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Top 11 Things to Do in Frederick, Maryland

Frederick, Maryland makes an excellent weekend road trip from Washington, D.C., Baltimore, or Gettysburg and has a lot to offer visitors who come check it out. In and around Frederick, you can explore the vibrant Main Street area, hike the Appalachian Trail, and visit Civil War historic sites. This is also a top destination in Maryland for craft beverage enthusiasts because there are numerous breweries, wineries, and distilleries in the region.

To help you narrow down your options and make the most of your trip, here’s a list of top things to do in Frederick, Maryland.

Take a Walking Tour View of Carroll Creek at night in Frederick, Maryland
Credit: View of Carroll Creek at night in Frederick, Maryland by © Jon Bilous | Dreamstime.com

Take a Walking Tour

What Is It? Walking tours of Frederick are available to inform and entertain visitors about the history and culture of the city. Tours are available year-round and feature different themes, such as architecture and Civil War history.

Why Do It? Planning a walking tour to kick off your trip to Frederick is a great way to familiarize yourself with the city and what it has to offer. During your tour, you can take note of places you want to come back to visit later and learn about the city’s history so that you appreciate everything that’s here.

Good to Know: Some popular walking tour stops are Winchester Hall, the Historical Society of Frederick County, Carroll Creek Linear Park, and Baker Park. Tours often last for about two hours and travel for a little over a mile.

Go Wine Tasting Breaux Vineyards
Credit: Breaux Vineyards by Breaux Vineyards

Go Wine Tasting

What Is It? There is an exciting wine scene around Frederick, Maryland, which you can learn about by visiting local wineries yourself or signing up for a guided tour.

Why Do It? Wine tours in the region are ideal because they allow you to sit back and relax while a chauffeur safely does the driving. You can visit multiple wineries in one day on a tour while enjoying the scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Good to Know: Some wineries that make great stops along a tour are Breaux Vineyards, 868 Estate Vineyards, and Hillsborough Vineyards.

Get Outdoors at Catoctin Mountains Catoctin Mountain Park Valley Overlook
Credit: Catoctin Mountain Park Valley Overlook by © Zrfphoto | Dreamstime.com

Get Outdoors at Catoctin Mountains

What Is It? Catoctin Mountain is along the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains and part of the Appalachian Mountain Range. The mountain is about 30 minutes north of Frederick.

Why Do It? This park makes a great getaway spot in the Frederick area for getting active outside and sleeping under the stars. There are opportunities here for hiking on the 25 miles of trails and camping.

Good to Know: You can camp in a tent at Catoctin Mountain or rent a cabin or dormitory for a little more shelter and more of the comforts of home. There are also some nice places in the park to have a picnic.

Go Gaming at @VR Transport yourself virtually to an entirely new time and place!
Credit: Transport yourself virtually to an entirely new time and place! by At Virtual Reality

Go Gaming at @VR

What Is It? There is a gaming center called @VR in Frederick that offers over 40 games, including multi-player games. It is a fun place for video game lovers of all ages and a popular party destination.

Why Do It? There aren’t too many virtual reality-focused gaming destinations anywhere in the country, so this is a unique place to check out in Frederick. It’s also a fun place to have some indoor entertainment if the weather isn’t ideal.

Good to Know: @VR allows online booking in advance of your trip. You can rent one to three stations for up to 12 people, for example. Pricing starts at $29.99 for 30 minutes.

Play at Adventure Park USA So much fun for the whole family
Credit: So much fun for the whole family by Adventure Park USA

Play at Adventure Park USA

What Is It? Adventure Park USA is the largest family entertainment center in Maryland. It offers roller coasters, mini-golf, a ropes course, go-karts, an arcade, bowling, and laser tag.

Why Do It? Adults and kids of all ages can enjoy a day at this entertainment center. Keep everyone in one place and entertained without having to plan an extensive itinerary!

