Recreation News, July 2016

Recreation THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF GOVEMPLOYEE.COM

July 2016

Volume 34/Number 7

www.recreationnews.com

News

Hot summer cool cruise GovEmployee.com Annual Discount & Housing Guide

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A Two-Night Getaway to Luray’s Mimslyn Inn

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Ocean City beach vacations • Agritourism adventures • See Maryland from horseback • Mid-Atlantic caverns • See Maryland from horseback • Family fun around Morgantown • New tours in Bedford • Wine doctor

editor’s note I marvin bond

What’s inside Box number 12?

Anyone who has moved after a long time in one house knows how much “stuff” we humans can accumulate. The process of moving can be cleansing, I suppose, as we shed the things that we no longer need or use. This is particularly true for those of us of a certain age who are downsizing.

Moving from a home in which children and assorted pets lived to a nest for the two of you means abandoning a good bit of that accumulated detritus while packing the remains into boxes.

As in most things, organization can keep the stress level down, but there is always last-minute packing of daily necessities into boxes that defy coherent labels. I suppose everyone who has moved has lost something in the process, if only for a matter of days or weeks. During our May move, my file with date book, editorial calendar with writers’ assignments, and notes for a July story seemed to disappear.

There ensued a search through still-unpacked boxes marked “office,” and an inventory of other

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sealed boxes to see if one of the office boxes had been placed elsewhere. As we were checking those other boxes, different treasures that had survived the downsizing process revealed themselves: IDs from the three presidential inaugurals I worked on, small pictures we bought in the Market House in Charleston, and mugs from a writer’s trip to Southern Delaware.

Enhance your memory box The file was important, of course, but the memories were more important in the long run. What are you doing to enhance your own memory box? It’s already mid-summer, but it’s not too late to plan a getaway or day trip to create the experiences that fill up that memory box.

Over time, those rocking chair memories are more important than many of the day-to-day chores we often let drive our daily lives.

Check out the pages of this issue of Recreation News to get some ideas.

Take a trip north or south to visit one of the region’s caverns. They’re guaranteed to be refreshingly cool on a hot summer day and we have a complete rundown this month.

Head down to the farm to visit some of the many agritourism attractions we explore in a roundup feature.

Hike to spectacular views in the area around Morgantown, W.Va., or enjoy the state’s only botanic garden.

Learn what our cruise columnists discovered about Princess cruises.

Do something different.

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Baltimore’s Inner Harbor | aqua.org

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Find an easy resource for horseback riding opportunities in Maryland.

The list goes on with our extensive calendar of festivals, fairs, shows, concerts, exhibitions, and other activities, as well as our Free in D.C. and Family Event features. It’s like your own box of surprises that you can open, and then take what you like.

Surprises and memories are meant to be enjoyed. Make the most of your summer with help from Recreation News in print and online at recreationnews.com.

Oh, and I did find the missing file. It was hiding in plain sight on my desk!

Coming next month North Carolina section Gettysburg, Pa. Morgantown, W.Va. Somerset Co., Md.

publisher’s note I karl teel

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Celebrating our nation’s birthday

Another lap around the sun — that’s what technically defines what makes us another year older.

Why celebrate? Well, it’s not about the completing of another lap — it’s a symbolic time of reflection on accomplishment and celebration of all that makes us happy in life.

A nation’s birthday is no different, other than the fact it’s an entity, not a human being. Like a person’s birthday, we celebrate what it has brought into our lives. We all celebrate people who mean much to us: parents, siblings, children, friends, and colleagues. The Fourth of July means so much more than fireworks and a day off. It’s a time to reflect upon the enrichment our lives have had as a result of the existence of the good ol’ U.S. of A. I can sum up the lion’s share in a single word: Freedom. Freedom to practice your religion of choice. Freedom to select a rewarding career.

Freedom to marry whoever agrees to it. Freedom to voice your opinion. Freedom to travel where you desire.

How will you celebrate? The family picnic or barbecue, a gathering at the park, a keg of beer, a fireworks display, a visit with friends, just relaxing on a day off, or working to earn some overtime cash? It doesn’t matter. You have the freedom to

2 ~ Editor’s Note 3 ~ Publisher’s Note 4 ~ Travel Line

select the best choices on your personal menu of options.

Of course, we here at Recreation News Media strive to provide you with a variety of options, whether it’s in our Calendar of Events, with its hundreds of events each month, or the travel ideas and vacation tips we provide in print in Recreation News, online at RecreationNews.com, or in our weekly email blast, The Weekend Update. Like our great nation, every service we provide our audience is absolutely free.

While our great nation spans thousands of miles and, like any family, some members go back further in history than others, we are all one. For us here in the Mid-Atlantic coast, we are smack dab in the heart of the origins of our nation’s history.

We’re surrounded by Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital, as well as other key cities from our history such as Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, Annapolis, and countless smaller towns that played important parts in that history.

Maybe a visit to the Smithsonian, fireworks on the mall, or a historical tour doesn’t fit into your plans for the holiday weekend, but consider some travel in the future this year to reflect on our heritage. The primary ingredient to a celebration begins with caring, and the primary way to show care is to act upon it.

This year, as you celebrate our national birthday, take a moment to reflect and to appreciate what a gift it is to be here, and begin to set AAA COLOR CARD CO. some plans in motion to (814) 793-2342 see more of our counaaacolorcard.com try, its people, and its Raised Ink • Flat Foil history. We are here to Full Color Flat Ink Fast Turnaround help.

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6 ~ Mid-Atlantic Agritourism attractions 8 ~ Maryland by horseback 9 ~ New tours of Bedford 10 ~ Cruise Corner 12 ~ Hit the beach 13 ~ Calendar of Events DHG-1 ~ Discount and Housing Guide 16 ~ Mid-Atlantic caverns 18 ~ Hiking around Morgantown 20 ~ Martinsburg Bike Night 21 ~ Adventures in Taste 22 ~ Wine Doctor

On our cover Discover the pleasures of a Princess Cruise to Alaska in this month’s Cruise Corner. (Michelle Teel).

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Celebrate July Fourth with music, floats, and balloons at the National Independence Day Parade starting at 11:45am on Constitution Avenue (july4thparade.com) A July Fourth concert with patriotic music by the National Symphony Orchestra and musical artists starts at 8:00pm on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, followed by fireworks on the National Mall. (psb.org/a-capitol-fourth) The Smithsonian Folklife Festival continues through July 4 and again July 7–10 celebrating Basque country and the sounds of California with music, dance, crafts, food, and storytelling. (festival.si.edu) — gwen woolf

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A Smokey Mountain Getaway See Cade’s Cove during National Park Service Centennial Among the most popular places to visit in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is Cades Cove, a beautiful green valley on the Tennessee side that offers one of the few flat surfaces in the park.

Ideal for hiking and bicycling, the 11-mile one-way Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to motor vehicles from May through late September, and Wednesday and Saturday mornings until 10:00am the rest of the year. It takes at least two to four hours to tour the area, especially if you want to view the wildlife and hike some of the trails.

The Cades Cove Nature Trail is short and easy, but Abrams Falls Trail is a 5-mile loop and Thunderhead Mountain and Rocky Top are even longer. During the summer and fall, visitors can rent bicycles at the store near the Cades Cove Campground, which offers 159 camping sites year-round. The Cades Cove Loop affords abundant opportunities for viewing wildlife, including whitetailed deer, black bears, coyotes, ground hogs, turkeys, raccoons, skunks, and squirrels. Birds are plentiful as well.

Here, too, are a number of 19thcentury log cabins and outbuildings that were moved to Cades Cove from other areas of the park as it was being developed. The Cherokee Indians used the valley for hunting and fishing, but the Europeans settled it between 1818 and 1821, their numbers reaching 271 by 1830. Preserved for posterity are log houses,

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barns, churches, and a working grist mill. Hiking and bicycling are also possible in the Greenbrier and Tremont areas of the park in Tennessee and the Cataloochee Valley and Riverview areas in North Carolina.

But, none compare with Cades Cove.

The Cades Cove Visitor Center, located midway on the loop near Cable Mill, offers park information, historical displays, books, and restrooms.

Another interesting place to visit on the Tennessee side is the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, a 5.5-mile curvy, narrow loop that takes you to rushing streams amid old forests and a number of preserved log cabins, grist mills, and other historic buildings.

This year, during the National Park Centennial, is the ideal time to visit the park, which straddles the Tennessee-North Carolina state line and has entrances via U.S. Route 441 at Gatlinburg, Tenn., and Cherokee, N.C. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the park was established by the Congress in 1934 and dedicated by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1940. The 544,419-acre park includes 16 mountains that tower more than 6,000 feet, including Clingman’s Dome, the highest in the Smoky Mountains with an elevation of 6,643 feet.

In addition to hiking, bicycling, and camping, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers fishing, horseback riding, educational programs, and more. (nps.gov/ grsm)

CALL TODAY FOR YOUR FREE WATER TRAILS MAPS

Insider’s tip: Download the “Free Smokies Visitor Guide” to your smartphone before you leave home.

The National Park Service will celebrate its 100th anniversary at parks all over the country on Aug. 25. The NPS includes 540 parks, along with more than 1,000 recreation areas, such as wildlife refuges, wildernesses, reservoirs, prairies, and scenic bodies of water. If you’re planning to celebrate this year, book hotels, restaurants, and tours in advance of your visit.

Around the Mid-Atlantic With summer in full swing, vacationers are enjoying outdoor dramas, theater, musical concerts, festivals, arts and crafts shows, and more in the Mid-Atlantic.

Trail of the Lonesome Pine, “The Official Outdoor Drama of Virginia,” celebrates its 53rd season this year, with shows scheduled every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, July 2– Aug. 1, at the June Tolliver Playhouse in Big Stone Gap. The show is based on John Fox Jr.’s popular book by the same title about the discovery of coal and the long-lasting effect it had on the people of Appalachia. The book was also the subject of three Hollywood films.

If you go to the show, also take time to visit the 1890s Victorian house next door to the theater where June Tolliver actually lived. A registered Virginia and National Historic Landmark, the building houses a gift shop, art gallery, and historical displays. The Duff Academy, where Tolliver went to school, is also nearby. (trailofthelonesomepine. com) The Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Va., which has been entertaining audiences since Depression days, has a plethora of outstanding plays this season. July and August productions

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Check out our calendar on page 13 for what’s happening in and around your area!

include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Dixie Swim Club, Peter and the Starcatcher, Mamma Mia!, Greater Tuna, and Robin Hood. A Night with Janis Joplin runs Aug. 18– Sept. 10. (bartertheatre.com) The 2016 Wintergreen Summer Music Festival kicks off July 6 and runs through Aug. 7. “With this year’s ‘Expect the Unexpected’ theme, you’ll find surprises around every corner,” said the festival’s Erin Freeman. “From unique interpretations of Bach to a field full of bagpipers, from pop-up performances to a Beethoven symphony that you pick, we’ve planned a month packed with twists and turns that will keep you on your musical toes.

“Come join us for a day, a weekend, a week, or even the entire month. You’re sure to find something to excite, inspire, and amaze you – even if you aren’t expecting it.” (wintergreenperforming arts.org) Colonial Williamsburg has transformed once again into the Revolutionary City as the Redcoats occupy the village. Visitors have the option of taking sides and roles as they encounter townspeople, tradespeople, shopkeepers, politicians, women, and the enslaved people of Williamsburg. They can even storm the Governor’s Palace with a group of angry citizens who are upset over the confiscation of their gunpowder, or experience martial law imposed by Benedict Arnold. Of course, there is great excitement when news arrives of the Declaration of Independence, followed later by the onward march to Yorktown and ultimate victory over the British. (history.org) The annual Pony Penning and Carnival is a yearly highlight in Chincoteague, Va. The carnival takes place throughout the month of July with rides, games, food, and raffles several nights of the month and an old-fashioned fireworks display on the evening of July Fourth.

“Saltwater cowboys” herd the wild ponies across the Assateague Channel to neighboring Chincoteague Island before the Auction of the Foals on July 28. Visitors enjoy fishing, boating, surfing, sunbathing, shell-collecting, biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, shopping, and dining on Chincoteague Island, the gateway to Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. (chincoteaguechamber.com) Carol Timblin welcomes travel news at ctimblin@gmail.com.

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agritourism I ami neiberger-miller

Going ‘down home on the farm’ means great family fun Our area is filled with opportunities to enjoy “down home fun� on the farm. There’s an abundance of “pick your own� places, but many agritourism businesses are rapidly expanding, offering live entertainment, tours, and fun recreational activities. Here’s a selection of regional attractions. To find out seasonal hours, and what activities are offered, check their websites.

MARYLAND Carroll County Farm Museum 500 S. Center St., Westminster, Md. 410-386-3880, carrollcountyfarmmuseum.org The farm museum shows life in early America with an original 1700s log barn, smokehouse, broom shop, saddlery, springhouse, wagon shed,

firehouse, one-room schoolhouse, farmhouse, and a general store. Costumed guides transport you and your family through history to a bygone era.

Clark’s Elioak Farm 10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, Md. 410-730-4049, clarklandfarm.com This is a rootin’ tootin’ good time on the farm.

