Washington DC and ?????
 

My wife is attending a conference in DC Nov 19-22. I plan on tagging along and am looking for ideas of something to do or see from Nov 24 - 28 (Thanksgiving weekend). Thinking of renting a car but unsure of a destination. Any advice?

Are you thinking of spending 11/24 - 11/28 in an area other than DC? You could easily stay in the DC area from 11/19 - 11/28 and not see everything there is to see (meaning all of the neighborhoods, Smithsonians and historical sites plus sites on the outskirts such as Mt Vernon, Old Town Alexandria etc). I would keep DC as your base and pick a few days to rent a car as parking can be expensive. Then, I would spend a day in Annapolis, Baltimore and possibly even Charlottesville. Charlottesville is about 2.5 hours away but is definitely worth the drive just to see Monticello.

Gosh, you could just spend the whole few days in DC. There are TONS of things to do and you wouldn't even need a car, if you like museums, movies and monuments. Metro gets you just about anywhere.

The Blue Ridge Pkwy/Skyline Dr in Va (if you like nature and gorgeous Appalachian scenery) is incredible. Truly a must if you have a car.

In DC, don't forget to see the Vietnam Veterans Memorial if you haven't done so before. It's my favorite place in DC. Bring a tissue - it's that moving.

Steve
Maryland

It would be much more helpful if we knew something of your interests...depending on those you might not even have to/want to leave the city. Think of SOMETHING or perhaps yu can stay home and one of US can tag along instead!

Our plan is to arrive in DC 18 Nov. My wifes conference is 19-22 Nov. She does not plan on attending the conference all day or every day. We have been to DC before and have been to all the major sights and will just pick and choose what we would like to revisit or see new sights since our last visit.

We would like to rent a car on the 23rd and leave DC until we fly home on the 28th.

We would enjoy seeing some smaller cities in the area. Annapolis sounds interesting as well as Mt Vernon. Also heard about a market in PA called Green Dragon between Adamstown and Ephrata that sounds fun. Any areas or towns within a few hours drive with antique shops to browse?

Suggestions for 1 day trip-- Blue Ridge PKWY to Monticello. Visit Monticello and, nine miles or so away, President Monroe's more modest home. Another day trip would be to Harper's Ferry and Antietam Battlefield.

Hi Eurotravler - How about spending a few days in Philadelphia? It's a great city with lots of history. Check out www.gophila.com for ideas of what to do there.

Karen

I'd also suggest Williamsburg, Virginia.

Try the Brandywine Valley just outside of Wilmington, Delaware and about an hour south of Philadelphia. It's chock full of interesting museums and sites, and only about an hour from Lancaster County, where the Green Dragon and many antiques markets are located (Adamstown area).

Although it's not a small town, the Fells Point area of Baltimore is wonderful for antiquing. And Baltimore is a lot of fun. You could also go to the downtown Lexington Market, which surely classifies as one of the nations first malls (an underground food mecca with an odd assortment of other shops). Take the water taxi to Fells Point for a fun view of the Inner Harbor. Baltimore's Little Italy has a good assortment of restaurants although you might find better elsewhere than this commercial spot within walking distance from the Inner Harbor. The Latham in downtown Baltimore is a great boutique hotel (I think that's the name). Ellicott City nearby is an interesting bend in the road for antiques. The city is built into the sides of tall banks -- off a river maybe? I don't know.

Harper's Ferry is well worth a trip.

What about Annapolis?

Don't miss Mt. Vernon, you can get there on public transportation.

A nice circular drive might be to go over to Annapolis and spend the night. Then, drive down to Mt Vernon and Fredericksburg. Spend the night. Drive over to Charlottesville and spend two nights. Return to DC.

Word of advice: No matter which cities you decide to visit outside DC, I'd recommend that you leave on Monday the 22nd or Tuesday the 23rd (definitely not Wednesday the 24th) and get back into DC on the 27th and spend the night. I live in DC, and I drove home on Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend last year from NC, and it was the worst traffic I've EVER been in - and that is saying a lot for the DC area. The traffic on that Wednesday before Thanksgiving is equally horrendous. I would hate that you would miss your flight because of the CRAZY traffic on the 28th, so build some padding into your trip. I cannot overstate how awful traffic in the DC area will be on the Wednesday before and the Saturday/Sunday after Thanksgiving.

The previous poster makes a good point. Washington traffic will be lousy on Wednesday, November 24, the day before Christmas. It will also get bad on the night of November 28, the Sunday after Christmas. Due to the idiot Bay Bridge re-paving, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge connecting the Maryland Eastern Shore with Maryland's Western Shore is likely to be horrible. In fact, in may be horrible going west on early Sunday of the 28th.

Thamks for all the good ideas and advice!

Regards - eurotravler

Let me amend my last post and replace Christmas with Thanksgiving. Revise and extend, just like a Congressman.

If you haven't been to D.C. before there is really no need for a car, there is an amazing amount of museums, historical monuments and houses, government buildings to see. The subway system is excellent making a car not necessary to see the sites.

You may want to visit Rehoboth Beach, DE which is about 2 1/2 hrs away from D.C. If you want to go any further in Lewes, DE there is the Cape May/Lewes Fairy that can take you over to NJ.

Middleburg VA would be a nice place to spend thanksgiving weekend