A Relaxing Retreat at Deep Creek {Lake} in Maryland #staycation

Relax. That was all I had to do about a week ago. Not much is required when you visit Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland.

From the Deep Creek Lake website:
Deep Creek Lake is the largest inland body of water in the state of Maryland. It spans over 3,900 acres and has approx. 69 miles of shoreline. It is a man-made lake that was constructed in the 1920's for hydro-electric power generation. The lake is now owned and managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The lake is home to a wide variety of freshwater fish and aquatic birds, and is a year round retreat for sportsmen, boaters, vacationers and outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.

Here is a (shaky) tour of the cabin we stayed in during our visit. Ace's Chalet.


The trip doubled as a birthday celebration for a family member. There were five couples in attendance. This was just the right amount to fill the beautifully decorated cabin in the woods. Everyone had their own bedroom and bathroom. It was like living in a hotel, but coming together as a community for dinner time, play and relaxation.

I was probably the only one who slept the most, for obvious reasons (and Ian...because he is sharing my pregnancy symptoms). But the rest of the house was turned all the way up from dusk to dawn. There was one night where the guys did not make it to bed until five o'clock in the morning. I guess that is the beauty of vacation – there is no need to sleep.There is a pool table in the house we stayed in. The guys loved this feature. There was also a hot tub, but we weren't adventurous enough to test those waters.

We also played Taboo. This always brings out the competition. Don't forget to bring your video games as well. Our group knows how to get down. Just ask the folks who played the Wii and danced to the Michael Jackson Experience and Just Dance.

This was a tightly-run ship on a few occasions. Thanks to our wonderful group leader and birthday boy, Greg, we had an itinerary for each day we were in the mountains. In fact, here is how he made sure we stayed on task in the mornings.

How nice of him to keep us on schedule. And if you think I'm kidding about having a schedule, take a look at this neatly-typed itinerary:

In between naps, television-watching and talk around the table, we did manage to have a bit of fun.

Just a short trip down the mountains is a place called Adventure Park at Wisp Resort. On a sunny, fifty-five degree day, there was still fun to be had on the snow. Granted it wasn't the most optimal time to go, but our group made the best of it. Here you could go snow tubing, ice skating, zip lining, ride the mountain coaster, go snowmobiling and lots of other activities.

I'm missing from this shot, but Ian has his arms around me. LOL!

 

The fellas all geared up to ride the Mountain Coaster.

The group decided to go snow tubing and to ride the mountain coaster. I had a few inquiries on exactly what the mountain coaster is. Of course I was a spectator (and it didn't bother me at all), but the group said it was fun.

Here is a short clip of the ride (turn down your volume...there is music):

From the Wisp Resort website
The Mountain Coaster at Wisp Resort is a gravitational hybrid of an Alpine Slide and a Roller Coaster boasting a 1,300 foot uphill track while twisting, turning, dipping and rolling for 3,500 feet downhill over 350 vertical feet on the eastern side of Wisp Mountain.  Guests ride in ‘coaster carts’ that hold up to two riders and regulate their own speed with a set of handbrakes on the side of each cart. A centrifugal braking system restricts the coaster cart’s downhill speed at 26 mph. 

After eventful days such as this, we had to fuel our bodies. Let's just say there was no shortage of food on this trip. Greg brought along a lot of food and a trip to Walmart was the icing on the cake. We had hearty meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We even shared the duties of cooking and cleaning (see itinerary pic above).

We reserved one night to eat at a restaurant. It was literally 5 minutes away...down the mountain. The name of the restaurant is Pine Lodge Steakhouse and Saloon. The food was great...in my opinion. One of our members decided on the house special, prime rib. I chose chicken oscar which is chicken topped with lump crab meat.

On the morning of our last day in Deep Creek, the fog had taken over. It was gloomy outside and a little on the inside as well. We were sad that we had to leave such a beautiful place. The relaxation was gone. Back to reality – children, work and annoying people.

I really enjoyed my stay. In fact, I left with a smile on my face.

I was able to spend time with my family. I was able to spend quality time with Ian. I laughed way too much. I ate amazing food. I rested, rested and rested more. I took in the crisp air of the mountains. I made tons of new memories. And did I mention I really enjoyed my stay?!

Sometimes vacations are not always grand. They may not always involve sandy beaches or exotic locations. Sometimes the real treasures are in your own backyard (well, 3 hours +). The only requirement for a great vacation is to enjoy your time and to surround yourself with people who make you forget you will eventually have to go back home.

From sunrise...

to beautiful evenings...

...Deep Creek Lake was an awesome staycation.

Thank you to everyone who made it possible...including family back at home.We will definitely be coming around the mountain again!!

For more information on how YOU can plan your family's next vacation at Deep Creek Lake, visit DeepCreekLake.com.

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Disclosure Information
This is NOT A SPONSORED POST. This was an out-of-pocket-experience. You should really visit Deep Creek Lake in McHenry, MD.