Top Things To Do In Frederick, Maryland
With a great fusion of new and old, there are plenty of fun things to do in Frederick, Maryland. In this post, see why Frederick is perfect for a weekend getaway in Maryland.
**A big thank you to Visit Frederick for providing us with such a fun itinerary! As always, all opinions are our own.**
Things To Do In Frederick, MD
We think Frederick is the perfect place to have a weekend getaway in Maryland because there are so many fun things to do. It’s within driving distance of major cities like Baltimore and Washington DC, so it’s close enough for a weekend away but not far enough to be a hard trip to plan. To make your visit even easier, we’ve put together this list of top Frederick attractions.
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Frederick Visitor Center
A visit to Frederick, Maryland should start off at their Visitor Center. Inside you’ll find exhibits, murals, and artifacts that recount the history of Frederick and the surrounding area. There’s also a small theater where you can watch a short film that gives guests a preview of all the fun things to do in Frederick.
Carroll Creek Park
A short walk from the Visitor Center is Carroll Creek Park. This park was created as part of a flood-control project that was started back in the 1980s. It’s a mile long and has a lot of public art, gardens and walkways, and a really cool bridge that was livened up by local artist William Cochran.
The park is a great place to take a stroll or to sit and people watch. It’s also one of our favorite free things to do in Frederick, so if you’re traveling on a budget, this park is for you!
Historic Downtown Frederick
Downtown Frederick’s 50-block historic district has a perfect blend of restaurants, antique shops, specialty stores, and museums. The historic architecture alone will have you in awe! Did you know Frederick is listed as one of the “Prettiest Painted Places” in the country because of its murals and public art?
We really recommend taking a self-guided walking tour of Frederick; it’s a great way to really get to know the downtown area. There is a free app you can download called Frederick Walking Tour or you can pick up an official visitor guidebook at the Visitor Center. Inside the guidebook, you will find the self-guided tour.
Monocacy National Battlefield
Civil War history buffs should stop by the Monocacy National Battlefield which commemorates “The Battle That Saved Washington DC.” Visitors can take a self-guided auto tour (about six miles round trip) that points out key locations where the Battle of Monocacy took place. A brochure for the tour can be picked up inside the park’s visitor center.
There are also trails and placards that help you to comprehend just how important this battle was. You see, in 1864, Confederate soldiers planned to head north and capture Washington DC. They met resistance at Monocacy, where Federal soldiers (outnumbered three to one) were able to stop them long enough for Union soldiers to arrive in and reinforce Washington DC.
Pro Tip: Another historic battlefield you should consider visiting is in Vicksburg, Mississippi.
National Museum of Civil War Medicine
Another really cool stop for Civil War history buffs, and for those looking for really interesting things to do in Frederick, is the National Museum of Civil War Medicine. Inside you’ll find artifacts and manuscripts that tell the medical story of the Civil War and how many important medical advances were developed during this tumultuous time.
There are a couple of photos and scenes that may be a little hard for children to see (i.e. amputations) but overall we thought it was a really fascinating museum.
Roads and Rails Museum
If you’re looking for things to do in Frederick with kids, the Roads and Rails Museum is perfect! It has one of the largest miniature world model train displays in the country and has everything from moving trains, trolleys, cars, and trucks to a working volcano!
There are also all kinds of different scenes, many of which are interactive. Keep on the lookout for buttons that activate more sound and movement. There was also a display made up entirely of Legos (you remember how much we love Legos right?). And to top off our experience, we were given special access to go behind the glass and Buddy got to pretend to be Godzilla lol!
Schifferstadt Architectural Museum
Architecture enthusiasts and those wanting to learn more about Frederick’s German heritage will love visiting the Schifferstadt Architectural Museum. This home-turned-museum is one of the oldest and most historic buildings in Frederick and one of the best-preserved examples of early Colonial German Architecture in the country.
We took a tour given by an actual descendant of the family that originally owned the land and built the home, and were captivated by so many features that were still in great condition (including a stove that is probably the oldest in the country still in its original location). The stone house was built in 1758 and stayed within the family until the mid-1800s.
After a few more families owned it, it was eventually abandoned. This actually helped to preserve the home, since upgrades and remodels would have damaged the integrity of the house. We especially recommend a visit to Schifferstadt during Oktoberfest! Not only did we tour the house, but we also enjoyed live polka music, beer tents, and other tasty German treats.
