Great experience. We learned a lot about this very historic little town. So glad we decided to take…read morethe tour while in town for the night.

Loved the entire experience! Janet has the most amazing knowledge base of Shepherdstown and all…read moreits ghosts! Not to be missed.

This is a serious tour. Neither the walking nor the historical content is for the craven! Your…read moreguide is an endless resource of knowledge about the area, and you will leave with stronger quads and more brain cells. My mom arranged for us to go on this tour, after having read positive reviews on another website. We didn't really know what we had in store for us, but she stumbled onto a local treasure. Once you park and (probably) hike your way toward the rendezvous point, you'll head inside a church lounge where you can sit comfortably and get some background information. Your guide will be dressed in historical garb, and he may even break out into song at various points, between deep-dive presentation of historical narrative. Okay, so costume and singing aren't usually my scene (and in fact, they sometimes make me cringe), but this expert is so totally in earnest that it was actually refreshing. How can you not respect someone with this level of knowledge and commitment? You really feel like you're seeing the area through a historical lens. Every sight you see is informed by the guide, which adds rich layers of context. I admit that I kind of felt weirdly sorry for the other area tourists who were roaming the place uninformed. Some of the rocks, rubble, ruins, trails, and geography you see played a role in American history that you might not recognize, and this awareness made so many of the local sights more enjoyable. You do plenty of walking. Bring water, and wear comfortable shoes and clothing. You will also have breaks from the walking to reconvene. The tour was such an experience that we actually had ice cream with the other tour group members afterward to rehash and decompress. The guide does a haunted tour that I haven't tried, but which he describes as more lighthearted. I'd totally go back for that, and I'd bring any history nerd who visits the area to the O Be JoyFull tour in a heartbeat. Not the right setting for someone who wants a more consumer-based or superficial visit to Harper's Ferry, though. They can wait for you at the ice cream parlor!

It's not often I give 5 star reviews but, if you are a history buff I recommend Rick. Great in…read moredepth information told in a way that helps bring Harpers Ferry & the Civil War into focus. The day tours are lengthy, ~ 4hrs. If you want something shorter, then the ghost tour may do (I heard there's still history sprinkled in). Harper's Ferry is hilly so be prepared for that. Also, if you cross the railway bridge you can view the old canal.

After visiting Visit Fredrick, there's no shortage of idea on how to enjoy Frederick. With helpful…read morestaff, the center comes with exhibits, artifacts, an informational video, and plenty of brochures on everything to do in the area from nature to history to food. The center has free parking, restrooms, and drinking fountains too.

Beautiful visitors center with a warm and welcoming staff. Attractive and informative displays and…read moremany wonderful brochures. Be sure to get a map for the downtown Frederick Walking Tour which provides a wonderful overview and introduction to this amazing historic town.

This is one of two places along the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park which I…read morevisited to get a better understanding of the canal. All within reach are the Bollman Iron Truss Bridge, a railroad lift bridge, the Conocheague Creek aqueduct (dry), turning basin and Lock 44. The visitor center sells a few C&O canal related items and holds a few displays. In addition, the property holds a few other structures which are not open to the public. The center is very popular with the locals who are out to get some exercise in such a scenic and peaceful site.

In my effort to see more of the C&O Canal, a friend and I drove out to Williamsport on a late…read morespring Sunday. There was a geocaching event going on in the area, and the towpath is always popular with bicyclists, so it seemed that we got the last parking spot in the lot. The visitor's center is small, but as is the case for most such NP centers - informative. Lots of free brochures to be had, plus a number of items for purchase. We then walked to mile marker 98, and back toward mile marker 100. Even with the amount of cars in we'd seen in the lot, the towpath was mostly quiet and we spotted a fair amount of wildlife.

My daughter and I recently booked a private tour while on vacation. I loved conversing with Ann…read moreduring my booking. She is so knowledgeable and passionate about the history and paranormal of the Charles Town area. Our guide, Will, was very knowledgeable and a lot of fun. We enjoyed getting to know him during the tour and learning about such a beautiful and fascinating town. While we didn't see anything of the paranormal exactly, I had a lot of feelings and impressions. We really loved this tour and hope to come back to Charles Town again soon!

Angie & Tim were great hosts and tour guides as they put us at ease with their warmth, expertise…read moreand knowledge of the town and its many paranormal happenings and activities. This tour was mixed with history and ghost stories that were enjoyable, macabre and made you think twice about spirits on the loose in historic Charles Town. As the sun went down and the skies darkened the tour became more surreal as we visited a church ground/ graveyard under the shadow of night and ended in an underground basement where you could feel the kinetic energy as your heart quickened exploring the foreboding darkness and rooms thereof. Angie & Tim were very personable, kind and took there time till the tour ended. My wife and I are two very satisfied customers. We highly recommend!!!

