Hagerstown

Hagerstown has always had a bit of an identity crisis. In Colonial days it was considered the last bastion of civilization before the frontier. During the Civil War, Union and Confederate troops played a protracted game of tug-of-war with the city. The railroad brought a flurry of industry to the city, which slowly drifted away as other modes of transportation gained prominence. Now the sleepy mountain city is looking to reinvent itself with a renovated downtown area, a recently opened children's museum, and a burgeoning arts district centered around the historic Maryland Theater. The city's low profile is a boon for travelers. Bed-and-breakfasts offer a tremendous value for your money and the charming museums clustered around the leafy City Park are rarely crowded.