Once you get out of Georgetown, you will have 185 miles of rural landscape along the river.
There are interesting historical artifacts along the way such as the Paw Paw Tunnel.
My recommendation is to get a hybrid bike with fenders. The trail is well maintained, however inevitably you will hit a puddle. If you don't have fenders you will end up covered in mud. Now I'm not afraid of mud, but it is no fun to go into a restaurant covered in mud. Then again, if you are a badass, maybe it is fun! LOL
There are plenty of guides on the net. Just do a Google search.
Sweet. I love riding along a river.
In the summer I follow a river to a lake and then have a swim.
You might keep an eye out for a swim along your ride.
Your posts reminds me I want to get into bicycle/camping when my daughter gets older (she is 10 now, just got her ears pierced yesterday).
The C&O Canal is great. Re: the best bike: newbies should be aware that some sections get rocky, rutted or muddy, and many sections have tree roots and considerable forest debris. Upstream, the path is also frequently overgrown, with the clear path reduce to a narrow track. A trail oriented hybrid is a good recommendation for longer rides and rides on the well-maintained sections, but it does require some care. On the rougher sections and in wet weather, I like a mountain or trail bike. Full suspension is overkill, but a hardtail is nice in the sloppy and rocky parts. It’s heavier, but it’s nice to be able to sail over or through the obstacles. I’m old enough to prefer the lazy man’s choice on shorter rides, but if I’m going more than 25 miles or so, I’d go with the hybrid.