During the most wonderful time of the year, winter jaunts are growing in popularity. Families, friends and solo travelers alike, are packing their bags and jingling all the way to merry locales for the holidays.
“Destinations across the Mid-Atlantic have experienced a travel trend over the last 20 years that has seen the industry grow during both the holiday and winter travel seasons,” said Morgan Christopher, board chair of the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance, which encompasses Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, and Washington, D.C.
“December through March are no longer the months when we hunker down and bundle up,” he said. “Travel has become a traditional part of the celebration.”
Think of winter travel as a holiday present waiting to be unwrapped. In Maryland and its nearby neighbors, consider charming small towns, an amusement park stay or even a wintry beach vacation. We’ve made a list of places — and like Santa, checked it twice.
Deep Creek Lake
Garrett County, Maryland
For holiday adventures in the great outdoors, head to Western Maryland’s picturesque Garrett County. Its scenic tableau of mountains, lakes and rivers, and waterfalls, feel like a gift from Mother Nature.
Winter here brings horse-drawn sleigh rides, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. At Deep Creek Lake, a 3,900-acre human-made marvel, there’s ice fishing and the gigantic 1,800-acre Deep Creek Lake State Park. Its year-round complex offers 20 miles of trails worthy of a holiday hike.
“Swallow Falls State Park is also beautiful in the winter,” said Sarah Duck, vice president of tourism and marketing for the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce. Muddy Creek Falls, the state’s tallest free-falling waterfall, is worth seeing whether “it’s frozen or just surrounded by snow.”
The county will host a flurry of regional holiday celebrations, among them, “A Great Small Town Christmas” in downtown Oakland on Dec. 1-2, with a tree lighting ceremony, music, and a stopover by Old St. Nick.
That same weekend at Spruce Forest Artisan Village in Grantsville, meet artisans in their log-cabin studios as they create: bird carving, basket making, hand-loom weaving, hand-thrown pottery, stained glass art, and hand-forged iron. The village’s historic museums will be open, and there will be fun activities for children during the free event.
For holiday lodging, consider the WISP Resort which offers everything from skiing and snowboarding to a Mountain Coaster with glorious views.
The Department is proposing to establish a minimum size and creel limit for saugeye consistent with existing regulations for walleye, a protected slot limit for walleye in Deep Creek Lake, and modifications for bass seasons in the Youghiogheny River Lake.
Santa’s elves are hard at work again, preparing for the return of Garrett County’s holiday kick-off event, the Festival of Trees.
The event will be held Nov. 24, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 25, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall along U.S.. 219 in McHenry. General admission is $5 per person.
Celebrating its 16th year, this joyful family event has become a tradition for hundreds of locals and visitors to the county. Benefitting the Dove Center, Garrett County’s domestic violence and sexual assault services program, the Festival of Trees was developed by its board and staff to serve as the organization’s major fundraiser.
Since its inception, it has raised well over $200,000, helping the agency to leverage additional state and federal grant funds by acting as a match. The community’s love for the event prompted rapid growth, and soon necessitated a change in venue from the Armory to the Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall, where it has been held since.
Trout anglers continue to enjoy good fishing in many put and take trout management waters this week and some of the catch-and-release designated waters. The trout will spread out as time goes by, so anglers can benefit from exploring areas away from the sites that were stocked this month. Using small lures in the form of spoons, spinners, and flies is a great way to cover a lot of water when looking for that trout that has found a spot to its liking.
Trout stocking is expected to resume around New Year’s. “Pre-season” stocking will be announced and more information can be found on the trout stocking website.
Anglers are enjoying good fishing for a mix of species at Deep Creek Lake this week. Cooler water temperatures have spurred smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, walleye, and northern pike to feed more aggressively. Fishing for smallmouth bass on the upper Potomac is also good due to cooler water temperatures.
Largemouth bass are perhaps one of the most popular freshwater fish pursued by anglers and fishing for them this week is providing excellent opportunities. Cooler water temperatures and less hot sun has the largemouth bass out roaming and feeding throughout most of the day. A wide variety of lures can be used but lures that imitate crayfish and small baitfish will top the list. Small crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, craw jigs, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and jerkbaits are all good choices when covering open water or near diminishing grass beds. Wacky rigged stick worms are always a good choice when fishing near structure.