Enjoy the petting zoo, cow train, hayrides, and pony rides. Attractions from a bygone amusement park, fondly known as the Enchanted Forest, have moved to the farm, giving it a magical fairy tale quality. See the Cinderella pumpkin coach, Mother Goose and her gosling, the Old Woman’s shoe, the house of the Three Little Pigs, a castle, and much more. Venture into the Pine Tree Maze and spot children’s storybook favorites. You can also pick up produce, eggs, meat, and other goodies in the farm store to take home.

Howard County Living Farm Heritage Museum 12985 Frederick Road, West Friendship, Md. 410-489-2345, farmheritage.org

Learn how to plow with a mule-led team, see antique tractors and threshing machines in action, enjoy libations while listening to bluegrass music, see a Wild West show, and tour the museum. The museum has 6 miles of nature trails available for hiking, biking, horseback riding, picnics, educational walks, and more.

Misty Meadow Farm Creamery 14325 Misty Meadow Road, Smithsburg, Md. 301-824-2112 mistymeadowsfarmcreamery.com This family farm operation makes a variety of flavors of ice cream on site. Tour the dairy, meet the barnyard animals, take a wagon ride around the farm, play on the pedal tractors and in the play area with your kids, and enjoy wholesome cheese, yogurt, or bottled milk. The country store offers toys and gifts, as well as dairy products to take home. In the fall, visit the corn maze and pumpkin patch.

10500 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 410-730-4049 clarklandfarm.com

Fun on the farm

• Petting farm with animals, pony rides, hay wagon rides, and a cow train • See old favorites from The Enchanted Forest • Plan a birthday party • Fall pumpkin patch • Summer produce and farm-raised meats

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Old Maryland Farm 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, Md. 301-218-6770, pgparks.com Old Maryland Farm is part of the popular Prince George’s County Watkins Regional Park. Little ones enjoy learning about chickens, ducks, llamas, sheep, and ponies. Hayrides and farm demonstrations are offered. A short walk from the farm is a popular miniature train ride (yes, you can ride the rails!), an antique carousel, miniature golf, and overnight camping.

Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm 6411 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, Md. 301-839-1176, nps.gov/oxhi A National Park Service site and once an 1812era plantation, Oxon Hill shows willing farmhands how to do the daily work of an early American farm. Visitors can milk cows, feed chickens, and churn butter. Try the activity area for kids in the barn.

Other events include story reading, scavenger hunts, wagon rides, and cider pressing. Biking and hiking trails are also available.

South Mountain Creamery 8305 Bolivar Road, Middletown, Md. 301-371-8565, southmountaincreamery.com Tour the dairy, watch the cows being milked, meet the new calves, or visit during feeding time.

This fully functioning dairy farm supplies dairy

cattle, chickens, geese, and hogs on the property.

Workshops are offered year round in a variety of topics and guests can pitch in with the work of the farm, helping harvest tobacco, wheat, or rye when the plants are ready.

products to more than 9,000 households in the Washington metro area. Guided one-hour tours are available.

A children’s play area and picnic pavilion are offered. Stop in Karen’s Kountry Store for snacks and ice cream.

VIRGINIA Back Home on the Farm 2915 Willow Run Road, Harrisonburg, Va. 540-442-6493, backhome-onthefarm.com These farmers want to share their love of the land and their animals with anyone who wants to visit. A butterfly conservatory, greenhouse, and a fully restored antique carousel are unique features.

You can also enjoy a country tea, visit the children’s play area, go through the lavender maze, or enter the rubber ducky races. In the fall, there’s a cornfield maze, pig races, and other activities.

Claude Moore Colonial Farm 6310 Georgetown Pike, McLean, Va. 703-442-7557, new.1771.org Stroll through this living history museum, where you can see how people lived in the 17th century.

Costumed interpreters are in character and will demonstrate how farm work was done 300 years ago. There are

Cows N Corn 5225 Catlett Road, Midland, Va. 540-439-4806, cows-n-corn.com This Fauquier County farm can teach you all about cows, thanks to its 100-plus herd of Holsteins. Your little ones can enjoy a ride on the cow train, and the entire family can take a hayride. The “Moo Bounce” and puppet shows offer lots of fun, and you can even make and taste your own butter. Incredible corn mazes and more fun are found here in the fall.

Frying Pan Farm Park 2709 W. Ox Road, Herndon, Va. 703-437-9101 fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/fryingpanpark You’ll find antique tractors, a blacksmith’s continued on page 11

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maryland I susan kim

A different view of Maryland Take in the Old Line State from horseback One of the best ways to see Maryland is on horseback. At the Holly Ridge Farm in rural Willards, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, riding through a shaded trail with farm owner Anne Luke serves as both a lesson in basic horsemanship and a storytelling session. Luke is a local example of the horse industry leaders in Maryland: knowledgeable, passionate, and full of love for her horses, many of whom she has rescued.

“These are not old, tired, bored horses,” she says, carefully selecting each horse for its rider, then offering a rudimentary lesson in riding to small groups before they hit the trails. A circle or two around the indoor arena, and riders are ready to go.

The trails loop along the Pocomoke River and, in the woods, the temperature always feels cooler, even on a typical humid Maryland summer day.

Pines and cypress trees ring the trail, and Luke offers riding tips as she goes along, also explaining horse behavior: why horses swat at flies; why they rarely fall, even on rocky trails; what a snort means; or why a rider doesn’t have to let her horse snatch a snack from a nearby tree.

Depending on your taste and your riding experience, Luke has riding packages with just about any theme, from a romantic riverside wine-anddine to birthday parties. “We’ve even had a bachelorette party here,” said Luke.

For kids too young for trail riding, Luke offers an

educational tour that allows young people to learn about the farm and visit with dogs, cats, and chickens that live there with the horses, plus a “hoof beats through history” segment that offers on an on-foot or on-horseback glimpse at the Maryland horse industry’s past.

In the summer, try a ride at dusk for a new view of the woods, or join a twilight wine and cheese ride. Come fall, there are rides themed off of the harvest moon, pumpkin carving, and even an applesauce ride featuring a traditional Delmarva apple cooking demonstration.

Finally, don’t overlook winter riding options, including a special holiday wreath-making ride, and snowy adventures on the trails.

For those who don’t like the cold, Holly Ridge offers a “Fit for Fun” winter program in its indoor arena.

About a half hour’s drive from Ocean City, Willards is a tiny farming community, and a great place to take a break from the beach. Try coffee or lunch at the Iron Horse Coffee House and Eatery on the corner of Market and Main streets. The restaurant opened in 2015 in a building that once was a train station, then a post office.

Maryland has 35 Horse Discovery Centers

ters in 16 Maryland counties.

The Maryland Horse Industry Board launched the network in 2015, selecting stables that welcome people of all ages and experience levels into their barns to learn about horses in a friendly and knowledgeable environment.

“We started the Horse Discovery Center network as a volunteer certification program for our licensed stables that are committed to educating the general public about horses. We want any citizen of Maryland to have access to horses in a friendly and knowledgeable environment,” said Ross Peddicord, director of the Horse Industry Board.

Visiting the Horse Discovery Centers website is a good way to find a stable that suits your sense of adventure. (mda.maryland.gov/horseboard/ pages/horse_discovery_centers.aspx) From trail-riding centers to western riding operations, there are stables offering summer camps, English equitation, and Civil War reenactments.

For those interested in horse rescue sites, the Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Woodbine is a moving place to watch the difference that a caring stable can make in a troubled horse’s life.

For the kids, visit Clark’s Elioak Farm in Clarksville, where a petting zoo rounds out a day on the farm for the little ones.

Holly Ridge Farm has been designated a Horse Discovery Center, one of a network of 35 such cen-

The best views are from

horseback!

continued on page 9

Calvert County Nature Parks Explore the Wonders of the Natural World www.calvertparks.org

410.535.5327

Hiking Trails Picnicking Education Programs Interpretive Exhibits

Explore Maryland’s — 2,000 miles of scenic trails — 35 Horse Rental Stables — 35 Horse Discovery Centers www.mda.maryland.gov/horseboard

8 recreation news I july 2016 I recreationnews.com

Kings Landing Park Canoe & Kayak Access Group Camping & Facilities

Flag Ponds Nature Park Chesapeake Bay Beach and Fossil Hunting

Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary Trails Through a Bald Cypress Swamp

pennsylvania I jane and marvin bond

Five ‘different’ tours in Bedford County, Pa. “We were trying to make things more accessible to the general public,” explained Dennis Tice, who promotes Bedford County, Pa. The county’s two video tours (a third is in production) take advantage of the smartphone in your pocket to enhance the typical guided tour.

With a brochure in hand, you can tour five sites in the town of Everett, using the QR Code Reader on your phone to access entertaining video content. You can also access the video through a YouTube channel using any Internet-ready device.

The Everett tour reveals why the town was long known as Bloody Run, the dangers of life on the frontier, and how two of America’s Medals of Honor were awarded to boys from Bedford County.

The separate tour of Bedford reveals five different styles of architecture ranging from a gothic revival

church to an art deco gas station.

The tours take about an hour each.

Old Line State

of horse racing tradition for both thoroughbreds and standard breds, Maryland is a great state for horse racing fans.

Each year, the Preakness — the second jewel of the annual Triple

continued from page 8

Maryland is horsewatching country

A different GPS tour The county tourism office also offers a GPS games adventure. “This is really three different walking tours using GPS coordinates that you can do without knowing geocaching,” Tice said.

Using a smartphone that can show accurate longitude and latitude, and a family can solve three puzzles while touring the area. You solve the fourth puzzle by unscrambling highlighted letters in the three puzzles and can claim a prize at the tourism office.

“It’s a fun and educational way to learn about history, as well as our area,” Tice said.

Learn more Bedford Co. Tourism: visitbedfordcounty.com

Home to Pimlico and the Preakness Stakes, and nearly 300 years

continued on page 23

Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts™

Central PA Festival of the Arts

The Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts turns 50 as the 2016 version brings 125,000 visitors to State College, July 14–17. Shop at the nationally recognized sidewalk sale of art and purchase fine crafts by 300 juried artists, watch artists in the Italian Street Painting Festival, meet authors at Bookfest (July 16), and see free performances on three outdoor stages and a variety of indoor venues. (arts-festival.com)

Chambersburg Comes to Life!

JULY 15

Civil War Ball 6:30-9:30pm

July 14-17, 2016

This year’s special events include performances by the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, The Dustbowl Revival , The Crawdaddies and many more.

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Old Market Day 9-4pm

Vendors, music & more!

Children & Youth Day July 13, 2016

The 50th Festival means even more great events than usual including the giant sand sculpture, Downtown State College Italian Street Painting Festival, Sue Crowe Memorial Arts Festival Races and a full day of children’s activities.

JULY 16

THE BURNING 6-10pm

Re-enactment, lights, sounds & more!

Finals of music competition on the steps of the courthouse before The Burning!

Illuminate!

10-?

Food, music & more at the Capitol Theatre

866.646.8060 • 717.552.2977 • ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com Facebook.com/FCVBen • Twitter/FCVB recreationnews.com I july 2016 I recreation news 9

RUISE

orner michelle & karl teel

c c RUISE orner c c

The Princess Cruise Line treats you like royalty Come back refreshed in heart, mind, and soul Pampering, relaxation, and adventure are all hallmarks of a cruising vacation. But, first, there are decisions to be made. Which cruise line?

Which ship? Which itineraries? Our latest cruise, on the Princess Cruise Lines Grand Princess, embarking from San Francisco to Alaska, proved to be an excellent choice.

It was our first time on a Princess ship and we wanted to sample the line’s offerings. We found it to be clearly a cut above the mainstream cruise lines, but not priced commensurately higher. The overall tone of the ship was elegant and subdued. It wasn’t overly flashy or loud; just the

right balance of comfort that left you feeling like royalty.

Make sure to take advantage of the adults-only pool and hot tub area in the nose of the ship, a great follow-up to the spa, where we enjoyed a hot stone couple’s massage.

Or, try “The Sanctuary,� the ultimate experience in pampering on board, which offers an exclusive retreat for just $20 per half day or $40 for the full day, with a spacious retreat and comfortable upscale lounge chairs and catered services. (See our photo gallery online.)

Insider tip: The best deals on spa services are offered on embarkation

Michelle Teel

Glacial waters and sheer granite cliffs are some of the views in Tracy Arm Fjord.

• Southern Expedition - 14 Lighthouses - 2 Days - Overnight Onancock, VA August 8 & 9 • Sunset Cruises with 2 Lighthouses • Half Day on the Bay with 5 Lighthouses • Full Day Cruises with 10 Lighthouses

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day and also at the end of the cruise.

Dining is always a highlight of a cruise, and this ship is no exception.

Options include the trendy anytime dining, where you can arrive at any time and get to meet a variety of your fellow passengers, or the traditional fixed schedule dining where friendships are made with your tablemates. Upscale options are also well worth the nominal charge.

Select from a high-end steakhouse, a seafood restaurant, or an upscale Italian restaurant where you’ll enjoy five-course dining that may run in the range of $300 per couple at home for just a $29 per person upcharge on board.

