Service, and celebratory events and activities this summer range from a photography exhibit to a special beer, wine and spirits trail. The park extends for 184.5 miles, from D.C. all the way to western Maryland, so visitors can base their stay in one of several nearby counties. No matter which setting they choose, travelers can enjoy their desired mix of history, culture and the great outdoors—without having to book a flight or drive for hours.  

Visit thriving downtowns and an agricultural reserve in Montgomery County

Travelers with less time to spare for a summer getaway can reach Montgomery County, Md., in only 45 minutes by car from D.C. Along with being near C&O National Historical Park, Montgomery County is a fantastic option for visitors who are eager to safely shop and dine in person again after a year of virtual browsing and at-home meals. The county’s thriving downtowns and town centers offer a diverse array of open-air venues where visitors can find unique gifts and enjoy memorable meals. From the trendy eateries and specialty boutiques of Pike & Rose in North Bethesda to the pedestrian plaza with shops and outdoor art displays in Downtown Silver Spring, there’s no shortage of options.

For some fresh air, visitors can head to Montgomery County’s 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve, offering pick-your-own fruit like strawberries, tart cherries and tomatoes. Others might prefer hiking to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain for views “over the county’s pastoral patchwork of farms and villages,” said Cory Van Horn, director of marketing for Visit Montgomery, MD. Afterwards, weary hikers can sit down for an outdoor meal at The Comus Inn at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain, featuring a dog-friendly beer garden and panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Outdoorsy stops are also included along Montgomery’s Tastemakers Trail, which showcases more than 20 local craft beverage producers, such as The Waredaca Brewing Company, a farm brewery in Laytonsville that features food trucks on Saturdays. 

Kayak beneath a historic aqueduct and stop for farm-fresh ice cream in Frederick County

Also located less than an hour from Washington, D.C., Frederick County, Md., offers a slew of family-friendly attractions and is steeped in Civil War history. Like the other counties, the C&O Canal National Historical Park runs through it.

“This isn’t just a nice place to quickly pass through. It’s a place you’ll want to spend a few days exploring,” said Melissa Muntz, marketing and communications manager for Visit Frederick. 

The Monocacy Aqueduct is a good place to start exploring the county. Completed in 1833 and measuring more than 500 feet long, this historical site is the largest structure over the C&O Canal National Historical Park. Visitors can stroll across the white stone structure, observing how its color subtly changes depending on the time of day.

History buffs and children alike will enjoy the Brunswick Railroad Museum, featuring a scale model railroad depicting the B&O passenger line. The railroad is what ultimately drove the C&O Canal out of business, according to Muntz, and museum visitors can gain a deeper understanding of how both transportation systems influenced the area.

Afterwards, travelers can stop for lunch at Beans in the Belfry, a cafe located in a restored century-old church building in downtown Brunswick, just steps from the C&O Canal. Another spot not to miss is Rocky Point Creamery, set a mile off the canal towpath and serving farm fresh ice cream and dairy products. Flavors include Mule Food, a special ice cream created for the 50th anniversary and named in reference to the mules that worked so hard to keep the canal running. The flavor has a sweet cream base and is mixed with chocolate pieces and oatmeal cookies.

Experience the crossroads of history in Hagerstown/Washington County

Washington County is only 70 miles from the District and Baltimore, but the area’s several national and state parks feel far away from the hustle and bustle. There are Civil War battlefields to explore, as well as attractions that offer a closer look at the C&O Canal. The Cushwa Basin and Conococheague Aqueduct in Williamsport, for instance, transports visitors to the past with an array of restored and working-condition canal structures, including a lock house, re-watered aqueduct and lock, while the nearby tow path offers stunning views of the Potomac River. 

“We believe this is the only place in North America where this variety of historic canal features can be seen in one location,” said Daniel P. Spedden, president of Hagerstown/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. 

For more canal history and lore, travelers can visit the Bowles House in Hancock, Md., the westernmost town in Washington County. Situated on the Potomac River at the narrowest point in Maryland, the Bowles House reveals what life was like during the canal’s heyday.

After getting their fill of history, visitors can take to the Potomac River with the help of River & Trail Outfitters. The adventure company offers guided whitewater rafting, tubing, kayaking and canoeing tours in Knoxville, Md., as well as paddling tours with beer and wine tastings. 

Explore the “Mountain Side” of Maryland in Allegany County 

Traveling further west into Maryland, about two and a half hours from Washington, D.C., will bring visitors to Allegany County. Known as the state’s “Mountain Side,” the county is teeming with public land and makes an ideal home base for adventurous visitors.

Green Ridge State Forest, Maryland’s largest contiguous forest, offers access points to the Potomac River, where people can go kayaking or jump in for a swim. They can also cycle along the renowned Great Allegheny Passage, a scenic 150-mile bike trail that picks up where the canal ends, in Cumberland, Md., and extends all the way to Pittsburgh, as well as connects to the C&O Canal Towpath that leads all the way to D.C. Travelers can take in the Mason-Dixon park at Mile Marker 22, or stop at Mile Marker 4 to see the Bone Cave, where researchers discovered the remains of a saber-toothed cat from the Ice Age.

After a long bike ride or day of kayaking, visitors can participate in the self-directed Mountain Maryland Tap & Pour Tour, featuring wineries, distilleries and breweries. This year, the tour will feature a new beer, Douglas’ Ditch, that all four of the county’s breweries created together as part of a state-wide Canal Libations Trail that commemorates the C&O Canal’s 50th anniversary as a National Park site. And there’s more history to soak up at the county’s transportation heritage sites, including Mile Marker “Zero” of America’s first federally funded highway, the Historic National Road.

“It was the brainchild of Thomas Jefferson and the gateway to America’s westward expansion, so you could say that Mountain Maryland is the home of America’s very first road trip,” said Ashli Workman, Allegany County Director of Tourism.

Wherever they choose to stay in Maryland, visitors who explore the C&O Canal National Historical Park this summer can take a moment to think back on how far the area has come. For almost a century, the canal’s main purpose was to transport coal from the Allegheny Mountains to Washington, D.C. Now a region that overflows with culture, history and opportunities for outdoor adventure, it’s the perfect setting for an inspiring and memorable post-pandemic vacation.

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