Time change, dark afternoons, and early sunsets in the fall and winter months can create that sluggish, sad feeling in us, affecting our mood, sleep, and increase stress. Thankfully, there is a remedy which can help you get through these dark weeks.
Book a weekend getaway in Deep Creek, MD at Chalet Alpenglow with friends or family to lift your spirits and to have something to look forward to. Deep Creek offers you endless possibilities to make these dark months brighter and turn dark afternoons into positive happy memories. Raley together a group of friends or your family and book one of our weekends here at Chalet Alpenglow. You will get plenty of:
Sunlight
Sunlight is thought to increase serotonin, a mood-lifting hormone.
With big floor to ceiling windows and a beautiful view, Chalet Alpenglow provides you with lots of natural light.
While temperatures usually range between 30s and high 60s, the sun is shining strong on most days.
Exercise
Exercise can boost feel-good endorphins and break the anxiety/sadness loop in the brain. With Chalet Alpenglow you have free access to the Community Aquatic Recreation Center (CARC) which is 1 mile away from the house and offers a fully equipped gym facility, two indoor pools, and a gymnasium for basketball. Deep Creek also has many great hiking spots for every skill level with fresh air and beautiful scenery. In the off seasons dogs are allowed almost everywhere. Chalet Alpenglow is dog-friendly. Contact us directly if you want to bring more than two dogs at chaletalpenglow@gmail.com or
Here are some of our favorite hikes:
Canyon Trail- Swallow Falls State Park - 1.5 miles - easy
Following the flow of the Youghiogheny River, this popular trail provides lots of photo ops! It takes you along Muddy Creek Falls, highest in Maryland, Swallow Tails and scenic Swallow Falls. A slight detour will lead you to Tolliver Falls too. The waterfalls at Swallow Falls State Park are also usually frozen over by this point, making beautiful ice formations. Dogs are allowed in the off season. There is also a 5.5 miles one way hiking trail that connects Swallow Falls and Herrington Manor State Park through the Garrett State Forest.
Beckman’s Trail - Deep Creek State Park - 1.7 miles, loop - moderate This trail has the perfect balance of challenge and accessibility that makes it great for more experienced hikers. The trail starts out nice and easy, before hitting a moderate incline. When you finish climbing, you'll be rewarded with a serene natural rock garden, where you can catch your breath before heading toward the more technical parts of the trail. Eventually, Beckman's Trail links up with the Brant Mine Trail, which combines gorgeous foliage with history at the Brant Coal Mine and Homesite. Beckman's Trail, Meadow Mountain Trail, and Indian Turnip Trail Loop form a 5 mile moderately loop trail if you want to extend your hike. You can bring your dog.
Rock Maze Trail - Garret State Forest - 0.8 mile out and back trail - easy It is a pleasant walk through old growth timber back to a maze of large boulders and features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. Dogs are allowed. This hidden gem is a maze of towering boulders and it's an unexpected find among the surrounding woods.
Electronics-free time
Anything that emits blue light like smart phones tricks your brain into not producing melatonin, which makes it harder to sleep. In Chalet Alpenglow you will find so many activities and fun that you will not even think about your phone.
Kids will be occupied playing in the castle bedroom with a huge castle bed, shields, and swords. They can go on a treasure hunt through the house to find all the hidden glowing stars. Or they might be creative with Legos or magnetic tiles. Some will curl up on the comfy couches to read a book of the many choices in our children’s library.
Adults might join them with a book from our large adult library with some of our favorite titles. There is also a big range of different board games which will guarantee an evening of fun and laughter. While playing a round of pool, dart, foosball, or even axe throwing, time will fly. A relaxed movie night on our big movie screen with surround sound system where everyone huddles together on the reclining couches might be the exact thing you need, covered by one of the many soft blankets we provide.
Fun in the Snow
Laughter is the best medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, and diminishes pain. Have some fun in the snow! Despite the cold, snow gives its surroundings a bright magical shimmer. With more than 100 inches of snow falling annually, winter at Deep Creek Lake is unlike most surrounding areas. Garrett County is known to receive more than a foot at a time a few times throughout the season. Build an igloo, have a snow ball fight or try any of these activities to exercise your laugh muscles:
1. Wisp Ski Resort - is a 5 min car ride from Chalet Alpenglow and provides days of fun skiing, snowboarding, or snow tubing with or without lessons.Wisp Resort has 34 slopes and 12 chair and surface lifts and 10 operating lanes for snowtubing. The slopes usually open in December, weather depending. Wisp has powerful equipment to make a lot of its own snow when Mother Nature is taking a break. Book your tickets earlier than later.
