Small Town: Westminster (Part 1)

Date of Visit: July 25, 2021
Weather: Sunny, humid, with temps in the 80’s and 90’s
Music: True Crime Obsessed podcast

This past Sunday, hot and humid that it was, I decided to take a solo trip to Carroll County and stop in at the town of Westminster for my breakfast. As a lot of my outings the last few weekends have been achieved by way of the back-roads, I decided to take the highway to Westminster (though you can get to Westminster from my area by back-roads, it’s just way more round-about), and went down 83 South to 695 West, to 795 North, to MD-140 West and onto MD-27 South to get to the Main Street area of Westminster itself. From points south, you can reach Westminster by going North on 97.

Westminster was founded by William Winchester in 1764 after he moved to the area, purchasing some 167 acres called “White’s Level” by its previous owner, John White. William Winchester named the community after himself, Winchester’s Town, but it was changed in 1768 to Westminster because “the mail was too often mistakenly delivered in nearby Winchester, in Frederick County, Virginia”. [1] The town was incorporated in 1818 and was originally on the boundary between Baltimore County to the East and Frederick County to the West before the formation of Carroll County in 1837, which is the county the town is in today. [2]

I arrived in town a little before 10 AM, making use of a parking lot on Railroad Avenue that boasted free parking on the weekends (metered during the week). I initially planned to go to the tCUP Café for breakfast, but the shop was closed, and I couldn’t discern the reason for it aside from a hastily scribbled note on the front window (I checked social media and didn’t find anything). I was slightly disappointed, but I decided to try my luck further up Main Street, and found myself near the historic district at the Rare Opportunity Bakehouse. The shop is in what looks like a home from the Victorian era, and indeed was most likely a residence in the 1800’s. There is a small porch with three tables for outdoor seating, along with a bench at street level to the right of the stone steps leading inside.

There were a lot of options on the menu to choose from, not to mention all the baked goods on display: scones, brookies, cake slices, cookies, black bottom cupcakes. I wanted to try everything (and indeed, I did come back for an almond scone after my breakfast), but I settled on a sausage, egg and Muenster cheese sandwich, an iced vanilla coffee, and the lone black bottom cupcake to eat out in the early morning sunshine (it wasn’t too sticky yet). The food was incredible, and so was the coffee, and I am looking forward to trying the options on their lunch menu, and maybe a cold drink the next time I come in.

In addition to baked goods and things from the kitchen, they also sell bags of Zeke’s coffee, bagged tea, jams and jellies, and local honey, among other sundries. They have stalls at farmer’s markets around the area, including on Saturdays at the Westminster Farmer’s Market (May 16- Nov 21, Saturdays, 8 AM-12 PM), and if you can’t make it into the shop, I highly encourage you to find them at the farmer’s market to get your fix.

After breakfast, I took a leisurely stroll up Main Street, iced coffee in hand, drinking in the old buildings. I have a deep love of history (I have 2 degrees on the subject), and I can’t get enough of old buildings. If I see a historical marker on the side of the road, or even one on the street, I will stop and look at it if I can. I passed by the Carroll County Historical Society, and spotted a historical marker detailing when Confederate troops passed through Westminster during the Civil War in June of 1863. This website offers a map of a self-guided tour you can take through Westminster, and important stops along the way: http://carrollcountytourism.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Corbits-Charge-Tour.pdf

The weather started to get a little muggy, so I left Main Street, and went back onto MD-140, with my destination being Baugher’s (pronounced “boggers”) Orchard. Previously, I had only been to Larriland Farm in Woodbine for pick your own fruit (a separate entry will be coming on Larriland in the next few months). Baugher’s was a little different in that you bought tickets to get into the fields, and an open-air bus/wagon/tractor took you out there with others to get your fruit or vegetables. When I went, they were advertising pick your own nectarines, and those did sound nice, but it was even hotter and more humid by the time I got there, and there were a lot of people, so I just opted to look at the orchard market and bought myself a few things: a large container of applesauce for only $3.99, some maple walnut fudge, a small basket of peaches, sugar-free maple praline syrup, and two coasters with the Maryland flag on them. They had many more products I am eager to get on my next visit: popcorn, raspberries, English walnuts, honey, beauty products, pies, homemade ice cream, jams and jellies. There are truly too many items to list here, and I don’t want to spoil the surprise for you when you make your way out there (you’ll go out there, right?). Baugher’s also has a restaurant with an adjacent fruit market, which I will also have to check out the next time I return. There’s always more to explore! Until next time, enjoy the journey!

