Escapes Pass offers deals too good to pass up STAYING THERE BY ANDREA SACHS spree.
In Washington County, I went on a savings Armedwith three copies of theVacationValue
Pass — in case I lost a few along the way — I toured theMaryland territory less than 70 miles north ofWashington by dint of special deals. In Hagerstown, Williamsport, Boonsboro et al., I flashed my badge of thriftiness, racking up 10 percent discounts and complimentary gifts. “We are not the Riviera; we are not New York
City,” said Thomas Riford of the Hagerstown- Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which produces the pass. “What we are is history, recreation and a lot of outdoor activities. The majority of the people who visit already know we’re a good deal. But [the pass] gives you the opportunity to stretch your vaca- tion dollars.” Now in its fourth year, the pass is reissued
every March, when new deals are added and others drop out. The list of participating busi- nesses (28 in this year’s edition) and their specials appears on the bureau’s Web site at
www.marylandmemories.org and in its travel guide. I started off at theWashington CountyMuse-
um of Fine Arts, the free repository founded by Hagerstown native Anna Brugh Singer and her husband, William Henry Singer Jr., the famed American impressionist. Big names such as Rodin, Picasso and Winslow Homer inhabit the small museum, but the institution also pays tribute to artists with a local address. The painted woodcarvings of Hagertown’s Frank Mish Jr., for one, occupy a sizable nook of glass cases filled with fanciful creatures of land, sky and the imagination. After exploring the galleries, it was time to
pull outmy VIP—very important pass. I popped into the gift shop, searching for a souvenir befitting the occasion. Among the Picasso- themed playing cards and art books, I found it: a $2.75 pen with a wooden carving a la Mish. I tried out three lobsters before finding the one with the best grip. I handed the coupon to the volunteer and,
before her confusion turned to confrontation, explained that it granted 10 percent off any purchase. She cheerfully calculated the savings, saying, “I think the museum can afford 28 cents. Especially if it gets people through the door.” The pass was trickier at Prime Outlets.
Though it earned me a free coupon book, a savings of $3, I then had to switchmy allegiance to the shopping center’s deals, which did not always havemy wallet’s best intentions in mind: $150 off $549 at Ultra Diamonds, for instance. I did, however, pick up a hot pink wallet at Kate Spade (10 percent off, no minimum) as well as a dining tip from the salesgirl: the pretzel with crabmeat at Bulls and Bears Restaurant. A steal at $9.99, but greater larceny with 10 percent off. Washington County draws its shades early,
but I found a few dozen night owls roosting at Cantina Cancun West in Hagerstown. The bar hosts a variety of entertainment, such as line dancing, best enjoyed with a sense of humor or a
TheWashington CountyRuralHeritage Museum and Village near Boonsboro, Md., depicts life in the area before the 1940s. Its exhibits include a farmstead, above, and a country store, top.AVacationValue Pass entitles you to a 10 percent discount for purchases at the gift shop.
Clarion Hotel and Conference Center 901 Dual Hwy., Hagerstown 301-733-5100
www.clarionhagers
town.com Pass holders receive 20 percent off the rack rate (from $80).
EATING THERE
Bulls and Bears Restaurant 38 S. Potomac St., Hagerstown 301-791-0370
www.bullsandbears.biz Dishes from $5-$23.
Laila’s Kitchen 4 E. Franklin St., Hagerstown 301-797-9494 $25 multi-course meal for two diners.
PHOTOS FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY RURAL HERITAGE MUSEUM AND VILLAGE PLAYING THERE
bit of a buzz. Halfway through the parking lot, I realized
that I’d left my pass in the car and ran back to fetch it. A woman with a bright smile called out to see whether I needed help. She told me that shewasa student, amotherof fouranda bit tight on funds. I assured her thatmy pass would take care of us both. We entered the voluminous space thrumming with country music. Entry was gratis (on week- ends with bands, guests withnopasspay $5), but a bottomless cup of beer, wine or liquor cost $6. Lynn asked the bouncer if the pass covered the drink deal, reminding him that she was a student. He ignored both her pleas and my coupon. In addition to savings, the pass has another
value: You can use it for touring ideas. At the Washington County Rural Heritage Museum and Village near Boonsboro, Sally the guide spent more than an hour describing the farming practices, fashions and habits of county resi- dents before the 1940s. Inthe gift shop, I scoured the flea market finds, calculating the cost minus 10 percent. Sally pointed out bars of lye soap—at 50 cents each, pre-discount, a bargain. But brightening my whites with pig fat required more convincing than a low price tag. I planned the biggest splurge—andsave—for
last. River and Trail Outfitters rents bikes ($5 off a $25.31 half-day) near Harpers Ferry and the towpath of the C&O Canal. Unfortunately, I had not takeninto account the off-season schedule or the late hour, both of which made a last-minute rental impossible. As a consolation, a staff member directed me
Getting there Washington County, Md., is less than 70 miles north ofWashington. To visit Hagerstown, take I-270 north to I-70 west, then Exit 32B to Route 40.
to a canal trail head in Brunswick, where I could hike until the darkness swallowed my feet. I parked in the train station lot and walked toward the shadowy river whilemy pass waited patiently in the car.
sachsa@washpost.com l Sunday in Travel: The Impulsive Traveler checks out New York’s jazz clubs.
Washington County Museum of Fine Arts 91 Key St., Hagerstown 301-739-5727
www.wcmfa.org Open Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Free.
Washington County Rural Heritage Museum and Village 71313 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro 240-420-1714
www.ruralheritage
museum.org Open Saturdays and Sundays, 1-4 p.m., or by appointment. Free.
Cancun CantinaWest 901 Dual Hwy., Hagerstown 301-797-4422
www.cancuncantina
west.com
River and Trail Outfitters 604 Valley Rd., Knoxville 888-446-7529
www.rivertrail.com
INFORMATION
www.maryland
memories.org Print a Vacation Value Pass.
53 EZ
the washington post friday, december 3, 2010 l
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