Pretty cool old steel bridge in a beautiful area. With views of the Potomac River down below, and…read morepretty vistas all around, you can enjoy Maryland and Virginia.

It's a beautiful bridge. This connects southern Maryland to Virginia. Have driven it quite a few…read moretimes, and also hiked/bikes underneath it on the C&O Canal. Crossing this part of the Potomac River is stunning. One thing I don't like, is there looks like a section to walk the bridge, but that would be a no. Barricades aren't in place, and it's a thin bit of sidewalk. Also when you drive across this it's two way two lane traffic. Definitely pay attention, as not much clearance. Yet the blue bridge is stunning. If you're lucky enough to be a passenger, the views of the Potomac are truly impressive. It's a fairly rural area, although rush hour can be frustrating. If there's a wreck on or near the bridge, you will not be moving anytime soon. My hope is this can continue being operational, but that Whites Ferry can return.

We have driven by this battlefield dozens of times and finally decided to stop and visit…read more Easy parking, main ealjway was realtively even, and numerous historic markers to read about the civil war era battles in the area. There is a wooded path too. Lovely mountain views Trash free park.....take out Whatever you bring in

A great place to start your tour of Harpers Ferry and its history…read moreBolivar Heights sits just above Harpers Ferry and, seems like a great place to start a tour of the entire area. We got a guided tour and our tour guide started here because from here you can see the hills that represent "the hole" the place where the 2 rivers, the Potomac and the Shenandoah connect. It gives you a wide open look at the town, the rivers, and the surrounding ridgelines. It's a quiet, grassy ridge with a few cannon placements and clear informational signs. It's easy to understand why this high ground mattered during the Civil War.I like this stop because it was simple and stress-free. There is a small parking area, short mostly-level paths, and lots of room to wander without crowds. The signs along the path do a nice job of explaining the fighting here and how it connects to the larger Harpers Ferry story. The cannons are in good shape but always be careful not to stick your hand inside one as small creatures like to use them also. If you want a picture with a cannon closeup or in the background then this is a good place for you. Overall, Bolivar Heights battlefield is an easy, worthwhile add to a Harpers Ferry visit. If you're driving the park's battle sites, put this one near the top of the list and enjoy the view.

Quite a view! It is really neat to see this massive road cut. There is an access behind the…read moreMaryland Welcome Center, and there is also a pedestrian bridge that connects the rest stop on the other side of the highway to this access. Climbing up the steps gets you to the view. Looking at the opened walls is very interesting since you can see the various layers going back through time. We somehow managed to end up here at great timing for the sun coming through the hill too, which was an added interesting feature. There is also signage available that provides more details about the National Road and Sideling Hill.

I lived in Baltimore Md as a child, my grandparents had a cabin in West Virginia. Four or five…read moretimes a year we would drive out I83, through the "V in the mountain" on the way to our vacation spot deep in the woods! Sideling Hill became our halfway stop, many times I used the bathrooms there, and ate many sandwiches made by my grandmother in the parking lot! All the employees were always so nice and seemed super informative... Always kept clean! Bathrooms included! As for the hill, Beautiful is an understatement for this very unnatural yet breathtaking view of a mountain, and each season offers another opportunity to see this impressive feat of mankind. There's even a walkway bridge that spans the highway with interesting views of its own! If you travel out western md and happen through Sideling hill, take fifteen minutes and stop in! I'm not sure if it's still there but they had a stuffed black bear standing guard inside. Check it out, definitely a beautiful view that won't disappoint.

Roddy Road Park and Covered Bridge…read more 7885 Roddy Creek Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788 everyday, sunrise to dusk a restroom inside the building accessible for strollers and wheelchairs Free! Limited space open parking spot at the lot next to the park. ℹ recreater.com A beautiful park next to Owens Creek that adjacent to the famous covered bridge on Thurmont area, Roddy Road Covered Bridge. The park itself has covered bench, smaller playground with swings, grasses area for playing or dogs walkers or restroom pitstops. Check out the National Parks standard restrooms while you're there, and be amazed how clean it is. The park also gives a close-up opportunities to see the covered bridge for a detailed exploration. The Roddy Road Covered Bridge is the 1st stop if you're traveling north to Frederick from Emmitsburg, the othet next two covered bridge are here is you are curious or in the area: 1. Loys Station Covered Bridge, Old Frederick Rd, Rocky Ridge, MD. 2. Historic Utica Covered Bridge, 7720 Uttica Rd, Thurmont, MD. Check out the path going to the Owens Creek while you're there and get a closer look at the covered bridge in person and experience while cars crossing through the bridge. #roddyroadpark #roddyroadcoveredbridge #thurmontmd #preservefootprints

