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Lincoln Memorial
PHOTO BY: LESTER LEFKOWITZ / GETTY IMAGES ©
Beyond the grand architecture and soaring monuments of Washington,
you’ll find a city of tree-lined neighborhoods, world-class museums and
a buzzing restaurant scene serving up specialities from every corner of
the globe.
Teetering on the edge of Maryland and Virginia, the capital is also ideally
placed for memorable weekend getaways. You can hike up craggy peaks
in the Blue Ridge Mountains, spy wild ponies along the Eastern Shore
and go sailing inside the Chesapeake Bay. There’s much to discover here,
from windswept beaches to sprawling presidential estates. And if your
ideal weekend entails relaxing, Delmarva (Delaware-Maryland-Virginia)
has you covered, with historic B&Bs on the waterfront and scenic
restaurants with award-winning farm-to-table fare.
Audrey & Daniel’s Adventure
Want to tick off some of the
exciting experiences had by Audrey
and Daniel? Look for the camera
icon throughout this guide.
DISTANCE
540 MILES
Adventures on the
Eastern Shore
DAY 1
Start the day with a visit to DC’s most recognizable landmark. Stretching 555ft above the ground, the massive
Washington Monument is the tallest building in the city,
weighing in at a mere 81,000 tons. The monument was actually built in two phases: look closely about a third of the
way up to find the delineation between two different hues
of stone. Head up to the top for a mesmerizing view over
the capital, and the Potomac beyond.
PHOTO BY: MARTIN CHILD / GETTY IMAGES ©
There are plenty of highs on this eastbound jaunt, starting with a sweeping panorama
from Washington’s highest point. Afterwards, you’ll roll through Maryland’s historic
state capital, then head skyward once again on a soaring free flight over the fields of
Virginia. Other highlights include wildlife watching, a peaceful island paddle and rambles
along old-fashioned Main Streets.
Jump in the car and drive east to Annapolis, the small
state capital of Maryland sitting pretty near the Chesapeake Bay. Stretch your legs on a walk along the cobblestones of its colonial streets, and take a peak inside the
18th-century State House. The Chesapeake is famous for
its blue crabs, and one of the best places for a seafood
feast is at the old-school Cantler’s Riverside Inn, just a
short drive out of town.
After lunch, drive south to Onancock, Virginia, where you
can take a hang-gliding flight over the Eastern Shore. On a
tandem ride offered by Virginia Hang Gliding, you’ll get
a lift into the sky (via a light-sport airplane), then descend
by peaceful free flight from an altitude of up to 5280ft. It’s
The iconic Washington Monument
PHOTO BY: SKIP BROWN / GETTY IMAGES ©
a pure adrenaline rush amid magnificent scenery as you
breeze over the patchwork quilt of forests and fields, with
the Atlantic off in the distance.
That evening, drive up to Chincoteague Island, a sleepy
bayside town with a heart of gold. Grab a takeaway platter
from Captain Zack’s, a much-loved family run seafood
shack, and eat it down at Robert Reed Waterfront Park,
off Main Street. Spend the night at one of Chincoteague’s
laid-back B&Bs, like the friendly Miss Molly’s.
DAY 2
In the morning, rise early for an idyllic paddle around
the calm back bay of Assateague Island. As you glide
through creeks and along picturesque coves, be on the
lookout for the famous wild ponies, which have the run
of the island. You might also spy diving pelicans or even a
bald eagle soaring overhead. Assateague Explorer offers
kayak tours.
After gazing (hopefully) at the ponies from the water,
head onto Assateague Island for a hike along the woodland trails. Several forest-lined loops wind past meadows,
where you can sometimes spot frolicking horses. Up next
is a drive down to the red-and-white-striped lighthouse
and a climb to the top - a fine setting to glimpse some of
the island’s 300 bird species.
PHOTO BY: MICHAEL RICKARD / GETTY IMAGES ©
Hang-gliding over the Eastern Shore
Assateague’s legendary wild ponies
Did you know?
