Beyond the Beltway: Day Trips From Washington

Thought it would be fun to make a list of the day trips we’ve taken in the last several years, with a quick thought or two on the good and bad.  

No certain order, but our favorites are in the first half.   A great time can be had at any of these, so last is certainly not least.   

By no means is this an exhaustive list, but there’s a baker’s dozen here, and we endeavor to make more trips.    And of course, the usual disclaimers apply.

 

Frederick, MD

Good

Frederick has really blossomed in the past five years.   They have a new Visitor’s Center, great place to start.   Be sure and take a walk along the water, and see the painted bridge, which uses a “trompe l’oeil” effect.   Nice arts center, shopping along Market Street, historic district marked, excellent restaurants including Gladchuk Brothers.

Bad

Traffic on I-270.

Middleburg, VA         

Good

Lovely drive in from the south, the Middleburg mystique, center of horse and hunt country, good restaurants and shops, and stop and see the mill in Aldie.

Bad

Not far away, so you might not get the complete sense of escaping.   

Annapolis, MD

State cap sign

Good

The Naval Academy, the lovely historic homes and buildings, the bay breezes on a hot summer day, smell of crab cakes, boats in the harbor, the state capitol, charming little roundabout, lots of history.

Bad

Parking is scarce in the summer.   Bridge traffic can back up.

Front Royal, VA

Good

Gateway to Skyline Drive, fall foliage,  foot of the mountains beauty, country feel, good eats at Apartment 2-G and The Element, and Overall Run is a great place for hiking.

Bad

I-66 traffic, especially during the peak fall weekends.

 

Harper’s Ferry, WVA

 Good

Surrounding mountain beauty unmatched anywhere in the region, John Brown’s rebellion, historic buildings.

Bad

Traffic on I-270.

 

Thurmont, MD

Good

Good eats and a small museum for Camp David at The Cozy.   Lovely drive through the Catoctin Mountains and you can brag you know where Camp David is.

Bad

You don’t actually get to see Camp David. 

Crowded during the Catoctin Colorfest Arts and Crafts Show.

 

Waterford, VA

Good   

Time stands still in this bedroom community, a quiet walk through the past, steeped in local history.

Bad:  No restaurants or shops, one public restroom.

 

Leesburg, VA

Good

High end boutique shops, good restaurants, civil war history.

Bad

Traffic on Route 7, also not far away.

 

Fredericksburg, VA

Good

A ton of Civil War history, excellent historic district, Washington boyhood home.

Bad

Traffic on I-95.

 

 

Chestertown, MD

Good:  Waterfront walk, lovely historic homes, and the commemorative makers all in one place.

Bad

The Tea Party may not have happened, crossing the Bay Bridge.

 

Warrenton, VA

Good

Claire’s at the Depot, Jail Museum, Great Harvest Bread Company.

Bad

Not necessarily the place if you’re not a Moseby fan.  

 

Solomon’s Island, MD

Good

Calvert County Museum, fun to watch the boats go by, water on the horizon, good eats.

Bad:  Stoplights on Route 4.

 

Dumfries, VA

Good:  Weems-Botts Museum, street names same as Old Town Alexandria.   

Bad

Traffic on I-95 and Route 1.