Spectacular natural scenery inspires many visitors to search for the beauty of the seasons when choosing a venue for a getaway. That breathtaking scenery is one of the main attractions of Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, where visitors can get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright was also inspired by the region’s beautiful setting when he designed two architectural masterpieces in the region: Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob. Open for public tours, these two houses are a must-see.

Fallingwater

In 1935, when Pittsburgh department store owner Edgar J. Kaufmann and his family wanted Wright to design a vacation house for them in the Bear Run community, they wanted it to overlook a waterfall. However, Wright insisted that they be part of the waterfall, not just look at it. The architect’s original scheme was adopted almost without change, was completed in 1939 and built for $155,000. The house is located in what is now the Bear Run Nature Reserve.

In 1963, Fallingwater, its guest house, contents, and grounds were presented to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy by Edgar Kaufmann Jr. Fallingwater is the only remaining Wright house with its setting, original furnishings and art work intact.

Fallingwater is the epitome of “organic architecture,” which Wright said promotes harmony between people and nature. A tour of Fallingwater is evidence of the concept. The details of Fallingwater’s design create a house that is sheltering, but at the same time pulls nature into the home. A more obvious example is the natural boulder protruding from the floor in front of the fireplace hearth in the living room. A less obvious example is Wright’s use of corner windows, which open to reveal no corner posts and surround its inhabitants with nature.

Fallingwater was constructed of sandstone quarried on the property and laid by local craftsmen. The stone serves to separate reinforced concrete “trays,” forming living and bedroom levels, dramatically cantilevered over the stream.

You have to see this house to believe it.

When you go

The regular season starts mid-March and runs through Thanksgiving, open daily including weekends, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed Wednesdays. All tours of the house are guided. The regular tour lasts about one hour and features the major rooms. Advanced tickets or reservations are essential to guarantee admission. Tickets may be purchased online by visiting www.fallingwater.org, or by calling visitor services at 724-329-8501.

Children six and over may accompany adults. Photography inside the house is not permitted.

If you take children, be sure to visit the website, www.fallingwater.org, beforehand for family fun activities, including Bingo!, Sculptures and Word Finds that children will find fascinating to do when they visit.

All Fallingwater tours are walking tours, so good walking shoes are essential. There is a ¼ mile walk from the visitors center to the house. Fallingwater is a multi-storied house with over 100 steps from the first level to the guest house on the top of a hill. For those with mobility concerns, guests must be able to walk and stand throughout most of the tour. There are no places to sit down in the house itself. Limited van transportation is available for visitors who really cannot make this walk. Ask at the visitors center desk for this service when you are assigned to a tour group. There are no restroom facilities in the house, but there are nice facilities in the visitors center. There is also a café. Visitors using wheelchairs may visit the first floor of the house and then go to the visitors center to view a video showing the upper floors of the house. Wheelchairs must be able to fit through a 28-inch doorway to access the first floor.

Fallingwater is located 19 miles south of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) on State Route 381, halfway between the villages of Mill Run and Ohiopyle. (The street address, for mapping purposes only, is 1491 Mill Run Road. Please use caution when using Internet mapping programs, because they often use secondary or unpaved roads.)

Kentuck Knob

Just seven miles southwest of Fallingwater, and high atop a bluff overlooking the Youghiogheny River Gorge, sits Kentuck Knob, also designed by Wright in 1954 for I.N. Hagan, owner of the Hagan Ice Cream Company, and his wife. The house is described as an eloquent testimony to the unity of man and nature. The Uniontown, Pa., couple commissioned Wright to design the house for their 79-acre tract of farm land. Wright wedged their house into the brow of Kentuck Knob, because he determined the Hagans were “perchers” rather than “nesters.”

When Wright designed a house, he didn’t just design a shelter; he wanted his clients to live inside a work of art. Kentuck Knob is designed on a hexagonal grid. Wright thought open angles were more flexible than harsh right angles in terms of flow and movement and thus more suitable to the way life was meant to be lived in the house. He used natural materials to create a chorus of color and texture that replicated the surrounding landscape.

Upon entering the house, one is drawn into the living room by the natural light emanating from the south wall, which is primarily glass. The window tends to disappear, and visitors feel as if there is no separation at all between inside and out.

When you go

Experienced interpreters guide all tours through Kentuck Knob. Advance ticket purchases or reservations are essential. Tickets may be purchased at www.kentuckknob.com or by calling visitor services at 724-329-8501.

For GPS directions, use 723 Kentuck Road, Dunbar, Pa. For detailed information, visit www.kentuckknob.com.

For information on the Laurel Highlands, visit www.laurelhighlands.org.

Cruising has now gotten easier and more affordable for Mid-Atlantic travelers. Why spend money on airfare to Florida when you can leave from the Port of Baltimore, in your own backyard?