Wild ponies have resided on Assateague Island since
the 1600s, though no one knows for sure how they
arrived. Some believe they swam ashore when a cargocarrying Spanish galleon wrecked off the island.
In the evening, head up to Berlin, Maryland, one of the
quaintest (and loveliest) small towns on the East Coast.
Take a stroll down Main Street and check into the Atlantic Hotel – a Victorian-era guesthouse set with period
furnishings. Cap the night off with dinner and live music
in the Globe Theater. In 2006 this 100-year-old building
was revitalized with an art gallery, lounge and dinner theater where you can catch a wide range of performances.
It’s a great spot to enjoy your final night of the trip before
driving back to DC.
DISTANCE
340 MILES
WATERFRONT
EXPLORER
DAY 1
Get an early start to the morning at DC’s Eastern Market,
a buzzing food emporium on Capitol Hill dating back to the
1870s. Head to the rear for the famed blue bucks – blueberry buckwheat pancakes – served at Market Lunch.
Other vendors serve up fresh bread, fruit, cheeses and
other local produce, perfect snacks for the drive ahead.
Just 40 miles northeast of DC, Charm City (aka Baltimore) lives up to its name with its pretty harbor, excellent
farm-to-table restaurants and friendly, wisecracking locals.
You could spend days exploring Baltimore, but focus on a
few key sites this weekend: check out the wild sculptures
and paintings at the American Visionary Art Museum,
tour the impressive ships on the waterfront (such as the
three-masted 1854 USS Constellation) and take in some of
history (and fine views) from Fort McHenry.
Make the drive across the bay to Maryland’s enchanting
Eastern Shore. St Michaels, which calls itself ‘the heart
and soul of the Chesapeake Bay’, is a fine place to start,
with Victorian homes, a peaceful waterfront and a main
street dotted with antique shops and old-fashioned restaurants. Take a leisurely stroll to the shore (you can also eat
seafood at the Crab Claw on the pier), and enjoy a relaxing
night in one of St Michael’s guesthouses. The cozy Point
Breeze B&B makes the most of its waterfront setting.
PHOTO BY: RICHARD NOWITZ / GETTY IMAGES ©
Lively harbor towns, peaceful island villages and the sun-kissed sands of the Atlantic
form the backdrop to this picturesque ramble that travels from DC to Delaware. The
Chesapeake Bay plays a starring role, with sunset sails, crab feasts and strolls along
serene shorelines. You’ll eat well on this itinerary, whether in seafood shacks, sprawling
markets or elegant dining rooms that celebrate Maryland’s culinary bounty.
Strolling in St Michaels
PHOTO BY: GARYIANREICH / GETTY IMAGES ©
DAY 2
It’s a short but scenic drive to Tilghman Island, a tiny
settlement with a working waterfront. Take a sailing trip
on the Chesapeake aboard the Rebecca T Ruark, an 1886
oyster skipjack. Captain Wade Murphy has a wealth of
information on the bay, and he’ll happily let you take the
wheel if you want to try your hand at sailing.
Did you know?
Fed by more than 150 rivers and streams, the
Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in North
America. Its watershed is massive, covering
64,000 sq miles.
PHOTO BY: JOSEPH SOHM / GETTY IMAGES ©
The Chesapeake Bay
Robert Morris Inn
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Drive back through St Michaels en route to Bellevue,
a sleepy town at the end of Hwy 329. From there, take
the tiny old-fashioned car ferry across the Tred Avon
River. You’ll arrive in Oxford, a village that dates back
to the 1600s. It’s a fun place to explore, but don’t miss
lunch in the Robert Morris Inn, a bayfront beauty (and
guesthouse) serving a magnificent seasonal menu.
Heading west straight across Maryland, you’ll reach a lovely
stretch of Atlantic coast. There are many fine places to
linger, but the Delaware town of Lewes has undeniable
appeal. Founded in 1631 by the Dutch, this seaside gem
has a mix of English and Dutch architecture, easy-going
waterfront restaurants and outdoor options galore, from
fishing and kayaking to bike trails and hiking in nearby
Cape Henlopen State Park. Spend the night at the Blue
Water House, perfectly located near the beach. In the
morning, take a sunrise stroll along the sandy shores before
returning to Washington.
