An easy , and mostly level , city stroll invites visitors to Downtown Frederick ’ s energetic mix of historical sites , architecture , brick sidewalks , hip eateries and specialty shops . Along Patrick Street in the heart of downtown , everything from vintage clothing shops , kitschy boutiques , and scrumptious restaurants to the city ’ s theatre district coexist peacefully with the reconstructed home of local Civil War heroine Barbara Fritchie , the National Museum of Civil War Medicine and the original 1910 all-in-one trolley depot . To the east lies the Fairgrounds where the famous , or infamous Great Frederick Fair resides every September , and to the west , “ The Golden Mile ” bustles with shopping centers , chain hotels and a variety of restaurants .
While shopping and dining abound all along Patrick Street , visitors should be sure to look up and around ! The street features several public art installations and many of the buildings still have their original signage and architectural interest .
Sitting on a sidewalk patio enjoying an iced coffee while imagining a horse tethered to a hitching post more than 180 years ago make Patrick Street an eclectic menagerie of history and modernity . It ’ s a special place that can cradle its history and yet still embrace new and exciting growth .
// Melissa Howes-Vitek
DowntownFrederick . org