Visitors of all ages
enjoy the shops and
attractions on the
boardwalk in Ocean
City, Maryland. .
Cape May, New Jersey, is Calling
Imagine street after street of Victorian homes
lining the sea. In Cape May, New Jersey, about
180 miles north of Bethesda, the architecture is
as much of an attraction as the wide expanse of
sandy beach. Put on your walking shoes: Cape
May is a great town for exploring by foot, with
many of the larger inns and bed-and-breakfasts
within walking distance of the beach and the
village square, where most shops and restaurants
are located. The Cape May Lighthouse, built in
1859, is worth a climb to the top. Don’t miss
dinner at 410 Bank Street, which is located in a
19th-century carriage house. The food may be the
best in town.
Experience Life in Lancaster County
Get ready to step back in time. In Lancaster
County, Pennsylvania, you might share the 2,700
miles of winding country roads with a traditional
Amish horse and buggy. Home to thousands
of practicing Amish people, Lancaster County
makes it easy to learn about Amish life. A
12-acre village invites visitors to experience the
simple Amish lifestyle, while Plain & Fancy Farm
immerses guests in an “experiential” theater,
offering an intimate view of Amish history and
modern life. Take a horse-and- buggy tour of the
countryside, and have breakfast or lunch at one
of the Amish-run restaurants. When you’re ready
to rejoin the 21st century, head to the 150 outlet
stores nearby. Think Pottery Barn, Coach and J.
Crew. Only two hours away, it’s an easy day trip.
Surf’s Up in the Outer Banks
A six-hour drive south, Duck, North Carolina, is
a low-key beachside resort town in the Outer
Banks, where shell collecting and sunbathing
meet fine dining and high-end shopping. Ditch
your car for the weekend—the Duck Trail, a
walking and bike path, connects the small town’s
locally owned shops and open-air restaurants
with many rental home neighborhoods. Kayak
serene Currituck Sound, surf the world-renowned
waves or simply walk the 7 miles of uncrowded
sand that was named one of America’s “Best
East Coast Beaches” by the Travel Channel.
There are only a few hotels in Duck, making this
a favorite getaway for anyone who prefers calm
and quiet.
Hop on the Brew Ridge Trail
The Blue Ridge Parkway in southwestern Virginia
isn’t just for nature lovers—it’s for craft beer
fans, too. Virginia once was known as the “Hop
Capital of the New World,” and today the state’s
artisanal beer-makers are reviving the tradition.
With six craft beer breweries on the Brew Ridge
Trail, about two and a half hours away, you can
crisscross Nelson and Albemarle counties into
historic Charlottesville, stopping along the way to
get a taste. Plan to stay for lunch—four of those
breweries also have full-service restaurants.
Some have outdoor picnic tables and seating
areas where visitors can take in the breathtaking
mountain vistas common in this part of the
country. Best of all, go home with a six-pack of
your favorite craft brew.
Irvington’s Lovely Inns
About a three-hour drive south, located on
the Northern Neck of Virginia and overlooking
Carter’s Creek, Irvington is small-town Americana
at its best. Listed on the National Register of
Historic Places in 2000 and home to fewer than
500 year-round residents, the village unfolds
around a town common, where you’ll find a
farmers market and summer concerts. Take
a walking tour of the restored Victorians, sip
wine at nearby vineyards, or shop the small
strip. (Blink, and it’s done.) If you stay at the
luxury waterfront Tides Inn, there’s an on-site
sailing school and a spa. Located in an 1890s
schoolhouse, The Hope and Glory Inn rents out
garden cottages and Carpenter Gothic vineyard
cottages called “tents,” which are modeled after PHOTO
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