In 2009, Cruise Maryland will offer 79 year-round cruises to Bermuda, Canada/New England and the Eastern Caribbean on five cruise lines. Beginning in April, Carnival Cruise Lines will join Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and American Cruise Lines — and will initiate the Port of Baltimore’s first ever year-round cruising program. Celebrity Cruises arrives in November, with a three-month winter sailing schedule.

Less than 200 yards off Interstate 95, the cruise terminal is located in South Locust Point and is an easy drive, whether you are dropping off passengers or leaving your car while you cruise. With the opening of two new parking lots in May and June, there is onsite parking at the terminal for more than 1,500 vehicles. For $15 per day, you can park your car in a secure lot while you are luxuriating on your cruise.

In fact, the entire process is very “smooth sailing” — from driving to the terminal, parking or dropping off passengers, to getting onto the ship. My mom went on a cruise in July to Bermuda on Norwegian Cruise Line. This was her fourth cruise — the first one out of Baltimore — and she was “very pleased” with the pre-board and disembarking process. A slow walker, she was impressed with the efficiency of the check-in process, which “only took 10–15 minutes” to navigate the lines through the 60,000 sq. ft. terminal and board the ship. Disembarking was just as well organized, and because the bags were grouped by color, passengers found their luggage quickly. Cruising from the Port of Baltimore provides smooth sailing in another way. “When you sail down the Chesapeake Bay, as opposed to the rough waters of the North Atlantic, it is a much smoother trip,” said John Meister, manager, Cruise Marketing for the Maryland Port Administration.

Meister is excited about the 2009 season and growth of Baltimore’s cruise industry. He has seen a “get on board” mentality with the regional visitors bureaus, travel agents and tourism groups. “Our philosophy is that all components must work together in the community or it’s not going to work.”

Cruise Maryland passengers should be sure to visit the Baltimore-Washington region’s rich travel destinations either before or after their cruise. In fact, the terminal is located only a few miles from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor and historic landmarks. Of course, Washington, D.C., is only a 45-minute drive away. Annapolis, the state’s capital and sailing capital of the world, is only a 30-minute drive from the terminal and well worth a side trip. When visiting Annapolis, visitors find it fun to view the Chesapeake Bay Bridge from the shore and then cruise underneath the bridge.

Getting there

Driving: From points south, take I-95 North toward Baltimore, and take Exit 55, Key Highway, passing through one traffic light. The cruise terminal entrance is on the right. From the north, take I-95 South toward Baltimore. As you approach the Ft. McHenry Tunnel, stay in the right lane and proceed through the tunnel, taking the first exit past the tunnel, which is Exit 55 Key Highway. Turn left at the first traffic light onto East McComas Street. The cruise terminal entrance is on the right.

The terminal is 11 miles from the Baltimore-Washington International Airport and 5 miles from Amtrak’s Penn Station. Visit www.cruisemaryland.com for special packages and local hotel recommendations. For pre- and post-stay packages, contact your local travel agent. For information, call 1-866-427-8963.

When visiting the Laurel Highlands area of Pennsylvania, visitors must make time to visit the United 93 Temporary Memorial, located in the Stonycreek Township in Somerset County, Pa. This is the site where United Flight 93 crashed — at an estimated speed of 500 mph — on Sept. 11, 2001, after heroic efforts by passengers and crewmembers thwarted an attack on what was thought to be the Capitol. All 33 passengers, seven crew members and the four terrorist-hijackers were killed.

It is amazing that, after almost eight years, thousands of visitors still visit this site and go out of their way to see it. In fact, a volunteer told me that every day of the week, no matter what the weather, visitors come. Thousands come each week to pay their respects to the 40 heroes on the flight. Over 125,000 visitors come each year.

When you drive down the road to the site, you are immediately struck by the openness of the land, and how it was miraculous that this plane went down in such a rural part of Pennsylvania. Except for a few houses dotting the landscape, there is not much else around.

When you pull up to the area, it is feels like hallowed ground, and visitors still are overcome with emotion, walking around with tears in their eyes.

Visitors will see a 40-foot long section of fencing, which has become a collage of flowers, flags, handwritten messages, artwork and tributes of every description. The array of painted rocks, crosses, plaques, ball caps, patches, flags and angels left at the site — and the journals in which visitors may write their thoughts — are a heartfelt record of the nation’s feelings about this event and the heroes who were aboard Flight 93. A single flag, located across a field within sight of the temporary memorial, marks the place where the plane went down. It is not accessible to visitors.

The temporary memorial is located on private property, but is maintained by the National Park Service through a license agreement with the landowner, and is staffed by volunteer ambassadors. Volunteers staff the site for 40–60 hours per week to answer visitors’ questions, provide driving directions, and simply provide a human point of contact for the thousands of visitors who come to the site each week.