Rare Opportunity Bakehouse- 172 East Main Street, Westminster, MD 21157
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday: 7 AM-3 PM, Sunday: 7 AM-2 PM
Website: http://www.rareopportunityfarm.com/

Baugher’s Orchards and Farm- 1015 Baugher Road, Westminster, MD 21157
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 9 AM-6 PM (May-June: 7 days a week, July-August: Friday-Sunday, September-October: Saturdays and Sundays)
Website: https://baughers.com/index.php
**Always call ahead before coming for the pick your own: 410-857-0111**

[1] “History of Westminster”, http://www.westminstermd.gov/264/History-of-Westminster.

[2] Ibid.

Small Town: Rising Sun (Part 1)

Date of Visit: July 18, 2021
Weather: Sunny then cloudy, with temps in the upper 70’s and lower 80’s
Music: Rick Steves’ Travel Podcast

The town of Rising Sun, MD is in Cecil County, in the northeastern corner of the state, less than 20 miles away from both Delaware and Pennsylvania: about 17 miles away from the University of Delaware, and less than 4 miles from Pennsylvania. The town was settled in 1720, originally as part of Chester County, Pennsylvania, and much of the land, called the Nottingham Lots, was given to the Quaker friends of William Penn in 1702, to the consternation of the Calvert Family [1] (no less than five of whom were the colonial governors of Maryland [2]), members of the Catholic majority in the colony of Maryland. The land dispute over these lots, and where they fell within the borders of Pennsylvania and Maryland, continued until the 1760’s when Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon drew the boundary that separated them once and for all. [3]

Getting to Rising Sun, you can take I-95 North (be prepared for a toll going North, but none going South) and get off on exit 93, or you can make your GPS work for it, and take the back roads until you get to Route 1, then onto Route 273 after you cross over the Susquehanna River on the imposing Conowingo Dam. From where I came from, I took the back-roads, enjoying the lush greenery of the undeveloped woods. There were produce stands every few miles, selling eggs and vegetables from backyard plots on the honor system, gorgeously appointed large homes, and lots of farms. The two-lane road gradually brings you into neighborhoods, and before you know it, you see a sign welcoming you to Rising Sun. Soon enough, you will hit the four-way traffic light, and be smack in the middle of the action, such as it is. I do not say that with any derision whatsoever, please be aware. Rising Sun is lovely, it is small, and it is quiet (quiet enough that at noon, I could hear various church bells all around me tolling the hour), and further on down Route 273, you have a strip mall with chain stores and restaurants, plus a large grocery store, and several apartment developments. I don’t know if I could personally live here because I do like a little more action (a local bookstore would be a welcome addition to the town, and if I did not see one, I would love for an eagle-eyed reader to correct me), but this is a great home for many people who prefer quieter lives.

My first stop, after scoring what I understand is the rare street parking spot (there is a municipal parking lot on Queen Street adjacent to the Rising Sun Pharmacy and Gift Shop), was the Rise ‘N Grind Café. This woman-led café was established in August of 2018, and is bustling in the mornings, especially on weekends. The line was almost out the door when I arrived around 9:30 AM, but it moved quickly enough. The girls behind the counter and in the kitchen operated like an efficient machine and made sure no one waited unduly long to get their morning sugar rush or caffeine fix.

There were a lot of things on the menu I wanted to try, but I opted for a frozen chai latte, an apple cider donut, and a tomato frittata. While I was waiting, I browsed a little bit and saw the items they had on display in their small gift shop, and looked longingly at their ice cream station before I took my breakfast out on the side patio.

