I spent a weekend in the historic town of Frederick, Maryland, and it showed me just how magical small-town charm can be

If you ask me, the best getaways aren’t the ones everyone’s talking about, they’re the little hidden gems waiting to be discovered.

A few hours after arriving in Frederick, Maryland, I realized this wasn’t just another small town. About an hour outside Washington, D.C., Frederick is full of charming historic buildings and colourful streets that make it feel like you’ve stepped into another time. (History buffs, you’re going to love this one!)

Getting there from Ontario or Quebec is easy: a short flight into D.C., then about an hour’s drive. Or, if you’re up for a road trip, it’s roughly seven to eight hours by car from Toronto, taking a fun route to New York, through Philadelphia, and down into Maryland.

And look, I know many Canadians are second-guessing U.S. trips right now. The headlines can feel heavy, and sometimes the things we see on social media aren’t exactly enticing us to visit. But in Frederick, I found a community that felt far removed from the noise.

Genuinely interested locals struck up conversations about life in Canada, and, more than once, told me they missed seeing visitors from the north. I guess what I’m saying is, the version of America you see online doesn’t always reflect the one you meet face-to-face.

So, if you’re considering a weekend getaway in the U.S., Frederick deserves a spot on your list. Here’s what I got up to in the area, and some inspiration for your trip.

Day 1: Delve into history

First things first: coffee! I kicked off my Frederick adventure at Gravel & Grind Café, a cozy little spot brewing coffee from the town’s very own ChocoSombra beans. From there, we decided to hit the road and explore a bit of the surrounding county.

We took the covered bridges driving tour, a scenic self-guided route connecting three historic 19th-century wooden bridges, to Catoctin Mountain Park.

Catoctin Mountain Park is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are part of the larger Appalachian Mountain range. For me, that Appalachian connection was really cool — it felt eerie, but in a good way, almost mythical. The heavy snowfall meant we couldn’t hike too far, but we took a stroll through the trees and enjoyed the quietness and crisp air.

The park is known for its popular and rugged Chimney Rock Trail, which leads to sweeping views of the valley below. There are also easier options, like the Blue Blazes Whiskey Still Trail, a short loop that has an actual whiskey production still dating back to the prohibition era.

Fun fact: The presidential retreat, Camp David, is also located within the area.

Next, we took a trip to Catoctin Furnace Historic Village, a preserved pre-Revolutionary industrial village that still has its original layout and structures.

At the heart of the site is The Museum of the Ironworker, where I learned about the labourers (including enslaved men, women, and children) who powered the ironworks operation in the late 18th century.

The museum includes artefacts from the site and two forensic facial reconstructions of enslaved workers whose remains were discovered nearby.

When we stepped outside, our guide pointed out a “witness tree”, a towering centuries-old tree that had silently seen it all. Something about that image really stayed with me.

As someone who grew up in Ireland and later moved to Canada, I hadn’t ever been exposed to this part of American history in depth. Visiting the site really brought that history into sharp focus.

What stood out most to me, though, was the ongoing work being done by the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society. Through groundbreaking DNA studies and research, the organization is actively reconnecting modern, primarily African American descendants with ancestors who were enslaved at the ironworks.

It’s a reminder that Frederick doesn’t shy away from sharing difficult chapters of its past with visitors, because these conversations matter.

For one last dose of history, we drove to the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in nearby Emmitsburg. It honours Saint Seton, the very first U.S.-born Catholic saint. Whether you’re religious or not, her life story is inspiring, and you can explore a basilica, museum, and historic homes on-site.

After an action-packed day exploring the region, it was time to head back to downtown Frederick and dive into its vibrant food and drink scene. Frederick has quietly built a reputation for its craft breweries over the years, with favourites like Attaboy Beer and RAK Brewing Co., known for their creative brews.

For dinner, we headed to The Orchard Restaurant, a cozy, softly lit space with a warm and inviting atmosphere. The menu was full of delicious stir-fries made from locally-sourced ingredients. Most dishes are plant-forward and health-conscious, and even the sauces and dressings are made from scratch.

The chef has been working there since 1996, and that decades-long dedication really shone through in the care and flavour of each plate. I went for the Japanese stir-fry — sautéed tofu and crisp veggies piled over soba noodles — while my partner opted for the crispy sesame tofu. There’s also an outdoor seating area that I imagine would be such a vibe in the summer, the perfect spot to enjoy a cocktail and people-watch.

