Dinner at the Elkridge Furnace Inn

Lilly's Lavender Princess and her Prince had a delectable dining experience this evening. We travelled up Route 95 and back a few centuries to the 1744 Elkridge Furnace Inn. The brick Tavern and Manor Home boasts 23 rooms and 12 fireplaces! The diner enters through a lovely garden where, on this particular night, a wedding was in progress. The hostess led us up the tiger maple staircase to the second level where we were seated at a romantic, candlelit table. The warm yellow toned, colonial wallpaper and paintings, along with the lilting jazz music, immediately put us in a relaxing mood. The chocolate martini helped a lot too! Our first course was a mushroom medley which included mushroom caps stuffed with a cheese mixture, a tomato blend filling, and, best of all, a fried cake of risotto stuffed with mushrooms. Next we indulged in a smooth, creamy clam chowder brimming with potatoes and clams, and a cheese covered onion soup. The Princess had an Eggplant Napoleon for her main entree. It had layers of eggplant , tomatoes, cheese and crisp pastry dough and was accompanied by lobster mashed potatoes, The Prince pronounced these as the BEST mashed potatoes he had ever experienced, high praise indeed!. The Prince had a steak covered in a creamy bacon flavored sauce. The generous chef sent us a tiny pastry shell filled with a tomato puree. Last of all, the pastry tray was placed before us. There was vanilla creme brulee, an airy strawberry angel food cake and a luscious chocolate cake. Alas, our tummies were too full to indulge and we just admired the treats from afar. This was an enchanted evening and the Princess highly recommends that you treat yourself to a meal at the Elkridge Furnace Inn .

Cascade Inn in Cascade, Md.

For a weekend of relaxation, you'll want to pay a visit to the historic Cascade Inn. It is an 1890 Georgian Bed and Breakfast, just 45 minutes from Gaithersburg. From the moment you enter the inn, your hosts, Jan and Duane, will make you feel welcomed and pampered. The spacious rooms are quite comfortable. Our favorite is the Mountain Magnolia Suite. This room envelops you with its blazing wood burning fireplace, cozy two person jacuzzi tub, and cushy queen size sleigh bed. When you awake in the morning, Duane's breakfast of Bluebird French Toast, Carmelized Bacon and Strawberries with Cream, topped with chocolate will tantalize your taste buds.

The inn is located in an area rife with activities. One of the places we enjoy is the Synergy Healing Arts Center. The center offers several types of massage and will even pay a house call to the inn where you can have a relaxing massage right in your room! Other diversions include hiking on the Appalachian Trail or visiting Cunningham Falls, walking the Gettysburg or Antietam battlefields, sampling the wines at numerous wineries, browsing for antiques, and, in the summer, swimming or canoeing at Cunningham Lake.

So, treat yourself, a friend or someone you love to a wonderful getaway to the Cascade Inn Bed and Breakfast.