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Best Things to Do in Frederick, Maryland

Are you looking to take a vacation soon? Don’t you wish there was a place where you could enjoy beautiful nature, visit interesting museums, eat delicious food, and enjoy long walks in a busy city?

Well, you’ve got to visit Frederick, Maryland! This is easily one of America’s most underrated cities! It’s a city where you’ll enjoy the scenery, meet friendly locals and travelers, visit historical sites, and enjoy great hospitality!

It’s a place that attracts travelers and settlers from across the country each year. If you’ve never visited, now’s the time to book your tickets!

Let’s look at the best things to do in Frederick, Maryland…

NUMBER ONE – Head to Downtown

Once you reach Frederick and drop your bags in your hotel, you’ve got to visit the historic downtown area. In fact, you want to allot time to visit the downtown area at least 2 or 3 times during your stay.

The downtown area is a thriving area that extends for 50 blocks. You can spend an entire day at the downtown area – for getting exercise, making new friends, eating and drinking. There’s so much to see that you’ll want to keep revisiting.

You can also find your accommodation in the downtown area if you prefer to be in the midst of the excitement.

Among the fun activities in downtown include escape rooms, art studios, history museums, and live performance centers. When you want to take a break from the fun, you’ll have no problem finding a place to eat or drink.

Make sure you visit the downtown area as often as you can during your stay. This is a great place to meet others and its where you’ll have some of your fondest memories of your trip!

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NUMBER TWO – Visit the National Museum of Civil War Medicine

When we learn about the Civil War we seldom learn about the doctors and nurses who worked to treat wounded soldiers. In Frederick, you can visit the National Museum of Civil War Medicine where you can learn about the medical practices that took place during the Civil War.

The museum is in the historic downtown area and is a great place to spend a few hours. It’s a large museum with various exhibits that show the different types of medicine used during the War. You’ll also see how the doctors and nurses looked after the soldiers.

This is an incredibly unique museum and one that’ll give you a greater appreciation of American history.

NUMBER THREE – Head to the Battlefield!

If you haven’t gotten enough about the Civil War when visiting the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, you’ve got to head to the battlefield!

You can visit the Monocacy National Battlefield is where the Battle That Saved Washington took place. This was a battle in the Civil War when the Confederacy attempted to seize Washington D.C.

You can explore the park on your own through walking trails. You’ll see historical monuments, including weaponry, as you delve into this fascinating history.

The battlefield is one of the many reasons why Frederick, Maryland is such a special place. It allows visitors to take a step back in time and learn about the country’s fascinating history.

NUMBER FOUR – It Looks Like You Need A Drink!

After wandering through downtown, the museums, and the battlefields, you’ll surely need to sit down and have a drink!

You can start by visiting the Flying Dog Brewery which is a great place to enjoy local craft beer. It’s currently the largest brewery in the state and one that’s frequented by locals and tourists alike.

You’ll get a tour of the brewery and will also admire much of the artwork for the beers. Many of these illustrations were made by the famous artist Ralph Steadman.

You can also find food trucks sitting outside the brewery when you need a bite along with your beer.

If you enjoy liquor, you should consider visiting McClintock Distilling. At this distillery, you can enjoy a variety of whiskeys, gins, and vodkas.  You can enjoy these drinks from your favorite brands as well as from rare, limited editions.

This is another great place to visit if you want to meet others or if you’re traveling with your significant other or old friends!

NUMBER FIVE – Get Lost in the mountains

Frederick is also known for its incredibly scenery. You can visit the Catoctin Mountains which is where Camp David is held. You can also enjoy the natural swimming pools at the bottom of the incredible Cunningham Falls.

It’s a great place to walk, jog, hike, or bike around. If you want to take time to get lost and reflect upon your trip so far, this is the place to go to!

This place can get quite busy as well. As such, you want to do your research to when then Catoctin Mountains aren’t overcrowded. This is great if you want to meditate or have some privacy with your friends and family.

