Celebrating the Season at Fiore and Harford Wineries

Having heard about Harford Vineyard’s “Go Local for the Holidays” event, occurring each weekend in December, my friend and I decided to head out to the winery to check it out. A friend of mine visited Harford, and two other wineries along the Piedmont Wine Trail, just as the harvest had begun (see the link […]

Tail Lights Fun Way to Experience Symphony of Lights!

The moment I heard about Tail Lights, a dog-friendly stroll through the Symphony of Lights at Merriweather Post Pavilion’s Symphony Woods, sponsored by Howard County General Hospital, I was determined to participate. I rallied my reluctant (and definitely warm weather) husband and another friend (after all, I had three dogs to walk) and pre-registered. As […]

Frederick by Candlelight: Decorated Houses, Museums, and Houses of Worship

Funny how you take your home town for granted until you’ve lived away from it a few years. I moved away from Frederick in the late 1980s. Now I find myself coming back to explore it – from ghost tours of Mount Olivet Cemetery to the latest, the 28th Annual “Holidays in Historic Frederick” Candlelight […]

Visiting the Ponies at Assateague Island

Visiting Assateague Island isn’t just a summer day (or weekend) trip — the island offers a lot of interest for all seasons. When the ocean-dipping crowds depart, the island really comes alive for me. Cooler weather means pleasant walks along the island trails, and of course, no bugs! Map courtesy of AssateagueIsland.com Assateague Island is […]

Stunning Views at the C&O Canal, Locks 33 and 34

This is sort of part two of last week’s Harpers Ferry blog–this is the stretch of the C&O Canal we were trying to reach via the railroad bridge when our beagle categorically refused to go down the stairs. (There is no joy in having to carry a 40lb beagle down and back up several flights […]

Harpers Ferry: Stepping Back in History

My husband and I probably spend a day or an afternoon at Harpers Ferry at least once a year, generally just walking around and then we’ll have lunch. Sometimes, such as on this most recent visit, we’ll bring a beagle or two. I’ve also taken my sons there multiple times — sometimes focusing more on […]

Going to the Birds in Bombay Hook

I try to get out to Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) at least once a year, camera(s) in hand. Despite the fact I’ve got a lovely camera — far too sophisticated and decked out for the likes of me — I still get camera envy when I see the professionals with their ultra-powerful zoom […]

Piedmont Wine Trail: Harvest Time!

Piedmont Wine Trail at Harvest Time!  Fourth in the Maryland Winery series This week Lynn, aka “Day Tripper,” shares her experiences on an Anne Arundel Community College-sponsored wine tasting trip along the Piedmont Wine Trail. Here’s what she thought about her experiences at three Maryland wineries. — Daytrip Gal I’m now convinced harvest time is the […]

Ghostly Orbs: Evidence of Hauntings During Annapolis Ghost Walk?

Looking for something low key and romantic to do, I talked Hubby into joining me for the Annapolis Ghost Walk. Annapolis is a frequent destination for us — just 30 minutes away from Columbia, MD. The historic capital of Maryland’s harbor draws us on many a hot summer’s night, as nothing is more fun or […]

Leaf Peeping in Dolly Sods Wilderness

Sometimes the beauty of Dolly Sods Wilderness Area is subtle, sometimes breathtaking. Dolly Sods also serves as an abject lesson for us: it was the scene of one of the worst ecological disasters in the 20th century. Despite that, Dolly Sods has rebounded over the past century and now is truly one of the most […]

How ’bout dem apples?! The National Apple Harvest Festival

Pennsylvania has a long history of growing apples — and is the fourth largest producer in the U.S. Adams County, in south Pennsylvania, where the National Apple Harvest Festival takes place two weekends each year, apples are taken seriously!Apples are everywhere. In fact more than five million bushels of apples are harvested in this one […]