Insider tip: Plan ahead to reserve your table. Take the time when you first board to look at your schedule and make your reservations for days at sea so you don’t compromise port time. You may also wish to avoid scheduling during the main dining’s formal or seafood dinner nights.

Speaking of all of that dining, there is a gym that has all the stateof-the-art exercise machines, weight machines, and free weights, as well as free classes, such as Zumba and yoga. Taking the stairs, walking laps on the Promenade deck, and hitting the gym are all great ways to stay fit and counterbalance the almost impossible-to-resist additional calories that the delicious food and beverages supply.

A cruise is a great way to unplug and truly relax, but if you need technology, Princess has it. The line has its own free website, which gives you access to the entertainment and dining schedules. You can also text other cruisers — once again, at no cost.

Princess even uses technology to make dealing with your bill easier.

Why stand in line when you can, at any time, walk by a kiosk, swipe your room card, and print out your current statement of charges? Take it back to your room and review at your leisure. The ships have satellite Wi-Fi so you can keep up with your email (for a fee). One of the benefits of an Alaska cruise is that you can get free Internet and phone service while in port since are all in the U.S. (except for Victoria, British Columbia).

The sail out of San Francisco Bay

is beautiful and exciting. As the ship cruises past Alcatraz Island, the bay is full of sailboats plying the sparkling water, while the passage under the Golden Gate Bridge is so much fun. The horn blasts to the cheers of those walking over the bridge and the passengers who are setting sail for an exciting Alaska adventure.

Ports of call The towns along the Alaskan coast have much in common, although each has its unique personality, as well. All are part of a temperate tropical rain forest, lush with green growth and relatively mild winters, far different than what most minds conjure up when thinking of Alaska.

Unlike the interior of the state, weather-wise, they are far more affected by the ocean. The coastal towns do have some interesting elements due to their northern location. There are dramatic 25-foot tide changes. During the five hours we were in Ketchikan, the tide changed by a whopping 12 feet.

Daylight changes are dramatic as well. Our visit in late May, a full month prior to the summer solstice, had sunsets well after 10:00pm. Even then, it never fully set. It only went to a prolonged dusk.

Ketchikan, at first glance, appears to be the town out of the old TV sitcom series Northern Exposure.

It’s one of those places where, the deeper you dig, the more fascinating it becomes. On our last visit there, we took a float plane into the interior and enjoyed the scenic majesty of Misty Fiords National Monument.

This time, we hung out in town and really got to know it.

We loved hiking up Creek Street with its shops and a flavor that hailed back to the days of the gold rush.

You can still see the old brothel located next door to the preacher’s house. The creek is a great salmon spawning area and if you arrive anywhere from mid-July through September it’s an amazing sight to see. More salmon than you have ever seen in your life will fight to reach their original spawning grounds.

Ketchikan is a great jumping-off point to take any number of excursions.

Juneau has the distinction of being the only capital city — and perhaps

one of the only non-island cities in the country — that is only reachable by air or boat. No roads lead into or out of Juneau, as it is pocketed into a coastal mountainside. Within the city, the longest road is a mere 35 miles and the city has fewer than 100 miles of roads in total. However, there are 200 miles of hiking trails and another 100 miles of mining tunnels.

The city’s new cruise terminal is convenient and well thought out, yet captures the flavor of the town. Don’t miss a visit to Mendenhall Glacier (via helicopter is best), or a tram ride up the mountain for scenic views. Whale-sighting excursions are another highlight of this port.

Skagway — a town that lives up to the roots of its Indian name, “Winds From the North” — began as a port to service the Klondike gold rush. The town itself can be walked in minutes, but there is so much more to do.

Without a doubt, take a tour that includes a train trip through the White Mountain Pass. Try to record your memories with pictures but, frankly, unless you view them on a gazillion-inch screen, it will never do the scenery justice. Your mind will try to absorb the stories of these hardy prospectors in this harsh yet beautiful environment, and will leave you with memories full of wonder at the adventurers who braved the harsh elements in order to stake a claim. The land is lush with wildlife (we saw two black bears on the hillside and loads of bald eagles), scenic vistas, and little towns that take you back in time, as well as share the rich culture of the First Nations people.

Cruising glaciers is a best-of-both-worlds opportunity, with the relaxed atmosphere and joys of a sea day, but the beauty and scenery of a port day. Get your cameras ready and select from a mix of views from a balcony, the upper deck, The Sanctuary, or the interior warmth and services of a restaurant while watching magnificent glaciers. If you’re in luck, you’ll also sight whales spouting or sea lions and seals resting on icebergs.

Victoria is a magnificent island and home to The Butchart Gardens, formerly a quarry and now 55

acres of the most manicured gardens imaginable.

This is a must-see in Victoria, and during the halfhour ride to and from the gardens, you’ll also get a glimpse of key sites such as the Parliament, the Royal Museum, and the Empress Hotel.

A variety of sightseeing tours and whale-watching tours are available. The city is very walkable or bikeable, and filled with parks and lovely older homes, as well as restaurants and food trucks. It’s famous for the flowering hanging baskets everywhere.

San Francisco and other U.S. cities are available for points of departure to Alaska, as well as one-way itineraries allowing you to explore these towns.

Days at sea Alaskan cruises offer the ideal mix of port days and sea days. The sea days allow you to sleep in without missing anything, to spend time at the gym to work off those dinner calories, or to attend relaxing yet informative seminars on a variety of topics. Sea days are also a fantastic time to book spa services. The Pacific Ocean is quite calm and is full of sea life. Princess has a naturalist on board who points out wildlife along the way. We saw whales as we were leaving the San Francisco harbor.

Are you ready to book your trip? If you want more information on other ships and itineraries, visit princess.com, call 800-PRINCESS, or see your travel agent.

Agritourism continued from page 7 forge, a smokehouse, a dairy, and a kitchen garden at the Kidwell Farm, which interprets farm life from the 1920s through the 1950s. In addition to wagon rides, a carousel, and farmyard animals, there’s a country store with local produce and homemade baked goods.

Great Country Farms and Bluemont Vineyard 18780 Foggy Bottom Road, Bluemont, Va. 540-554-2073, greatcountryfarms.com Kids love to find their way through this farm’s mazes, bounce on its giant jumping pillow, and slip down its enormous slides. You can also pick produce, feed the farm animals, play miniature golf, picnic with your dog, and go fishing in a catch-and-release pond. Enjoy a wagon or cow train ride, romp in a classic corn bin, climb on a variety of playsets, and make your move with a giant chess set. Visit the Roosteraunt concession stand for barbecue, freshly baked pies, cider donuts, and ice cream. A glass of wine at the Bluemont Vineyard can be found just across the road.

Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum 21668 Heritage Farm Lane, Sterling, Va. 571-258-3800, heritagefarmmuseum.org Explore a general store and grandma’s kitchen (pre-World War I), and be a farmer for a day on the children’s farm. Travel through time to meet 10 generations of county residents who left their mark on the land. There are numerous events throughout the year, including Tractorpalooza, Bunny Bonanza, the Princess for a Day ice cream social, and the apple festival. The museum gift shop offers beautiful handmade clothing for 18-inch dolls, as well as wooden trucks and tractors and gifts for adults.

Posey Thisisit Llama Farm 754 Harrisville Road, Toms Brook, Va. 540-436-3517, poseythisisitllamas.com This 27-acre farm in the northern Shenandoah Valley invites visits with the llamas and demonstrates wool dyeing at select times during July and August. Wool-producing sheep also are on the farm, along with their wool, yarn, and wool products. continued on page 19

Karl Teel

The Butchart Gardens is a must-see in Victoria, British Columbia.

Smith Island Cruises Michelle Teel

Sandals® Resorts, the world’s only Luxury Included® Vacation for two people in love, now offers military couples an additional 10% savings1, year-round, when you book a stay at any of our 15 spectacular Sandals Resorts. Spend time with the one you love

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GovEmployee.com 3012 Gold Mine Road, Brookeville, MD 20833 Phone: 301-221-3977 Email RSragner@GovEmployee.com 2016 RECGOV President: Ruth Sragner Advisory Panel: Renee Bolden, Clement Jackson, Karl Teel, Jessica Smith and Ted Tepper Publisher - Recreation News: Karl Teel

GovEmployee.com We are a co-op of more than 40 recreation associations and MWRs working together to better serve our members

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Quality Remodeling for Quality People At Remodel USA, the goal is to provide an exceptional living environment with the peace of mind that comes with quality products like the Owens Corning Basement Finishing System and Sunsuite Sunroom. As government employees, you should expect the same quality that you provide every day in serving our nation.

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Red Roof Inns Get away from the long workdays. Stay with Red Roof at a 20 percent nationwide discount at any of 450-plus locations. Experience more “wow” on your travels with nearby attractions at convenient locations. Just use code VP+ 617040 when booking your stay. Sign up for RediCard, the industry’s richest loyalty reward program, offering free nights to members accruing just 6,000 points.

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THE RECREATION NEWS MEDIA GROUP www.RecreationNews.com Recreation News • Weekend Update E-mail The Travel Radio Show and Podcast Visit us on Facebook!

E-mail: Publisher@RecreationNews.com 1607 Sailaway Circle, Baltimore, MD 21221 Phone: 301-474-4600 • Fax: 410-638-6902

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© 2016, Indiana Printing and Publishing Co., Inc. Recreation News (ISSN 1056-9294) is the official publication of GovEmployee.com, and is published monthly by the Indiana Printing and Publishing Co., Inc. Subscriptions by mail are $15 per year (12 issues). Corporate and bulk employee subscriptions are free. Contact the publisher at the address or telephone number listed above. Items in Recreation News may not be reproduced without the publisher’s written consent.

Publisher - Karl Teel Editor - Marvin Bond Calendar Editor - Jessica Bosse Copy Editor - Andrea Ebeling Cover Design - Debbie Palmer Web Support - Ron Yarnick and Sam Pardee Layout & Art - Beth Wood

Accounting - Patti Sottile Chief Financial Off. - Barb Sullinger Production – Dan Yasick Shipping - Sam Parisee Mailing - Gerrard Wilson Marketing - Debbie Palmer Data Mgt. - Carolyn Grover Webmaster - Ellen Matis

Seat Stir Seat Stir is the show and event free ticket club.

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Sprint Sprint is offering current AT&T and Cricket customers the chance to switch and save 50 percent on AT&T shared data rate plans. Federal government employees and military personnel can switch to Sprint, get unlimited talk and text and shared data, while on the Sprint Network, all on up to 15 devices. Plus, get your 15 percent federal discount when you bring your number. (federal: sprint.com/federaldiscounts, sanchita.malapaka@ sprint.com. DOD: sprint.com/militarydiscounts, nicole.paradiso@sprint.com)

SuiteAmerica SuiteAmerica is a great hotel alternative, providing temporary housing to government and military agencies for more than 25 years.

SuiteAmerica provides a high-touch service delivery model designed to meet staffing objectives at below per diem. In the D.C. metro area, Arlington, Alexandria, Tyson’s, Reston, Herndon, and Maryland, the company offers availability in the finest communities with fitness, business centers,Wi-Fi, locations on the Metro, and close to shopping. For information, contact Kim Dunbar at dunbar@suiteamerica.com or 703-690-2030.

The Frasier Welcome to The Frasier, Alexandria’s best new military-friendly residence. This brand new commu- nity in the Potomac Yard district of Alexandria, Va., is ideally located along U.S. Route 1, due north of Old Town Alexandria, immediately south of Crystal City, and 15 minutes south of Downtown Wash- ington. This commuter’s paradise only gets better from there, with Potomac Yard Shopping Center right outside your door, offering great stores such as Target, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, PetSmart, Pier One Imports, Staples, The Sports Authority, and Old Navy, plus a 16-screen Regal Cinemas close by and many dining options. Visit thefrasier.com for more information and military specials.

The Shelby The Shelby is a brand new mid-rise luxury apartment community comprised of 240 residences ranging from junior one-bedrooms to the largest option, two-bedrooms with a den. Convenient to Old Town Alexandria, Fort Belvoir, National Harbor, Washington, and major public transportation hubs, The Shelby provides the lifestyle you are looking for in the perfect location. “Start here, go anywhere.” Visit theshelbyapartments.com or call 571-267-2873 to schedule your tour.

Tripper Bus Why waste time or financial resources traveling to NYC via train or plane? Tripper Bus and Washington Deluxe are two amazing services that offer quality, upscale, direct, and

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Both lines are family friendly and have Wi-Fi and electrical outlets on board. (tripperbus.com or washingtondeluxe.com)

Vacationwiser A real vacation is possible and affordable with Vacationwiser.com. Let us help you pick a vacation destination that fits your budget. Travel now, pay later, with no interest for one year. Choose from one of our suggested packages or speak with our travel consultant and find the perfect vacation to fit your budget. Visit vacationwiser.com and fill out a no-obligation application, or call 800-358-6466 and travel 45 days after booking. Isn’t it time? No more maybes, travel now. (vactionwiser.com)

Washington Deluxe Summer vacations tend to drown the wallet and thus the mood. Fret not, because there is an affordable, safe way to get your family from D.C. to New York City — take Washington Deluxe. The luxury upscale coach bus service offers Wi-Fi and electrical outlets so your little ones can plug in and stay entertained. Washington Deluxe offers multiple daily departures from Union Station and Dupont Circle and goes directly to Manhattan’s Penn Station. Tickets start at just $22 and can be purchased online at washingtondeluxe.com.

