My husband is a Frederick, so we absolutely had to make a quick trip to Frederick, Maryland to check it out. Chock full of history, The National Road meets several north/south routes at the intersection of Patrick and Market Streets in what is now the historic district. The town has long been a crossroads of American history, playing important roles in the American Revolutionary War as well as the Civil War. No doubt the proximity to so many war-time battles has contributed to the town being considered the birthplace of battlefield medicine and home to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine Battlefield Medicine.

The historic district is nice with lots of shops and restaurants, but the star of the show is the lovely, picturesque Caroll Creek Linear Park, created as a flood control project. The 1.5-mile park is not only a beautiful walk but is a treat for any art and/or nature lover. It didn’t hurt that we picked an absolutely beautiful day to visit. We shared a charcuterie board at The Wine Kitchen and sat under a charming high-top umbrella made from plants. We had a cool breeze, great service, and a delicious lunch. We visited this spot early in the pandemic and this was the only time I ever saw cute little mask bags distributed, solving the problem of where to stash the mask while you eat.