South Mountain Creamery
If you’re looking for things to do near Frederick, we recommend South Mountain Creamery. This awesome dairy farm is only a short drive away from Downtown Frederick. Here, you can eat some freshly made ice cream and then go feed baby calves!
We loved our experience so much that we wrote an entire article about South Mountain Creamery!
Downtown Frederick Restaurants
Without a doubt, Frederick is a foodie’s paradise. There are so many places to eat and drink in Downtown Frederick, it’s ridiculous! From sophisticated restaurants to quirky soda shops, Frederick has something for everyone. We were able to stop into some of the best downtown Frederick restaurants during our visit, so make sure to check out our Frederick food guide for more information.
Hotels In Frederick, MD
We stayed with a friend during our trip, so we can’t recommend any hotels in Frederick from personal experience. However, feel free to check out hotel deals with the Booking.com app below.
Final Thoughts On Things To Do In Frederick, Maryland
There you have it, our recommendations for fun things to do in Frederick, Maryland. We really think it’s perfect for a weekend getaway and can’t wait to visit again.
Have you been to Frederick? Are there any other places you’d recommend seeing? We’d love to read your comments below! 🙂
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I lived near Frederic for couple years long time ago. Used to go there on weekends. It looked fairly ordinary to me – just another town (I may not even qualify it as a city) with certain charm of bygone era popping out here and there. Your post brought a sense of nostalgia and regrets of how much I missed. Great photos too.
Hi Elena! It really is a very charming town and seems to really be growing. Maybe you could go back for a visit? And thank you, I really appreciate that! 😀
I’ll try my best but it’s a long way from Australia ?
Haha! 🙂
I’ve never been to Maryland but it seems like a very charming quaint town! My nephews would have loved that train museum.
It’s a really cool place Anna, and I’m sure they’d love to see the trains going by. 🙂
I’d never heard of Frederick until this post but there looks like a lot of things to do for such a small town. The museums look interesting and with lots of variety to fill a day or two of a visit – great photos too!
Thanks Vicki! 😀
This looks really really familiar – I wonder if I went there with my family when I was much younger…. Definitely looks like a great place to check out. I’m specifically interested in Downtown Frederick, as I’m really in to street art and local murals – right up my alley! I’ve pinned this for safekeeping – I’m trying to book a trip to MD next year.
Sounds great Lindsay! 🙂
We haven’t spent much time in Maryland despite having taken a roadtrip through most of the East Coast up to DC – Im so fascinated by civil war history at the moment though, so would love to get back and spend some time in Frederick. Thanks for the post!
Hi Meg! Frederick would be a great place to visit then because there are a lot of historical places to see to get a better understanding of what happened in the area during the Civil War. Glad you enjoyed the post!
What a lovely looking town. It has never been on my radar and I can’t think why given that it has so much of what I look for in a destination – food, history, culture and an easy-to-wander-around centre. The National Museum of Civil War Medicine in particular sounds really fascinating.
Frederick is such an awesome destination, with a little bit for everyone!
Frederick wasn’t on my radar before, but it is now! Seems like the perfect getaway for the weekend and has something to offer for everyone. I’d be particularly interested in visiting Schifferstadt during their Oktoberfest celebration. Thanks for the inspiration, will be adding Frederick to my destination wish list.
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed the post Heather! 🙂
I vote for the museum of Civil War medicine. Fascinating. Can you imagine being in the south towards the end of the war and having your supplies cut off? Brutal! Anyway, I digress. Great post about a place I had never even heard of.
Omg, it really was a very fascinating museum! I learned a lot of cool things while I was there.
We have never been to Maryland, Frederick sounds like a city steeped in history. My son would love the Roads and Rails Museum and Carroll Creek Park looks lovely a great place to eat lunch or take a walk. If we ever get to Maryland we will make sure that we visit Frederick
I hope you’re able to make it Frederick one day Rob! I’m sure your son would love Roads and Rails! 🙂
I lived in Frederick as an exchange student and I remember visiting some of the places. I love the ice cream at South Mountain Creamery. It is a nice little town.
Thank you for this article ! Now I really want to go to Frederick next weekend haha !
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it! 🙂