Cumberland Part 1: on foot and by car

Well, Summer 2011 may be winding down, but Team WestEnders is not quite ready to throw in the towel (beach or otherwise) just yet. The boys and I had one more adventure that we wanted to pursue before facing the return of school and work. It was an excursion I discovered last year, but we never got around to doing: taking a train ride on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Depending on how you look at it, the outing would either count as an Extended Field Trip or a Mini Vacation, since it would necessarily involve an overnight stay in historic Cumberland, Maryland. The basic logistics included a two-hour drive westward, and a 3-1/2 hour train trip--both winding through beautiful mountainous countryside. With this in mind, I began filling in other details, to try to create a full, fun 2-day agenda. First I added a hike to the plan, since every time we drive on I-70 West, we've noted the Appalacian Trail crossing overhead. Then I had to investigate where we would sleep for the night. I wage a constant internal battle between the voice that admonishes "Be Frugal, Save Money!" and the one that reminds me how spoiled we ALL have become by staying at Marriotts...I think I've completely ruined the boys for "bargain motels" after exposing them to cushy amenities like indoor pools and Sleep Number beds (and how ridiculous is it that my pre-teen children actually know the word "amenities"?) Also, knowing that Cumberland is a very small town, I figured our choices would be somewhat limited. And when I searched online for less-expensive options, one horrifying word kept appearing in the Travelers' Reviews: BEDBUGS. Aaahhhh! Get me to the Fairfield Inn (owned by Marriott)! I broke the news to Husband that we'd had to book the $99 hotel, but quickly added, "breakfast is included!" He fully agreed that you cannot possibly place a monetary value on the amount of sheer joy Derek experiences from the words: "Free. Hot. Breakfast." Done!

So, with all preparations in place, we hit the highway and headed for the hills. One easy hour later, we arrived at the Appalacian Trail crossing, gobbled a quick Kashi bar (I swear we're like a commercial for those things--Really, eat one and go for a hike! Take our word for it!) picked a direction, and started walking. One possible path led to a scenic overlook called Annapolis Rocks. When researching the area's trails online a few days before the trip, we thought this one looked promising. The only concern was that it covered 2.2 miles each way, and Husband and I weren't sure the boys could handle such a long hike just yet. Derek, Riley and I made the game-day decision to give it our best try, though, and determinedly plowed off into the forest. In the beginning it looked a bit iffy, as we slogged steeply uphill  for quite some time. But it was a wide, fairly smooth, totally shady trek, so we stuck with it. Just when both boys were starting to complain of fatigue and lobbying to turn back, we passed another family group returning in the opposite direction. They seemed friendly, so I inquired: "Had they been to Annapolis Rocks?" (They had.) "Was it much further?" (Only about 5 minutes!) Yes! (Memo to me: Team WestEnders needs a watch with a GPS feature, so on future woodsy outings, we'll KNOW how far we've gone--without accosting fellow Outdoorsmen! Related note: soooo glad we didn't turn back!) The rocky outcropping, where you could gaze out over the Cumberland Valley, was breathtaking (and well worth the effort). And of course the boys gained no small sense of pride and accomplishment from completing a 4.4 mile hike. Appalacian Trail in Maryland: check!

Next we continued on to Cumberland, to relax, explore, and (of course) eat dinner. I don't know how this happens (is there a Patron Saint of Tourists? Because I owe him or her an offering!) but it turned out the Fairfield Inn sits about a block from the train station, near the heart of the downtown district. Score! We wandered up and down the rolling hills of the quaint little town, admiring many old-timey brick edifices and a surprising number of churches for such a tiny burg--all of which impressed us with their soaring, majestic spires. Overall we got the impression of having landed somewhere back in the 1800s or so. Also noteworthy and very enjoyable were the numerous fountains dotting the city blocks, and tiny areas of greenery--called "parklets"--tucked into corners between buildings. What we did not find in all of our otherwise pleasant strolling: a vegetarian-friendly eatery. However, the helpful staff at our good old hotel came through, pointing us toward the Queen City Creamery (right away, anyplace that promises ice-cream in the title is a clear winner). We never would have stumbled onto it by ourselves, but what a find! Delicious sandwiches, served in an old-fashioned ice-cream-parlor-style atmosphere...and a free mini-cone with each order. Happy campers!

Now we've got SportsCenter and a good night of sleep ahead of us...so we're thoroughly refreshed at an early hour...for the Breakfast Buffet! (Oh, and of course the Railroad!)