Lessons: https://www.wispresort.com/Lessons/
Winter Sport Equipment Rental: Deep Creek Ski and Snowboard Rentals, High Mountain Sports, & Wisp Resort
2. Best Sledding Hills - front yard of Chalet Alpenglow - right in front of Chalet Alpenglow is
an epic sledding hill. Chalet Alpenglow also provides sleds.
Herrington Manor Park (has sled rentals), Blackwater Falls in Davis, WV (sledding park with the longest hill on the East Coast, located just 45 minutes south of Deep Creek Lake, with sledding hill, sled rentals, and a conveyor belt to take you to the top of the hill), Accident Town Park, Canaan State Park, Deep Creek Lake Lions Club Park (at 1249 Bumble Bee Rd has a nice hill area for sledding and there's a shallow pond there that freezes up nicely for skating)
3. Horse Back or Sleigh rides - Circle Ranch and Pleasant Valley Dream Rides
4. Ice Fishing - Deep Creek Lake is one of the most popular destination in Maryland for ice fishing. Guided ice fishing: Garrett Hoffman, Tel: 301-616-6232
5. Snow Shoeing - Maryland Snowshoeing Tour organized by All Earth Tours is a memorable escape into the backcountry of Swallow Falls State Park or the north slope of Snaggy Mountain. It’s easy to do and their mountaineering style snow shoes are fun to use uphill and downhill. As an alternative, you can rent snow shoes and explore at Harrington Manor State Park. Discovery Center also rents snow shoes.
6. Cross Country Skiing – at Herrington Manor State Park, New Germany State Park, Deep Creek Lake State Park, Wisp Resort , Canaan Valley Resort in West Virginia
Quality time together
One of the health benefits of spending time with friends and family is improved mental health. Social interaction and mental health have long been linked together for having a cause-and-effect relationship. Sit wrapped in a blanket around our fire pit, relax in the new 8-person hot tub or curl up together in front of our fire place and spend time together with the people who matter.
Good Food
Eating together is a recipe for happiness. Enjoy our well stocked kitchen where you find everything you need to make a family meal or bake your favorite cookies. Or try one of the many excellent restaurants in Deep Creek. Here are some of our favorites:
Brendas Pizza - very good NY Style pizza. Try the huge cheese Abbondanza size 26".
Moonshadow - We love their menu, always fresh, healthy, and unique food. They have live music and a fun bar, located just 1 mile from the house.
Mountain State Brewing - a great local microbrewery with live music and a tap room. They serve delicious artisan flatbreads freshly baked in their wood burining oven.
Dutch's at Silver Tree - more upscale and pricey, but definitely worth to go for a special occasion. They have the best crab cakes in the area.
Uno Chicago Grill - perfect location at the water. Great food and a nice bar for drinks.
Ace's Run Restaurant & Pub - it is located at Will O' The Wisp, good food and a great view of the lake.
Firewater Kitchen & Bar - great place for cocktail & food and lake view.
Tomanettis PIzza - small Italian eatery with delicious food.
Holiday Magic
Chalet Alpenglow is tastefully decorated for the holidays. You will enjoy the décor no matter if you celebrate Christmas or not. In November Deep Creek puts on the Festival of Trees, a holiday festival with Frosty Fun Land, Winter Wonderland, and Breakfast with Santa, designer decorated trees, wreaths, centerpieces, and gingerbread houses are on exhibit, and will be auctioned off. In December you can experience Christmas in the Village - located in the Spruce Forest Artisan Village or A Great Small Town Christmas - sleigh/carriage rides, treats with Santa, and a tree lighting ceremony. If you are brave enough you can take part in the
Deep Creek Dunk, jumping into the icy waters of Deep Creek Lake in February. Or experience the Oakland Winter Fest with live ice carvings & illuminated sculptures.
Come and visit us at Deep Creek Lake, MD and book your stay:
https://www.deepcreek.com/vacation-rentals/chalet-alpenglow
For questions, contact us: at chaletalpenglow@gmail.com or