Just a little hike or drive to visit the first Washington Monument created by the folks of…read moreBoonsboro.

While on a road trip, we stopped to check out the Washington Monument State Park on a Monday…read more Lucky for us, no one was there, and we had the place all to ourselves. And the bathrooms were unlocked. Yay! It's a nice short hike up to the monument and overlook area. You can climb to the top of the monument using the little stairs inside the structure. You're rewarded with an incredible view of the vista when you reach the top and emerge from the stones. The history is interesting. You also get a bonus - a little hike on the Appalachian Trail. Watch out for bears and copperhead snakes. Oh my!

I discovered the Walkersville Southern Railroad when researching Polar Express inspired train rides…read morein the area- our kiddos aren't quite old enough to fully grasp the magic of the experience, so I've been hesitant to book the large immersive expensive experience offered by main lines- I thought it would be a good idea to start with a more 'low-key' experience & see how it went- ~60min train ride with a visit from Santa, carolers, and the conductor- the kids had a magical wonderful time- they enjoyed having their photos taken, their tickets punched, and hearing the train go choo- I would say their joy made the experience- on its own the train was as expected more basic-a bit underwhelming- 30minutes out, then 30 minutes backward. I understand development happens so seeing a lot of backyards of houses, development centers, and more modern town- it is what it is- but for a next experience I would like to find a ride that offers more scenic experience & a bit more variety in the ride I was also a bit disappointed with the kid's Santa's gift- the advertisement came off like the gift was a bell (reminiscent of Polar Express), but the kids were gifted some sticker create a train kit- it really wasn't a universal gift for all ages- both my kids weren't old enough to understand what it was, so basically I put the gift together-they said cool & moved on- it would have been nicer to have something more rewarding from Santa.

Well I think we have to be honest here. The ppl that work the train are very, very nice but they…read moredon't have much to work with. Train is cute but definitely worn. No Christmas lights of any kind on the ride. No availability for snacks or drinks. We were in the Parlor Car for $50 per person over 2 years. The highlight seeing Santa was of course the main event which was great. Might be a good idea to give this Santa a makeover. New suit to start. Real beard on this one but could have had better maintenance. He was jolly enough and of course the kids were happy. But remember the adults are taking memory photos.... Mall Santas show much better. So in essence for the $300 we spent on the hour ride there should be more of an investment on the company end! Merry Christmas!

This is a unique section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) in that it's less about hard core hiking and…read moremore about history. Although you might see an occasional through hiker. This part of the AT is connected to the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (NHP) which has lots of Civil War history attached to it. For more details see https://www.nps.gov/hafe/planyourvisit/hikes.htm The hikes here are very easy with little elevation change. But you will get many beautiful views and like I said there plenty of historical stuff to connect with as well. For more details or volunteer options check out the PATC at https://www.patc.net/

Probably one of the best National Park situated in between the Northern Virginia and West Virginia…read morebordering the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. The Potomac river runs all the way to and is about 61 miles from Washington DC. As we checked in the visitor center we were immediately greeted by a Park Service in full Ranger uniform. We paid the customary $10 per car then he handed us a map of Harpers Ferry. From the visitor center a complimentary bus takes you to the main historic town about 2 miles from the parking lot. Today, there was a special tour with a Park Ranger who enlightened us in great detail of the history including particularly of the armory it once was which equipped the US Capital for its defense all the way from the South. Most of all, the story of John Brown, the abolitionist but could be also be contested as a rebel, depending on one's learning curve. There were a few dwellings and museums and especially the building where John Brown was held up when he was captured during his attempts to raid the armory back in those days, so as to help the cause in freeing the slaves. This building was considered sacred as it triggered the civil war, or so it was thought to have started. The curators at its dwellings were knowledgeable and passionate about their jobs and to me, should serve as the model for how historical places should be curated! Thanks to our lady bus driver who drove us back n forth to the visitor center, Elliot who gave us a history tour of the museum and more importantly, the amazingly enthusiastic Park Ranger David Cox who guided us through a very thoughtful story of its history and told it as if he were speaking of the events as it was happening just then. Great job! Too bad we were pressed for time or we would have lingered longer for a hike on the trails connecting the Appalachian Trail to that area or to cross or kayak the Potomac. It was an awesome day of about 60 degrees in the middle of Winter. It could not have been a better day to visit. I'll definitely come back to either kayak or try out inner tubing in the Summer time. Very well worth a visit!