Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Weekend Beach Getaways

Image courtesy Pixabay
Definitely one of the best perks of Baltimore's location is its close proximity to other large cities, the mountains and the ocean! Now that summer has officially begun and July 4th weekend is near, it is time to start planning a weekend getaway to the beach! Luckily, we have many different options, all within driving distance. Here are several ideas to inspire your next beach trip:

Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia
Assateague Island offers a myriad of attractions and outdoor experiences, including kayaking, bird watching, crabbing, fishing, hunting and biking! If you looking for an experience other than laying on the beach, Assateague Island is your ideal location for a weekend trip. Of course, laying out on the beach is still an option, as there is more than 37 miles of beach on the island. Assateague Island is located in Berlin, MD and is approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes away from Baltimore, by car.

Cape May, New Jersey
No, Cape May is not where "Jersey Shore" was filmed. Rather, Cape May is located on the southern tip of the New Jersey shore and is home to a beachside "promenade," as opposed to a traditional boardwalk. Local attractions and adventures include parasailing, fishing, whale watching, skydiving, wineries and more! The drive to Cape May is approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes.

Ocean City, Maryland
If you live in Maryland, visiting Ocean City is a rite of passage! Ocean City's first boardwalk was constructed in 1900 and quickly became a tourist destination, with visitors reaching OC by railroad. Ocean City shores stretch 10 miles up to the Delaware/Maryland border. Today, the boardwalk offers 3 miles of food, fun, shopping and more! The drive to Ocean City is 2 hours, 45 minutes.

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Not only is Rehoboth Beach known as "The Nation's Summer Capital," but it has been named "The Best Family Beach on the East Coast" and "America's Best Boardwalk." Tree-lined streets, beach boardwalks and shopping await visitors at Rehoboth. A road trip to Rehoboth Beach is around 2 and a half hours.

The shores of the Atlantic Ocean await you, so what are YOU waiting for? With so many beaches within driving distance of your apartment home at McHenry Row, all you need to do is fill up the tank and hit the highway! 

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival

Image courtesy Pixabay
Whether you're in search of the perfect Father's Day gift or simply something exciting to do this weekend in the greater Baltimore area, look no further. We have the solution - the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is coming to the National Harbor! The event is fairly self-explanatory, there's beer, bourbon and barbecue, but what sets this festival apart is that it's like three festivals in one. One ticket price, one event!

The festival takes place Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20 at the National Harbor and tickets are selling quickly! All guests who attend will receive an event beer glass for tastings, and the first 100 guests in line for each session will receive a free t-shirt. Sessions include the "Whole Hog Friday Night Pig Pickin'" from 6-10 PM, "VIP Saturday Bacon" from noon to 6 PM and "Regular Saturday Session" from 2-6 PM. More than 60 types of beer and 40 varieties of bourbon will be available to sample during the event. What better way to wash down some of the area's best barbecue than with an ice cold beer? As guests chow down on delicious dishes, they may enjoy live entertainment from the Main Stage, including rock and blues music. Guests who have attended this event in the past will also find a larger VIP area and a new 5,000 sq. ft. games area! Another exciting attraction is the Wild Turkey Tour Bus.

Ticket prices range from a $99 two-day festival pass to $39 advance/$45 on-site regular Saturday admission. There are also VIP admission and designated driver admission tickets available. This event will take place rain or shine, so make sure you pack an umbrella and a blanket to sit on! 

The drive from your apartment home at McHenry Row to this event is a little under an hour, so if you plan to attend, make sure you have a designated driver! Street parking and lots are available, in addition to valet parking.

Spend a summer afternoon along the Potomac River, sipping beer and sampling barbecue and bourbon. Can you think of a better way to spend an afternoon with dad and family? If you have attended this event at other locations or plan to attend this weekend, we want to hear from you! Share your tips on McHenry Row's Facebook and Twitter pages!

Additional sources consulted:
AXS

Thursday, June 11, 2015

McHenry Row Summer Block Party

It is summertime at McHenry Row and the living is easy! One of the best aspects of life at McHenry Row is the opportunity to bring all members of our community together, from residents and employees, to businesses and pets! Next Friday, June 19, we invite YOU to join our McHenry Row community for an official start to summer at the annual McHenry Row Summer Block Party! If you enjoy beer, live music, food trucks and spending time outdoors with friends, you will love this event! 

Entertainment for the evening will be provided by Caffeine, a modern and classic rock band from Maryland. The band will be rocking in front of World of Beer at 6 PM. If you're hungry after a long day at work, there will be a few food trucks on site for your dining pleasure! Harbor Que will be serving up Carolina-style barbecue, Madame BBQ will bring the pork and Iced Gems Baking will bring the dessert, baked fresh from scratch! With all this delicious food, you need some cool refreshments to wash it down with. World of Beer will be serving outdoor drafts, to guests ages 21 and over of course, throughout the evening, including drafts from Bell's Brewery.

After eating some incredibly good food, you'll want to relax and enjoy the music! Bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy the evening with family and friends. The kids can have their faces painted and the dogs can lounge or play! 

Many thanks to our Summer Block Party sponsors, Charm City Run, Massage Envy, Rev Cycle, dogma: life, with your pet, Umi Sake and The Greene Turtle

Both parking and the event itself are free! You will however need money for the food trucks and other refreshments. Stay the duration of the party, from 6 - 10 PM, or hang out for a quick bite after work, either way, we would like to see you on Friday! If you plan to attend, RSVP to our Facebook event page and spread the word to all of your friends in our area!

After the event, we would love to see your pictures and share your moments from the evening! Share yours on the McHenry Row Facebook or Twitter pages! Happy summertime!

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

National Running Day


Today, June 3, is National Running Day! Whether you regularly get in a run in the morning before work or if you run on the treadmill at the gym, today is the perfect motivation to get running! National Running Day, as the name implies, is a nationwide celebration of running. It is annually held on the first Wednesday in June, and many cities throughout the United States get in on the holiday by organizing runs. 

If you would like to celebrate National Running Day today, or any other day, there are many area locations where you can get in a run. On the property at McHenry Row, you can work out in the apartments' fitness center, or you can join the rest of the Locust Point community at Charm City Run at McHenry Row. Charm City Run now hosts a weekly "fun run," which takes place Thursdays at 6:15 PM. Runners of all abilities are encouraged to participate in the 3-6 mile runs. These runs are free, but registration is encouraged so that participants receive any relevant email updates. 

Charm City Run is celebrating National Running tonight at 6:30 PM by raffling off a pair of Nike shoes at each of its locations, and will be donating 10% of today's sales to TNT Maryland Leukemia and Lymphoma Society! If you've been thinking about purchasing a new pair of shoes or other running gear, today is the perfect day to do so! For more information on the celebration, visit Charm City Run's Facebook page.

If you don't like participating in group runs, try a run in one of our area's parks. Nearby parks and outdoor spaces include Latrobe Park, Fort McHenry and Leone Riverside Park. McHenry Row is only a 90 second jog away from the water, so if you like to take a break to stretch, along the water is a fine place to do it! 

If you're still not feeling the motivation to go running, this will surely do the trick - 92  year-old Harriette Thompson of North Carolina completed her 16th marathon in San Diego's Rock n Roll Marathon last weekend! Pretty inspirational, right?

If you consider yourself an expert runner, what advice would you give to those who are just starting out? Where are your favorite local spots to squeeze in a good run? Share your thoughts with us on McHenry Row's Facebook and Twitter pages! Now lace up your shoes and get running!
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