the baby calves at 4:00 PM daily. Round off your trip with a visit to their store to try their homemade ice cream.
Explore Our Wild Side
Thanks to the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo, there’s no need to travel great distances for a safari experience. Located in northern Frederick County, visitors can hop aboard the wildlife preserve’s army surplus troop carrier for the hour-long Global Wildlife Safari Ride. This is one of the mid-Atlantic’s only escorted truck safaris, and visitors can have close encounters with zebra, bison, antelope, deer, sheep, llamas, and more on the adventure. Tucked away near Walkersville is the beautiful 22.5 acre Fountain Rock Park and Nature Center. It contains one of Maryland’s strongest springs, a playground, trout pond, and historic lime kilns. But inside the nature center is where the wild things are. Visitors can get up close and personal with snakes, toads, tarantulas, turtles, and Madagascar hissing cockroaches. The staff frequently brings out animals to interact with guests, and there are plenty of hands-on activities for children. Newly opened, the Catoctin Creek Park and Nature Center also offers grounds to roam and educational exhibits. Put your quick-fire skills and mettle to the test at Adventure Park USA. At this Wild West-themed entertainment center, you can challenge yourself on a ropes course, ride the Wildcat rollercoaster, or restore peace in a multi-level Western laser tag town. For more Wild West fun, board the Walkersville Southern Railroad for their Jesse James Day train ride. Experience an Old West train raid, complete with (fake) jewels and money for the heist. From vintage 1920s passenger cars, riders will also enjoy breathtaking views.
Ring in Spring
This year, there’s an extra reason to celebrate–the first weekend in April marks the grand opening of the new Frederick Visitor Center on East Street. All are invited to see this former cannery warehouse’s remarkable transformation into a state-of-the-art visitor center where visitors can take in the space’s dramatic murals, exhibits, and newly released visitor orientation film, “A Turn of the Wheel.” Luckily in Frederick City and County, fun isn’t limited to just one season. A packed special events calendar and numerous attractions offer a variety of activities throughout the year. For more information about these attractions, area events, and other things to see and do in Frederick County, visit www.FrederickTourism.org or call 301-600-2888.
photo credits: Top & Middle: Courtesy of the Tourism Council of Frederick County Bottom: Courtesy of Walkersville Southern Railroad
FREDERICK COUNTY GUIDE
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