The temporary memorial site is open from dawn to dusk, 365 days per year. The site is staffed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on most days in the spring, summer and autumn; and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the winter months.

A Flight 93 National Memorial Capital Campaign has been launched nationally and internationally, seeking to raise $30 million to enable the construction of a permanent Flight 93 National Memorial. For information, visit www.honorflight93.org.

For information and directions to the temporary site, visit www.flight93memorialproject.org.

This spring when visiting Virginia Beach, instead of stepping into the sand and surf, visitors can step through the gates of some of Virginia’s most beautiful gardens, homes and historic landmarks. Historic Garden Week, which runs April 18 – 25 in various locations in Virginia, gives visitors a great reason to visit the beach in April. The Virginia Beach tour will be held April 22, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and is sponsored by the Princess Anne and Virginia Beach garden clubs. Visitors should follow the signs and green arrows to the homes on the tour. Properties may be visited in any order.

Here is a sampling of what you will see

1500 OLD BAY COURT: This stately and elegant house, a blend of old and new, was completed in 2008. The brick exterior has four outstanding chimneys accenting the traditional Georgian architecture. The home was built on the Old Oak Hill Farm property. A welcoming curved bluestone walkway leads to the mahogany front door, and inside, the gracious traditional “center through” hall is reminiscent of old Virginia river homes. On the water side of the house is an inviting covered bluestone terrace with an open balcony above and generous windows and French doors, all to capture the breezes and views of Linkhorn Bay. This home is open for the first time.

1068 CATON DRIVE: The Federal-style dwelling was built circa 1830 with brick formed and fired on the site and possibly constructed upon an earlier house, as there is a remnant of an old foundation in the present basement. The exterior was constructed with horse-hair plaster applied to 13-inch-thick brick walls. 1809 GREEN HILL ROAD: Built in 1974, this handsome Georgian-style house is a replica of Gunston Hall, home of George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights. Flemish bond brick exterior, cement roof tiles and hand-blown glass in the windows add to its impressive exterior. The home has four chimneys, seven fireplaces and wide pine floors. Elegant millwork was done locally. This home is open for the first time.

1721 LOVETT’S POND LANE: Green Hill is a venerable Georgian brick house built in 1793. Originally, the home consisted of four rooms, but in 1956 wings were added during a renovation sensitive to the original 18th century architecture. Near the roofline, a brick with the date 1793 was discovered. Green Hill has its original mantels, cornices, deeply recessed window moldings, window panes, stair rails and beautiful heart-pine floors. The 1.7-acre property has magnificent 250-year-old oaks, large magnolias and a generations-old crape myrtle.

1930 LYNN COVE LANE: Lynn Cove was built in 1939 on a cove off the Lynnhaven River. The traditional house with wood shingles and a slate roof has been evolving ever since. Now a herringbone brick walk leads to the front door. The handsome wood paneling and doors of the living room were patterned after the Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg. Under a canopy of magnificent old trees, the landscape of more than two acres is filled with massive beds of daylilies, ferns, perennials, camellias, azaleas and roses. This home is open for the first time.

2732 RIVER ROAD: This tranquil and gracious property on a cove of the Lynnhaven River is entered from the driveway through a wooded front yard of magnificent oaks, hollies, natural ferns and cinnamon ferns. A brick entrance path leads to a small welcoming terrace opposite the front door with a bench surrounded by boxwood, poet’s laurel and two large pots of colorful plants. From the back of the house is a spectacular view across the sweeping lawn down to the river. The vista is framed by wooded areas of large oaks, dogwood, mountain laurels and oak-leaf hydrangeas.

2717 SHOREHAVEN DRIVE: Built in 2000, this Country French house crests two-and-a-half acres along the Lynnhaven River. The elegant foyer contains a French buffet, a 19th-century English ecclesiastical coffer, an antique armchair with original needlepoint, hand-painted walls and a limestone floor. Overlooking the yard, pool and dock are a spacious patio with a fountain and a screened porch with an outdoor kitchen and bluestone floor. The landscaping was designed to act as a buffer to protect the river and was planted with drought-resistant native plants.

Historic Homes

Historic homes will be open at no additional charge with a full ticket for the Virginia Beach Garden Tour on Wednesday, April 22, 1 – 4:30 p.m., and also on Thursday, April 23, at regularly scheduled hours. The homes are The Adam Thoroughgood House, Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, DeWitt Cottage, Ferry Plantation House, Francis Land House, Lynnhaven House and Upper Wolfsnare.

WHEN YOU GO

FULL TOUR TICKET: Full tickets are $25 if purchased prior to tour day and $30 on tour day. Tickets include admission to six private homes and gardens and six historic homes. Single-site admission is $10. Tickets are available at all private homes on the tour.

