Visit Sugarloaf Mountain and Savor the Moment

Day Trip Destination: Dog-Friendly Dickerson, Maryland

This day trip is all about life. It’s about meeting strangers you have everything in common with. It’s about savoring a strawberry that tastes better than you’d expect it to. It’s about sipping wine and soaking in the sunshine, same as the grapes that made it. It’s about going on a hike with your family and your very best friend.

Sugarloaf Mountain sits dependably off in the distance – that mound you see over the river as you drive to the grocery store, run to pick up the kids from karate class and whisk the dog to the groomer. It’s the hike you always mean to take – so close and yet so far.

Until now. This weekend, why not pack a cooler full of sandwiches, throw the dog and the kids in the car, and skip the grocery shopping? With this trip, you can have your veggies and eat them, too.

If you’re coming from Virginia and White’s Ferry is operational, that route sets the stage for an idyllic day trip. Country roads lead past farmhouses and open pastures and up to Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, one of Maryland’s most celebrated wineries, on Comus Road in Dickerson.

Every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the vineyard hosts a Farmers Market. You may want to stop here twice – once in the morning to fuel the hike with a croissant, and again in the early afternoon to make up for that lost trip to Wegmans.

The entrance to Sugarloaf Mountain is just beyond the winery — as the road forks, it’s to the near right. Rules of the park are posted, and trail maps are available.

You can hike to your heart’s content on trails that rise 800 feet above the nearby countryside and 1,282 feet above sea level. These circuit hikes are for varying skill levels, so nobody has to be left out.

Technically speaking, Sugarloaf is a monadnock, having remained after the erosion of the surrounding land. Its shape prompted pioneers and hunters to name it for the loaves of sugar it resembled.

The mountain is of historical significance, having held lookout posts for both the Union and the Confederate armies during the Civil War. A log cabin that still stands at the base served as a makeshift hospital for wounded soldiers.

Wildflowers bloom during the warmer weather, and a variety of forest birds makes this their home – the great horned owl, wild turkey, red-shouldered hawk and pileated woodpecker.

Sugarloaf Mountain is privately owned and managed by Stronghold, Inc., a private organization that was established by Gordon and Louise Strong in 1946 to protect and share Sugarloaf’s natural beauty. The Strong Mansion has been restored and is now used for weddings and special events.

Picnic tables near the Potomac Overlook, East View and West View parking lots provide a place for a meal with a view. And, after everyone is well-fed and ready to turn back, you’ll see the beauty of this master plan. That empty cooler is just begging to be filled with fresh herbs and artisanal cheeses, isn’t it?

Strolling along the handful of vendors back at the winery, it quickly becomes apparent that this is not your ordinary market. Some share samples, and most are willing to tell you about their food philosophies with great enthusiasm. All appear to be living their dreams.

Maybe you’ve never met them before, but they couldn’t possibly be called strangers. These folks have made it their lives’ work to put interesting food on your table — food you’ll savor and remember, food that tastes the way it should. Purchases are accompanied by a conversation and a smile.

The collection of vendors on any given Saturday may vary but will not disappoint. On opening weekend, M&M Plants had fresh flowers, hanging baskets, lettuce bowls and potted herbs, while Banner Bee was offering flavored honey and skin care products.

Canela Bakery had the aforementioned breakfast pastries, as well as cookies the size of a saucer for the kids. Pies glistened with fresh fruit, and breads boasted grainy goodness. Next door, Palmyra Farms sold cheeses, butters, and spreads expertly crafted from Holstein and Ayreshire cows.

Pleitez Produce offered up ripe strawberries and other harbingers of spring – asparagus, onions and pickling cucumbers – and promised a steady stream of high-quality produce as the season continues.

Two Paws Up, a popular pet store and spa in Historic Downtown Frederick that has dubbed itself “the doghouse even your cat will love,” was handing out samples to promote the launch of Bare Bites, a new product featuring Dorsey’s organic meats. These folks made our Norton quite happy, heaping praise and puppy treats upon him. Their foot-long bully sticks are a bargain at $5 – the gift that keeps on giving.

While you are here, Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard invites you to try their award-winning Bordeaux-style wines on the patio or inside the winery. Newly released are the 2010 Chardonnay, 2010 Circe and 2010 Pinot Grigio, as well as a new Rose and the curiously named 2010 Anticipation.

Dogs are quite welcome inside and out. Fun-loving human companions are, too. During most weekends this summer, live music by local favorites such as Dave Pepper fills the vineyards.

The winery is also happy to celebrate Dog Days once a month, when the upper patio is open as a dog park from 10 a.m. – noon and local vendors come to share information and demonstrations. Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard is open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 – 6 p.m., and the Farmers Market is offered every Saturday in season from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. For a complete list of events visit the winery’s website at http://www.smvwinery.com.

When you go…

• Sugarloaf Mountain is open from 8 a.m. until one hour before sunset every day.
• Dogs are allowed, and must be on a leash at all times.
• Camping and fires are strictly prohibited.
• Alcohol is prohibited.
• Trail maps are available at the entrance, as well as in the parking lots.
• Port-a-potties are located in the view parking lots.
• Horseback riding is restricted to the yellow trail.
• Hikers get thirsty, so pack plenty of water for humans and canines on the trip.