Everything was delicious: the frittata was piping hot and fluffy, the apple cider donut was fluffy and flavorful (and I wonder how it would be fresh out of the oven), but the stand out was the frozen chai latte. I forgot that it came in three flavors (original, apple, and pumpkin), and so just had the original. I likened it to “autumn in a cup”: it was spicy and just sweet enough, and every sip took me to my favorite season. I’m looking forward to coming back and getting their hot chai latte…maybe pumpkin spice flavored the next time, and a different pastry to go along with it. The strawberry cream cheese Danishes looked very inviting.

In addition to pastries, hot drinks, and ice cream, the café also offers two cold cases with bottled Wild Bay kombucha, bottled water, and HumanKind bottled tea, which provides 50 gallons of drinking water to those who need it the most. [4] The lunch time crowd can get wraps or sandwiches, and if you just find yourself in need of a bag of coffee beans, there are several next to the register to choose from. Why not grab a bag to go along with your pastry?

Because I was on a time limit due to a family reunion at the Calvert Grange in town, I wasn’t able to see everything I wanted to (that’s what another visit is for, right?). When I went to Rising Sun, it was on National Ice Cream Day, and so it was only natural that I sought out a local creamery to see what they had to offer. Kilby Cream was that place.

Leaving the Main Street area going west (your GPS will help, I am clueless with cardinal directions, I am sad to say), and taking Wilson Avenue which turns into Hopewell Road, you will see Kilby Cream on the left side of the road. At the end of a long gravel path, Strohmaier Lane, large rows of corn on either side of you, you will come find the creamery on your left, with ample parking and, when I was there, a food truck that offered fries! I did not get any fries because I was planning to have lunch at my family reunion, but I don’t see anything wrong with getting a pre-lunch dessert on National Ice Cream Day (or any other day, for that matter).

I left my usual chocolate/vanilla/butter pecan/strawberry comfort zone, and ordered a scoop of black raspberry ice cream in a waffle cone. In addition to ice cream, Kilby sells eggs, meat, cheese, milk, butter and even maple syrup, among other items. I admit I only took a cursory glance at their cold case since I was going to the reunion and would surely be without a refrigerator for several hours to ensure any food I bought didn’t spoil before I took it home.

I took my ice cream outside, eating quickly so it wouldn’t run down my hands, and looked at the small petting zoo in the back which was a hit with the numerous children there with their parents. There is ample seating directly in front of the store, along with picnic tables, and a few scattered seats around, giving you opportunities to sit and enjoy your ice cream with your family and look at the farm. There’s even an area to play the game corn hole if you’re so inclined. The ice cream was delicious and rich, velvety smooth and creamy. It’s another place I’m looking forward to returning to once I am back in Rising Sun, and not on a time limit. Who knows? I might even take the toll road back up this way the next time. Until then, as always, enjoy the journey!

Rise ‘N Grind Café- 8 East Main Street, Rising Sun, MD 21911
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 7 AM-3 PM, Wednesday: 7 AM-7 PM, Saturday and Sunday: 8 AM-2 PM
Website: https://risengrindcafe.com/

Kilby Cream- 129 Strohmaier Lane, Rising Sun, MD 21911
Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 11 AM-8 PM, Friday-Sunday: 11 AM-9 PM
Website: https://kilbycream.com/about/

[1] “Origins of Rising Sun”, The Town of Rising Sun, 2021, https://www.risingsunmd.org/department/division.php?structureid=55.

[2] “Baron Baltimore”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_Baltimore.

[3] “Nottingham Lots”, The Town of Rising Sun, 2021, https://www.risingsunmd.org/department/division.php?structureid=54.

[4] “Rise ‘N Grind- Because We Care”, https://risengrindcafe.com/.

Small Town: Monkton (Part 1)

Date of Visit: July 3, 2021
Weather: Sunny, breezy, temps in the lower 60’s for the morning
Music: NPR

Most people might not know where Monkton is, or that it’s even a place within the state of Maryland. That’s both the beauty and the curse of a small town; not a lot of people know it’s there so you are not inundated with tourists, but you’ll get a confused expression when asked where you are from or where you’re going and will have to name a more populated town (usually Baltimore) to give someone a location context. Growing up in the small town of Elkridge, MD, I always told people I was from the suburbs of Baltimore, just to prevent this.