Roddy Road is one of a cluster of three covered bridges in Frederick County so you can visit all…read morethree in one trip quite easily. If you're traveling from the south, this is Stop 3. Stop 1: Utica Covered Bridge, 7720 Utica Rd, Thurmont, MD Drive 11 minutes to Stop 2. Stop 2: Loys Station Covered Bridge, Old Frederick Road, Rocky Ridge, MD Drive 9 minutes to Stop 3. Stop 3: Roddy Road Covered Bridge, Roddy Road, Thurmont, MD On the way from Stop 2 to Stop 3, you navigate through a quiet residential neighborhood where practically all of the homes decorate for Christmas so going around that time of year you get to catch the decor. There's plenty of parking, covered benches, grassy areas to walk dogs, and opportunities to see the bridge up close. Because it's an active road, the occasional car does pass through. The structure is in great condition and the ground is solid. There's a signpost explaining its history and a creek below. Expect to spend no more than 15-20 minutes unless you plan to have a meal on the benches or have dawdling kids. Come earlier in the day than dusk to get a better experience!

We used this and the adjacent park on the other side of the canal as our launch point for two rides…read more29SEP (went south out & back 10 miles) and 30 SEP went north out & back 24 miles). Spacious parking area, not paved or marked spots but I would guess 30 cars or so would fit comfortably? The days we were there we only saw about 10-15. The trail itself is well packed dirt/gravel and even with a few wet areas along the way it is easy for most bikes, other than a pure road bike.

Tony and I stopped at C&O Canal Lock 44 & Lockhouse. It's free to enjoy and a lovely area to Enjoy…read morefor free. Plenty of parking. There is an old Lockhouse, plenty of signage about history and TURTLES...We saw about 20 plus turtles sunning themselves. Great place for hiking, biking and exploring. Close easy access to the Potomac River for tubing and swimming. Highly Recommend and definitely would go back when in area.

A beautiful campus to visit for civil right history Storer…read moreCollege campus is located about 1/2 mile away from the lower town of Harpers Ferry. There is a lot of history here. It was founded in 1867 to educate freed slaves and later hosted the 1906 Niagara Movement meeting that helped lead to the NAACP. The college closed in 1955, but the old campus buildings remain and are now used by the National Park Service. The campus sits up on Camp Hill, above the lower town of Harpers Ferry. It's just a few minutes' drive from the shops and museums below, and there is parking by the buildings. It is much easier parking here than trying to squeeze into the lower town lots. I think the entire campus is one of those places that feels quiet but full of meaning. Walking around the grounds, we enjoyed the views as the buildings still look to be in good condition. If you're visiting Harpers Ferry, it's worth the short trip up the hill just to stand where so much of the struggle for education and civil rights once happened but be aware that if you want more information you may be better served to go to the museum in the lower town or research on your phone as there are not a lot of informational displays around the campus and the museum seems to have a lot more data on the site.

This marker stands on Duke Street just over the bridge from Maryland into West Virginia and points…read moreout the history of Jefferson County. The marker reads, "Formed in 1801 from Berkeley. Named for Thomas Jefferson. Home of Generals Gates, Darke, and Charles Lee. Here four companies of Washington's men organized. Shepherdstown was strongly urged as the seat of the National Capitol." It's not all that far fetched. There was a time that West Virginia was Virginia and it's on the border with Maryland. Much the way that Washington DC is on the border between the two states. Jefferson County is located in the Shenandoah Valley in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, and is the easternmost county of the U.S. state of West Virginia. Jefferson County was established on October 26, 1801 from Berkeley County because the citizens of southeastern Berkeley county felt they had to travel too far to the county seat of Martinsburg. Charles Washington, the founder of Charles Town and brother to George Washington petitioned for a new county to be formed. It was named for Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and third President of the United States. [Review 15605 overall - 57 in West Virginia - 1109 of 2021.]

Along US-219 near the center of Peterstown, this marker points out a historic find. There is some…read moreroom to pull over if the traffic is light. The marker has the same text on both sides. It reads, "Home of the Jones Diamond. An alluvial diamond weighing 34.48 carats, largest to date found in North America, was discovered here in April 1928 by William P. "Punch" Jones and his father, Grover C. Jones Sr., while pitching horseshoes in the home yard of Mr. and Mrs. Grover C. Jones. "Punch" was later killed in combat during World War Two. Mr. and Mrs. Grover C. Jones still retain ownership of the diamond." The marker was erected in 1970. When the stone was found, it was initially mistaken for quartz and the family kept it in a cigar box for 14 years until a geologist at Virginia Tech confirmed its authenticity in 1942, leading to its display at the Smithsonian Institution. The 34.48-carat diamond was sold at Sotheby's in 1984 for over $74,000 to a buyer in Asia and remains the largest alluvial diamond ever found in North America. An alluvial diamond is a natural diamond that has been eroded from its original volcanic source and transported by water over time to settle in places like riverbeds. Mrs. K. was not interested in stopping today to see if perhaps there were others. [Review 576 of 2025 - 160 in West Virginia - 24137 overall]