Weichert Realtors Your home is our business and with more than 20 years of marketing experience we’ll get your house sold. We’ll help you find the home of your dreams whether you’re upgrading or downsizing! Take advantage of a free homemarket comparative analysis and home-buying marketing strategy. As exciting as moving toward the next chapter of your life is, it’s also one the most stressful. Contact Luci Denhard of Weichert Realtors, at 301-540-1330 (o), 301-908-5288 (c), or mdhomesbyluci@gmail.com.

Wisp Resort Retreat to the cool mountains of Western Maryland and discover Wisp Resort. Adventure abounds on land, water, and air with whitewater rafting, a mountain coaster, three canopy tours, two golf courses, paddle boarding on Deep Creek Lake, and much more. Affordable lodging and activity packages include: Stay & Play Golf starting at $94 per person, per night and the High-5 Overnight Adventure starting at $199 per person (restrictions apply). Ask about discounted group rates for 20 or more. (wispresort.com, 855-990-0250)

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CULPEPER INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION July 4. The day is filled with sporting events, the Fourth of July Car and Bike Show, patriotic speeches, a festive parade, games for all ages, and fireworks. Main Street, Culpeper, Va. 540-8258200, culpeper4thofjuly.com YORKTOWN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION July 4, 9:00am–9:30pm. The celebration begins with a patriotic parade on Water Street. Evening activities feature: a bell-ringing ceremony, live musical entertainment, and spectacular fireworks. 331 Water St., Yorktown, Va. 757-890-3500, yorkcounty.gov

July 2016 July 4 – Independence Day

HOLIDAYS

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION July 1, 5:30pm, parade at 7:00pm, and fireworks display at 9:00pm. Chesapeake City, Md. chesapeakecity.com AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL July 1, 8:00pm. The National Symphony Orchestra journeys across America and visits landmarks from 30 national parks and monuments with a breathtaking compilation of hundreds of majestic images. This exciting concert also celebrates the music of American composers including Copland, Bernstein, and Sondheim. Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Road, Vienna, Va. 703-255-1900 REHOBOTH BEACH FIREWORKS July 3. A spectacular fireworks display will be launched from the beach and visible up and down the boardwalk and shoreline.

Rehoboth Beach, Del. 302-227-2772, downtownrb.com HAVRE DE GRACE PARADE AND FIREWORKS July 3. The parade will include musical units, dance, floats, clowns, color guards, antique vehicles, and equestrian units.

Havre de Grace, Md. explorehavredegrace.com A CAPITOL FOURTH July 4, 8:00–9:30pm. Airing on PBS and originating from the U.S. Capitol, the annual program is hosted by Tom Bergeron and features a host of musical talent including Smokey Robinson and Kenny Loggins. pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth FOURTH OF JULY PIER PARTY July 4. Crafts and face painting for children; entertainment and music for the whole family. Guests will enjoy a view of the fireworks. The National Aquarium, 501 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, Md. 410-243-3790, aqua.org CHINCOTEAGUE FIREWORKS DISPLAY July 4. Fireworks are at 10:00pm. 3648 Main St., Chincoteague Island, Va. 757-336-6161, chincoteaguechamber.com FIREWORKS AND LIBERTY DAY July 4, 6:00–10:00pm. An amazing evening of entertainment and fun leading up to one of Delaware’s best fireworks displays.

Newark, Del. 302-766-7000, cityofnewarkde.us

VIRGINIA FREEDOM FESTIVAL July 2–3, noon–9:00pm. Car show, vendors, musical entertainment, crafts, and beer. For the kids there is face painting, balloon animals, and play equipment including obstacle course. 26 Fairground Road, Front Royal, Va. 703-963-4064, virginiafreedomfestival.com AFRICAN-AMERICAN FESTIVAL July 2–3. A celebration of life, music, and culture, this is the largest cultural festival on the East Coast. Performances, seminars, and fun activities for the family. Camden Yards Sports Complex, Baltimore, Md. africanamericanfestival.net

CELEBRATE INDEPENDENCE DAY July 4. Celebrate Independence Day with a visit to the National D-Day Memorial. Active duty and reserve military service members admitted free as part of the Blue Star Museum program.

National D-Day Memorial, 3 Overlord Circle, Bedford, Va. 540586-3329, visitbedford.com

LITHUANIAN FESTIVAL July 3. There will be 1,800 dancers from six countries who will perform intricately choreographed dances set to traditional Lithuanian folk music while wearing native costumes. Royal Farms Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, Md. 410-347-2020, sokiusvente2016.org

INDEPENDENCE DAY AT POPLAR FOREST July 4. Enjoy music, dancing, historical entertainment, games, storytelling, and the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest, 1542 Bateman Bridge Road, Forest, Va. 434-525-1806

SUMMER BREWFEST July 8, 5:00–9:00pm. Sample a wide variety of summer beers from a selection of local, regional, and national international breweries. Town Point Park, Waterside Drive, Norfolk, Va. 757441-2345, festevents.org

FAIRFAX INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION July 4, 10:00am–noon. Independence Day celebration. Complete event schedule available online. Downtown Fairfax, Va. 703-385-7858, fairfaxva.gov

SHARKFEST July 9. Come and experience all things shark, from 20-million-year-old sharks’ teeth to giant jaws to Shark Fact Stations, activities, and films. Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons, Md. 410-326-2042, calvertmarinemuseum.com

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS

UNIVERSOUL CIRCUS AT NATIONAL HARBOR Through July 31. Introduces big top thrill seekers to phenomenal performances by the most sought-after circus performers in the world. National Harbor Marina, 168 National Plaza, Oxon Hill, Md. 877-628-5427, nationalharbor.com COUNTRY LIFE FESTIVAL July 1–3. The festival celebrates the great outdoors including hunting, fishing, and camping. Entertainment, giveaways, vendors, food, music, beer, and fireworks. Ultimate air dog and cornhole contests. 42455 Fairgrounds Road, Leonardtown, Md. 301-399-8523, countrylifefestival.com SANDSTOCK — A TRIBUTE TO ROCK AND ROLL July 1–3. A beach-inspired variation on Woodstock. National and regional tribute artists who cover performers from The Who to Van Halen to Led Zeppelin will crank out hit after hit on two beach stages. 24th Street Park, Virginia Beach, Va. 757-4917866, beachstreetusa.com FREEDOM FEST July 2. Honoring the military, with food, kids’ games, live entertainment, and arts and crafts. The festival ends with fireworks.

Crisfield, Md. 410-968-2500 SALUTE TO INDEPENDENCE July 2. Light classical and patriotic music by the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, complete with cannon fire and fireworks.

Antietam National Battlefield, 5831 Dunker Church Road, Sharpsburg, Md. 301-797-4000, nps.gov

SUMMER CRAFT FAIR July 9, 9:00am–4:00pm. Talented artisans will exhibit and sell a variety of media ranging from metalwork to woodworking.

During the fair, patrons can enjoy live festive music, a delicious lunch, and cool sweet treats. Cape May-Lewes Ferry Terminal, 43 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, Del. historiclewes.org PLEIN AIR EASTON July 9–17. Plein Air Easton is the largest and most prestigious juried plein air painting competition in the United States. Historic Downtown Easton, Easton, Md. 410-822-0345, avalonfoundation.org VIRGINIA LAKE FESTIVAL July 14–16, 6:00–10:00pm. Hot air balloon rides, sand sculptors, live band, balloonists, juried arts and crafts show, delicious foods, and helicopter rides. 105 Second St., Clarksville, Va. 434374-2436, clarksvilleva.com CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS July 14–17. Celebrating 50 years, the festival includes a nationally recognized sidewalk sale, live performances, the Italian Street Painting Festival, and Bookfest on July 16. State College, Pa. (arts-festival.com) ANNAPOLIS IRISH FESTIVAL July 15–16. Enjoy traditional Celtic music and Irish rock. Exhibits, Irish beef stew, and other favorites. Little visitors enjoy crafts and other activities. Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds, Crownsville, Md. 410-980-7971, visitannapolis.org

Take a Day? Take a Weekend?

You need to escape, but not too far away!

Check out this month’s events in Carroll County!

OLD-FASHIONED 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION & FIREWORKS July 4 | 2 pm-10 pm Carroll County Farm Museum Westminster

ROOTS MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL July 9 | 10 am-9 pm July 10 | 10 am-6 pm Carroll County Farm Museum Westminster

CIVIL WAR ENCAMPMENT & LIVING HISTORY July 16 & July 17 9 am-4 pm Union Mills Homestead Westminster

Go to our website to discover driving tours throughout our scenic county…the Barn Quilt Trail, the Wine Trail, or our Civil War Driving Tour. Stop in one of our quaint towns for a bite to eat and unique shopping.

800-272-1933 | www.CarrollCountyTourism.org

CARROLL COUNTY 4H/FFA FAIR July 30-August 6 11 am-11 pm Carroll County Agriculture Center Westminster

Thurs.-Sun., July 14-17 BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW! 410.752.2490 • www.borail.org

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NORFOLK WATERFRONT JAZZ FESTIVAL July 15–16, 5:00–10:00pm. Jazz enthusiasts will chill to the sounds of legendary smooth jazz in the dramatic setting of Downtown Norfolk at the region’s longest running outdoor Jazz Festival. Waterside Dr., Norfolk, Va. 757-441-2345, festevents.org

GARRETT COUNTY FAIR July 30–Aug. 6. Carnival rides, food, games, livestock, mud bog, demolition derby, live music, and tractor pull. Garrett County Fairgrounds, McHenry, Md. 301-387-5400, garrettcountyfair.org

NOW SHOWING

ARTSCAPE July 15–17. Artscape features fine artists, fashion designers and craftspeople, visual art exhibits, incredible live concerts on outdoor stages, a full schedule of performing arts, family events, demonstrations, competitions, children’s entertainers and street theater, and a delicious international menu. Station North, Mount Royal Avenue, Cathedral Street, and Bolton Hill, Baltimore, Md. artscape.org

TUCKAHOE STEAM AND GAS SHOW July 7–10. Experience astonishing displays of operating antique steam and gas engines, as well as vintage cars, trucks, tractors, and farm implements. Demonstrations of early crafts, including spinning, weaving, and quilting. 11472 Ocean Gateway, Easton, Md. 410-822-9868, tuckahoesteam.org

FAMILY DAY 1940S FESTIVAL July 16. Guests will have the opportunity to meet World War II veterans, view artifacts, see steel drum performances and canning demonstrations, talk with living historians, and browse the Bedford Farmers Market. National D-Day Memorial, 3 Overlord Circle, Bedford, Va. 540-586-3329, visitbedford.com

PAINT-OUT July 8–10. Professional artists from around the Mid-Atlantic will set up their easels capturing the city’s unique charm. The public is invited to come watch the painters in action, and artists from the community are invited to join the fun as Open Paint-Out participants. Ellicott City, Md. 410-313-ARTS

JAMAICA DAY REGGAE FESTIVAL July 16. The festival features live entertainment and Jamaican culture. Experience Jamaican cuisine, fashion, art, and jewelry.

