Visit lovely Hagerstown, Maryland, gem of Washington County and home to the exceptional Museum of Fine Arts and Cultural Trail, worth exploring during a day trip while you’re traveling to or from the C&O Canal Towpath. Along the towpath itself in Washington County are three classic canal towns – Hancock, Sharpsburg, and Williamsport – for dining, shopping, history, and small-town charm. Explore the variety of museums and cultural offerings there. Here near Hagerstown, your travels along the C&O Canal Towapth can include a relaxing overnight stay in a fully-appointed lockhouse, comfortable hotel, or a delightful bed and breakfast. Nearby, the smooth Western Maryland Rail Trail parallels the C&O Canal Towpath between Hancock and Fort Frederick State Park and makes bicycling a little easier. Sharpsburg is home to the Antietam National Battlefield, site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, and now a quiet place to tour and reflect. Or check out Cushwa Basin, the “capital of the canal,” in Williamsport; located at the towpath’s geographic center, Cushwa Basin is rewatered and you can experience the canal’s bygone era with ranger-led boat rides over a restored authentic aqueduct.