Daytripping in Emmitsburg and Check Out the New Drive-in Movie Theatre Horizon Cinema opens

We will be busy for the next few minutes, so please settle in. I’ll begin with a few things that caught my attention this week, and no my new neighbor is not on the list.

1. For country music fans Hank Williams Jr and Marty Stuart have been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

2. Ravens fans will be proud to hear the Biscotti Foundation has donated one million dollars to 28 organizations that support social justice reform.

3. Even celebrities are not immune to the virus. We heard about Tom Hanks several months back, now we learn Antonio Banderas has the virus.

4. Sadly The Book Festival and City Light Festival at the harbor are canceled as is Sunfest in Ocean City.

5. There continues to be a shortage of coins, caused mainly by fewer people out buying.

6. There is also a shortage of bikes. Seems as if that form of exercise has become very popular since Covid arrived.

7. A survey recently released claims 60% of people are feeling touch-deprived. And I think we all can relate to that. I’m thinking of opening a hugs booth somewhere.

8. The Friends reunion has been postponed and the U.S. Open will be played without spectators.

Okay with that out of the way, let’s drop everything and head to Emmitsburg in Frederick County. One main attraction there is the National Shrine Grotto our Lady of Lourdes on Route 15. Located on a hill with beautiful vistas near the Visitors Center, this shrine is visited by about 300,000 a year. The original Lourdes Shrine is in France. By the way, make the Visitors Center your first stop.

There are many things to see during your walk. Listed are but a few: Stations of the Cross, Seton Walkway, Christ the Redeemer, Our Lady of the Esplanade, Stone from Lourdes in France, The 15 Mysteries of the Rosary and Mysteries of Light. The focal point at the site is the tower with the Virgin Mary at the top. It rises 120 feet, was erected in 1958 and will undergo a re-gilding in September.

The Shrine is open year-round and is free. Call them at 301-447-5318.

While in the area check out the campus of St. Mary’s University (about a mile on 15) and the Seton Shrine Basilica and Museum (about 2 miles from the Shrine). The Seton Shrine is the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Okay now turn around and head south on 15. About 2 or 3 miles is the Catoctin Mountain Orchard. They grow and sell fruits, veggies, cakes, pies, ice cream, jams, apple cider, cider donuts, and more. Seems to be a popular spot along the highway. Through Sept 30 you can cut your own flowers and in September and October, you can pick your own apples on weekends….catoctinmountainorchard.com.

Okay, we’re almost done. Back on 15 and a little further south is the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve, some people call it a zoo. It’s open year-round with adult admission $22.50. There are daily activities like a keeper talk at 10, animal encounters at 11, and an alligator encounter at 1. Visitors don’t have to pet them. These are offered up to Labor Day.

The Preserve is situated on 50 acres which include a Safari Adventure where you hop on a truck and get an up-close look at animals like zebras, buffalos, antelope, and many more. There’s even a camel ride (additional charge). Group visits are welcome as are meetings, parties, and special events.

I was going to stop here but many of you look hungry, so let’s grab a little Italian. For that we need to travel to Harford  County and to the family-owned (by the Burns family since January) Tutto Fresco, 5 Bynum Rd, Forest Hill. Open seven days for lunch and dinner, a few of their specialties are the lasagna, spaghetti carbonara, Maryland crab pizza and chicken/veal marsala.

There is a small outside dining area, offering beer and wine, seating for about 50 (but now they’re observing physical distancing), they have their own parking lot  and the family makes as much of the food from scratch as they can….tuttofrescoforesthill.com.

Okay, just one more thing I promise. If you’re at Tutto fresco you’re very close to the new drive-in at Belair and Mountain Roads, at the site of the Horizon Cinemas Fallston. Parking for about 58 cars. The movie begins now at 8:15 or so, but that will get earlier as daylight gets shorter. Twenty-five dollars per carload. Concessions and restrooms inside the Horizon Cinema. Yes, relive the days of your youth at a drive-in. This time you might actually watch the movie.