Itineraries – Couples Edition
‘If music be the food of love, play on.’ William Shakespeare
Downtown Frederick will satiate your need for food and music with that person who makes your heart warm, so leave your monotonous routine for a getaway and come visit with us.
Thursday night-
Alive @ 5 is reason enough to start your weekend early. On Carroll Creek, from spring through fall, the Downtown Frederick Partnership throws a rockin’ party. Different bands are featured each week. To satisfy your philanthropic soul, admission, beer and wine are all $5 and all proceeds go to the betterment of downtown.
After you have imbibed and eased into the weekend, proceed to the Black Hog for dinner. As an unapologetic ‘meat place’, their cheeseburger is a gastronomic pleasure. Vegetarian? They have a decadent macaroni and cheese.
For dessert, Frederick Fudge and Ice Cream will satisfy any sugar craving. Thirty plus flavors of ice cream, 20 plus flavors of fudge (made on site) and 21 colors of M+Ms make this the place for some sweet love.
With your ears ringing with music and a belly full of goodness, stroll back to the Hollerstown Hill Bed and Breakfast for some cuddling and peaceful slumber.
Friday-
Smells from the kitchen and a grumbling stomach will gently wake you from your coma. If you choose the cottage garden room, you and your partner can do your morning stretching on the balcony amidst the scent of the roses that are growing up the trellis. After a delectable breakfast, you can relax in a claw foot tub big enough for 2.
To work off that breakfast, I recommend a jaunt to the Patrick and Market Street shops. If antiquing is your thing, there are an estimated 200 dealers in this downtown area, including Shab Row, which is so aptly named. At Venus on the Half Shell, you can buy vintage clothing and, while actually matching your clothes is a bit much, you can at least match the era of your clothes. You may find yourself with a gangsta suit or a flapper dress for your evening activities. Be sure to stop at Viniferous to speak with the owner about his wine recommendations. They have wine for all palates and pocketbooks.
Do not miss Unique Optique, where you can have an image consultant fit you with some gorgeous sunglasses. While here, do not miss immortalizing the day by taking you and your paramour’s picture in the photo booth, utilizing the funky props that they provide.
Be sure to stop at Pizza and Pretzel Creations for their amazing fare, all made out of pretzel dough. You can get sandwiches with the foccacia made out of pretzel dough, pizza with the crust made of pretzel dough or just plain old pretzels made out of pretzel dough. The pretzels can be stuffed with all kind of decadence, like cheese, chocolate chips, peanut butter, toffee or all kinds of nuts and seeds. They can also be coated with deliciousness like cinnamon and sugar, Cajun mix or Parmesan spices. So good!
To honor Frederick’s historical significance, the next stop is Mount Olivet Cemetery. If you walk to the back of this cemetery, there is a seemingly endless line of Confederate tombstones from the Civil War. It is worth the walk to read the faded dates on the graves and to garner an appreciation for the sacrifices made. Continuing on to the Civil War Medicine Museum, you will continue your education about Frederick as the “crossroads of the Civil War” and find interesting facts about the care taken of the wounded soldiers. The experience is a personal one, engaging visitors in the stories of soldiers, surgeons, medics, and nurses as they gain an understanding of the medical advances of the time.
To stretch out those sore muscles from all the walking, Om Chakra offers a Friday night Couples Yoga, followed by Candlelight Yoga. You and your loved one can relax, stretch and mediate while listening to an acoustic guitarist playing in the background.
Fully relaxed and limber, make your way to Volt located in the old Houck mansion for your Table 21 reservations. To paraphrase how Volt describes this meal: “Table 21 is an explosive celebration of molecular gastronomic cuisine and is truly for guests who want to experience creativity in food. Guests sit side-by side with a full view of the culinary chemistry unfolding in the kitchen. The table number matches the number of courses created and personally served by Chef Voltaggio and his team.” Delish!
Now get back to the B+B full and relaxed for a deserving and restful night’s sleep.
Saturday-
After eating another amazing breakfast prepared by the innkeepers, you and your beau can take a guided walking tour of the historic downtown area given by the Historical Society of Frederick County. You will learn about Barbara Fritchie and her house, the significance of the main intersection of Patrick and Market and Dred Scott and his famous court case, to name a few.
Saturday afternoon has been reserved for a Frederick Keys baseball game. As you walk into the Harry Grove stadium, whistling ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game’, make your way to the entrance to the home clubhouse. This is where you can find Keys players ready to give out autographs before and after every game. Make sure to get seats on the 100 level, because where else can you sit so close to the game for $11? Don’t forget your hotdog and a souvenir Keys baseball cap to commemorate your trip.
After the hooting, hollering and seventh inning stretching, it is time for a blanket-topping picnic in the park. On your way to Baker Park, stop at Crabapples Deli for some amazing chicken salad or deli meat sandwiches, fresh fruit, wrapped baked goods and ice cold drinks. Take your feast, along with your wine from yesterday’s shopping and explore this immense park with a creek, walking paths, lake, playing fields and swimming pool. Find a spot that speaks to you, spread out your blanket and spend some time massaging each other’s sore feet, talking and people watching. If you are close to the tunnels under College Avenue, you may be able to eavesdrop on a group of musicians practicing their chosen instruments.
As the sun sets, make your way back the B+B for some R+R. Sleep never felt so deep.
Sunday-
You wake up to church bells from the many spires for which Frederick is so well known. Frederick is an excellent cycling destination; so if cycling is your thing, bring your road bike. Pack a backpack with water and some portable snacks and head out to Wheel Base, Frederick’s downtown bicycle shop. At 8:15 every Sunday morning, Wheel Base guides a group through a 30 to 40 mile road bike ride, open to all skill levels.
After your ride, be sure to grab lunch at Sumittra. It has exceptional Thai food with excellent service. Sit outside to enjoy the scene on Patrick Street or sit inside for the peaceful ambience. Be sure to order the mango rice dessert!
Having experienced the food, music and history of Frederick, you and your significant other can now return to your usual life, but with memories of your stay with us and with a new love of Frederick. Please come again.