Howard County Fairground, West Friendship, Md. 301-2216517, jamaicadayreggaefestival.com

SOUTHEASTERN GUNS AND KNIVES SHOW July 16–17. The show strives to bring the best assortment of firearms and related products together for home defense, collecting, and sport shooting. 1610 Coliseum Drive, Hampton, Va. 757-315-1610, visithampton.com/hrcc

KIDSFEST AT KINGS DOMINION July 16–17, 23–24. Two weekends jammed pack with kids’ activities and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. 16000 Theme Park Way, Doswell, Va. 804-876-5000, kingsdominion.com

NATIONAL ANTIQUE ARMS SHOW July 16–17, 9:00am. Features 500 tables of high-quality guns, swords, accoutrements, reference books, art, and more, spanning American military history to 1945. 600 E. Laburnum Ave., Richmond, Va. 540-672-4845, nstcw.com

MARYLAND POLISH FESTIVAL July 16–17. Traditional dancing and Polish music, entertainment, authentic Polish food and drinks, cultural area, and a children’s corner. Maryland State Fairgrounds, 2200 York Road, Timonium, Md. 410-780-9054, pcamaryland.org WASHINGTON COUNTY AG EXPO July 16–23. A county fair featuring livestock shows, rodeo, tractor pulls, food, and fun for the whole family. Washington County Agricultural Education Center, Boonsboro, Md. 301-582-9494, agexpoandfair.org ROCKBRIDGE REGIONAL FAIR AND FARM SHOW July 21–23. Carnival rides, draft horse pull, Jim Weaver Memorial Tractor Pull, karaoke contest, contests, shows, and entertainment. 487 Maury River Road, Lexington, Va. 540-464-2950, horsecenter.org

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SILVER SPRING/TAKOMA PARK SEASONAL WALK July 1–Sept. 30. Walks by Seneca Valley Sugarloafers Volksmarch Club. Start/finish point is Safeway, Downtown Silver Spring, 909 Thayer Ave., Silver Spring, Md. 301-946-5496, sugarloafers.org AUTISM SPEAKS 5K RUN/1-MILE WALK July 4. Start your team or register as an individual today and help make 2016 the best year yet. Potomac Library Parking Lot, Potomac, Md. 202-955-3112, autismspeaks.org

MUSIC Popular/Other DARK STAR ORCHESTRA July 29. The show is built off the Grateful Dead’s extensive catalog and the talent of these seven fine musicians. Pier Six Pavilion, 731 Eastern Ave., Baltimore, Md. 410-279-0205, piersixpavilion.com TIDES AND TUNES SUMMER CONCERTS Through Aug. 18. Free beachside concerts. Rain or shine. Food and drink available. Annapolis Maritime Museum, 723 Second St., Annapolis, Md. 410-295-0104, amaritime.org FIRST FREE FRIDAY CONCERT July 1, 6:00–7:30pm. Outdoor concert by Navy band Country Current. Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons, Md. 410-326-2042, calvertmarinemuseum.com STAGE WISP CONCERT SERIES July 6–Aug. 31. Grab the family and the lawn chairs and head to the Stage Wisp Concert Series. This free concert is great for the entire family. 296 Marsh Hill Road, McHenry, Md. 888-281-5943, wispresort.com

Theater RENT Thursdays–Sundays, July 7–23; Wednesday, July 20. A pop culture phenomenon that won the Tony Award for best musical and the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre, 143 Compromise St., Annapolis, Md. 410-268-9212, summergarden.com THE THREE MUSKETEERS Through July 24. Chesapeake Shakespeare presents the classic tale amid the ruins of the Patuxent Female Institute in an outdoor experience under the stars. PFI Park, Ellicott City, Md. chesapeakeshakespeare.com

Exhibits

AMERICAN INDIAN POW-WOW July 23–24. Enjoy Native American dancing/singing, craft demonstrations, and storytelling; Native American food will be available. Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairgrounds Road, West Friendship, Md. 252-532-0821, howardcountyfair.com

FOSSIL FIELD EXPERIENCE July 16. Learn about Miocene fossils and what to look for.

Explore the beach to search for fossilized shell, bone, and sharks’ teeth. Then, get a guided tour of the fossil hall, explore the fossil prep lab, and identify the fossils you have found. Cove Point Lighthouse and Calvert Marine Museum, 14200 Solomons Island Road, Solomons, Md. 410-326-2042, calvertmarinemuseum.com

PRO SPORTS

BETHESDA OUTDOOR MOVIE SERIES July 26–30. Enjoy the summer nights in Bethesda with a free movie series. Norfolk and Auburn avenues, Bethesda, Md. 301215-6660, bethesda.org

DELAWARE AND THE WAR OF 1812 Ongoing. Designed to raise awareness of the important role that the state played as the front line in the defense of the economically vital Delaware Valley, the exhibit utilizes maps, illustrations, and artifacts from the state’s collections to examine the history of the war within Delaware and its surrounding waters.

Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, Del. 302736-7400, history.delaware.gov

FAMILY CAMPOUT July 29–30. A camping experience close to home. Campout will include a night hike and campfire. Bring your own supper, camping gear, and tent. Cromwell Valley Park, 2002 Cromwell Bridge Road, Baltimore, Md. 410-887-2503, cromwellvalleypark.org

MATISSE PRINTS AND DRAWINGS Through July 3. Approximately 20 prints and drawings demonstrate the continuing legacy of the BMA’s relationship with the Matisse family. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, Md. 443-573-1700, artbma.org

BALTIMORE ORIOLES AT HOME Friday, July 8, vs. Angels, 7:05pm Saturday, July 9, vs. Angels, 4:05pm Sunday, July 10, vs. Angels, 1:35pm Friday, July 22, vs. Indians, 7:05pm Saturday, July 23, vs. Indians, 7:05pm Sunday, July 24, vs. Indians, 1:35pm Monday, July 25, vs. Rockies, 7:05pm Tuesday, July 26, vs. Rockies, 7:05pm Wednesday, July 27, vs. Rockies, 7:05pm

The Orioles play home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 333 W. Camden St., Baltimore, Md. Call 888-848-BIRD or visit baltimore.orioles.mlb. com.

It’s free! It’s fun!

It will jump start your vacation planning!

Check out the free travel info on page 21.

DinOsaUrs roAr!

Featured Exhibitions

EYES ON MAIN STREET Through July 10. Wilson, N.C.’s six-block outdoor photography exhibit presents 100 large format images by 100 international photographers for 100 days. Nash Street, Wilson, N.C. eyesonmainstreetwilson.com AMERICA’S SHAKESPEARE Through July 24. Using a fascinating selection of rare letters, costumes, books, and more, the exhibit shows how Shakespeare’s words and ideas weave through our national story from print to radio, television, film, and digital media. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St., Washington, D.C. 202544-7077, folger.edu

WASHINGTON NATIONALS AT HOME Friday, July 1, vs. Reds, 6:05pm Saturday, July 2, vs. Reds, 7:15pm Sunday, July 3, vs. Reds, 1:35pm Monday, July 4, vs. Brewers, 11:05am Tuesday, July 5, vs. Brewers, 7:05pm Wednesday, July 6, vs. Brewers, 4:05pm Friday, July 15, vs. Pirates, 7:05pm Saturday, July 16, vs. Pirates, 7:05pm Sunday, July 17, vs. Pirates, 1:35pm Tuesday, July 19, vs. Dodgers, 7:05pm Wednesday, July 20, vs. Dodgers, 7:05pm Thursday, July 21, vs. Dodgers, 12:05pm Friday, July 22, vs. Padres, 7:05pm Saturday, July 23, vs. Padres, 7:05pm Sunday, July 24, vs. Padres, 1:35pm

The Nationals play home games at Nationals Park, 1500 S. Capitol St. SE, Washington, D.C. Call 202-397-SEAT (7328) or visit washington.nationals. mlb.com.

91st Annual Chincoteague, Virginia

Volunteer Firemen’s

CARNIVAL June 24, 25; July 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 25-30 Games, af es Rides

(closed Sundays - Fireworks: 10pm, July 4)

Pony Roundup & Swim Wednesday, July 27, ponies swim on slack tide between 7am-1pm (approx.)

Open daily 9-5 Thursdays 9-8

D.C. UNITED AT HOME

Sunday, July 31, vs. Montreal, 6:30pm D.C. United plays home games at RFK Stadium, 2400 E. Capitol St. SE, Washington, D.C. Call 202-587-5000 or visit dcunited.com.

14 recreation news I july 2016 I recreationnews.com

Newport News I-64, Exit 258A 757-595-1900 thevlm.org

Updated time of Pony Swim to be announced at the Carnival Grounds; Tuesday evening, July 26 Thursday, July 28 (8am-noon) Auction of Ponies

Information: (757) 336-6161

2017 Pony Swim: July 26, 2017 - Pony Auction: July 27, 2017

THREE CENTURIES OF AMERICAN PRINTS Through July 24. This first comprehensive exhibition of American prints to encompass three centuries highlights some 160 works from the gallery’s collection, from John Simon’s Four Indian Kings (1710) to Kara Walker’s no world (2010). National Mall between Third and Seventh streets at Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 202-737-4215, nga.gov SNOWY LANDSCAPES Through Aug. 3. Prints drawn from the more than 500 works donated by René and Carolyn Balcer include Japanese landmarks such as the Heian Shrine in Kyoto, Mount Fuji near Tokyo, and the rural area in Yoshida. Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Blvd., Richmond, Va. 804-340-1400, vmfa.museum CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS INTERPRET DIASPORA Through Sept. 4. In this juried and invitational exhibition, 44 artists share personal and universal stories of migration, from historic events that scattered communities across continents to today’s accounts of migrants and refugees adapting to a new homeland. The Textile Museum, 701 21st St. NW, Washington, D.C. 202-994-5200, museum.gwu.edu MARTIN PURYEAR: MULTIPLE DIMENSIONS Through Sept. 5. It includes 72 objects, including 14 sculptures, spanning Puryear’s career from his college days to the present. The Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F streets NW, Washington, D.C. 202-633-1000, americanartsi.edu BROOMBERG & CHANARIN Through Sept. 11. Large-scale photographs show bullets that collided and fused midair during the Civil War along with high-precision prisms — the sort made in Germany during World War II that enabled scopes on firearms and the ability to kill an enemy from a great distance. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, Md. 443-573-1700, artbma.org IN THE LIBRARY Through Sept. 16. The exhibit presents more than 60 examples of literature related to the Paris Salon drawn from nearly 250 years of exhibitions. The National Gallery of Art, National Mall between Third and Seventh streets at Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 202-737-4215, nga.gov THE CAPRICIOUS LINE Through Sept. 18. These drawings reflect the diverse issues Edward Koren addressed, ranging from parenting to man’s relationship with nature, during his career at The New Yorker. Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington, Del. 302-295-2212, visitwilmingtonde.com ANDY WARHOL ICONS Through Sept. 18. In these works, Warhol played on notions of celebrity in some of these most important works of pop art. Fralin Museum of Art, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va. virginia. edu/artmuseum CONTEMPORARY CHILDREN’S BOOK ART Through Oct. 9. Displays the broad range of subjects, styles, and working methods that make children’s book illustration a remarkably creative, lively world. Chadds Ford, Pa. The Brandywine River Art Museum, Chadds Ford, Pa. 610-388-2700, brandywinemuseum.org WINE AND SPIRITS IN DELAWARE Through Dec. 31. The exhibit utilizes graphics as well as historical objects from the collections of the state of Delaware to tell the story of Delaware’s wine and spirits trade from the time of European settlement to the present day. Zwaanendael Museum, 102 Kings Highway, Lewes, Del. 302-645-1148, history.delaware.gov THE NEW WORLD DISCOVERS ASIA Through Jan. 8. The first large-scale Pan-American exhibition to examine the profound influence of Asia on the arts of the Colonial Americas. Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library, 5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, Del. 302-888-4803, winterthur.org

AIR SHOW & BIPLANE RIDES

ROMANTIC ECHOES FROM JAPAN’S GOLDEN AGE July 10–Jan. 15. The BMA presents an exquisite selection of late 19th- and mid-20th-century kimonos and obis that have never been shown before. The Baltimore Museum of Art, 10 Art Museum Drive, Baltimore, Md. 443-573-1700, artbma.org BACK TO FORT SCOTT July 23–Oct. 30. This exhibition examines the realities of life under segregation in 1950s America, as seen through the lens of groundbreaking photographer Gordon Parks (1912–2006). The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 200 N. Blvd., Richmond, Va. 804-340-1400, vmfa.museum

History MARYLAND CAMPAIGN 1862 Through Aug. 31. Join leading historians, Antietam Battlefield guides, NPS volunteer interpreters, and living history presenters discussing the Maryland Campaign of 1862 and the Civil War. Part of the Summer Lecture Series. Jacob Rohrbach Inn, Sharpsburg, Md. 301-432-5079, jacob-rohrbach-inn.com CANAL BOAT EXCURSIONS Through October. Board the Charles F. Mercer, a reproduction packet boat, to experience what it was once like to travel up and down the C&O Canal. Cruise on the historic canal at a mule’s pace and experience rising and falling 8 feet in a lock. Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center, Potomac, Md. 301-767-3714, nps.gov/ choh BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG REENACTMENT July 1–3. Witness several exciting battles. Gettysburg, Pa. 800514-3849, gettysburgreenactment.com THE BATTLE OF CEDAR CREEK July 9, 2:00pm. Join ranger Jeff Driscoll as he explores this battle.