Northern snakeheads are seeing their coveted thick grass beds decline and can now often be found near shoreline brush or treetops that have fallen into the water. Sunny shorelines where the water will be slightly warmer is a good place to target. White paddletails and chatterbaits rigged with soft white plastics are two of the best lures to use. If you’re fishing from a boat and casting to shoreline structure, dead sticking a large minnow under a bobber in open waters can reap rewards.
A Maryland woman shot a 643-pound black bear on the opening day of the state’s short bear hunting season, and officials at Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) say it is the heaviest hunter-harvested bear on record.
The hunter, identified only by her first name, Melissa, shot the bear on October 23 near her home in Garrett County, according to an MDNR tweet posted October 25. “This Garrett Co. male bear is the largest bear ever harvested during Maryland black bear season and is a new state record,” MDNR reported. The previous record was a 615-pound Garrett County bear tagged in 2007.
The Board of County Commissioners may close a portion of this public meeting and move into Executive Session to comply with a specific constitutional, statutory, or judicial requirement that may prevent public disclosure about a particular proceeding or matter.
Appointment – Garrett County Soil Conservation District Board – 1 Member
Garrett County Community Action Committee, Inc. – Request for Fiscal Year 2024 County Property Tax Abatement
Mr. Null will review a number of administrative and managerial matters under his authority and jurisdiction with the Board of County Commissioners
4:00 Call to Order of Public Session, Invocation, and Pledge of Allegiance
County Administrator – Additions/Deletions to Public Meeting Agenda
Approval of Public, Administrative, and Executive Meeting Minutes
4:05 Governor’s Appointment – Samuel Grant, Director, Garrett County Department of Emergency
Management
4:10 Garrett County Department of Financial Services – Purchasing Division
#23-1005 – Fire Prevention System Services
#23–1005W – Winter Abrasives and Road Salt
4:15 Public Commentary
ADJOURNMENT
Public issues or concerns that are to be presented to the Board of Garrett County Commissioners during any Public Meeting should be scheduled with Carol A. Riley–Alexander, Executive Assistant to the Board of County Commissioners/County Administrator.
The Board of Garrett County Commissioners next scheduled Public Meeting will be Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at the Garrett County Courthouse beginning at 4:00 PM.
Fishing enthusiasts of all ages know that this sport doesn’t call a game off for rain or snow, and the recent tournament on Deep Creek Lake was no exception. The young anglers and their adult boat captains bundled up and faced the challenging weather head-on. While it was a day that would make many people prefer to stay indoors, these passionate competitors took to the waters of Garrett County to prove their skills.
The Garrett Bass Slayers, the local High School & Junior Bass Fishing Club, emerged as the 2023 High School & Junior Champions, reinforcing their dominance in the sport. Notably, the team claimed the top spot in the High School Division and secured both first and second place in the Junior Division. This marked the seventh time since 2014 that the Bass Slayers have clinched the state championship, further solidifying their reputation as a force to be reckoned with in competitive bass fishing.
The success of the first and second-place teams in the High School & Junior Division comes with a significant reward. Both teams earned coveted spots at the 2024 Bassmaster National Championship, scheduled for next summer. This achievement paves the way for these young anglers to showcase their skills on a national stage, furthering their passion and dedication to the sport.
In the High School Division, the team of Kaden Tomblin and Jakob Fullerton from the Garrett Bass Slayers claimed victory with five fish weighing a total of 12.88 lbs. Impressively, both anglers are freshmen at Northern High School, making their win in their first year on the team even more remarkable. Their boat captain was Tomblin’s dad, Keith Tomblin. The second-place team in this division featured Trey Richardson and Reid Luckett, representing the Free State Bass Club out of Davidsonville. They secured their position with five fish weighing a total of 12.12 lbs, guided by Richardson’s dad, John Richardson.
In the Junior Division, Myles and Maddox Shaffer, twins from the Garrett Bass Slayers, clinched victory with four fish, totaling 8.16 lbs. Their boat captain was their father, Bart Shaffer. The twins are in fifth grade at Broadford Elementary School. The second-place team in the Junior Division was also from the Garrett Bass Slayers, including Tucker Fratz and Rowan Rikhye. They landed two fish weighing a total of 4.55 lbs, guided by the experienced Bass Slayer volunteer Eric Swearengen. Both boys are seventh graders at Northern Middle School.
It may come as a surprise to some, but high school bass fishing is indeed a legitimate team sport. Not only does it offer young athletes the opportunity to showcase their skills and passion, but it also opens doors to college scholarships, similar to more conventional high school team sports. To be part of a Bassmaster High School Program, students must meet various criteria, including maintaining a minimum GPA, participating in community service projects, engaging in conservation efforts, and attending mandatory meetings.