NUMBER SIX – Check out the Wildlife

Once you’ve wandered through the Catoctin Mountains you can check out the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo.

This is especially a great choice if you’re traveling with kids. You can go on a Safari tour where you can see many wild animals from zebras to wolves to alligators! With your tour, you’ll get a chance to feed the animals.

This is definitely one of the best things to do in Frederick and will easily be one of your favorite memories! Make sure you bring your camera along as this is one of the closest experiences, you’ll get to a Safari experience in the USA!

NUMBER SEVEN – The Ball Game

Whether you care for baseball or not, no trip to Frederick is complete without a visit to Nymeo Field to watch a Frederick Keys game.

You might get to see some of the future heroes of the MLB at the game! This is a great place to spend an afternoon at before going for a meal or a drink.

NUMBER EIGHT – Enjoy a Glass of Wine

After enjoying the ball game, perhaps you need to relax and enjoy the company of others with some fine wine!

You should visit the Frederick Wine Trail. There are several winery’s and distillery’s in the city where you can sample local wines. These are also great places to learn about wine tasting and how wines are made.

If you’re a solo traveler, this is a great opportunity to meet fellow travelers and locals alike. If you’re traveling with your significant other or with a group, this will definitely be one of your best memories!

NUMBER NINE – Visit the Weinberg Center

If you enjoy live performances, then you should visit the Weinberg Center for the Arts. This is a performing arts center where you can enjoy stand-up comedy, live music, visual art, plays, and film screenings.

Make sure you research the shows before you book your trip, so that you can plan accordingly. This might be a great activity for your last day after you’ve enjoyed the other excursions and activities!

NUMBER TEN – Rose Hill Manor

This is a historical home where you can learn how Frederick’s residents lived centuries ago. The exhibits will also let you learn about Frederick’s history as well as about some of the different industries that existed in the city.

It’s part of the National Register of Historic Places and is another way to step back in time and explore American history.

This is a great site if you’re traveling with young children. It’s a great way to teach them about American history and the achievements of this dynamic city!

 NUMBER ELEVEN – Mount Olivet Cemetery

Another opportunity to learn about history and pay your respects is if you visit the Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Here you’ll see the graves of Thomas Johnson – Maryland’s first elected governor. You can also see the grave of one of the bravest women in the Civil War, Barbara Fritchie. The author of “The Star Spangled Banner,” Francis Scott Key is also buried here.

While most of us don’t think about visiting cemeteries on our vacation, this is a great place to see learn about some of our country’s greatest heroes. You’ll also appreciate the sacrifices and achievements of previous Americans and how they made a great country for current Americans. If you’re traveling with children, you want to bring them here!

NUMBER TWELVE – Enjoy Fine Dining

Frederick is not without its great fine dining options! You should enjoy dinner at Hootch & Banter which is a great place for fine dining and for enjoying a glass of wine. You can also enjoy cocktails and spirits if you’ve had enough wine!

It’s a stylish restaurant with a laid-back feel. This is a great place to visit if you’re traveling with your significant other or with a small group of close friends. The restaurant serves American food – with many dishes having a French influence.

You can also visit Firestone’s Culinary Tavern for lunch or dinner. This is a gastropub where you can enjoy delicious American food with a cold drink to enjoy. On weekends, you can stop by Firestone’s for brunch.

NUMBER THIRTEEN – Arts & Entertainment District

Before you head back home, make sure you spend a day within Frederick’s Arts & Entertainment District.

This is where you’ll find the Weinberg Center for the Arts that we mentioned. You can also enjoy street art and murals in this district. As an alternative to the Weinberg Center, you should visit the Maryland Ensemble Theatre.

In this district, you’ll get to witness the incredible talent that makes Frederick the vibrant city that it is!

So, are you ready to book your trip to Frederick, Maryland? In fact, what are you looking forward to the most?

Are you looking forward to seeing the incredible nature in this city? Or are you more interested in sampling the delicious food and drinks?

Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.