DIRECTIONS TO TOUR AREA: Take I-264, the Norfolk-Virginia Beach Express¬way East, exit on First Colonial Rd. North for 1.2 mi. Turn right on Will-O-Wisp Dr. and go 0.5 mi. Turn left on Caton Drive to the corner of Caton Drive and Old Bay Court. Parking is available on the south side of Old Bay Court for 1500 Old Bay Court and 1068 Caton Drive.

For information, visit www.VAGardenweek.org.

New Castle, Del., is waiting for you to come and partake of its gift to you—cobblestone streets, historic homes, beautiful gardens, shops, restaurants, intrigue and lots of stories involving familiar names like William Penn, George Washington, Lafayette, and all of this within a few blocks in a National Historic Landmark district. Park your car on the street and walk to everything in this historic and fascinating town.

A good place to begin is the 22-room Read House and its gardens, located at 42 The Strand. Built in 1801 by George Read II, son of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Read House is a fine example of early Federal architecture and features elaborately carved woodwork with punch and gouge carving on the chair rails and around the doorways and fireplaces.

The tour begins in the front hallway whose bright yellow walls are the original color as are all of the walls in the home. From the hallway, you will visit the two parlors, one with jib windows, which enabled guests to move easily from room to outdoors. As your knowledgeable guides lead you through the house, you will learn about the three families who lived there between 1803 and 1975 and experience what life was like for them. In one of the oldest gardens in the Brandywine Valley, built by the second owner in 1847, relax with a stroll through the flower garden or sit awhile on the benches in the park garden under the magnolia and holly trees. Before you leave, take a look at the kitchen garden and inhale the fragrance of the herbs. If you visit Saturdays in January, you can take the backstairs tour, which introduces you to life lived by the servants and includes fireside cooking on the hearth in the original 1803 kitchen. The Read House has been seen on Good Morning America and Bob Vila’s Guide to Historic Homes of America.

Next, you might want to visit 2 East Fourth Street, the Georgian-style Amstel House, one of the few surviving early Colonial buildings in New Castle. Built in 1738 by Dr. John Finney, the town’s wealthiest landowner, it was the largest, finest house in the town at that time. A large portion of the original structure remains as it was in the 1700s. In the parlor, you will walk on the original wood floors while viewing a room that looks as it did when it was built. The home was owned by Governor Nicholas Van Dyke, Delaware’s seventh governor. George Washington did not sleep here but did attend the wedding of the governor’s daughter Ann Van Dyke to Kensey Johns in this parlor in April 1784. You will learn about the Van Dyke family and their connection to The Johns Hopkins University. Ann and Kensey’s daughter, Fedelia, born in the Amstel House, married Governor Thomas Stockton. Examples of furniture from the Stockton family can still be seen in the home. On the tour of the house, you will learn what life was like in the port town in the 1770s. In addition to the parlor, you will see the dining room, a kitchen with an open hearth and the master bedroom.

Near the Amstel House, at 32 East Third Street, is the Dutch House, built between 1690 and 1700. This small house, which began as a one-room house, is slightly larger today. Its red door and shutters invite you to enter and enjoy experiencing late 17th-century life. Louise Du Pont Crowninshield was instrumental in furnishing the house with Dutch Colonial antiques and artifacts, including a 16th-century Dutch Bible. You will enjoy the kitchen with its brick floor and open hearth fireplace.

On the Green, you will find the New Castle Court House Museum. The Court House is one of the oldest surviving courthouses in the United States. As you enter the building, built in 1732, you will walk into a Colonial courtroom setting with the judges’ bench, the jury box and a defendant’s box. Knowledgeable guides will walk you through the building, explaining that this Court House was built over the remains of the original 1689 courthouse. You will hear many interesting stories from Delaware’s history as you move through the New Castle Court House. You will see the Assembly Room where on June 15, 1776, legislators passed a resolution separating from Great Britain and Pennsylvania, creating the State of Delaware. The Court House continued to serve as the state capital until 1777. You will also find an extensive exhibit of the Underground Railroad, which provides fascinating details about those involved in protecting runaway slaves. Two prominent abolitionists were tried in the Court House. You will want to linger and take in all of these details.
There are many other sights to see and enjoy in New Castle. Any time is a good time to visit this historic district, and a particularly good time to do this is during one of the events held each year, such as the May Market Flower Festival and Sale on the Green, held on May 1, or the Day in Old New Castle and Garden Tours event that takes place the third Saturday in May. There is also the Separation Day Celebration on the second Saturday in June.

For more information on events in New Castle, visit http://www.ci.new-castle.de.us/historicnewcastle/events.html. For more information on places to visit in the Brandywine Valley, go to www.visitwilmingtonde.com.

