Fall foliage on the East Coast
While I was growing up, my great-grandmother lived in western Maryland and we would go visit her every summer during our trips to Virginia to see my grandmother and aunt. My grandmother had grown up in that area, so she always said that we were going “up home.”
Deep Creek Lake
Deep Creek Lake was nearby and we would often go there. Sometimes to swim, if it wasn’t too cold, or for our family reunion. I had never been there in the fall until a few years ago though.
Garrett County is known for its annual Autumn Glory Festival and while we might have been a little bit early to experience peak colors, there were still pretty views to enjoy.
It has always been a tradition of ours to dine at Pizzeria Uno, which is right on Deep Creek Lake, when we are in the area. We had a beautiful fall day and were able to sit outside on their patio.
Swallow Falls
We also explored Swallow Falls State Park and hiked the short distance to Muddy Creek Falls, a 53-foot waterfall.
There is a 1.25 mile long trail through the park that will take you by some smaller waterfalls and through the woods.
A plaque near Muddy Creek Falls commemorates Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone camping there in 1918 and again in 1921.
Blackwater Falls
Next, we made our way to Blackwater Falls State Park in Davis, West Virginia. We drove down some breathtaking roads on the way there and stopped at Our Lady of the Pines, the “smallest church in 48 states.”
Blackwater Falls is 57 feet tall and named for its amber waters. You can hike to the falls or see them from several viewing platforms.
We had lunch at Blackwater Falls Lodge and walked out back to take in the views of Blackwater Canyon. I can only imagine how beautiful it is when the fall colors are at their peak.
Harpers Ferry
We often make a stop in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, on our trips to the East Coast. I like walking around the historic town and up the Appalachian Trail for views of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers.
Along your hike, you can visit Jefferson Rock, where Thomas Jefferson once stood in 1783 and wrote about the beautiful view, saying, “This scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic.”
You will also see the ruins of St. John Episcopal Church, which was built 1852 but then damaged heavily during the Civil War.
A short drive from Harpers Ferry in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, is the Bavarian Inn, where you can stay for the night or just stop in for a delicious German-inspired meal.
I am glad I had a chance to visit Maryland and West Virginia in the fall. What are your favorite things to do there?