Story copyright 2011, Elaine C. Jean. All rights reserved.
Photos copyright 2011, Paul N. Jean. All rights reserved.

Biking Along the C&O Canal

Destination: Williamsport, Maryland

Williamsport’s stretch of the C&O Canal is home to an impressive sampling of architecture, and the nearby town has long enjoyed a tradition of welcoming travelers. They’ve recently introduced a new bike lane that leads directly from the trail to restaurants and shops, so riders can stop by, relax and recharge.

Hitting the Trail
The C&O Canal Historical Park is the 184.5-mile swath of public land that resulted from our nation’s attempt to link Georgetown to Pittsburgh via navigable waterway. While the “Grand Old Ditch” was only used commercially from 1831 to 1924, it has been reborn as a refuge for bikers, hikers and anglers.

Bikers love the uninterrupted hard-packed trail that is akin to a one-lane dirt road with no cars. Most favor hybrid bikes or touring cycles with slightly knobby tires, but just about anything will do except a road bike with skinny tires.

Because the trail is built on old railroad and canal beds, it’s fairly level with only gentle rises at the lift locks. Helmet laws apply by county, and the speed limit is 15 mph. This trail isn’t a training ground for the spandex set, so it’s a great place for kids and riders of various skill levels.

The Cushwa Coal and Brick Warehouse in Williamsport hosts one of six visitor centers currently operated by the National Park Service as gateways to the park. Here and in the nearby trolley barn, dioramas, displays and photographs bring to life stories of the hundreds of families who spent their lives making the great machine work.

The entry point is at Mile 99.6 and takes the rider past the Cushwa Basin, once the busiest turning basin on the canal because it was used for canal boats transporting coal inland. The Conococheague Aqueduct is found here, as well.

Along the trip downstream is Western Maryland Railroad’s circa 1923 railroad lift bridge, once used to transport coal to the nearby power plant. A Bollman truss bridge was built in 1879 and is one of the few surviving bridges of its kind remaining in America.

At Lock 44, a ranger sometimes operates the gates during weekends. This visual aid helps visitors wrap their brains around a concept that’s best described as an elevator for boats. The nearby lock house provides an example of how the lock tender and his family lived.

North of the Visitors Center at Mile 106.6 is Dam 5. This stone masonry dam provided the water for a hydroelectric power plant on the opposite side of the river. At Mile 108.8, is the shortcut across Prather’s Neck known as Four Locks and what was once a community of homes with a school, post office, dry dock, two warehouses and two stores. Several of the historic buildings remain.

Lock House 49 is furnished from the 1920s and offers an opportunity to experience a slice of life by staying the night. Reservations can be made by visiting www.canalquarters.org or calling (301) 745-8888.

River City Cycles
Historic Williamsport offers a variety of shops and restaurants to make your trip more pleasant. Just two blocks from the C&O Canal, River City Cycles is ready to help if you need a tool, accessories or apparel. And if you’ve experienced technical difficulties out on the trail, definitely stop by and see Scott.

Scott Gordon knows bikes – he’s been riding for 20 years, and racing for 17 of them. His is a small full-service shop that sells some of the things you want and everything you need. He carries a full line of Giant andFujibikes for riders of all ages and skill levels, and he does repair work on all brands.

River City Cycles is open Tuesday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They accept all major credit cards.

Desert Rose Café
The Desert Rose Café claims to serve karma by the cup, and they are particularly good to the hungry, tired traveler. A large bike rack outside provides safe haven for your wheels, and the restaurant does the same for your spirit.

This is, put simply, a happy place. Rose presides over her kitchen, producing unpretentious yet high quality food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sandwiches are huge and made from your choice of breads, and all salads are served on a bed of organic greens. Smoothies and fancy coffee drinks round out the menu.

The setting is soothing, with comfy chairs and textured wall hangings. This a great place to recharge and grab some healthy grub.

Desert Rose Café is open seven days per week, and hours vary by season.

Williamsport Creamery
Think you’ve burned off a bunch of calories and the scale may be a little kinder to you tonight? Fuggetabout it.

In 2010 Rob and Joy Smith opened the Williamsport Creamery on National Ice Cream Day – July 14 – as a place for their daughters to work during summers off from college. They painstakingly restored the building, added a big dose of nostalgia and opened the doors.

The town loves having its own ice cream shop, and canal cruisers enjoy ending the day here with a frozen dessert. Splits, sundaes and fountain drinks are available, as well has hand-dipped and soft serve cones.

The $2.49 price tag may lead you to believe that the medium cone is, well, moderately sized. It’s not. The cone is cracking from the burden of its two huge scoops, and that’s a good thing.

Williamsport Creamery is open from 5 – 9 p.m. every evening through the first Friday in November.

Story copyright 2011, Elaine C. Jean. All rights reserved.
Photos copyright 2011, Paul N. Jean. All rights reserved.