It is always amazing to find out what put small towns on the map. In Ligonier, Pa., it was when the French and Indians attacked Fort Ligonier in 1758, and were beaten off by the British. Set in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania, Ligonier grew out of what was a stagecoach stop in the 1800s when stagecoach drivers hitched their horses to hitching posts around the public square, now known as the “Diamond.” Passengers visited local stores to purchase food and supplies, and local farmers came to trade their produce for supplies and to hear the latest bits of news.
Today, Historic Ligonier is a charming town that features over 60 unique shops and eateries that entice weary city dwellers to take a step back in time and enjoy the town, which is separated from the outside world by Laurel Mountain and Chestnut Ridge. Located at the intersection of Routes 30 & 711 in Westmoreland County, this town attracts visitors with its relaxing, friendly atmosphere. Visitors will enjoy its country pleasures, beautiful scenery, quaint shops, satisfying foods and good old-fashioned hospitality as they stroll around the town’s “Diamond.” Don’t call it a Town Square — the locals will correct you every time!

Campbell House B & B

For visitors who want to experience old-fashioned charm with today’s comfort, the Campbell House Bed & Breakfast offers charming accommodations with a Victorian flavor. Its uniquely decorated rooms, all with private baths, offer an eclectic collection of Campbell memorabilia. I guarantee you will see something in its décor that you will remember from your childhood. The Campbell House, an adult getaway, is a smoke-free bed and breakfast. Innkeeper Patti Campbell serves up a scrumptious breakfast each morning of your visit. She’s a pull-up-a-chair and sit-on-the front porch person who enjoys getting to know her guests. The Campbell House is within a short walking distance of the Diamond, shops and restaurants and within a short driving distance of Fort Ligonier, Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob. The Campbell House was included in the Winter 2008 Edition of The Haute List—A Guide to the Best of Pittsburgh. It is located at 305 East Main St., in Ligonier. For information on rates and special packages, visit www.campbellhousebnb.com.

Fort Ligonier

To fully appreciate the history of the town, visitors should check out Fort Ligonier and take a tour of the full-scale, onsite reconstruction of the 1758–1766 original fort, situated on a hilltop in the beautiful Laurel Highlands. The Fort Ligonier Museum provides a portal to the 18th-century fort.

In the museum lobby, four reproduction colors (flags) of the British regiments that served at Fort Ligonier are displayed. This welcome hall orients visitors to the facility, directing them to the four exhibit galleries. You should begin your tour in the History Gallery, where you will view an eight-minute video, “George Washington Remembers,” highlighting the role of young Washington at Fort Ligonier. Visitors will then view the reconstructed/restored British fort with its recreated artillery train and interpreted buildings. Be sure to plan a trip during Fort Ligonier Days, always held the second full weekend in October, a very popular three-day festival commemorating the Battle of Fort Ligonier during the French and Indian War. There are many activities and events for the entire family.

Fort Ligonier is located at 200 South Market Street in Ligonier. It is open daily April 15–Nov. 30, Monday through Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday: Noon–4: 30 p.m. For information, visit www.fortligonier.org.

Mountain Playhouse

The Mountain Playhouse, located in nearby Jennerstown, is Pennsylvania’s oldest professional resident summer stock theater. The playhouse brings Broadway-quality entertainment to the local community. Housed in a restored 1805 gristmill, the nearly 400-seat theater is climate-controlled, and includes a snack bar overlooking a lake. The Jenner Art Gallery, located in the theater lobby, features the works of area artists. Each summer the Mountain Playhouse produces a season of exciting shows. For a schedule, visit www.mountainplayhouse.org.

Green Gables Restaurant

Before the show, have dinner at Green Gables Restaurant, a 1927 former roadside sandwich stand that has been expanded over and over again, into a popular restaurant and banquet hall that is next door to the Mountain Playhouse.

Green Gables Restaurant provides elegant dining in a unique natural setting surrounded by terraces, waterfalls, antiques, fireplaces and statuary. The menu is filled with traditional favorites, with an innovative twist.

A family enterprise, Green Gables is owned by Teresa Stoughton Marafino. Visitors will enjoy the unusual remembrances and collectibles located throughout the restaurant. Its banquet hall, the Tuscany Room, has massive oak trees (over 400 rings) dotting the four corners of the dance floor. The large hand-hewn beams and stones came from two barns in the region. Eight statues decorate the restaurant. Antique glass, china and pottery native to western Pennsylvania are displayed throughout the restaurant in antique corner cupboards and on display shelves. Each room has an expansive view of the stream that feeds Stoughton Lake and mountain wildlife.

On this memorable night out, visitors will enjoy the eclectic mix of natural beauty, hometown flair, excellent food and talent. For information, visit www.greengablesrestaurant.com.

Huddleson Court

Be sure to stay at the Huddleson Court, charming overnight accommodations in a unique country setting on the grounds of the Mountain Playhouse and Green Gables Restaurant. Accommodations are fully furnished, most include pillow-top queen-sized beds, luxury linens, cozy quilt bedspreads, cooking facilities and wood-burning fireplaces.