Meet at 7712 Main St., Middletown, Va. 540-869-3051, nps.gov/ cebe CIVIL WAR LECTURE SERIES July 9, 2:30–3:30pm. This presentation will discuss research being conducted in the USS Monitor Conservation laboratory on the treatment of composite artifacts. 100 Museum Drive, Newport News, Va. 757-596-2222, marinersmuseum.org STORY OF THE BOWMAN-HITE FARMSTEAD July 10, 7:00pm. Join ranger Kyle Rothemich as he explores the history of the Bowman-Hite Farmstead. Meet at 621 Bowman’s Mill Road, Middletown, Va. 540-869-3051, nps.gov/cebe THE BATTLE OF MONOCACY July 14. Historian and blogger Ryan Quint will utilize the firsthand experiences of battlefield veterans to describe the 1864 Battle of Monocacy. Part of the Young Historians Series. National Museum of Civil War Medicine, 48 E. Patrick St., Frederick, Md. 301-695-1864, civilwarmed.org WORLD WAR II SYMPOSIUM July 23. At 9:30am there will be an author’s forum. At 2:30pm, Bani Lograno’s award-winning documentary about the guerrilla resistance movement in the Philippines during World War II will have its United States premiere. MacArthur Square, Norfolk, Va. 757-441-2965, macarthurmemorial.org TERROR ON THE CONOCOCHEAGUE July 30–31. A reenactment commemorating the 260th anniversary of the 1756 attack on Fort McCord, the abduction of Jean Lowry, and the Battle of Sidling Hill, Pa. Activities all day, including Colonial artisan demonstrations with reenactment at 3:00pm. Conococheague Institute, Mercersburg, Pa. cimlg.org

Every Sunday May through October

O THER LU’S LABS CHARITY WALK July 9. Family fun day and charity walk to support lab rescue. Bring the entire family, including the furry family. Games for kids and pups, food, and live music by Sugar Jack. Camp Letts, Edgewater, Md. 202-285-5989, luslabs.dojiggy.com COTTAGE TOUR OF ART July 12–13. Tour eight distinctive homes in the Rehoboth Beach area, each with a different landscape, interior, and architectural design. Some are historically significant; others are contemporary and eco-friendly. Trolley transportation is provided for ticket holders to the self-paced tour. rehobothartleague.org CHUGGINGTON: A TRAINTASIC ADVENTURE July 14–17. Fun challenges and activities for kids and families at the B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore, Md. borail.org NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS July 16, 10:00–11:30pm. Get tree care requirements, tips for plant identification, plant sources, and design ideas. Green Spring Gardens, 4603 Green Spring Road, Alexandria, Va. 703-642-5173, fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/greenspring PRINCESS FOR A DAY ICE CREAM SOCIAL July 16, 11:00am–2:00pm. The court of the Virginia Dairy Princess Program will serve ice cream at an old- fashioned ice cream social. Your young princesses can show off their princess finery in our royal parade at 1:00pm and “receive princess lessons.”

Loudoun Heritage Farm Museum, Sterling, Va. 571-258-3800, heritagefarmmuseum.org APOLLO 11: MODEL ROCKET CONTEST July 17, noon–4:00pm. Attempt to land your model rocket within a “moon” drawn on the ground. Trophies and model rocket kit prizes awarded to the top youth and adult finishers. NASA Goddard Visitor Center, ICE Sat Road., Greenbelt, Md. 301-286-8981, narhams.org SUMMER BALTIMORE RESTAURANT WEEK July 22–31. Eateries around the city are offering special, prixfixe menus designed to give diners a taste at a discounted price.

Visit website for a list of participating restaurants. Baltimore, Md. baltimorerestaurantweek.com PONY SWIM AND AUCTION July 27–28. Volunteer firemen round up the ponies on Assateague Island and swim them across the channel to Chincoteague Island, where they rest before being paraded down Main Street to the carnival grounds. Ends with an auction. 7427 Memorial Park Drive, Chincoteague Island, Va. 757-336-6161, chincoteaguechamber.com

To submit an event: Calendar, Recreation News, 19 Clay Lodge Lane #201, Catonsville, Md. 21228, or email to editor@ recreationnews.com.

4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION July 4, 2016 Museum opens at 2 p.m.

Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.

47th Annual

FLYING CIRCUS AIR SHOW FAMILY FUN GREAT AIRSHOW THRILLING AIRPLANE RIDES GATES OPEN / RIDES BEGIN 11am SHOW STARTS 2:30pm

540-439-8661 5114 Ritchie Rd., Bealeton, VA Adults $15 • Children $7 The Flying Circus is a 45 minute drive from the Capital Beltway.

It is located 14 miles south of Warrenton or 22 miles north of Fredericksburg off Rt. 17 on Rt. 644 near Bealeton.

Watch for the Flying Circus signs.

Lectures/Workshops/Classes TRACE YOUR ROOTS July 19, 10:00am–2:00pm. Participants will learn the basic steps, from exploring family artifacts and documents to using standard records such as census, vital records, and several other public records. Benjamin Banneker Historical Park and Museum, Baltimore, Md. 410-887-1081, baltimorecountymd.org

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Artisan Demonstrations • Museum Tours Uncle Sam with his Monkey, “Django” Children’s Games and Crafts • Live Music • Great Food Moon Bounce • Balloon Sculpture Special performance by the Estonian Folk Dance Groups “Südameke” and “Kerrutajad” 4:30 and 6 p.m.

RN

500 S. Center Street Westminster, MD 21157 www.carrollcountyfarmmuseum.org 800-654-4645

recreationnews.com I july 2016 I recreation news 15

caverns I mary k. tilghman and marvin bond

Mid-Atlantic’s caverns offer tours, plus cool temperatures For an underground adventure, check out the Mid-Atlantic’s commercial show caves. They offer educational tours and a constant temperature in the mid-50s to cool you on a hot summer day. Plus, in addition to the fascinating formations and distinctive colors that vary from cave to cave, there are a host of additional entertainment options.

Some caverns also offer adventure cave experiences, but check for reservation requirements.

The region’s caverns offer gift shops that range from country chic to 1950s kitsch. Each cavern’s experience is reasonably priced and fun for the whole family. Tours generally last about an hour, but check websites for specific tour hours that might vary seasonally.

Most caverns’ websites also have discounted admission offers, but not all are open year-round.

Remember to take a jacket and good walking shoes.

PENNSYLVANIA Crystal Cave Park, Kutztown 610-683-6765, crystalcavepa.com Pennsylvania’s oldest commercial cave gets its name from the diamond-like crystals adorning its walls. At its free museum, artifacts include an Omnibus that transported early tourists and an Amish buggy. You can also pan for gems, play miniature golf, walk the nature trail, and enjoy the ice cream parlor and cafÊ during July and August. Historic

lantern tours will be offered at Halloween with reservations.

Indian Caverns, Spruce Creek 814-632-7578, indiancaverns.com This is your last opportunity to see Indian Caverns, due to the pending sale of the property. The tour features Native American history and artifacts and a room with naturally phosphorescent calcite formations. You’ll see the largest sheet of flowstone in the Northeast. Open weekends, April, May, September, and October, and daily Memorial Day to Labor Day. Indian Echo Caverns, Hummelstown 717-566-8131, indianechocaverns.com There’s a 45-minute tour complete with legends of the Susquehannock Indians and the Pennsylvania Hermit, William Wilson. See calcite formations and underground lakes. Outside, pan for gemstones, visit the petting barnyard, and see real Texas longhorn cattle. It’s all close to Hershey’s attractions and is open all year.

Lincoln Caverns, Huntingdon 814-643-0268, lincolncaverns.com Located near Raystown Lake, the attraction offers a tour of Lincoln Caverns and Whisper Rocks and offers flashlight and photography tours and family nights on select summer evenings with advance reservations. You can pan for gemstones and take a walk on the nature trail, as well. Open daily, April to October, with more limited hours in November and December. Tickets are available online.

VA’S FAMOUS SKYLINE CAVERNS $2 off adult admission $1 off child admission with this ad

OPEN ALL YEAR!

• 1-hour Guided Tour • Miniature Train • Mirror Maze • See Rare Anthodites

10344 Stonewall Jackson Hwy., Front Royal VA 22630 Easy Easy Access Access from from 1-66 1-66 & & 1-81 1-81

1-800-296-4545 www.skylinecaverns.com 1st Show Cave in

Between Allentown and Reading in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country Underground tours Museum & nature trail Pan for gems

Penn’s Cave, Centre Hall 814-364-1664, pennscave.com Located near Penn State University, its tour by boat might make Penn’s Cave the most unusual of the nine show caves in Pennsylvania. For a separate fee, you can get lost in the Miner’s Maze, take a 90-minute guided wildlife tour that includes North American animals such as the cave’s icon, the mountain lion, or hop aboard a Jeep for an offroad adventure. Kids and adults also enjoy panning for gems and grabbing a bison or longhorn burger in the cafÊ. The attraction is open yearround.

Woodward Cave, Woodward 814-349-9800, woodwardcave.com The property offers a 45-minute tour of its cave formations and has a 13-acre campground with cabin rentals and holiday events. The campground now has Wi-Fi. Among the five underground rooms are the Hall of Statues, a 200-foot-long underground room that includes a 14-foot stalagmite, and the Ballroom, which has been used for square dances and banquets. Open daily in the summer through Labor Day, and weekends in April, May, and September.

MARYLAND Crystal Grottoes, Boonsboro 240-217-7623, crystalgrottoescaverns.com The cave is about an hour from Washington and Baltimore and is said to have more formations per square foot than any other known cave. A new section of cave was opened last year with LED lighting throughout. The third-generation owner says he learned the tour script from his grandfather when he was 6 years old. Camping is available. Cash

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Cave mansion.

Restaurant & ice cream parlor Miniature golf Gift and souvenir buildings

963 Crystal Cave Rd. Kutztown, PA 19530 610-683-6765 www.crystalcavepa.com 16 recreation news I july 2016 I recreationnews.com

FALL LIVING HISTORY FESTIVAL OCT. 3

Grottoes, Grottoes, VA VA

WHERE WHERE

HISTORY HISTORY RUNS RUNS DEEP DEEP

Grottoes, VA

1.888.430.CAVE 1.888.430.CAVE

GRAND CAVERNS A National Natural Landmark LurayCaverns.com

www.grandcaverns.com

only; no credit cards accepted. Coupon can be found on the website.

the American Celebration on Parade features 27 parade floats, some animated. Open all year.

VIRGINIA

Skyline Caverns, Front Royal 800-296-4545, skylinecaverns.com Located at the north entrance to Skyline Drive and the closest to Washington, D.C., the caverns include rare anthodites and three streams, as well as the Rainbow Waterfall and an award-winning lighting system. You can take a miniature train ride or navigate the Mirror Maze for an additional fee. A half-mile nature trail is free. Open all year; a coupon is available on the website.

Dixie Caverns, Salem 540-380-2085, dixiecaverns.com Located near Roanoke, this is the southernmost Mid-Atlantic cavern, and its tour takes you up into the mountain and down into its depths. Above ground, there is year-round camping, a rock and mineral shop, and an antiques mall. Open all year.

Endless Caverns, New Market 540-896-2283, endlesscaverns.com The caverns feature miniature pools, draperies, and columns, and it’s true that no end has been found to the cave. The tour takes about 75 minutes.

Endless also offers a campground and RV park above ground and is open until Nov. 15.

Grand Caverns, Grottoes 888-430-CAVE, grandcaverns.com This is said to be the oldest U.S. show cave, and on your 70-minute tour you’ll see Civil War-era graffiti and unusual shield formations. The park also offers hiking and biking trails, miniature golf, and an Olympic-sized pool. You can take an adventure tour of a wild cave with reservations.

There’s a bluegrass festival Sept. 5–11. Open all year; a coupon is available on the website.

Luray Caverns, Luray 540-743-6551, luraycaverns.com Luray is known as the largest cavern in the East. Its tour includes massive columns and music from the famous “stalacpipe” organ. Admission includes the Car and Carriage Caravan Museum, the Luray Valley Museum, and Toy Town Junction’s massive collection of toys and trains. A garden maze attraction and gem sluice is extra, as is the Rope Adventure Park with three levels of rope challenges. Open all year.

Natural Bridge Caverns, Natural Bridge 540-291-2482, naturalbridgeva.com This is the deepest commercial cavern on the East Coast, is relatively young for a cave, and is one of the region’s most “active” caves. The tour takes you 34 stories deep into the earth to see straws, flowstone cascades, draperies, and pools. The Natural Bridge, Monocan Indian Exhibit, and other activities are on the property, as is the Natural Bridge Hotel.

Shenandoah Caverns, Shenandoah Caverns 540-477-3115, shenandoahcaverns.com The caverns are handicapped accessible, with an elevator and no steps along the hour-long tour of 17 underground rooms.

In addition to the caverns, visitors may tour the Yellow Barn’s beehive, carriage and farm equipment, and Virginia Wine Shop. From Memorial Day to Labor Day,

defying helectites and the world’s longest ribbon stalactite. You’ll also find a variety of overnight accommodations, from houses to campsites, and what may be West Virginia’s largest gift shop. The caverns near Seneca Rocks were used by Native Americans, Civil War soldiers, and even moonshiners. Kids can pan for gemstones or fossils and there’s a “catch and keep” fishing pond. Open all year.

WEST VIRGINIA Lost World Caverns, Lewisburg 866-228-3778, lostworldcaverns.com An unusual self-guided tour allows you to spend as much or as little time as you like admiring the formations, such as the snowy chandelier. The attraction also includes a gift shop and a natural history museum with a large collection of dinosaur and fossil replicas in West Virginia. There are fourhour wild cave tours as well. Open every day.

Organ Cave, Organ Cave 304-645-7600, organcave.com This is said to be the second-largest commercial cave in the eastern U.S., and its history involves both Thomas Jefferson and the Civil War. You can choose the 90-minute walking tour, a Civil War tour, or, with advance reservation, one of the longer, guided adventure tours. The miniature museum features fossils found in the cave opened in 1822. Open all year.

Seneca Caverns, Riverton 800-239-7647, senecacaverns.com West Virginia’s largest cave was discovered by the Seneca Indians. It features dramatic flowstone formations. The 1-mile tour lasts an hour. You can mine for gemstones or enjoy the on-site family restaurant, all in the beautiful setting of Seneca Rocks.