After a full day of mountain air and historic sites, it was exactly the right place to unwind.

Day 2: Explore the downtown

Day two was all about soaking up downtown Frederick at a slower pace. We started the morning at Twin Bears Bakery, where we grabbed a fresh bagel and some strong coffee before hitting the streets for a tour with our host Jake, whose love for local history was nothing short of contagious.

Frederick’s downtown core is incredibly walkable, and it’s lined with independent boutiques and colourful storefronts that you can pop into along the way.

We wandered along Carroll Creek, where locals had created and installed the town’s annual Sailing Through the Winter Solstice display on the water, a floating parade of illuminated boats.

For another layer of history (told you this one’s for you, history buffs!), we visited the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.

This offers a fascinating look at battlefield medicine back when doctors had no idea germs even existed, plus the innovations that have come since.

Next, we stopped for a tasting at Tenth Ward Distilling Company, a local, woman-owned spot. Their smoked bourbon was unlike anything I’ve ever tried, and their inventive cocktails are the perfect way to sip it.

Dinner was at The Wine Kitchen on the Creek, right on the water. We started with Bulgogi Mushroom Tacos and Beet Carpaccio, then dove into the main course: Casarecce, pasta in a butternut squash sauce with chilli crunch and puffed spinach. Divine!

That night, we caught a screening of 1984 at the historic Weinberg Center for the Arts, a beautifully restored 1920s theatre. Earlier, we’d had a behind-the-scenes tour, checking out the Art Deco details, the old-school projection room, and learning some quirky theatre lore — like about the “ghost light,” a single stage light that’s never turned off, a theatrical superstition meant to keep the ghosts of the theatre happy.

After that, it was time to get a good night’s sleep at the gorgeous Visitation Hotel Frederick, a former convent-turned-hotel with a fascinating past.

And this is one of the things I loved most about Frederick — it doesn’t erase its history to move forward. Instead of being torn down, old buildings are renovated to house new things. It feels modern without losing its soul, and that’s something you don’t see everywhere.

Day 3: Road trip to small villages

For the final day, we took to the road again for some Appalachian small-town charm.

Our first stop was Brunswick, a historic railroad town that’s in the middle of a quiet revival. Its Main Street has that “on the cusp of something” energy, with a bunch of new storefronts preparing to open. We enjoyed baked goods at Maple & Rye, browsed eccentric art and ceramics at Potomac River Interiors, and chatted with local business owners about what’s coming next. Watch this space!

Coffee was at Beans in the Belfry, which was genuinely one of the coolest cafés I’ve ever visited. Set inside a restored church, its decor leaned into whimsigoth — stained glass, moody lighting, and vintage furniture. It reminded me of something out of Sabrina the Teenage Witch… which perfectly set the tone for our next stop.

The tiny, historically rich town of Burkittsville is probably best known as the filming location for The Blair Witch Project. But there’s much more to it than that.

Back in 1862, it served as a Civil War medical hub during the Battle of South Mountain and after the Battle of Antietam — the single bloodiest day in American history, with more than 23,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing.

It also has some great folklore. We heard tales of local legends like the Snallygaster, a half-bird, half-reptile beast who was said to roam the hills. These stories show how storytelling is woven into the town’s culture — and how Burkittsville’s charm lies in its history, myths, and community.

We ended the day in Middletown, another town that carries rich Civil War history. The vibe here was warm and welcoming, and you can take a walking tour to historic landmarks and try its famous just-churned ice cream at South Mountain Creamery (part of Maryland’s Best Ice Cream Trail).

Back in downtown Frederick, we wrapped up the trip with an elegant dinner at Wye Oak Tavern, set inside a beautifully restored Catholic chapel at the Visitation Hotel. We enjoyed Rigatoni in Arrabbiata sauce, alongside Creamed Spinach Gratin and Broccoli di Ciccio. The dishes were inventive and packed with flavour, and thoughtful touches nodding to the setting, like the bill arriving inside a Bible, made the experience feel truly memorable.

My trip to Frederick surprised me at every turn. History, incredible eats, and arts and culture galore — this Maryland town has it all, and it truly deserves a spot at the top of your weekend-getaway list.