Mountain Theater Summer 2009 Schedule:

I’ll Never Be Hungry Again Satire Musical; June 2–14

Honus & Me Show for the entire family; June 16–28

Over the Tavern Comedy; June 30–July 12

The Pajama Game Musical; July 14–Aug. 2

Lend Me a Tenor Farce; Aug. 4–16

Bubba’s Revenge Country Musical; Aug 18–30

Imagine driving through the countryside south of Annapolis, Md., and suddenly coming upon a tropical paradise. Drawn by the pink luster of buildings seen through tropical foliage, you drive through the gates and enter Herrington Harbour, a vacation spot that makes you feel you have landed in the Caribbean. Here you will find a marina and Herrington Harbour Inn, where you can spend the night and get up the next morning to the sound of water lapping the sandy beach. If the peacefulness is too much for you, you can check in with your hectic life anytime via the complimentary high-speed wireless access. Herrington Harbour Inn is situated right on Herring Bay, just off the Chesapeake Bay. Its Caribbean atmosphere is created by the palm and banana trees, hibiscus and other tropical plants. A walk around the grounds will convince you that you want to stay for a long time. Life slows down and satisfies here.

Beginning with the free continental breakfast eaten in a sunroom of pale blue walls and bright tropical furnishings, you wind down by degrees. After breakfast, you can sit under a tropical thatched umbrella on the private beach, reading a good book or simply watching the birds. If you want to get some exercise, try the two-mile roundtrip Eco-Trail. This walk consists of 19 stops that feature plants and animals. You will see beaches, butterfly habitats, terrapin nesting sites, tree-lined shorelines and beautiful gardens. Note as you stroll the low bulkheads that allow nature to thrive right up to the water. You may even see a turtle or great blue heron.

If that is not enough exercise, you can always work out at the fitness center or take advantage of the tennis courts. If you are visiting between Memorial Day and mid-September, you may want to spend some time at the Olympic-sized pool while keeping an eye on the little ones at their own kiddie pool.

When you get hungry, you can go to Mango’s. Bar and Grill where lunch and dinner are served in the summer and dinner the rest of the year. In addition to dinner entrees of seafood, chicken, beef and pasta, the menu features appetizers, sandwiches, salads, soups, desserts, and a kids menu. Mangos serves poolside as well. If you like to fish, you can catch a fishing charter from the marina.

A new feature is the Beach Trolley, which will take you to North Beach, Chesapeake Beach, Deale and lots of places in-between . It runs the circuit every two hours Friday through Monday. A trip into North Beach means shopping at antique shops and gift shops, and stopping by the bakery, cafe or deli and having something hot or cold to drink along with something really yummy to eat. In Chesapeake Beach, you can play at the water park and find other good places to eat. If you stay on the bus and go to Deale, you can visit Herrington Harbour North where you will see buildings from the 1800s, which have been moved there in an effort to preserve local architecture. The nine buildings include a school, dairy, outhouse, farmhouse, and slave quarters.

Herrington Harbour is a popular site for weddings. With bay and boats in the background and tropical flowers everywhere, it is a romantic Polynesian setting. The wedding arbor is custom decorated for each wedding, and in the background is a waterfall fountain, surrounded by flowers. Weddings can also be held indoors in the historic Yacht Club. Herrington on the Bay caters weddings and all other events, such as anniversary celebrations, business meetings, family reunions. The friendly staff at Herrington on the Bay will work with you to plan your event. Events can be held year around. Weddings can be held outdoors May–November.

Carved out of an area rich with legends of Indians, peaceful Quakers and pirates with buried treasure, Herrington Harbour was the creation of Joseph Rose, who in the 1940s looked at the swampy land and visualized a thriving community, marina and resort. His dream materialized as the town of Rose Haven and the Rose Haven Yacht Club, now Herrington Harbour.

Herrington Harbour is an award-winning resort and marina that is environmentally friendly and is always conscious of how any planned change could affect the environment. For more information, visit www.herringtonharbour.com or call 1-800-213-9438.

Outdoor enthusiasts will find a natural playground in the Mountain Highlands of West Virginia, home to natural wonders such as Smoke Hole Caverns and Seneca Rocks. Whether it is hiking, biking, fishing, camping, rock climbing or just admiring the great outdoors, experienced thrill seekers to weekend warriors will find exciting mountain adventures for all ages.

In this part of West Virginia — nestled just west of the Eastern Continental Divide— you are surrounded by the beauty of the mountains, rocks and natural waterfalls. An easy drive from the Baltimore-Washington region from I-66W to VA-55W, visitors from the Baltimore-Washington region will travel only about 200 miles and feel as if they ended up in the mountains of Colorado.

Smoke Hole Log Cabins Resort & Motel

When city folks travel this deep into the mountains of West Virginia, they will appreciate having a local to show them around. Jerry Hedrick, owner of Smoke Hole Resort and Seneca Rocks Caverns, loves to show off his “backyard.”