There are no tours on Tuesdays in the summer.

Smoke Hole Caverns, Cabins 800-828-8478, smokehole.com There’s a cavern tour that includes gravity-

• Large Gift Shop • Cave Café • Picnic Facilities • Gemstone Panning • Group Tours Welcome Located in the scenic Germany Valley, offering two caverns for touring with an experienced guide.

1.800.239.7647 or 304.567.2691

Rte. 33 • 3328 Germany Valley Road • Riverton, WV

senecacaverns.com

April 1st to Memorial Day • Closed Mon & Tues Memorial Day to Labor Day • Closed Tues Labor Day to October 31 • Closed Mon & Tues

222 Penns Cave Rd, Centre Hall, Pa 814.364.1664

www.pennscave.com

Hours – 10 to 5 Last Tour Leaves at 4!

recreationnews.com I july 2016 I recreation news 17

west virginia I vanessa orr

50 miles of trails, a botanic garden, a zoo, and a sunset If you take the opportunity to go hiking in the Morgantown, W.Va., area, you know why they call it “Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.”

You’re barely off the beaten path before you become immersed in the wonders of nature, whether you’re climbing boulders in the Coopers

Rock area, or wandering through fields of flowers at the West Virginia Botanic Garden.

With more than 50 miles of trails available at Coopers Rock State Forest, you can find something to suit every level of ability. I decided to take a roughly 40-minute walk on the

Vanessa Orr

The view from Coopers Rock is a panorama of West Virginia countryside.

Rattlesnake Trail, a moderate-difficulty hike that winds along the cliffs that parallel the rim of the Cheat River Canyon.

Within moments of leaving the parking lot, I was deep in the woods, ducking under rocky outcrops and scuttling over huge boulders. Though the trail was mostly shady, the humidity was high, so I was glad that the rocks provided a comfortable place to rest and rehydrate while watching squirrels and chipmunks playing in the brilliant, bright-green moss.

By the time I got to the Rock City shelter, I was ready to head back, so I chose to switch routes and travel along the Rock City Trail, an easy walk that meanders through a picnic area, forest, and shelters before meeting up with the Eagle Trail, which led me right up to the gift shop and concession stand.

View from Coopers Rock You shouldn’t leave the area without actually going out onto Coopers Rock to see the view, which is breathtaking. There’s a boardwalk out to the overlook, which ends in a massive slab of stone surrounded by a railing. It’s a little intimidating at

SE R VIN G WASHIN GTO N

first to be perched so high above the forest, but if you’re willing to go a little beyond your comfort level, it’s well worth the effort. There is also an ADA-accessible ramp that offers the same view to those unable to traverse the rock.

Insider tip: A lot of the hiking around Morgantown is in the woods as well as wetland areas, so you’re going to want to slather on some bug stuff before you hit the trail. There are some open fields, too, so make sure to protect your skin from the sun.

In addition to hiking, visitors to Coopers Rock can picnic, go fishing at a 6-acre lake, or spend a few days camping. For those who prefer not to rough it, the extremely comfortable Lakeview Golf Resort and Conference Center is fairly close by, so you could even slip in 18 holes between hiking trips.

Late spring is a beautiful time of year to visit the West Virginia Botanic Garden, the only botanic garden in the state. The hiking there is relatively easy. Well-marked trails meander through deciduous forest and old-growth hemlock, as well as a wetlands area. You can choose to visit the shade garden, butterfly

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Agritourism

garden, rhododendron garden, or other attractions; soon, a new welcome center will be open to provide an educational venue.

Remember, lots of wildlife is fond of the botanic garden, too, so watch out for the critters.

Speaking of animals, if you’d like to see more exotic species, stop by Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo, located in Kingwood, W.Va. This 13-acre park is home to chimpanzees, lemurs, Bengal and white tigers, lions, and other species; you should definitely pick up some carrots at the admissions desk to hand-feed the giraffes. There’s nothing quite like the experience of having one of these gentle giants wrap its tongue around your hand as it daintily accepts its treats.

To top off my outdoor adventures, I stopped into the Lakehouse Restaurant for dinner, which is located beside the Sunset Beach Marina right on Cheat Lake.

You can dine inside or out, but I highly advise sitting on the outdoor deck for a spectacular view of the sun setting over the water.

It’s the perfect end to a perfect day in the Morgantown area.

continued from page 11 Ticonderoga Farms 26469 Ticonderoga Road, Chantilly, Va. 703-327-4424, ticonderoga.com Part of the National Botanic Garden, Ticonderoga Farms offers amazing farm fun with cow train rides, slides, a jumping pillow, special festivals, a tot lot, and an animal petting area. Ticonderoga has the longest swinging bridge in Virginia at 143 feet and the largest bamboo garden in the United States. Popular events include the Fig Festival in the summer and the Fall Festival, which includes hayrides and pumpkin picking.

The Yellow Barn at Shenandoah Caverns 261 Caverns Road, Shenandoah Caverns, Va. 888-4CAVERN, shenandoahcaverns.com Located just off Exit 269 of I-81, the Yellow Barn is on the grounds of Shenandoah Caverns and includes a working beehive that visitors can watch through plexiglass. The Yellow Barn also features restored antique farm wagons, carriages, and a 25foot tobacco press, among other memorabilia of rural life. Regular country music concerts are part of the scene.

PENNSYLVANIA

Vanessa Orr

The Amish Village 2395 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, Pa. 717-394-6185, amishfarmandhouse.com Experience Amish life with tours of a farmhouse, a one-room schoolhouse, a blacksmith shop, a smokehouse market, and farm animals. A large picnic area invites you to bring a lunch and take break from the frenzy of modern life. You can also take a 90-minute narrated Backroads Tour that includes a stop at an Amish business.

The friendly giraffe at Hovatter’s Wildlife Zoo loves carrots.

continued on page 24

For more information Morgantown Tourism: tourmorgantown.com

Make Your Next Adventure a...

MOUNTAINRAIL ADVENTURE!

See website for all excursion options!

CALL: 866.779.4828 • MTN-RAIL.COM recreationnews.com I july 2016 I recreation news 19

west virginia I bonnie williamson

Get your motor running at 15th Martinsburg Bike Night Martinsburg Bike Night, a premier event for motorcycle enthusiasts, takes place in Martinsburg, W.Va., Aug. 20. The event is organized by Main Street Martinsburg and Blue Knights West Virginia Chapter V, a motorcycle club consisting of members of law enforcement.

Bikers can participate in a police-escorted 40mile trip through the area’s rolling hills. This is the 15th year for the event, said K.C. Bohrer, president of Blue Knights Chapter V. To join in the ride, bikers pay a $20 registration fee or $25 for the ride and a special commemorative pin. Registration begins at noon at the new location of the Living Room Church on Rock Cliff Drive and ends at 3:30pm with the ride starting at 4:00pm sharp and lasting until about 5:30pm.

“There are prizes and giveaways for the first 50 riders registered,” Bohrer said. “These include

key rings, tactical knives, and other items. We’ve had from 300 to as many as 600 riders in the past.”

The area has plenty to offer bikers, Bohrer said.

“There are a lot of back roads with beautiful scenery. Martinsburg is right off of I-81, so it’s easy to find. You also have a lot of historic places like Shepherdstown and Sharpsburg just a few miles away. We’ve never had a problem attracting people,” he said.

Bike Night is also different from other biker events in the tri-state area.

“We aren’t typical,” he said. “This is a familyfriendly event. It’s a safe, very controlled event, involving law enforcement personnel.” Spouses and children of Blue Knight members accompany them to various rides and functions.

Even if you’re not a biker, there is plenty to do from 5:00pm to 11:00pm in downtown Martinsburg for no registration fee. A variety of restaurants are open, bike and apparel vendors will be on hand, and there will be food concessions. Visitors can go to a beer garden and listen to three live bands: Break of Day, High Mileage, and Troublemaker.

The groups play ‘80s and ‘90s classic rock.

“Bike Night is a great opportunity to see what downtown has to offer,” said Randy Lewis, of Martinsburg’s Main Street organization. “It grows and grows every year.”

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Canoing/Tubing

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Farms

WV Mountain Getaway just 2 hours from DC!

• Smoke Hole Caverns

Gift Shop, Gem Mining & Trout Pond

• Just Plane Adventures Private Scenic Plane Rides

• Top Kicks Military Museum Most unique in WV

• Trout Hatcheries

Home of the Golden Trout

• Ford Mulligan Day August 15

• All Day Train Rides

Leaving from Romney to Petersburg, last Saturday each month. Call Potomac Eagle for tickets and info. 304-424-0736

Call South Side Depot for more info

304-257-9264 www.visitgrantcounty.com

The annual Martinsburg Bike Night brings out locals, as well as bikers, for a family-friendly event.

The event has attracted from 3,000 to 8,000 visitors each year. Martinsburg is less than a two-hour trip from the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore areas.

Bike Night is one of the biggest fundraisers for both Main Street and the Blue Knights.

• Fourth of July Activities for the Family

A weekend of fun, food and activities for the entire family.

Events include a car show, parade, pony rides, fi reworks and much more - all FREE! Visit our website for more details.

Martinsburg Tourism

Look for our upcoming $105 Fall packages!

20 recreation news I july 2016 I recreationnews.com

Bike Night: mainstreetmartinsburg.com Martinsburg Tourism: travelwv.com

adventures in taste I reed hellman

This month’s big question: How does the crab harvest look?

In the Chesapeake Bay country, having a case of crabs is definitely not a social liability!

I believe that all the bay area natives are actually born knowing how to crack crabs. Maybe it’s genetic? Watch even the younger kids deftly disjoint a backfin to get that tasty gobbet of meat, or clutch and wield a wooden crab mallet in their still-small hands.

I was born on a different tidewater altogether, and didn’t learn until a more advanced age how to peel back the tab and lift off the shell without spiking myself. But, it didn’t take long for me to understand the important role of crabs in the region’s social fabric, or how the almost tribal gathering-together to crack some crabs can have such salubrious effects. Like Natty Boh once told us, the Chesapeake is indeed the Land of Pleasant Living, and a crab feast can be one of the more pleasant rituals.

It wasn’t always so. Not until the 19th century and the increased use of railroads, canals, and steamboats to transport agricultural and seafood products could a market open for the bay’s crabs.

Prior to that, even Crisfield, a modern-day crab mecca and home to the annual National Hard Crab Derby, made its living primarily on oysters and terrapin. Increased transportation, combined with reliable refrigeration, led to an increased demand for the Chesapeake blue crab.

crabs big enough to eat also increased.

Those numbers are largely determined by the winter dredge survey, the only bay-wide fishery independent effort to estimate the number of blue crabs living in the Chesapeake Bay. Since 1988, DNR, the University of Maryland Chesapeake Biological Lab, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and the fishing industry use the survey’s statistics to help manage the species and calculate the percentage of the population that can be harvested. Last year’s harvest of nearly 27 million pounds was worth more than $54.5 million dockside, paid to the harvesters.

“Due to a milder winter, favorable currents and tides, and wise bay-wide management measures, the Maryland crab population continues to rebound and strengthen,” said DNR’s fisheries service director Dave Blazer. “With an increase in abundance and steady recruitment, we fully anticipate a robust crab season this year.”

DNR went on to announce that because the 2015 harvest increased over 2014 and remained at a sustainable level for the eighth consecutive year, the “… increased abundance means that a slight liberalization of harvest limits for female crabs may be warranted this summer.”

This month’s recipe — a traditional Baltimore classic — comes

from U.S. Sen. Barbara Milkulski, as posted on the Maryland Seafood Marketing Program’s website, seafood.maryland.gov.

CRAB CAKES 1 pound jumbo lump or backfin crab meat 2 slices white bread 1 tablespoon mayonnaise (light or regular) 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 2 teaspoons Old Bay or Wye River seasonings 1 tablespoon snipped parsley (optional) 1 egg (or substitute for special diets) Tartar sauce or cocktail sauce Beat the egg in a bowl. Trim the crusts from the bread and break the slices into small pieces. Add these pieces to the egg. Mix in the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Chesapeake seasoning, and parsley, and beat well.

Place the crabmeat in a bowl and pour the egg mixture over the top. Gently toss or fold the ingredients together, taking care not to break up the lumps of crabmeat.

Form the cakes by hand into patties about 3 inches around and 3/4-inch thick. Shape should be continued on page 23

This year’s harvest Enough history! Every year at this time the big question is: What are the prospects for this year’s crab harvest?

“There are so many environmental factors that affect blue crabs,” wrote Brenda K. Davis, who manages the Blue Crab Program for Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources. “We don’t make predictions about the annual harvest. That being said, given the increase in abundance, it’s reasonable to expect the harvest in 2016 to be larger than it was in 2015.”

DNR recently reported that the bay’s crab population jumped 38 percent last year over 2014 — from 297 million to 411 million — and 35 percent this year over last. Bay-wide, the agency estimates a crab population of 553 million, the fourth highest level in two decades.

The numbers of spawning females nearly doubled, and the number of

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wine doctor I ed ard fin tein

Too much ‘oaking’ of wine is problematic for consumers “To oak or not to oak, that is the question.”