DISTANCE
310 MILES
The Wonders of
Virginia
DAY 1
Though it’s just across the Potomac, Alexandria feels like a
world away from the marble corridors of Washington. Here
you’ll find an ‘Old Town’ (as locals call it) of redbrick homes,
cobblestone streets and a waterfront promenade. For a window into the past, visit one of the historic house museums.
The handsomely preserved Lee-Fendall House shows how
the Virginia gentry lived in the 18th and 19th centuries.
PHOTO BY: ELAN FLEISHER / GETTY IMAGES ©
Steeped in history, Virginia is the birthplace of America and home to grand presidential
estates and relics from a colonial past. This scenic drive takes you to some of the state’s
historic treasures, while also showcasing its natural beauty, from the rolling vineyards of
the Piedmont to the mountainous wilderness of Shenandoah.
Continue the journey into America’s past with a visit to
Mount Vernon, the country estate of George Washington.
On a tour of the 19-room mansion, interactive galleries and
the hillside grounds overlooking the Potomac, you’ll gain
deeper insight into America’s first president.
Some 35 miles west of Mount Vernon, the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center is the sprawling extension of Washington’s famous Air & Space Museum, and it’s arguably even
more impressive. It’s three times the size of the DC museum, and contains the SR-71 Blackbird (the world’s fastest jet,
with a top speed of 2200 mph), the space shuttle Discovery
and many other eye-catching pieces. Don’t miss the observation tower, where you can watch planes take off and land
at Dulles Airport.
A short drive south of the museum, you can glimpse another historic site: the grassy fields and dark woods where
Union and Confederate soldiers clashed in the first major
Alexandria, Virginia
PHOTO BY: JEFF MAURITZEN / GETTY IMAGES ©
battle of the Civil War. Today this land is preserved as the
Manassas National Battlefield Park. Get an overview at
the visitor center, then walk amid the tall grasses and splitrail wood fences that set the stage for what was later called
the Battle of Bull Run. Overnight in Manassas at the very
welcoming Bennett House B&B.
DAY 2
Hit the road early for a scenic drive along Hwy 20, past fields
and rolling hills, as you head to Charlottesville. Set on the
edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, C-Ville is a small town that
punches well above its weight, with its locavore-loving restaurants and historic attractions.
Tip
PHOTO BY: DEREK WARR / GETTY IMAGES ©
Manassas National Battlefield Park
There are three presidential estates in the
Charlottesville region, including Monticello (Thomas
Jefferson’s former abode) and the lesser known but
highly recommended Montpelier, where James
Madison resided.
The town centerpiece is the University of Virginia, one of
America’s loveliest college campuses. Thomas Jefferson, who
founded the school in 1819, considered its creation one of his
greatest achievements. It’s hard to disagree on a tour around
the grounds. Don’t miss the Rotunda, a replica of Rome’s Pantheon, which Jefferson designed himself.
Have an early lunch at one of the restaurants on the Downtown Mall. The atmospheric Citizen Burger Bar serves up
creative burgers (including a juicy vegan option) as well as
crispy truffle fries and a delicious roasted beet salad.
After lunch, it’s high time to head into the wilderness of
Shenandoah. Spectacularly set on the spine of the Blue
Ridge Mountains, this 200-mile long national park has amazing
wonders at every turn, from forested hiking trails to clifftop
views. Enter at Rockfish Gap and take the curvy Skyline Drive
up to Big Meadows. There you can hike some of the most scenic trails in the park, including a four-mile loop that skirts past
streams and waterfalls along the Rose River trail.
Extend the Shenandoah experience by booking a night in
one of the park’s lodges. Big Meadows is a classic stoneand wood-paneled lodge with comfy rooms, a first-rate
restaurant and a veranda where you can watch the sunset
over the greenery.
Blue Ridge Mountains
From there, it’s a three-hour drive back to DC. Try to squeeze
in an early-morning hike before hitting the road.
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