Whether you want to hunt, fish, go horseback riding, take a wilderness Jeep tour or see the beauty of the area from an ATV or motorcycle, Hedrick will be able to accommodate you. This area of the Mid-Atlantic region definitely has the market cornered on natural beauty.

The main property of the Smoke Hole Resort, which is on Route 55/28 in Grant County, offers log cabins — all riverside on the banks of the North Fork of the South Branch. It also has a log motel just down the road, situated next to Seneca Rocks Caverns and gift shop, which boasts to be “West Virginia’s largest souvenir shop.”

The log cabins — a one bedroom for couples and two bedrooms and loft for families — have porches, fireplaces, kitchens and private Jacuzzis. Each room is custom decorated with country appeal and has wireless Internet.

Hedrick’s wife, Janet, works tirelessly in the kitchen, serving up delicious, homestyle country cooking for guests and locals.

Whether you just want to kick back and relax, taking in the majestic scenery, or get out there and enjoy the outdoors, you will enjoy this mountain getaway. There’s plenty of fishing on the premises in a fee-fishing pond, along with a catch-and-release stream where you will find plenty of trout.

When you visit, remember that this area is deep into the country, so plan accordingly. In addition, keep in mind that it is easier to navigate in the daylight hours.

Smoke Hole Caverns

Even the inside of the mountains are a sight to behold. Visitors will enjoy a walking tour of the caverns, which were formed 300 million years ago. Seneca Indians used the front section of the caverns to smoke wild game. The slow burning wood fires sent clouds of smoke swirling out into the valley, causing early settlers to call the place Smoke Hole. Legend has it that during the Civil War, gold bars and coins were hidden in the cavern walls, although none have been found. The cavern has an impressive system of walkways that folks of all ages will be able to enjoy. Tours of the caverns are given every 30 minutes by an experienced geologist. Highlights of the tour include the Room of a Million Stalactites and the Queen’s Room, which features her canopy and is more than 10 million years old. The cavern also features the Crystal Cave Coral Pool, which is filled with rainbow and golden trout.

Be sure to bring your camera to take a photo of the world’s largest ribbon stalactite, which is thought to be 5 million years old, is 16 feet long, 13 feet wide and weighs more than 2.5 tons. Smoke Hole Resort and Seneca Rocks Caverns is located at Rt. 33 East, Seneca Rocks, W.Va. For information and reservations, call 1-800-828-8478 or visit www.smokehole.com.

Seneca Rocks

Seneca Rocks is just a 10-minute drive away and is the perfect place to begin your visit to the area. The Seneca Rocks Discovery Center, which is open in season, is located at the base of Seneca Rocks and provides an outstanding, majestic view of the vertical wall of Seneca Rocks dominating the scene. All levels of rock climbers will find an exciting adventure in this area.

For information, contact the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center at 304-567-2827 or Potomac Ranger District at 304-257-4488.

This is the year to discover the special place where Maryland began. On this Tidewater peninsula nestled between the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay, you’ll find that compelling blend of old and new and quaint and trendy you associate with your favorite Chesapeake Bay destinations. St. Mary’s County is just a short drive south of Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Annapolis, so it’s an easy trip—travel by car or by boat and enjoy Maryland’s first place!

Easy and affordable

A dedicated website, www.Maryland375.com, contains a wealth of information for planning a trip or getaway to the place where the Free State took shape. It includes weekend getaway packages, family activities and prize drawings. The website links to the digital commemorative destination guide, which may also be downloaded, ordered, or obtained at any Maryland Welcome Center. In the guide you’ll find the Discover St. Mary’s County Card, a value card linked to deals and discounts offered by participating attractions, restaurants and shops throughout the county.

Fun!

Over 40 of the county’s annual events, starting in early spring, have added special “Celebrate 375” components. “Not to miss” spring events include the Piney Point Lighthouse Festival on May 9 and 10, and the Air Expo on May 23 and 24, featuring the Blue Angels. A special Maryland Birthday Celebration Weekend is set for June 19 and 20. On Friday night, the world premiere of a symphony commissioned for Maryland’s 375th will be performed at the popular St. Mary’s College River Concert Series. On Saturday at adjacent Historic St. Mary’s City, the 17th century will come alive with tall ships, re-enactments, pageantry, more music and fireworks.

Historic!