My apologies to Bill Shakespeare, but this oak phenomenon in wine is a big issue.

Many wines, both red and white, are oaktreated to add aromatic complexity and texture.

Why oak instead of other woods? It’s because of its grains and the tannins and vanilla that it passes on to wine resting in it.

Oak for wine comes from two major sources: Europe and North America. Most European oak, especially from western Europe (more expensive), has tighter pores or grains infusing delicate oaky notes into wine. North American oak, especially from the U.S. (less expensive), has looser pores or wider grains providing more aggressive flavors.

The newer the oak and the longer wine spends in contact with it, the “oakier” the wine. Oak can come in the form of barrels that can be toasted on the inside — light, medium, or high — to affect the flavor of the wine within.

The smaller the barrel, the more it affects the wine. For ultimate “oakiness,” wine can even be fermented in barrels instead of stainless steel.

Alternately, oak chips (less expensive), in a mesh bag of sorts, are immersed into a tank of wine, much like teabag, and flavors extracted that way.

Let the wine shine However, too much oak — or “oaking” varietals that really can’t take it — is a major problem.

Let’s address the “over-oaking” issue first.

Many producers do this. These “chateau twoby-fours,” as I like to call them, are way too woody. You can’t taste the fruit or varietal character of the wine. It’s all about vanilla, butterscotch, toast, caramel, and smoke. As appealing as this might sound, one might as well be sipping a glass of oak juice forgetting about the nectar of the grape entirely.

It’s not all the producers’ fault either. Many consumers love the big aromatics and creamy, voluptuous mouthfeel of aggressively oaky vino, so producers provide them.

Word on the street is that oak usage around the world is mellowing out, but I have yet to see it. I still taste some wines that leave slivers on my tongue. “Over-oaking” also increases the selling price of a wine as longer time spent in barrel, taking up space at a winery, and requiring additional care by the winery staff to maintain it adds up.

Very oaky wines are also harder to match to food and many consumers have a difficult time drinking any more than a glass.

Aggressive oak in a wine can cover up a lot of

minor faults, too. I occasionally wonder when tasting an overly oaky sample whether the winemaker is masking a winemaking faux pas of some sort.

Then, there’s the problem of giving oak to a varietal wine that really should not be getting it at all because of its delicacy or style. I call it the “Rodney Dangerfield Syndrome.” You remember the late, American comedian who could never get any respect? Well in some cases, the same applies to certain wine. The winemaker is not respecting the varietal for what it is and turning it into something else with oak. “Oaking” a wine that shouldn’t really receive it robs it of its true soul, masking its varietal character. This is not a good thing.

I wish winemakers of the world would lay back on oak usage somewhat, or be more selective with it and let the true character of the varietal or wine style shine through. © Edward Finstein, “The Wine Doctor” 2016.

“The Wine Doctor” is Edward Finstein, awardwinning author, TV/radio host, renowned wine journalist, international wine judge, professor of wine, and consultant. For more information, visit winedoctor.ca, twitter.com/drwineknow, thewinedoctor. blogspot.com, winedoctor.ca/docs-grapevine.html, or facebook.com/edwarddocfinstein?fref=ts.

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by July 24, 2016 to claim prize, or prize forfeits to a runner up. Offer for Mimslyn Inn Cottage valid through 9/30/2016. Reservations subject to availability. Other restrictions may apply.

22 recreation news I july 2016 I recreationnews.com

From the information in this issue of Recreation News, what is your favorite destination?

We’ll mail you information on this spot at no charge, or check here___ to “go green” and have information emailed.

TRIPS & TRAVEL

TRIPS & TRAVEL

TRIPS & TRAVEL

TRIPS & TRAVEL

Summer/Fall 2016 — Cruises from Baltimore, New York, New Jersey, Florida and Europe. Hot destinations include all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic, Mexico and St Martin. There’s always New Orleans, Las Vegas, Disney and Paris.

Call NOW to “create rocking chair memories” for you and your family.

VACATION RENTALS

VACATION RENTALS

BETHANY BEACH AREA RENTAL

Fall Getaway — “Alive 55+ and Kickin’, an awesome musical in New York City, featured on 60 Minutes. This is our third trip. Call for details.

Churches, Ministries, Bible Study and Women’s Groups — Strengthen your faith as you visit spiritually-based sites in the U.S. and around the world. Travel to learn, experience, fellowship, assist others or to raise funds. Contact us to discuss the possibilities.

Family Event

Learn all about dragonflies on July 7, 1:00–3:00pm, at the State Arboretum of Virginia’s Blandy Experimental Farm. Begin with an illustrated talk for adults and older kids in the State Arboretum library, as well as outdoor crafts, activities, and a short talk for families with younger children. Then, you can watch dragonflies in action at the pond’s edge. A fee is charged. Reservations advised. (540-837-1758, blandy.virginia.edu/arboretum) — ami neiberger-miller

TASTE continued from page 21 like a cookie, not like a meatball or golf ball. Place the cakes in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes before cooking. This is very important so the cakes don’t fall apart.

Broil the crab cakes: Slip them under a preheated broiler until nicely browned, turning to cook evenly, about 4 to 5 minutes on each side.

Old Line State continued from page 8

Or, saute: Heat a small amount of butter or olive oil in a skillet and saute the cakes, turning several times, until golden brown or about 8 minutes total cooking time. Serve at once with tartar sauce, mustard, or cocktail sauce on the side.

Reed Hellman is a professional writer living in Alberton, Md. Visit reedhellmanwordsmith.com or email your questions and comments to rhway2go@yahoo.com.

Learn more Md. Horse Industry Board: mda.maryland.gov/horseboard

Beautiful nearly new 4 BR, 2BA, single family home with sunroom, porch and patio. Sleeps up to 8. Located 3.5 miles from Bethany Beach in a waterfront Community on the Indian River with Tennis courts, pool, gym and private beach. Home sits on a bass-stocked fishing pond, w/patio and fire pit. Washer, dryer, cable, WiFi, full modern kitchen, gas fireplace, central air, hardwoods and elegant features. No pets. $1200 weekly/$200 night through labor day, $1000 weekly $125/night labor day through Memorial day. 3 night minimum.

Call 301-474-4600 or email Publisher@RecreationNews.com for availability and details. Visit http:// publisher39.wix.com/teelproperties

VACATION RENTALS

ALLSTAR LODGING

SHENANDOAH VALLEY’S LARGEST VACATION RENTAL AGENCY 80 unique Cabins & Vacation Rentals. 1-10 bdrms, sleeps 2-20, Swimming pools, Hot tubs, Fireplace, Kitchens, Campfire, Wifi, Free canoe/kayak use, Hiking, Riverfront or wooded areas, depending on property choice. Dogs Welcome! www.allstarlodging.com | 540-843-0606

LAND FOR SALE

GREAT ESCAPES TRAVEL & TOURS Call Barbara 301-567-6464 or e-mail FrankieTVL2@aol.com for more info.

“We Create Rocking Chair Memories”

VACATION RENTALS

LAND FOR SALE

Petersburg, WV, 59.61 acres, wooded, $119K; 81.61 acres wooded $162,900, both tracts have good cabin sites, mature trees, excellent views, good hunting, and access to 50 acre stocked fishing lake.

Also Lake Access lot with deeded boat slip at Smith Mountain Lake (20,000 acre lake), 31 miles NE of Roanoke VA. $34.9K. 304-257-2385.

BURNER’S MOUNTAIN LODGE

Luray, Va. Two bedroom cabin. Fully equipped. Hot tub, fishing pond, many extras. Reasonable rates. Private. Close to hiking, Shenandoah river, caverns and golf. Call 540-743-3787, visit burnermountain.8m.com, or e-mail: pab_pdb@yahoo.com

OCEAN CITY, MARYLAND

SHORELINE PROPERTIES & CONDO RENTALS Call now for reservations or sales 800-492-5832 Search online and save: shorepro.com

It’s free! It’s fun!

It will jump start your vacation planning!

Check out the free travel info on page 21.

Crown — brings horse racing fans into Baltimore from across the world to watch the famous flat thoroughbred race held on the third Saturday in May. Another long-time horse racing venue in Maryland is Laurel Park, an American thoroughbred racetrack that opened in 1911. The track, just a little over a mile in circumference, is also the main home for the Maryland Million Classic, an American thoroughbred horse race held annually in October.

Steeplechase is an interesting spectator sport in Maryland. The season runs from March through May, with a concluding race in September.

Eleven of the races make up the Maryland Governor’s Cup Series, and the races are run on courses in large, wooded and hilly fields, ranging in length from 2 to 4 miles. Riders and horses jump over hedges or timber fences of varying heights.

recreationnews.com I july 2016 I recreation news 23

If we’re this good in black and white...

See us in color!

BERKELEY COUNTY YOUTH FAIR IS UNIQUE

The 69th annual Berkeley County Youth Fair, held Aug. 6–Aug. 13, 8:00am– 11:00pm each day, has the distinction of being one of the few remaining youth fairs at the county level in the country.

Participants include members of Berkeley County chapters of 4-H, Future Farmers of America, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the Boys and Girls Club. Participants exhibit their indoor projects such as sewing, cooking, and projects with electricity, and show off their accomplishments with such animals including hogs, sheep, and goats.

Other forms of entertainment are also available. A carnival with about 20 rides runs every night, 6:00–11:00p.m. There are also truck and tractor pulls, bull riding demonstrations, a demolition derby, and a performance by country singer Joe Diffie. (berkeleycountyyouthfair.org)

Agritourism continued from page 19 Cherry Crest Adventure Farm 150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks, Pa. 717-687-6843, cherrycrestfarm.com This country fair-themed park and education center features farm animals, a beehive observation area, corn maze, wagon rides, pedal carts, and a baby chick hatchery. There are a host of farm-related attractions and activities, including slides, an obstacle course, a jumping pillow, and much more. The Strasburg Railroad even makes a stop here, and there’s a wealth of food options on site.

M

Look for these upcoming events in July!

July – August: Martinsburg Farmers’ Market 4 pm - 7pm on the Library Plaza at the Town Square facebook.com/MartinsburgFarmersMarket

July 1 – August 5: Fridays @ Five Summer Concert Series Fridays, 5pm - 7pm on the Town Square mainstreetmartinsburg.com/fridays-at-five

July 14 – 17: Apollo Civic Theater Youth Summer Theater Workshop presents “All Shook Up” apollocivictheatre.org

Summer equals Geocaching, Farmers’ Markets, and Outdoor Fun in beautiful Berkeley County, WV travelwv.com/play

VISIT MARTINSBURG, WV travelwv.com

Martinsburg-Berkeley County Convention and Visitors Bureau 126 East Race Street • Martinsburg, WV 25401 304.264.8801 • 800.4WVA.FUN Martinsburg-Berkeley County CVB App: Visit Martinsburg, WV 24 recreation news I july 2016 I recreationnews.com

Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum 2451 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster, Pa. 717-569-0401, landisvalleymuseum.org This living history village and farm transports you through time to a bygone era in Pennsylvania Dutch history. Stroll the streets of the village and hear costumed interpreters explain crafts and handiwork from the 19th century. Farm equipment displays show how the Industrial Revolution helped farmers increase production. Many local inventions and developments and American farm technology are on display

DELAWARE Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village 866 N. Dupont Highway, Dover, Del. 302-734-1618, agriculturalmuseum.org Take a wagon ride while viewing the many picturesque and historic

farm buildings throughout the property. Meet the chickens and a delightful 75-pound potbelly pig named Lulu. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the grounds and see the huge model train layout that demonstrates the historic importance of the agricultural community and railroads in Delaware. You won’t want to miss the art exhibits and gift shop.

Lavender Fields 18864 Cool Spring Road, Milton, Del. 302-684-1514, lavenderfieldsde.com See the nearly 3,000 lavender plants, enjoy honey from the bee hives, and walk in gardens devoted to native wildflowers, bees and butterflies, dahlias, and hostas.

Homemade soaps are popular in the shop here. In addition, enjoy a walk through a labyrinth that offers a half-mile meditative journey. It is modeled after one in the Chartres Cathedral in France.

WEST VIRGINIA Farm Discovery Center 1003 Blackwater Lodge Road, Davis, W.Va. 304-259-5611, mountaintrailrides.com/ farmdiscovery.html Located inside Blackwater Falls State Park, the center introduces visitors to farm activities, such as milking a mechanical cow, and features exhibits of agricultural tools. The center seeks to educate new generations about where food comes from and the agricultural heritage of the region. This summer, Ben McKean, from Healthberry Farm, is offering biweekly presentations on honey bee biology and beekeeping in West Virginia. Horseback riding, a petting zoo, and adventure cave are nearby.

FOLLOW THE FIELDS OF GOLD FARM TRAIL FOR FUN The Fields of Gold Farm Trail in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley lets you explore working farms, pick your own fruit in orchards, enjoy wine tastings, and experience the fresh tastes of farm markets and farm-to-table restaurants.

Check out fieldsofgold.org for venues, maps, details on what’s ripe for picking, and events throughout the valley.