Hidden Treasures in Maryland

I recently had the pleasure of spending a relaxing weekend in Cumberland, MD, a place I have driven by more times than I can count over the years, hurriedly en route to the east coast beaches. Little did I know how much this little city had to offer. The Rocky Gap Casino Resort is a lovely retreat overlooking manmade, Lake Habeeb. The dam was built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1970, and Rocky Gap State Park formally opened on July 17, 1974. The lake offers three public beach areas with outdoor seating/fire pits, boating (no gasoline powered engines), swimming, canoeing/kayaking, and fishing. Unfortunately, due to cool temperatures and high winds, we did not get to delight in the outdoor amenities the resort has to offer, however, the scenery was breathtaking.

Only a few miles away we found Canal Place in downtown Cumberland, which is rich with history and quaint little shops, restaurants and a Cheris Wine Store (which is right up my alley). Here, you can take a ride on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, explore the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, or bike and hike on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail.

Saturday evening, I had my first ride on a real vintage diesel locomotive. It was one of the “Saturday Night Specials”, which was a three-hour murder mystery evening excursion performed by Random Acts: The Murder Mystery Company. Although you have the option to dine on the train ride, we opted for old fashioned pizza at a local eatery beforehand and chose to sit in the “party car” where there is parlor seating (claiming to be the most comfortable seating on the train), where one can partake in their favorite alcoholic beverages. There, I opted for a wonderful bottle of wine from the Cheris Wineries, all-the-while enjoying the show, participating in a conga line and meeting some really nice/fun people. All in all, it was a very enjoyable get away!

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