Weekend Getaway: Your 24-Hour Itinerary for Charming Downtown Frederick

Photo credit: Visit Frederick

Looking for a quick fall retreat to keep the end of summer blues at bay? Downtown Frederick is your autumnal oasis.

Only minutes away from hiking trails, covered bridges and lush countryside, Frederick is a beautiful tourist town brimming with history. And to make the most of your visit, we’ve laid out the perfect schedule complete with all the places you should see, shop and eat for a 24-hour stay. (You can thank us later!) 

In the afternoon…

• Start your journey off right with a trip to the Visitor Center. A destination in its own right, the center houses 2,200-square feet of interpretive exhibits in a renovated, 19^th century industrial warehouse. Sneak a peek of the award-winning, Frederick-based film, “A Turn of the Wheel” in their state-of-the-art theater. Stop in the souvenir shop for commemorative gifts for the whole family and pick up a map to stay on top of your travels.
• The highlight of your trip will be the sights of Carroll Creek Park. After the Great Frederick Flood of 1976 left parts of Downtown Frederick submerged in three feet of water, the park began as a flood control project. The 40-foot wide, 1.3 mile channel waterway includes brick pedestrian paths and a 350-seat amphitheater. As you stroll through this revitalized area, be sure to snap a photo near the Galleria Fountain, shooting 1,400 gallons of water into the air and back into the crescent-shaped pool every minute. Make a short stop to the Community Bridge Mural, a large-scale project that transformed a concrete bridge into the illusion of an ivy-covered stone bridge. The award-winning trompe l’oeil mural is on display between East Patrick and East All Saints streets and is just one of the gorgeous Carroll bridges.
• Shop ‘til you drop in Everedy Square and Shab Row, a revitalized former 19^th-century factory with 24 specialty shops ranging from clothing, home furnishing, general merchandise and antique furniture. If you can’t get enough of the dapper deals, there are more than 200 specialty shops, art galleries and restaurants throughout Downtown Frederick.

In the evening…

• Enjoy a cozy dinner at The Wine Kitchen with local farm-friendly entrees, fresh seafood and delectable desserts alongside a hearty wine menu. The lengthy list of categories ranging from “Whites of Fancy” and daily reds through “Triple Bubble” and “Plains of Spain” will please even the most fickle wine connoisseur.
• Sit back and relax in the Weinberg Center for the Arts, showcasing performing arts in a historic 1926 movie palace. Year-round, you can catch a classic movie or professional music, dance or theater performance. Check the schedule ahead of time for information on the latest show!
• Check in and catch some shut-eye at the 10 Clarke Place Bed & Breakfast. Featured on HGTV’s Restore America, the architecturally gorgeous inn is complete with high ceilings, fireplaces and oriental rugs. Always convenient, the inn provides Internet access and easy parking, while only walking distance from award-winning restaurants and specialty shops.

In the morning…

• Satisfy a rumbling stomach at Crabapples New York Delicatessen. Serving signature specials, baked goods and breakfast sandwiches on fresh rolls, Crabapples has been voted the Best Deli by Frederick Magazine every year since 1993. After you try the French Quarters—hot baked Virginia Ham and melted cheddar cheese served on a croissant with lettuce, tomato and Dijon mayo—you’ll know why.

For more information or places to go during your Frederick stay, go to www.visitfrederick.org and start planning your autumn adventure!