In fact, 2009 is the year when Historic St. Mary’s City takes center stage. The 800-acre outdoor living history museum and archaeological park along the St. Mary’s River tell the story of the state’s first years when it served as the capital of Maryland. It was at Historic St. Mary’s City that America took its first steps toward the First Amendment right of religious freedom as well as toward participatory democracy. This cosmopolitan town once thrived with taverns, shops and lodging houses but was abandoned to sink back into the soil when the Legislature moved to Annapolis. Today, the “city” rises again with new stories to tell about life in early America. New attractions join the Maryland Dove, the Godiah Spray Plantation and the Wicomico Indian Hamlet including the Brick Chapel of 1667 and St. John’s Freehold—a state-of-the-art archaeological museum. To truly appreciate the challenges faced by early Marylanders, you should include St. Clement’s Island in your visit. The St. Clement’s Island Museum on the mainland tells the story of the voyage of the first hopeful colonists. Saturday and Sunday from Memorial Day weekend through the end of September, a water taxi makes the scenic run to the nearby island where the colonists landed. A large cross erected to mark Maryland’s founding now shares the island’s skyline with a new attraction, the reconstructed Blackistone Lighthouse. The lighthouse is open to the public the first weekend (Saturday and Sunday) of each month from June through October.

More information on these events and attractions may be found at www.Maryland375.com, at www.tour.stmarysmd.com, and at www.stmaryscity.org. You may also call the St. Mary’s County Division of Tourism at 301-475-4200 ext. 1404 or 800-327-9023.

If you are concerned about the environment and want to know more about our wildlife and how to preserve both, a visit to the Patuxent Research Refuge National Wildlife Visitors Center is the perfect activity for you and your family.

Located in Laurel, Md., just off the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, the Patuxent Wildlife Center offers the whole family. Hiking trails, tram rides, exhibits, children’s activities and events galore. The visitors center recently underwent renovation and is once again open for business.

From the beautiful mile and a half drive through woodlands, to the incredible exhibits, you will find so much to please you and make you glad to be there. As you approach the visitors center, you will come upon a sculpture of a wolf family. The sculpture is an introduction to one of the exhibits you will see inside. Walking through the door, you will be greeted by a large polar bear, emblematic of the crisis some of our wildlife is undergoing. Moving into the exhibit hall, you will see this sentiment evidenced in the exhibits. The name of the exhibit hall, Wisdom of Wilderness, is taken from a quote by Charles Lindberg: “The future depends on our ability to combine the knowledge of science with the wisdom of wilderness.” As you enter the exhibit area, you will see displays on global concerns, such as pollution and deforestation, prompting you to begin considering what we can all do to improve the health of our planet.

The interactive exhibits that follow will fascinate adults and children alike. You will learn about the migratory patterns of birds; experience the habitat areas of the Chesapeake Bay, the prairie, Hawaiian rainforest, among others, pressing buttons along the way and watching with surprise as creatures appear and disappear among the trees; and finally find yourself in the threatened and endangered species exhibit, featuring 14 species that may disappear if we don’t find ways to mitigate the threat to their existence.

You will see displays of life-sized gray wolves, whooping cranes, sea otters and Canvasback ducks, showing their lifecycles. You will learn how these creatures live in the wild, take care of their young, find food. Here you can view a video, see scientific tools and learn what scientists are doing to assist these valued, threatened creatures. In the viewing pod, you can stop and view the lake through binoculars and scopes. Kids love looking out the large window through these viewing tools that bring the wildlife habitats closer to them. Kids also feel right at home in the lobby of the visitors center, where they can indulge in several hands-on areas.

In addition to spending time with the exhibits in the visitors center, you should take a look outside at the butterfly garden, whose plants draw the beautiful creatures in the summer. You can also spend time fishing in the lakes on the refuge. One of the most fun things you can do is to take a tram tour through the refuge. This guided tram tour, which will take you through woods and wetlands and past lakes, is a great way to experience the center and to learn about the wildlife there. You can see a variety of birds and other wildlife along the way. Tram rides are available from March 14 to mid-November. Call or check the website for schedule. Groups can reserve the tram at other times. If you prefer to walk, the refuge offers several trails that give you the opportunity to view wildlife at your leisure. The trails are a wonderful place for birding. The refuge has 270 observed species of birds. You might make it 271. The trails on the South Tract of the Wildlife Center, where the visitors center is located, are for walking only. On the North Tract, the trails are open to hikers, bikers and horseback riders. You can find out more about the North Tract at the visitors center.

As the name implies, the Patuxent Research Refuge is also a research center where scientists strive to learn more about our threatened wildlife and our threatened environment and how to protect both. The Wildlife Research Center has numerous responsibilities including administering bird banding for all of North America and working with the endangered whooping cranes. The research center is not open to visitors, except during the Patuxent Wildlife Festival in October when visitors can view the whooping cranes. At the visitors center, ask about the interesting story of the whooping crane migration and the ultralight aircraft.

Admission to the visitors center and all events and programs are FREE. There is a minimal charge for the tram tour. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily and closed on federal holidays. The facility is fully accessible. It is located off Powder Mill Road between the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Rt. 197, south of Laurel, Md.

For information, visit http:// patuxent.fws.gov or call 301-497-5763.