We joined about 20 other paranormal enthusiasts recently to investigate the hauntings of the 101-year old Essex Police Fire Station, now a museum run by the Essex Historical Society documenting the history of the Essex Middle River area, during an event sponsored by Ghosts N’At. Built in 1920, the building was intended to house both […]
Maryland
13 Great Ghost Tours: A Spooky Tour Through the Mid-Atlantic States
August, September and October are the season most folks check out ghost walks and ghost tours — one of my favorite activities! Ghost tours are always intriguing — they’re a little bit of sight-seeing, a little bit of ghost story, and usually a lot of history. Ghost tours are a good way to get to […]
Two More Delicious Creameries Along Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail
A sunny August afternoon lured us out again for some more ice cream — this time we decided to drive out to northern Baltimore County and Harford County MD, to Broom’s Bloom Dairy and Prigel Family Creamery respectively. About a decade ago, Maryland dairy farmers came up with a creative – and delicious – plan […]
Exploring Maryland’s Iconic Casselman Bridge State Park
“We build too many walls and not enough bridges.” — Isaac Newton Like Thomas Shoals Lighthouse outside of Annapolis, the Cassalman Bridge in western Maryland is an iconic Maryland image. Casselman Bridge once carried the National Road across Casselman River in Garrett County. It remains one of Maryland’s most picturesque places, instantly Facebook and Instagram […]
Hiking in the Patuxent Research Refuge
The Patuxent Research Refuge offers several nearly level hikes that include a lot of interest, including a the 1.8 mile Cash Lake Loop Trail, the 4.9 mile North Tract Loop, and the 2.4 mile Forest Trail. Stretched for time, we chose the shorter “hike” (more like a walk, although there were a few muddy spots […]
The Secrets of Pemberton Hall
Nearly 300 years old, Pemberton Hall is located in Salisbury, MD in Wicomico County. When it was built, as now, it was surrounded by a rural, wetland landscape. The building holds it secrets. Col. Isaac Handy built the home in 1741. Although decades of neglect in the 20th century brought it to the point of […]
Cool Sights Along the Maryland Creamery Trail in Frederick County
Our goal was simple and sweet: head out to sample two stops along the Maryland Creamery Trail in Frederick County. Along the way we enjoyed the pretty farmland countryside, discovered some hidden Civil War history, found some instantly instagramable old trucks, and — oh yeah, enjoyed the best summer snack ever! About a decade ago, […]
The Yummiest Daytrip Ever: Following the Ice Cream Trail in Mountain Maryland
The Golden Lady Sundae, by Frostburg Freeze We decided to usher in the unofficial start of summer Memorial Day Weekend by following the Allegheny County Ice Cream Trail. Our goal: to sample at least five of the nine stops along the tasty trail. #caloriesdon’tcountonanicecreamtrail I have a Know Before You Go pro-tip right of the […]
What Haunts the Patapsco Female Institute?
The Patapsco Female Institute, at least what’s left of it, is haunted of course, like any self-respecting ruins would be. I got two VERY interesting photographs almost as soon as I was out of the car. I shared these on a paranormal enthusiasts site (Haunted Nation), and the comments and interpretations were quite interesting: one […]
River Views Along Jesse’s Trail – Little Gunpowder Falls Loop Hike
This loop hike in Gunpowder Falls State Park (Central Area) takes you for an energizing hike up a heavily forested hillside before finishing with a calming walk alongside the lovely Little Gunpowder Falls river. Despite ample parking at the trailhead at Belair Road, for about 10 or so cars (depending on how close they park […]
Hiking the Lower Susquehanna Ridge Trail: a Perfect Morning Hike
It was the best way to spend a morning — hiking in the mountainside above the Susquehanna River in Harford County, where the river is wide and calm(er) and beautiful glimpsed through the trees, before it opens into the Chesapeake Bay just a mile or two away. We chose the Lower Susquehanna Ridge Loop Trail. […]
Maryland’s Amazing Rock Maze
Get lost in Maryland’s very own rock maze! No, I’m kidding — you can’t get lost in Maryland’s rock maze, but you can definitely have a lot of fun exploring all the cracks and crevices. This short hike — not even a mile total there and back — is at first a lovely walk (slightly […]
Northern Carroll County Barn Quilt Driving Tour
This Sunflower quilt block is “set on point” on a small bank barn that dates to the mid 1800s.The owner chose this pattern because volunteer sunflowers will occasionally appear on the property. I love barns — and if you’re reading this, I bet you do too! A good barn tour will carry you through rolling […]
Seven Fabulous Forts in the Mid-Atlantic States You Should Visit!
Everyone’s probably heard of famous Fort McHenry in Baltimore, which tells the story of the War of 1812 and is immortalized in Francis Scott Key’s “Star-Spangled Banner.” But seven other fabulous forts are worth exploring in the mid-Atlantic region: three in Maryland, and two each in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Each fort has a unique history […]
Southern Carroll County Barn Quilt Driving Tour
This four patch quilt block on a bank barn in Westminster was popular in the early 1900s.This block was chosen by the farm owners to represent the soybeans and corn grown on their80 acre farm. Four generations of the Nelson family have farmed this land since the farm was established in 1868. If you love barns, […]