What's a great, relaxing daytrip outside DC -- within 1 or 2 hours drive?

Question

Please explain why and details in your answer, not just a one word answer.

It should be ideally very reasonable and easy enough for older senior adults who just want to take a leisurely stroll with interesting things to look at. It could even be a day-tour offered.

Williamsburg?

Laurey Caverns?

Eastern Shore?

THANKS!

Answer 1

St.Micheals on the eastern shore. Starting from Washington take U.S. 50 North into Annapolis (another good place to sightsee its Maryland's state capital)go to the Municipal docks. A tour boat willtake you over it is about a 45 minute trip. it gives you about 2 hours to explore the town combine the 2 things and you have a great daytrip low on gas expenses.  

Answer 2

Luray Caverns is good. So is Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson.  Or the Inner Harbor in Baltimore.  I really depends on what they like.

Answer 3

The Inner Harbor in Baltimore is fantastic.  You can enjoy the view, eat at fantastic restaurants, do some great shopping, tour ships, take a water taxi, see an Orioles game, go to the science museum, or my personal favorite, visit the aquarium.

Answer 4

williamsburg is definately too far for a day trip. from downtown it would be about a 3 1/2 hr. drive. luray caverns is really neat, and they have great tours. just outside of dc is mount vernon which can easily take up a whole day. the virginia civil war sites are really interesting as well, and the national park service offers some great tours of them.  

Answer 5

It doesn't have much interesting to look at, but Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, is about 90 minutes or so from DC.  They have a nice little park, a couple of places with Roman baths, some day spas, and a couple of cute restaurants.  

Unfortunately, it's been a few years since I went there, but it should still be a nice place to go.

Answer 6

The Shenandoah Skyline drive 1 hour away -  You stay in the car most of the time but it is the most beautiful drive. it was  one of my teenagers favorite spots on our 3 week vacation last year. buy the CD at the ranger station and follow the tour. It's as long as you want it to be 2 hours or 10 hours. Buy some chicken and pack a lunch.

Try Annapolis - a very cute town with shops, take the boat tour and tour the military academy (Free)

http://www.cheap-fun-family-travel.com for more ideas

Williamsburg is too far for a day trip

Answer 7

You could make it to Charlottesville/Monticello within two hours.

Charlottesville is very scenic and Monticello is incredibly interesting.

Charlottesville is also home to UVA (University of Virginia).

It would be nice sightseeing.

Answer 8

Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Easy to get there via the bay bridge and then small relaxing rural roads to the Delaware Shore - about a 2 and a half hour drive.

Rehoboth is a clean, family-friendly beach with a nice long boardwalk, expansive beaches to relax on, and many stores along the main road (Rehoboth Ave) ranging from quaint little places to touristy knick-knack joints.

Answer 9

You could go up to gettysburg, or mount vernon where george washington lived.