Things to Do in Frederick

Valley Ballooning takes passengers’ breaths away with safely obtained, unobstructed aerial views of the Shenandoah Valley’s majestic rivers, vineyards, and animal inhabitants. Tours at sunrise or sunset cover up to 10 miles, with experienced pilots pointing out such incomparable sights as whitetail deer bounding below or the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains frolicking in the distance. Winter flights include a warming cup of hot chocolate or coffee to keep passengers from growing envious of balloons, and toast packages conclude with the celebratory ringing of sparkling-cider glasses.

For 35 years and counting, artists Charles and Susie Andrews have helmed a gallery displaying the work of Pennsylvania artists alongside nationally recognized artists from across the country. In addition to curating an art space, the staff also specializes in custom framing and fastidious photo-restoration services to help customers adorn their homes and offices with art and archival-quality framing. Their restorers retouch art and photos with dedicated attention to detail, breathing new life into sepia-toned relics by repairing damage such as mold spots, water damage, cracks, discoloration, or shattered monocles. Their artistic eyes especially come in handy when restoring compositional problems such as redeye, underexposure, or awkward backlighting. In addition to the finished piece, clients also receive photo documentation of any work done.

Sitting behind the wheel of a 32 Sodi RX7 kart has a way of making you feel like a professional stunt driver. Maybe it's zipping up your driver’s suit, or snapping on your helmet. Either way, at Summit Point Kart, all participants get the look they want and the safety orientation they need to cut turns like Andretti when they take on that piece of half-mile track known as the Washington Circuit.

Overhead, lights blaze down on the track’s 20 turns, so karters can race well into the evening or on that day after summer solstice when the sun is too partied out to get out of bed. Racers who get hooked can get themselves a yearly membership card, which discounts the price of racing credits. Little ones enamored with the track can enlist in kart school, a daylong camp that builds confidence behind the wheel.

Just Plain Yoga wants its visitors to find the perfect fit when it comes to yoga technique. They offer a questionnaire to identify the right class for each student, based on how rapidly or slowly they want to move, as well as whether they want to achieve relaxation, increase flexibility, or build strength in your third eyelash. The studio offers 11 different styles for intrepid yogis, including gentle hatha sessions that link breath to body, and morning vinyasa flow to jump-start the day. Hesitant first-timers are especially invited to the “yoga for any body” class, a gentle, welcoming class for anyone who thinks they are too inflexible or overweight to do yoga.

The night sky lay heavy over the rolling hills of Gettysburg. In a tent among his fellows in the Union Army, Private Ron Angleberger woke from a restless sleep to the blaring of a cavalry horn and the earth-shaking rumble of hundreds of horses on the charge. He raced outside his tent with the other Civil War reenactors to discover that there were no horses present, and, in the eerie silence that followed the apparition, the regiments of actors realized they might have been privy to one of General Custer's July 3rd charges. This incident, along with a love for history and similar paranormal experiences on the many battlefields around Frederick, led Ron to form Candlelight Ghost Tours of Frederick.

Today, Ron's tours explore the bone-chilling histories of Frederick's most haunted abodes as he tells stories of their inhabitants both living and dead. Walking tours began in late March and end late in the year, depending on the weather.

Blank teapots, plates, mugs, and figurines line the shelves at I Made This!, awaiting finishing touches guided by the artful eyes of do-it-yourselfers. The studio carries all of the materials necessary to complete each piece, including paints, glazes, and a 1,800-degree kiln, where pieces of pottery, like really good barbecue or really bad pizza, requires about 20 hours to cook. A team of knowledgeable employees stays on hand to answer questions regarding the glazing and firing processes. The ideal activity for a range of ages and groups, painting pottery at I Made This! can enliven a sunny Saturday morning or a ladies' night out with a customer-provided bottle of wine, with the option of reserving a private party room.