WESTERN MARYLAND produce a mind-boggling array of color, and a single visit may not be enough to capture the season’s splendor, but if you can only make one trip, come during Oakland’s annual Autumn Glory Festival. The five-day festival, celebrating 50 years in 2017, offers foliage tours, parades, music, dance competitions, art exhibits, local crafts and even a car show. The region’s premier ski resort offers 32 downhill slopes and trails, terrain parks, a snow tubing park, an ice skating rink, and a Mountain Coaster. The Nordic center is home to cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and a slope-side hotel. During the summer, enjoy pontoon boat tours, mountain bike rentals, two golf courses, scenic chairlift rides and more. Hit the Slopes at Wisp Resort Savage River Lodge, Savage River Forest Stay Let it Ride at Rocky Gap Casino Resort The location of Rocky Gap may be bucolic, but inside it’s state of the art. Slots, table games and nightly entertainment featuring music and comedy acts make it a great place for a weekend getaway. Camp Out at Green Ridge State Forest To really get away from it all, head out to a primitive campsite in Maryland’s largest public park. The 47,560-acre forest allows hunting, fishing, biking and hiking, as well as paddling along the Potomac River. Book a stay at the idyllic Casselman Inn, a historic B&B just a short stroll Make a Stop Along the National Road from the Spruce Forest Artisan Village. Cozy up at the Old South Mountain Inn, a traveler’s favorite since 1732. Or make a brief detour to the Savage River Lodge; the classic cabins, yurts, and the elegant lodge are worth the trip. ✥ Living the Lake Life BY CHRIS LANDERS PHOTO:SAVAGE RIVER LODGE Deep Creek has year-round activities for the whole family. Boating, swimming and fishing are all on the itinerary for the warmer months, while ice-fishing and dog sledding round out the winter months. Nearby Wisp Resort offers ski trails and snowboarding terrain parks, plus a mountain coaster, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing—and shopping and dining for those not inclined to schuss down a mountain. The resort’s hotel offers upscale accommodations, and there are many other options from camping and cabins to lodges and vacation homes. For a unique, eco-friendly vacation, Blue Moon Rising rents an assortment of small cabins at its site on the lake, built and managed with an eye to sustainable practices, as well as community buildings for group get-togethers. DESTINATION MARYLAND ✥ 53
Maryland Official Visitors Guide 2017: Page 53
