- 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.
A mural on the side of the Sun Pharmacy 
Free Little Library in front of the Town Hall
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/.
Adventures in Small Town Maryland 