Monkton itself is an unincorporated community in northern Baltimore County, accessible via Interstate 83 North or York Road/MD Route 45 North. You will be driving down two-lane backroads, so ensure you travel at speed, keeping watch out for bicyclists and slower moving vehicles. Monkton’s history dates to 1713, when the 3^rd Baron Baltimore, John Calvert, set aside 10,000 acres as a gift to his fourth wife, naming his estate “My Lady’s Manor”. [1]

Monkton feels like an out of the way place: surrounded mostly by farms and undeveloped woods and land, it’s a quiet corner of northern Baltimore County. With a population of around 4,856 as of the 2019 census, spread out across numerous acreages, it’s peaceful and almost rural. Two lane roads are de riguer, and most of the time, you will not find many cars out on these back roads. And so it was when I made my way to the Monkton Refillery on the morning of Saturday, July 3^rd, for breakfast.

The Monkton Refillery is on the corner of Shepperd and Troyer Roads, where State Roads 138 and 562 go in separate directions. It’s a small yellow building with three tables for seating on the large front porch, and more inside, which was very reminiscent of an old general store. The seating area is the perfect place to sit outside and enjoy your breakfast: it’s quiet, except for the birdsong, and the occasional growl of a car or truck going by, and the breeze is welcome on a summer’s morning.

Stepping inside, you might not at first realize that the Refillery is more than a coffee shop. Yes, there are delicious hot and cold beverages, breakfast sandwiches kept warm wrapped in foil, and a small assortment of pastries to go with your food (the apple turnover was particularly delicious), but the store is also a small natural market. Along with handmade soaps, reusable tote bags, konjac sponges, bamboo hair and toothbrushes, and other goodies, they allow you to bring in resuable glass or plastic containers to fill or refill with products you use daily: laundry detergent, liquid hand soap, shampoo, and conditioner, etc., and therefore reduce your plastic waste. It wasn’t something I would have expected to find attached to a coffee shop (or is it the other way around?), but I liked this place, and I plant to return for more breakfasts, or if my dish soap is running low.

Monkton Refillery- 17052 Troyer Road, Monkton, MD 21111
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 7 AM-7 PM
Website: https://www.monktonrefillery.com/

Further down the road, or just up York Road, depending on your direction, you will find Dough Run. Dough Run is a cute little bakery that serves delicious scones, granola confections, and gruffins, along with coffee, tea, lunch and breakfast sandwiches, and other goodies. Parking is in the rear of the building, along with the entrance, and there are outdoor seating areas as well for you to enjoy your morning coffee or your lunch al fresco. There is also a pick-up window on the back porch for order-ahead orders.

Inside, the women-led bakery is small with pink walls, with the dominant smells being coffee and baked goods. I recommend trying the mixed berry gruffin, or the maple pecan scone if they have it (“Both? Both? Both. Both is good.”)

Fresh off of my visit to the Refillery, I opted not to get a cup of their Black Acres Roastery coffee (a local roastery in the Highlandtown area of Baltimore City (https://www.blackacrescoffee.com/)), but that remains at the top of my list for my next visit. The mixed berry gruffin was moist, but not dense or too heavy. The maple pecan scone was a delight, and the light sweetness of it was enhanced by coffee my husband had brewed at home.

In addition to the above, Dough Run sells ice cream, bottled drinks, bags of granola, t-shirts, and bread, and numerous other items are available at their online store (https://dough-run.square.site/).

Dough Run Bakery- 16949 York Road, Monkton, MD 21111
Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30 AM-1 PM, Saturday 7:30 AM-Noon
Website: https://www.doughrun.com/

There are quite a few other places to explore in Monkton, so stay tuned for the other gems I have found in this often-unexplored corner of Baltimore County, including a brewery, a topiary garden, and a place to stop for dinner and bask in the history of the building. Until then, I hope that you may take a trip to these places I have found, or at least begin planning. As always, enjoy the journey!

[1] Monkton, Maryland, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkton,_Maryland