Cumberland, MD

The Great Allegheny Passage is a rail-trail system featuring a network of long-distance hiker-biker trails that extends through the Allegheny region of the Appalachian Mountains, boasting breath-taking natural scenery.

Connecting Washington, D.C. to Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, the 335-mile trail offers a long-haul adventure for hikers and bikers alike, as well as shorter trips between towns along the way.

Once the railway for freight trains between the two cities, the now converted multi-use trail gently winds its way along the Youghiogheny River through the Laurel Highlands and connects with the C&O Canal towpath. Facebook

The Rocky Gap State Park is a public recreation area seven miles east of Cumberland in Allegany County that offers a variety of attractions, outdoor activities, and camping facilities.

The 3,000-acre park is home to spectacular natural landscapes of dramatic cliffs and deep gorges harrowing overlooks and dense verdant hemlock forests. Attractions in the park include the towering Evitts Mountain, the 243-acre Lake Habeeb, and the privately owned and operated Rocky Gap Casino Resort.

A large campground has 278 campsites and recreational activities in the park include hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing and swimming in the lake, and climbing.

12900 Lake Shore Dr, Flintstone, MD 21530, Phone: 301-722-1480

Activities and Attractions for Couples:

Forming part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Allegany County, the C&O Canal - Paw Paw Tunnel is a 3,118-foot-long canal tunnel that was built to bypass a six-mile stretch of the Potomac River with five tightly curved horseshoe-shaped bends known as the Paw Paw Bends.

Named after a local fruit, the Paw Paw Tunnel had a tumultuous history with construction beginning in 1836 and seeing a lot of fighting and rioting among the workers during its construction.

On completion, the 24-foot tall tunnel was 3,000-foot-long and used by canal boats pulled by mules. Eventually, the tunnel was abandoned and, as legend has it, is haunted to this day.

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath, Oldtown, MD 21555, Phone: 301-722-8226

Offering an exciting mix of rich transportation history and spectacular mountaintop scenery, the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is a heritage railroad that operates from Cumberland to Frostburg.

Using both diesel-powered and steam locomotives, the train begins its journey in downtown Cumberland and travels on ex-Western Maryland Railway trackage through the Allegheny Mountains to downtown Frostburg.

Notable attractions along the way include an iron truss bridge, the harrowing Helmstetter’s Horseshoe Curve, and the 914-foot Brush Tunnel that runs beneath Piney Mountain. The tracks join the old Cumberland & Pennsylvania Railroad before reaching Frostburg.

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, 13 Canal St, Cumberland, MD 21502, Phone: 301-759-4400

The C&O Canal National Historical Park was established in 1961 to preserve the neglected remains of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Founded as a National Monument by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the historical park features a museum that documents the history of the area through interactive and educational displays. Notable attractions at the museum include a model of the Paw Paw Tunnel, exhibits showcasing the day-to-day life of the canal families, a model lock and old boat building, and the lovable Mutt the mule who was famous for pulling canal boats.

13 Canal Street Cumberland, MD 21502, Phone: 301-777-5132

Located on Pershing Street in Historic Downtown Cumberland, the Allegany Museum is a world-class museum that documents the rich history of Allegany County and the cultural, commercial, and geographic heritage of Appalachian Maryland throughout the eras. Designed by local architect, R. Holt Hitchins in the Art Deco and Neoclassical styles, the building was constructed as a US Court House and Post Office in 1932 and features beautiful finishes in marble and walnut, intricate detailing, and a 3,4000 square foot Grand Courtroom. Today, the building houses the museum houses a collection of over 50,000 items that trace the history of the region from the first Native American residents to the age of industrialization in the 19th and 20th centuries.

3 Pershing St, Cumberland, MD 21502, Phone: 301-777-7200

What to do if you are traveling with kids:

Set on Greene Street in the historic downtown district of Cumberland, George Washington's Headquarters is a renowned historic site that is famous for being the place where George Washington slept during the French and Indian War. Originally based at Fort Cumberland and relocated after the Fort’s destruction, the one-room cabin is closed to the public and houses a unique collection of historical displays and period artifacts, flags, weaponry, and a life-size wax reproduction of Washington himself, which visitors can view through the windows.

38 Greene St, Cumberland, MD 21502, Phone: 301-759-6636

The Cumberland Narrows, also known simply as ‘The Narrows’ is a 1,000-foot-deep scenic gorge cut by Wills Creek through the Allegheny Mountains that create a natural east-west gateway between Wills and the Haystack mountains.

Originally an Indian footpath, the gorge was discovered by British troops in 1755 as they tried to cross the mountains to attack the French in the Ohio River Valley.

It was later developed into a major federally funded highway known as the National Pike, however, the gorge is now bypassed by Interstate 68.

Cumberland, MD 21502

The Allegany Fairgrounds is a vast expanse of land that hosts the annual Allegany County Fair & Ag Expo. Founded over 30 years ago to host the fair, the 120-acre fairgrounds have several features, including an 18,000square-foot pavilion, a half-mile dirt race track bordered by a 3,000-seat grandstand, and a vast 25,000 square foot multi-purpose building for indoor exhibits. Held over a week every July, the fair hosts a variety of exhibits, musical performances and live acts, firework shows, demolition derbies, and an array of rides and attractions for the whole family.

11490 Moss Avenue Ext., Cumberland, Maryland 21502