Good to Know: You can buy an all-day pass to play here, and it’s open year-round but has outdoor attractions that are seasonal. Check the venue’s website to see if any events are going on here during your trip.

Visit the National Museum of Civil War Medicine National Museum of Civil War Medicine
Credit: National Museum of Civil War Medicine by National Museum of Civil War Medicine

Visit the National Museum of Civil War Medicine

What Is It? The National Museum of Civil War Medicine allows visitors to learn about the sacrifices, innovations, and conditions involved in the medical field during the Civil War. Visitors can explore the museum on their own or sign up for a guided tour.

Why Do It? There is a lot of interesting Civil War history to learn about in Frederick, and this museum is a great place to start.

Good to Know: You can visit the museum on a walk-in basis on Thursdays through Mondays. It is only open by appointment on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, though.

Visit Monocacy National Battlefield Monocacy National Battlefield
Credit: Monocacy National Battlefield by Monocacy National Battlefield

Visit Monocacy National Battlefield

What Is It? The Monocacy National Battlefield is a National Park Service site that is known for hosting the battle that saved Washington, DC. Federal soldiers were outnumbered here but fought along the Monocacy River to buy time until the Union reinforcements arrived.

Why Do It? The battlefield has local and national historical significance, plus a beautiful setting along the river and by rolling farm fields. The park is less than two miles from the city of Frederick, making it an easy place to visit when you’re in the area.

Good to Know: It is free to visit the battlefield park, and there is a visitor center onsite that is open Thursdays through Mondays.

Sip Drinks at a Local Brewery or Distillery McClintock Distilling
Credit: McClintock Distilling by McClintock Distilling

Sip Drinks at a Local Brewery or Distillery

What Is It? Frederick is also known for being a hot spot for breweries and distilleries. There are some good options in town if you like to enjoy craft beverages while traveling.

Why Do It? You can get a taste of local life by visiting local beverage businesses. They’re also great places to unwind after a long day of sightseeing and adventuring.

Good to Know: A couple of the highly rated local spots in Frederick are the Flying Dog Brewery and McClintock Distilling.

Watch a Performance at the McClintock Weinberg Center for the Arts Book your ticket and grab your seat to be entertained!
Credit: Book your ticket and grab your seat to be entertained! by Weinberg Center for the Arts

Watch a Performance at the McClintock Weinberg Center for the Arts

What Is It? The McClintock Weinberg Center for the Arts is Frederick’s cultural center. The theater has a history dating back to 1926 and began presenting live theater in 1978.

Why Do It? It’s fun to check out a local show when you are in town to experience the Frederick arts scene.

Good to Know: Check the theater’s events calendar to see what’s playing during your travel dates. You can browse the website by event types, such as free events, the silent film series, the Frederick speaker series, and the family series.

Climb at The Boulder Yard The Boulder Yard
Credit: The Boulder Yard by The Boulder Yard

Climb at The Boulder Yard

What Is It? The Boulder Yard is a rock climbing gym in Frederick that also offers a weight room, yoga, group fitness classes, and martial arts. It is an 8,000-square-foot facility with walls that top out at 16 feet tall and have some exciting features. There are over 80 boulder problems to try at the gym.

Why Do It? Climbing is a great workout and a fun way to test your skills and learn something new.

Good to Know: Visitors should know that this is a bouldering gym and not a gym for top-rope or lead climbing. A day pass includes access to yoga and fitness classes too.

Watch Baseball at Harry Grove Stadium There's no bad seat in the stadium when you come here for a game
Credit: There's no bad seat in the stadium when you come here for a game by Frederick Keys

Watch Baseball at Harry Grove Stadium

What Is It? Harry Grove Stadium is the location where the Frederick Keys, a minor league baseball team, plays. Games typically run during the months of June, July, and August.

Why Do It? It’s a fun and affordable place to watch a baseball game. Families with kids and baseball fans love it here.

Good to Know: The Frederick Keys’ website features a team schedule to let you know when games are happening. Choose a game that includes a fireworks display for a special treat.

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