When you think of states with panhandles, you can easily name Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, Idaho, but there is one much closer to home... Maryland. I have never been into the Maryland panhandle - it is close, but not too close...a 3.5 hour drive. It warrants some planning. And after my best friend suggested I check out Deep Creek Lake, on the western edge of the panhandle months ago, its been on my list.
Enter a Labor Day that happened upon us way too quickly and I did not have anything planned. The weather was cold and stormy on Saturday but it was supposed to clear up. We did not want to let that last bit of summer slip by. We had to do something. After some quick googling, I found a last minute room for a great rate in Deep Creek for Sunday night... our short road trip was planned. We would figure things out along the way, and knew there was bound to be enough to keep us occupied for a 2 days... and we were right.
I texted my best friend Lesley to tell her I was finally going and she got back to me immediately with ideas from a friend. She may run a
successful website on the Pacific NW but she has contacts everywhere. Her friend gave us ideas for all kinds of food & drink and many activities. We were only going to be there for 2 days and I wanted to make the most of our time. A local is always a great resource - ones you know, or ones you befriend along the way!
Deep Creek Lake is not the kind of lake community I grew up visiting in northern New Jersey. What we saw as soon as we got there looked more akin many fancy shore communities with houses on the water trying desperately to be bigger and grander than the next. There was development all over the lake. In fact the only public access to the water is through the state park - Deep Creek Lake State Park. We drove past homes with secondary homes (the mother-in-law house) and found out way through winding roads to get to the lake. Outside on the water, my stubborn streak prevailed as we walked on the beach and jetties, dipped toes in the cold waters and braved the winds on this day in the mid 50's! Summer was obviously lost (Persephone must have went back to Hades early)... but the sun was out. We stayed for a few hours to enjoy the reflections and pretend we went to the beach over labor day. After we had enough, we headed indoors to the Nature Center to learn about the lake's ecology (I learned a new term for the lake's water cycle -
the thermocline is the barrier between the upper and lower water layers that facilitates turnover)!
After giving up we headed to a late lunch/early dinner at Mountain State Brewery... on my list of places to check out from my friend's friend, we were optimistic. Driving away from the lake and into the rolling fills of farms, we found the small, and incredibly busy, brewery wafting smells of food into the parking area. This rustic local favorite was practically full at 4pm - a great sign. Our waitress helped up pick out an unique pizza of Thai chicken and John got himself a flight of their specialties. We chowed down on a gigantic medium pizza and decided dinner was not needed (damn was that a big pie). Everything was yummy (and warm) in this joint and we defrosted enough to venture out again.
Where did we go now... well to the ski resort, of course. The Wisp was bustling with people, and we know something was going on! That something was FUN. They had an adventure course set up for kids and other for adults. There was a toboggan ride down the slopes and you could ride the ski lift up to come down the mountain yourself (leg-power). We settled on tickets for the toboggan cuz, hello, it was a roller coaster you could control yourself. Yep! You were put in a toboggan, and pulled up the mountain... and then when you were released on the tracks, you had the ability to control your own speed! WOOHOO. I hooted and hollered like a kid and let my yellow ride fly... well I did until I saw signs asking us to break around some turns. When we both disembarked, we were ready to go again!
After we left the Wisp, we checked into our hotel (there was a reason we got a room so late in the game - ick) and headed out for a rematch on the miniature golf course. What happens when 2 competitive people play a silly game of mini-golf.... well, putts are taken seriously and I get to say I WIN! HA! A hole in one baby! The course was a blast with truly unique water features you had to play through and some serious usage of hills. Afterwards, we headed to the arcade for a wall sized version of Space Invaders (with different rules from my Atari version). We bounced from air hockey to ski-ball to silly guessing games and gifted random kids in the arcade our tickets won... we did not need an eraser, and we made some people smile. Who says you have to grow up? (I am still a Toys R Us kid at heart).
After this mad-Karate Kid styled date, we headed to the Deep Creek Creamery - the hottest ticket in town. Because even though the temperatures never got above 55 degrees, the line for ice cream was literally down the street. We stood in line, talked to locals and got some creamy goodness that we ate while overlooking a full moon over the lake. It was a beautiful scene.
The next morning, Demeter (ye, I do love throwing in the Greek Gods) decided that we could have some warmer weather... and we were able to get on the water... finally. We booked a lake tour on a pontoon. And I was stuck singing that Little Big Town song all day because of it. With an afternoon tour planned, we headed out for a downhome local breakfast.... and according to our list, Sandy's was where we wanted to be. So we drove past the sprawling lake looking for the local dive... eventually we found the rehabbed gas station, that was home to this local fav. We ate at the counter and marveled with the crowds. Everyone ordered a cinnamon bun, so who were we to say no- splitting it was almost not fair - warm and gooey. For our meals, we discovered the blueberry pancakes were the way to go. Full, we headed back to the lake.
After lollygagging for almost 2 hours (we were early and there is not much to do in the area) we finally made our way onto the Pontoon. And on the water for almost an hour and a half was the highlight of the trip. The day was warm, the sun was out and our guide was a local whom was relocating the next day... he waxed nostalgic as he toured the lake. We explored some of his favorite spots, visiting secluded arms of this amoebous lake and insanely elaborate mansions. The tour gave us a better appreciation of the grandeur of the lake. It is large! In fact , the lake covers 3900 acres - making it the largest lake in Maryland . It is called Deep Creek Lake, not for being the deepest in Maryland ( it's deepest point is only 75 feet near the dam), but for the name of one of its feeding sources. The lake gets its water from a series of creeks in the area - no major river, no underground water source. Deep Creek can get cold - ice goes 18 inches down in the right conditions. The lake was created in 1925 by the Youghiogheny Electric Company, bought by Pennsylvania Electric in 1942 and is now owned by Maryland!
After our tour, our guide gave us a great recommendation for a deli - we grabbed sandwiches and headed out to Swallow Falls State Park. Another of my friend friend's great recommendations. Swallow Falls is said to be one of the prettiest state parks in Maryland. Just about every person we spoke to told us not to miss it, so we knew we were in for a treat. Once in the park, we sat in the giant gazebo to eat our delicious sandwiches and fuel up... camera at the ready, I was hopping for adventure. The trail loop to 4 falls was under 2 miles. You could add to the mileage by taking arms off the main line to get closer or different perspectives. My camera was busy photographing the water falling over bridal veils, cascades, and horsetail falls. I pointed out basic geology to John - each time we go out he gets science lessons - this time in erosion and stratification. (I need to whip out the old college texts soon and brush up on some lessons myself). The forest around the falls is hemlock... I am familiar with Hemlock forests, as I grew up near large ones in NJ... The forest was badly damaged by Superstorm Sandy, and it provided a great way to point out forest regeneration. Hemlock forests are unique in that they create their own mini-climates... they can lower the standing temperatures up to 10 degrees - so often you see flora in the area unlike any other. Hemlocks and their shallow roots also help to keep the air moist... the area is ripe for fungus, mushrooms, lichens and mosses. And all over we spotted some amazing shrooms. They had plenty to do, breaking down trees felled by the storm. Plenty of locals on the trail told us that the falls were low, but it didn't matter - the hike and the forest were wonderful. Nature can take your breathe away if your let her!
After the hike and science lessons it was time to head back to DC. On the way home, we took the scenic route through West Virginia (we were so close), and were treated to a sherbet colored sunset over the valleys between the Appalachian Mountains and views of wind farms stirring in the steady winds persistent through the area.
With a trip full of beauty and fun, we will be sure to keep this place on our list for local get-aways when I need to see something more than traffic jams.
