8 Great Places To Explore in DC, MD & VA

If I don’t go anywhere for several weekends, I get very antsy.  I feel a need to get out and explore.  If a vacation isn’t on the horizon, a day trip usually quiets my wanderlust for awhile.

Whether you live in the DC metro area or are planning a visit, there is no shortage of things to do and see around the DMV (DC/MD/VA).

To help you find something to do, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite day trips and recommended activities for each place.  Since I’m using DC as the starting point for travel times, it only makes sense for it to be the first place on the list.  Enjoy!

---

8 Great Places to Explore In & Around Washington, DC

 WASHINGTON, DC

• Spend time exploring one (or more) of DC’s museums (all offering free admission). Download a list below.
• Take a self-guided walking tour of the various monuments
• Stroll along the Tidal Basin (especially nice when the cherry blossoms are out)
• People watch while enjoying a picnic on The Mall
• Enjoy the beauty of the many plants and flowers in the United States Botanic Garden
• Take a guided tour of the city:
  • Via Tour Bus – Choose the Hop On, Hop Off option, allowing you to get on and off along the bus route
  • Via Trolley –  Drivers take passengers around this great city, highlighting the best of DC with 21 stops and more than 100 points of interest

---

INNER HARBOR – BALTIMORE, MD
 (Approximate Travel Time from DC: 1 Hour 20 minutes)

• Eat and shop at Harborplace on Pratt Street
• Visit the National Aquarium (*Buying tickets online in advance is highly recommended, especially during Spring breaks and summer when school is out)
• Check out the great exhibits at the Maryland Science Center
• Tour one of the historic ships
• Rent a paddleboat and propel yourself around the harbor
• Get a 360-degree view of Baltimore, the Inner Harbor and beyond from the Top of the World Observatory
• Watch an Oriole’s baseball game at nearby Camden Yards
• Take a short walk to Federal Hill, which offers some of the best views of the Inner Harbor and Baltimore Skyline

---

 DEALE, MD
(Approximate Travel Time from DC: 1 Hour 15 minutes)

• Go fishing or crabbing from the Deale’s public dock (a license is needed for either as Game Wardens frequently come by; licenses are available from the bait and tackle shop down the street)
• Charter a boat and try your luck at fishing in the Chesapeake Bay
• Delight in a bowl of rich and delicious Cream of Crab soup at Petie Greens (some of the best I’ve had anywhere!)
• Enjoy fresh seafood and a breathtaking sunset along the water at Skipper’s Pier Restaurant & Dock Bar (they also have live music in the Spring, Summer & Fall)

---

SOLOMON’S ISLAND, MD
(Approximate Travel Time from DC: 2 Hours)

• Walk along the Riverwalk on the main road
• Go fishing
• Dine at one of the local restaurants
• Enjoy some live music or a drink at the popular Tiki Bar
• Explore the Calvert Marine Museum and the Drum Point Lighthouse
• Stay overnight (I like the Solomons Victorian Inn)
• Take a short drive and hunt for fossils at Calvert Cliffs State Park
• Tour one or more of the 9 wineries along the Patuxent Wine Trail

---

 PURCELLVILLE, VA
(Approximate Travel Time from DC: 1 Hour 15 minutes)

• Take a walking tour of the historic area, paying special attention to the many beautiful Victorian homes
• Taste some whiskey and tour the Catoctin Creek Distillery
• Peruse the unique offerings of the Re-Love It consignment shop and Its Bazaar on 21st Street
• Check out the bikes and cycling accessories at Trail’s End Cycling Company
• Walk, jog, cycle or skate from the end of the W&OD Trail
• Enjoy a delicious bite to eat at Magnolia’s at the Mill (one of my favorite restaurants)
• Drive a short distance and taste some of Virginia’s finest wines at one (or more) of its wineries

---

 ALEXANDRIA, VA
(Approximate Travel Time from DC: 30 minutes)

• Check out the many great shops around Old Town
• Enjoy a drink, appetizers or yummy meal:
  • Along the Potomac – I recommend the Chart House Restaurant for their great food and water view
  • In town – there’s something for everyone
• Peruse the various creations and interact with artists at the popular Torpedo Factory Art Center
• Ride bikes on the Mount Vernon Trail (Its a great ride from Old Town Alexandria to Mount Vernon)
• Visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon
  • There’s a lot more to see than you think! Check out the map of the estate and gardens
  • Enjoy American cuisine in the colonial-inspired setting at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant

---

 CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
(Approximate Travel Time from DC: 2 Hours)

• Tour the University of Virginia, voted Most Beautiful Campus in America
• Walk around Historic Court Square and learn about the history of the area
• Stroll along the popular Historic Downtown Mall, where shops and restaurants abound
• Explore the mansion and grounds of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
• Browse the General Store or have a bite to eat at the Michie Tavern, just 1/2 mile from Monticello, where they recreate 18th-century tavern life
• Drive along the Monticello Wine Trail and sample some of the delicious Northern Virginia wines

---

 HARPERS FERRY, WV
(Approximate Travel Time from DC: 1 Hour 45 minutes)

• Take a stroll through history in Upper Town Harpers Ferry
• Tour the town via a horse and wagon
• Visit the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park
• Take a look inside the gorgeous St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church
• Climb the stairs to the Harper Cemetery (where the founder of Harpers Ferry is buried) and take in the scenic views of the surrounding area
• Peruse the many quaint little shops
• Enjoy a drink or meal in a local restaurants
• Go on a ghost tour
• Hike part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail
• Walk or bike along the C&O Canal Towpath
• Tube, raft, kayak, canoe or paddleboard on the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers
• Stay overnight (or longer) in or around the area

---

I hope this post gave you some ideas.  Please let me know which places you visit as a result of this post – or places you like that are NOT on the list.  Share in the Comments below.

 

SaveSave