cumberland part 2. biking the allegheny trail

isn't it pretty? the bike path runs right next to the steam train track that runs only in the summer. could you imagine riding a bike next to a huge steam train!?

we took the morning to ride the 12 mile roundtrip from cumberland to the first tunnel. hopefully next year sometime (or maybe this summer?) we can ride the entire 150 mile trail that runs from cumberland to pittsburgh. a challenge for sure, but you get to ride through lots of old tunnels and pass coal mines. we're suckers for that over here.

cumberland part 1.

in under 3 hours, you can hop in car and drive from here

to here.

cumberland, md. the end of the C&O canal. picturesque town, straddling the potomac, with church steeples dotting the cityscape. we were definitely there out of season, but it didn't stop us from enjoying cumberland's spoils.

our bed and breakfast

we stayed at the most quaint and lovely bed and breakfast, The Bruce House Inn, located just a few blocks from downtown and surrounded by beautiful historic homes. Pam, the innkeeper, was a sweetheart and made the most delicious breakfasts every morning! puff pastry with strawberries, eggs benedict, yogurt parfaits, french toast with apples, yum! i'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

food in cumberland

we ate at a few places i care to mention (and one sicknasty japanese place i do not care to ever mention again): italian dinner at Restaurant Ottaviani, where i ate half my body weight in bread and olive oil, and custard at The Queen City Creamery - we tried vanilla, butter brickle, chocolate, and chocolate covered cherry, and i'm not exaggerating when i say its the best custard i've ever had. so smooth and creamy and delicious! i ate the other half of my body weight in custard that weekend.

in a town that shuts down pretty early, we had to rearrange our schedules to wake up early for breakfast (8:30am) and go to bed early (around 11 every night). we slept and ate and slept and ate and walked around aimlessly, and then slept and ate some more. it was so relaxing. a great little getaway for the weekend. we can't wait to go back in the fall when the leaves are changing and the steam train is running!

do you have any favorite day trips from DC? i'd love to hear them! we are always looking for excuses to take a break from the city.