Reply to Things to do

My wife and I are planning on taking a leisurely trip from Pittsburg to Washington DC over eight days. This leads us a lot of time to stop along the way. Are there things to do in the little towns along the way or are they really just places to eat and lodge? I understand the weather is real bad right now. We are going in three weeks. Thanks in advance.

http://www.laurelhighlands.org/events/detail/14th-annual-braddocks-crossing-of-the-yough/20182/

We're starting our leisurely 8 day trip on Monday the 5th starting in McKeesport. I'll report how it goes. Start by looking at the 2017 guide book (more detailed than earlier ones!)and websites like this. I found a reason for us to stop and look or eat every 10 miles on the trail if we choose. About every 2 hours we should be near a place we want to spend a little more time (waterfall, visitor center, George Washington slept here.....) We're planning about 4 pedaling hours a day with only a couple over or below that. Credit card trip so we can easily modify our reservations if we decide to speed up or slow down or it rains too much. Years ago we were in Connellsville for the event on that link in the other post. It was great!

We just completed a wonderful tandem trip in 8 days and it was a good pace that gave us a little time to explore. There are a lot of long, long stretches of the trial where there is nothing more than beautiful scenery. We also had a couple cold rainy days at the beginning that slowed our progress, and also did the Paw Paw detour, which kept us from attempting some side trips. A lot of the places highlighted on the guide maps are just an interpretive sign and maybe an outhouse so a good place to stop and stretch, but not much more. Also, many of the visitor centers and small museums have very limited hours. Even Great Falls Tavern is closed Mon and Tues. (the snack bar is fortunately open).
Here are places we did some sightseeing. Past West Newton is Cedar Creek Park. This is a nice park with lots of little scenic trails and we were told there was a swinging bridge.
Perryopolis supposedly has George Washington’s Grist Mill, but I couldn’t find much on it and it’s up a big big hill and we didn’t even see where to leave the trail to get there…
Connellsville has a nice visitor center and little museums (with limited hours )
Ohiopyle has a lot of great little trails. We’ve been there often and it would be fun to do a rafting trip or take a tour of Falling Water if you stay there.
The Meyersdale Visitor Center has train and local info and is definitely worth spending time to see (it was cold and rainy so made a nice comfort stop too).
Frostburg is just up a hill from the trail and seems to have sights, but we didn’t have time.
Cumberland has a lot to see. Unfortunately, the NPS Visitor Center closed early the day we arrived in the rain! Very nice downtown area to walk around.
Hancock was a great little town to walk around. Visit the Bowles House on the trail and get a tour.
Fort Frederick has a lot to see and we spent a couple hours or so there(if you go on the WMRT, be sure to get back on the C&O a mile before it ends or you end up taking a steep hill on a road. There’s a sign we should have actually read!).
The Williamsport NPS center is very small but a very pretty place. Boat rides at 11 and 2.
Sharpsburg is a steep walk up and a bit confusing to get to Burnside Bridge. But it was impressive and worth it in the end. There’s a map in the guidebook if you want to do a big tour and stay there or nearby. We found beautiful Antietem Creek Winery (open on weekends) and were rewarded before going back down.
There is so much to do in Harpers Ferry. It was packed in the afternoon but the early morning was nice. There are lots of plaques with history so you can even spend hours walking the lovely old town after all of the NPS exhibit buildings are closed. Just not much fun lugging a tandem bike up the stairs of the bridge!
Brunswick has a tiny museum with limited hours across from Beans in the Belfrey Coffee Shpo.
The Great Falls Visitor Center was closed, but worth seeing I’m sure. Georgetown’s canal is all under construction so there’s nothing there. But we stayed at The Georgetown House on the canal and walked to Dumbarton Oaks Museum, Dumbarton House, The Rock House, and the very interesting Tudor House and Gardens.
We rode carefully around the Mall when we arrived, but left DC for another trip.