People are staying closer to home these days, but there’s still lots to do in the region. 9 ½ hours is a feature with suggestions for local day trips.

Drive west from Baltimore, and in about 30 miles you’ll hit Parr’s Ridge, a hump in the terrain that presented a challenge to railroad engineers in the 1830s. The ridge would become a train depot, and then the town of Mount Airy, a historic community that today boasts a small thriving downtown with a lot to see and do. Mount Airy embraces its past and is building a future based on small businesses and local sustainability.

We recommend throwing your bikes on the back of your car and heading out to where not one, not two, not three but FOUR counties come together. Mount Airy lies at the intersection of Howard, Carroll, Montgomery and Frederick counties, and the farms that surround it provide the grain, dairy, fruits and vegetables to supply its spirit makers, ice cream churners, eateries and other businesses. Exploring them all makes a great spot to spend 9 ½ hours.