Hit the Beach
Walk Ocean City’s boardwalk, which the Travel
Channel has called America’s “Best Beach
Boardwalk,” while nibbling on Thrasher’s famous
french fries in the Maryland resort town. Shop
the countless outlets in Rehoboth Beach. Go
dolphin watching in the waters off Bethany
Beach, named by Travel + Leisure magazine
in 2012 as one of the “Best Secret Beaches
on Earth.” The Maryland and Delaware shore
towns (Ocean City, Bethany Beach, Lewes,
Rehoboth Beach and Fenwick Island) pack
stunning stretches of sand alongside family-friendly amusement—arcades, miniature golf
courses, games (like Whac-A-Mole and Frog
Bog) and kiddie rides. Have dinner at one of the
many clam bars, fish houses and farm-to-table
restaurants lining the shores here, or pack a
picnic and head for Assateague Island National
Seashore, where you might catch a glimpse
of the wild horses that roam the beaches—all
about a three-hour drive away.
Explore the Eastern Shore
Less than two hours away, bucolic, gentle hills roll
into the marshy waterways of the Chesapeake Bay
on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. And in St. Michaels
and Oxford, the region’s most picturesque towns,
“Main Street” looks more like a classic New
England village than a bustling metropolis. St.
Michaels, the larger of the two, boasts boutique
shopping on handsome Talbot Street. Get out
on the water on one of the local cruise lines
that take visitors down the Miles River deep into
Chesapeake country, or hop onto a bike and pedal
the mostly flat Oxford Loop, which takes riders on
a 26- or 33-mile ride from St. Michaels to Easton
and Oxford and back. (The highlight: Enjoying
views of the Tred Avon River aboard the 10-minute
Oxford-Bellevue Ferry.)
Dive into Deep Creek Lake
During the summer, water sports rule at Deep
Creek, a 3,900-acre lake with 65 miles of
shoreline in Garrett County, about three hours from
Bethesda. Go play on a rented motorboat, kayak or
Jet Ski. Anglers should cast a pole—it’s not hard to
catch a sizable bass in a lake where smallmouth
and largemouth bass, walleye and yellow perch are
plentiful. In the winter, Deep Creek Lake turns into
a skier and snowboarder’s paradise with cross-country and green circle to black diamond ski trails,
as well as opportunities for snowshoeing, tubing,
ice fishing and snowmobiling. You can even take
the family dogsledding.
Head West to Harpers
Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry, a historic town with quiet
cobblestone streets, doesn’t just sit at the
great
getaways
Water sports rule Garrett County’s
Deep Creek Lake during the summer while
the area turns into a paradise for skiers
and snowboarders in the winter.
From charming beach towns to mountain escapes,
here are 15 ideas for day trips and vacations
BY BROOKE LEA FOSTER
intersection of the Potomac and Shenandoah
rivers—it’s in the spot where Maryland, Virginia
and West Virginia meet. You can shop in the
restored buildings, grab a bite to eat, or treat
yourself to an ice cream cone. A visit to Harpers
Ferry National Historical Park will bring to life
the town’s role in the events leading up to the
Civil War, and 20 miles of hiking trails provide
spectacular views of the mountains and rivers.
Climb aboard a 14-foot raft to get an up-close
look at the river rapids during a white-water rafting
trip, go tubing, or rent a bike and pedal along the
scenic C&O Canal, which runs along the riverfront.
Best of all, it’s only an hour’s drive home.
Get to Know Gettysburg
The battlefield outside of Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, where the Civil War’s bloodiest
battle unfolded, is one of the most visited
military parks in the nation. Tour the Gettysburg
National Military Park by Segway or horseback,
or stand in the cemetery where Abraham Lincoln
delivered the famous Gettysburg Address.
There’s a reenactment with battles, military
camps and soldiers every July. The small city
boasts a lively downtown scene, with theaters,
concerts and pubs. Visitors can take a ghost tour
(the town is rumored to be haunted) or explore
one of several Civil War-themed museums. P H O T O
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