Blake Walsh

17 Best Things to Do in Frederick, MD

  • Published 2021/07/22

History and beautiful natural spaces welcome you on your trip to Frederick in Maryland.

You can have great pleasure by taking part in a plethora of activities.

Some of the best ones here include hiking, biking, and camping.

Alternately, you can enjoy golf sessions on its lush green courses.

If you pride yourself on the virtue of patience, try catching some high-quality fish in the waters.

Local wineries and historical buildings from yesteryears further add to the charms.

The city is renowned for its marvelous museums.

The prominent among these are the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and the Rose Hill Manor Museum.

If you have booked tickets to Frederick for your next holiday, check out the items on our mega-list of the Top 17 things to do in the city!

Historic Downtown Frederick

Historic Downtown Frederick

George Sheldon / Shutterstock.com

Get a dose of old-world charm by heading into the belly of downtown Frederick.

There are buildings from the past two centuries that have been preserved to reflect those glory days.

Explore more than 200 museums, galleries, and restaurants to further teleport back into a by-gone era.

One of the unique sites is the Community Bridge, covered in a lovely mural.

The prominent art galleries to check out include the New Vision Gallery and the Delaplaine Art Centre.

Finally, culminate your visit with endless shopping fun.

The myriad boutiques and specialty shops house colorful, exciting goodies.

So, dole on their beauty by peeping through the showcase glass windows.

Alternately, spend some cash to take back lovely memorabilia.

Carroll Creek Park

Carroll Creek Park

Kristi Blokhin / Shutterstock.com

Stroll aimlessly in the lush fields of Carroll Creek Park.

The 8.3 miles long Carroll Creek is a major tributary of the Monocacy River.

This park is located nearby and features fantastic walkways and footbridges.

You can then enjoy culinary delights in the many restaurants in the vicinity.

If you are here in the summers, we suggest reserving a place in the outside dining area.

The sweetness of the calm breeze will add to the savory flavors of your food!

After all the strolling and eating, you can finish your day by catching an entertaining production at the in-house amphitheater.

National Museum of Civil War Medicine

National Museum of Civil War Medicine

Rosemarie Mosteller / Shutterstock.com

The American Civil War was a sad chapter in the otherwise glorious history of the proud nation.

However, the pioneering work done by nurses and doctors during that time inspires practitioners even now.

You can explore this silver lining on the Civil War era by wandering to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine.

The immersive exhibits reflect the medical and surgical practices of those days.

The ingenuity of some of the quickly put-together medical techniques to cater to the exigencies of war will amaze you.

It is a rare chance to see replicas of a Civil War period field hospital, dressing station, military ward, and war campsite.

The yeomen efforts of healthcare workers are commendable for the spirit of these warriors as the war went along.

Look closely and you will see the dare-devilry reflected in the clever medical contraptions on display.

Monocacy National Battlefield

Monocacy National Battlefield

Zack Frank / Shutterstock.com

The Civil War sadly ravaged the length and breadth of Maryland.

Many sites of critical battles during the war still stand as testimonies to the bloodshed.

One of these is the Monocacy National Battlefield.

These grounds are the locale of the famous Battle of Monocacy or the “Battle That Saved Washington.

“This battle was one last valiant attempt by the Confederates to seize Washington, D.C.

With this battle lost, the tide of war turned decisively.

Flying Dog Brewery

Flying Dog Brewery

BrewDMC, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The largest craft brewery in Maryland beckons you to sip on its other-worldly pleasures!

You can dote on the foaming beers to have a blast at the Flying Dog Brewery.

Their range of high-quality crafts includes a year-round, seasonal, limited edition, and exclusives!

Shimmering with their golden brews, the bottles also feature lovely illustrations by the artist Ralph Steadman.

True to the brand name, these drawings are creative masterpieces themed on all things related to dogs.

When you tour the place, the Roasthouse Pub food truck will surprise you by serving fried mac and cheese bites to munch along with delightful beers!

McClintock Distilling

McClintock Distilling

Rosemarie Mosteller / Shutterstock.com

Our next stop is an organic top-end brewery that releases the choicest gins, vodkas, and whiskeys from the underbelly of its richly-packed cellars!

McClintock Distilling has earned several industry-leading awards to reserve its place among the great breweries of the country.

They are exceptional in using fully organic ingredients for their brews.

It is incredible but true to see them still use an old-era style stone burr mill to mill their grains.

But then, if you want an authentic sting of original whiskeys, you have to toil for it.

No wonder the whiskeys at McClintock Distilling pack in a unique punch with their special flavors and profiles!

Weinberg Center for Arts

Weinberg Center for Arts

Bohemian Baltimore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Rejoice in the sophistry of fine performing arts at the Weinberg Center of Arts.

This building was an erstwhile premier movie theatre before being refurbished into its present splendid form in 1976.

The art forms range from music, theatre, films, dances, and everything in between.

A unique attraction is the two-manual eight-rank Wurlitzer organ majestically owning the center of the main hall.

Harry Grove Stadium

The Frederick Keys are the home team at the Harry Grove Stadium.

The Keys are a minor league team and an affiliate to the Baltimore Orioles.

You can catch an exciting game of baseball by reserving your spot among the 4,500 spectators who can occupy the stadium at one time.

Harry Grove was the founder of the Frederick Hustlers, a 1990s-era professional team, and the stadium commemorates his contributions by taking his name.

If lucky, you might also get to attend a live music concert that a regular feature during the off-season.

The unique attraction is the majestic grandstand.

It starts from the neighboring hillside before meandering down into a seating bowl to finally lead into the ballpark!

Community Bridge Mural

Community Bridge Mural

Stacy, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This famous mural is the masterpiece of artist William Cochran.