The Garrett Bass Slayers, for instance, have been actively involved in community service and conservation projects, working with Deep Creek Lake Management on initiatives such as making reef balls for the lake, participating in clean-up efforts around Broadford Lake and Deep Creek Lake, and contributing to the improvement of the Fish Weigh-In Station at Deep Creek State Park. Their dedication to both their sport and their community is commendable.
The Garrett Bass Slayers team was established in 2014 by Joe McClosky, his mother June McClosky, and bass fishing mentor Bret Winegardner. Joe’s desire to engage in competitive high school bass fishing led to the creation of the club, as there were no such clubs in the area at that time. In their inaugural year, the team competed in the Maryland Bass Nation State Championship on the Potomac River, where Joe McClosky and his partner Morgan Winegardner secured victory. Since then, the Bass Slayers have consistently excelled in competitions.
The success of the team is credited to the dedication of coaches and parents who have mentored young anglers. Bret Winegardner served as the head coach for several years, organizing local Bass Nation Adult Volunteers to act as team captains. These captains played a pivotal role in imparting their extensive bass fishing knowledge to the young athletes, contributing to their tournament success.
A few years ago, the coaches decided to introduce a Junior Division to provide younger children the opportunity to engage in competitive bass fishing in the area. The response from parents was overwhelming, leading to the creation of both high school and junior teams. Most of the boat captains for these teams are now parents, with a few Bass Nation Volunteers still contributing their expertise.
This exciting team sport is rapidly gaining popularity among high schools and colleges, and it is now sanctioned by many top colleges. Joe McClosky, a former member of the Garrett Bass Slayers, attended Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee on a Bass Fishing Scholarship and graduated in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in business. The hope is that more young individuals from the area who are passionate about bass fishing and outdoor sports will have the opportunity to earn college scholarships and experience the sport at the collegiate level.
The winners of the Bassmaster National Championship are not only crowned champions but also receive college scholarships and other valuable sponsor prizes. As the Garrett Bass Slayers continue to shine, their journey inspires young athletes in Garrett County and beyond to pursue their passion for bass fishing and consider the numerous opportunities it presents, both competitively and academically. This remarkable team is not just catching fish; they’re catching dreams and building a legacy of success in the world of high school and junior competitive bass fishing.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources reminds residents that black bears are beginning a period of increased feeding activity in preparation for winter hibernation. As the leaves change and the weather cools, bears become more active as they search for food.
During this time, bears will travel across roads more frequently. They also can become more attracted to human-provided food sources and lose their natural fear of people, which can be dangerous for both people and bears.
Residents and visitors should note that keeping bird feeders, pet food and trash in a place where bears can’t get to them is the best way to avoid problems. Marylanders should also delay filling songbird feeders until the winter months to avoid attracting bears.
Melissa Nash, Forester in Garrett and Allegany counties, reports, “I think we are still on track to peak at the end of this week, but I don’t think it’s going to result in dramatic color this year. We are still seeing more yellow and gold tones as opposed to vibrant oranges and reds. I do anticipate the cool temperatures (lows in the 30s/40s) will help transition some of the trees that are still green.”
A burst of amber fills the sky in Eastern Garrett County’s Finzel area. Photo by Melissa Nash.
Recent wind and rain results in a carpet of fall leaves on the forest floor in eastern Garrett County. Photo by Melissa Nash.
Sean Nolan, Forest Manager, at Savage River State Forest sees progress among the leaves in Northern Garrett County. “We’ve seen quite a change this week,” Nolan said. “The higher elevation areas are nearing peak, but recent rain and wind have brought many leaves down. The sugar and red maples are showing good colors, but the oaks are still very green.”
Gorgeous shades of orange and gold line the Bowman Hill and Keyser’s Ridge areas of Savage River State Forest. Photo by Wyatt Orner, Natural Resources Technician.
“The recent cold temperatures along with the rainy and windy conditions have coaxed a substantial number of leaves from the canopy, especially among red maples and sugar maples, with some trees already devoid of foliage. The black birch, sassafras, and black gum are displaying a wide spectrum of colors on Piney Mountain,” reports Scott Campbell, Forest Manager at Potomac-Garrett State Forest.
The fall transition is moving a little more slowly in Frederick where Bob Study, Park Ranger Supervisor, is seeing “mostly green with hints of gold and crimson just starting to peek through the treetops” at Fort Frederick State Park.
