Deep Creek Lake
The Deep Creek Lake area sits tucked into the highest mountains in Maryland. It’s easy to reach and full of year-round thrills, shopping, food, and some of the slow life, too.
The lake is the center of it all. All summer, High Mountain Sports rents kayaks, SUPs, tubes, and bikes as well as offering pontoon boat tours. (In the winter, they’re all about snow, because Garrett County gets a lot. You’ll find the ski gear you need to head over to Wisp Mountain Resort or into the woods on snowshoes.)
For whitewater adrenaline junkies, the Upper Youghiogheny River flows out of the lake and tumbles toward Friendsville in a heart-pounding series of continuous class IV–V rapids. Paddlers can “ride the bubble” when Deep Creek Lake dam releases water several times per week—it’s pretty hairy.
Photographed by Laura Jackson
To the south, Swallow Falls State Park showcases dramatic, mossy gorges, towering hemlocks, and two stunning waterfalls—Swallow Falls and Muddy Creek Falls, a 53-foot whopper of a drop—both on a 1.25-mile loop trail. Herrington Manor State Park is a spot for quieter hiking and picnicking. A smaller, scenic lake makes an ideal place to teach young kids to canoe and fish for trout, bass, pickerel, and catfish.
When the day ends, live lakeside music jams and tropical drinks flow at Honi Honi Bar. Visitors who want a locally sourced meal with sustainable ingredients will enjoy MoonShadow’s crab dip—this is Maryland, after all. And the view at Lakeside Creamery is a great spot for a sweet treat as the evening’s last rays vanish.
Fortunately, at Deep Creek Lake, nobody has to go home, thanks to a seemingly endless selection of lodging options. From private rentals to inns like Lake Pointe Inn to sustainable tiny cabins like Blue Moon Rising, there’s just no reason to leave.
Oakland
Oakland is perfect for poking around and soaking up small-town vibes. Unique stays like Hayley Farm Inn and Retreat Center offer a peaceful, family-run getaway. The 10-suite bed and breakfast—set on a 65-acre farm—also hosts wellness retreats, yoga, and cooking classes.
Book lovers will get lost in Book Mark’et and Antique Mezzanine, while railfans can chug over to the Oakland B&O Museum, which has preserved the history of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad’s operations in western Maryland and displays everything from photos and artifacts to restored locomotives. Just across the street, Englander’s Antiques–Grill and Soda Fountain is the convergence of three of life’s greatest joys—antiques, soda fountains, and buckwheat pancakes.
206 Alder Bistro and Bar is a self-proclaimed gateway to delicious, locally sourced food and cocktails. Think charcuterie skewers, fresh beet salads, and New York pastrami. And nobody should ever turn down their sourdough brownies. There’s also Heidi’s Bakery and Cafe, where baked goods make every breakfast and lunch that much sweeter. (Plus salads, for the visitor who appreciates a little greenery.)
Photographed by Laura Jackson
A Friendly Revival
Photographed by Laura Jackson
Friendsville, tucked against the Youghiogheny River, is reinventing itself, and its residents are excited to be part of a new beginning.
At Yorkie Acres Farm, guests can spend the night in a glamping yurt beside Buffalo Run in the fine company of friendly highland cows. In town, Herbal Earth Apothecary sells coffee, tea, and chai as well as supplements and fresh eats. Across the street at Mountain Peak Soap Company, sample artisan goat milk soap, lotion, and bath bombs created with the help of a herd of friendly Nigerian dwarf dairy goats at nearby Mountain Manor Farm.
Down along the river, the Kendall Trail extends for several miles along an old railroad bed, and the scenic hike leads to the extinct logging town of Kendall. The river itself offers a quiet place to spend a day fly fishing, far from the excitement of upstream Deep Creek Lake. When you finally hit dry land, the Root Cafe will whip up coffee and food (think fresh salads, sandwiches, and protein bowls), and for those who want to go straight to dessert, there’s ice cream. Count us in.