The visual illusion in this exquisite artwork transforms the ordinary Carroll Street Bridge into an impression of an ivy-covered stone bridge!

The idea for the Community Bridge Mural struck Cochran when he decided to adorn the bridge with hand-carved blocks of painted stone.

The symbolism in this mural is rich in meaning.

In particular, the four circular medallions lining the bridge depict the theme of unity in diversity.

Summers Farm

Family-fun galore welcomes you when you travel to the delightful Summer Farms in Frederick, Maryland.

Since 1996, this fantastic farm has been the venue for the lovely Summer Farm Fall Festival that regales attendees every year!

The exciting bouquet of activities on offer includes mad apple blasting and cheeky pumpkin picking.

In addition, you can have a laugh riot racing your pigs against others.

If you have decided to throw all caution to the wind, participate in the insane jumping pillows and hay slides!

Navigate your way to solve the exciting corn maze.

Other fun events include campfire community nights and the exhilarating Moonlight Maze adventure.

Finally, when the day’s exertions have starved you, enjoy delectable roasts at the Barnyard Grill.

Then, call it a day by topping off the mad frenzy with delicious desserts from the Sweet Shoppe located in the same vicinity.

Gambrill State Park

You can enjoy stunning telescopic views of the surroundings from strategic vantage points in the Gambrill State Park.

These viewports allow such scenic visuals as they were chosen after a careful land survey by the Civilian Conservation Corps back in the 1930s.

Additionally, this recreation area boasts impressive trails to enjoy hiking and biking.

These trails are special for being color-coded with interesting signals to let you chart your course yourself.

Finally, when dusk sets in, a simmering hot cup of tea is ready to refresh you at the in-house tea room.

Dragon Distillery

Dragon Distillery is one of the finest distilleries to visit.

Managed by veterans and located right opposite the airport, the workers here continue the old tradition by tilling their own land to procure ingredients for distillates.

Their authentic artisan drinks carry the hallmark of fine craftsmanship in their unique flavors and classic punch.

Dragon Distillery does not chase mass production.

Instead, their master distillers are focused on only churning out quality spirits in small batches.

You can take guided tours to gain in-depth knowledge about their history and specialty process.

Finally, enjoy sipping on their choicest liquors at the tasting room.

Further, you can get even a few bottles of the ones you like from the in-house store itself.

Rose Hill Manor Park and Museums

Rose Hill Manor Park and Museums

LittleLuckyMd, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Relive the rich history of the agriculture and transportation industries in Frederick County at the Rose Hill Manor Park and Museum.

Housed in an exquisite brick mansion preserved since the 1800s, the museum displays exciting exhibits to regale your whole family.

The house used to be the retirement home of the former State Governor of Maryland, Thomas Johnson, and now the building proudly boasts of finding a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

Schifferstadt

Schifferstadt

grandbrothers / Shutterstock.com

Showcasing the finest elements of German-Georgian architecture, Schifferstadt is the oldest remaining house in Frederick.

Constructed in 1758, the house is packed with exciting features of the style of that era.

The prominent among these are the two-foot-thick stone walls, stone arches, jam stoves, and a delicately meandering staircase leading to the upper story.

Well-maintained gardens envelope this National Historic Landmark to further add to its charms.

You can tour around the garden and the main building on weekends.

Mount Olive Cemetery

Mount Olive Cemetery

Art Anderson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A cemetery might not be a prominent place to visit on holiday.

However, you can get a humbling perspective by traveling to the Mount Olive Cemetery, where several famous personalities are laid to rest.

The most notable among these include Thomas Johnson, the former governor of Maryland.

Other prominent figures are Francis Scott Key, who penned the National Anthem, and Barbara Fritchie, a decorated female war heroine of the Civil War.

With such famous American patriots buried in it, the cemetery symbolizes national pride and honor for all Americans.

Attaboy Beer

Next on our itinerary is the trip to the Attaboy Beer to have a gala time ravishing its amazing craft beers.

The must-tries include IPA, Sour Ale, Saison, and Hibiscus Blonde.

You can have an insightful tour of the brewery to gain insider knowledge of the crafting process.

Next, you can sample your favorite flavors at the tasting rooms.

Finally, you can nibble on delicious snacks from the food trucks to go along with your foaming drinks!

One remarkable thing about Attaboy is that you are allowed to take your dog alongside.

Delaplaine Visual Arts Center

Delaplaine Visual Arts Center

Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Delaplaine Arts Center encourages both local and national artists by showcasing their best works in its five expansive galleries.

The Center is located in what used to be the Mountain City Mall that was first set up over 100 years ago.

Further, you can take an art class at one of the eight large studio halls.

This Center is spacious, covering an area of over 40,000 square feet.

Finally, bookworms can dig into quality books related to art criticism and analysis at the Etchison Davis Library, along with those on other topics.

For those looking to catch up with the happenings in the local art scene, the Community Art Gallery displays works by students and artists from nearby areas.

Finally, you can make up aesthetic souvenirs from the Gift Gallery.

Frederick is a fantastic tourist destination.

It ticks all the right boxes to offer something for travelers of every taste and kind.

With its historical sites blending with modern pleasures such as its fine breweries and eateries, the city is a rare blend of the old and the new.

We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly curating the best things on holiday to Frederick.

We now hand over the writing reins to you to regale us with your personal experiences traveling to this fabulous city.

Enjoy your trip, and do not forget to reach out to us.

We are waiting!

Discover More of Frederick County, MD

Free Things to Do in Frederick, MD

Best Things to Do in Thurmont, MD

Best Things to Do in Middletown, M

© All rights reserved.