McHenry or Oakland. Oakland is more charming with a main street and old time downtown.

The answer to your question is McHenry, OP. You got some dumb answers. It’s a quiet lake town, but there are plenty of events (live music, farmers markets, shops) in McHenry. Oakland has an old Main Street but it’s a drive away from the lake. Swanton and Deer Park have some good spots - Deer Park Inn, golf course, Simon Pearce, state park beach - but very very spread out and mostly residential.

Stop at one of the grocery stores in LaVale on the way and save some $$.

I've never heard of anyone describe DCL as "happening". What exactly are you looking for? Nightlife? Swingers events? BDSM?

I think the ice cream place is lake side creamery. It’s excellent. It’s next to deep creek donuts which is really fun. If you have a boat you can dock it on the lake and walk up the stairs to those two places. There is also a permanent food truck at the same site that is really very good.

I find the town name doesn’t really matter (as in much of Maryland where town names are meaningless). Here’s how I pick a DCL house:
1) something on lake
2) not too near the main highway road
3) ideally in a cove off lake, so you’re in a no wake zone if you want to just swim or float off your dock
4) I use Apple Maps and try to make sure it’s within 15-20 minutes of Brenda’s pizza. We usually get takeout from there once but that’s also a handy way to make sure it’s not a super long drive from the area with the grocery store/market and restaurants. There are other places along that strip you could pick but I just Brenda’s as a handy shortcut. Because it’s a finger lake sometimes a house can look very close to that area but actually be a long drive because you’re winding back and forth along the shore — so I just use Apple map instead of a “as the crow flies” distance.

Also, if you’re up to it, rent a boat. That makes it a lot more fun. Paddle boards and kayaks are also great.

Anonymous wrote:Rent a house on the lake if you want any access to it.

+2

It’s cute but you need to drive everywhere.

HIGHLY recommend Pawn Run for a meal…it’s a little out of the way but delicious.

Dutch’s at silver tree is old school but good

Firewater is great for a drink

Moonshadow is meh but good ambience and I think they have live music on weekends

Have fun!

It’s nice to rent a house right on the lake, in Oakland, if you can but not a huge deal if you can’t. The beach at the state park is very pleasant for a day. You can rent a boat and stay out on the water for another day. Go on a hike at Swallow Falls another day. Do the mountain coaster at WISP. Go to Mountain State Brewing one evening. You’ll be driving to do anything. I like Deep Creek but really wish anything was walkable.

Rent a big house right on the lake. Doesn’t really matter where. There is not really a cute walkable area; you will be driving 10-15 min to go anywhere and do anything.

DCL is not “happening”, which is sort of the point.

McHenry (near Wisp) is probably the closest you can get to “happening”. You have a big grocery store and ice cream, several restaurants, and family entertainment centers.

The other “happening” area is near UNO’s/Honi-Honi. Your “grocery store” there is Arrowhead, which is pretty full-service, but expensive. That is technically Oakland, but Oakland is big. Our house has an Oakland address, but is not particularly close to UNO’s.

The big boat rental place is between McHenry and UNO’s. The only public sand beach is in the state park.

None of this is really set up for walkability, so you’ll be driving anyway.

There’s a Wal-Mart with a grocery store in the town of Oakland (way past UNO’s).

I would rent a house that meets your family’s needs, since you’ll be driving anyway.

We always stay in McHenry, lakefront. I don't think that there's anything really "happening" and you have to drive to eat/hike/shop/etc. no matter what so pick based on the amenities of the house.

Rent near the Wisp resort. There are a few restaurants in the surrounding area.

Rent a house on the lake if you want any access to it.

Deep Creek has nothing happening. My DS goes there several times a year since his buddy has a house and they like heading to Wisp (winter) and boating (summer).

Looking to do long weekend in deep creek lake in June. Looks like big lake with several towns. Which town is the most “happening”
Want to be near a good grocery store and few restaurants or ice cream shop or something. Any advice? Never been and I can’t quite figure out which area to rent house.

Apologies for using the term”happening” as I sound like my mom lol.

Ps are there any good restaurants you recommend?