In these brutal winter months, it can be easy to get caught in the same old routine: go to work, head to the gym, make dinner, sleep, wake up and do it all again. To prevent our lives from falling into step with the Billy Murray movie, Groundhog Day, it’s healthy to escape the city every once in awhile for a change in scenery. While there’s certainly no shortage of things to do in Washington, D.C., sometimes we can appreciate those things more once we’ve left the city and returned having explored other adventures.
A great place to start your exploration is Shenandoah National Park, which is about 3 hours southwest of Washington, D.C. in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. With over 75 overlooks and 500 miles of trails, Shenandoah is the perfect place to clear your head. There are four different campgrounds located throughout Shenandoah, so pack up your camping equipment and spend several days touring the park. You’ll want to remember your camera too so that you can capture shots of all the wildlife you’ll see. Shenandoah hosts over 50 species of mammals, 51 reptile species, 200 bird species, and 30 fish species. This park is a gem on the east coast where you can experience nature, hike, camp, and return to the District feeling rejuvenated.
About 50 miles southeast of Shenandoah National Park is Charlottesville, Virginia, which you can knock out on the same drive to Shenandoah or make it a destination on its own. This city is packed with history having been shaped by founding father, Thomas Jefferson. His home, Monticello, offers daily tours for a fee where you can view both the grounds and the house. Not too far from Monticello is University of Virginia which was founded by Jefferson. The campus is beautiful, with traditional Greek architecture. I recommend grabbing a cup of coffee in the morning and enjoying a nice long walk around the quad. Another popular activity in Charlottesville is wine tasting. You’ll notice signs for vineyards plastered across the highway every few miles. Check out the Monticello Wine Trail, which offers four different routes you can follow for a day or weekend of wine tasting fun.
If you’re itching to get back to city life, another great side trip from D.C. is Baltimore, Maryland, which is about 40 miles northeast of the District. The great thing is that you don’t even have to drive to this spot; you can just hop on Amtrak. One of your first stops should be the Baltimore Zoo at Druid Hill Park. The Zoo has an impressive collection of unique animals, including some you may never have heard of or seen before such as an okapi, dik-dik, sifaka, and more. Surprisingly, the Baltimore Zoo hosts more animals, and more rare animals than D.C.’s National Zoo. While you’re in town, make plans to stop by check out the Baltimore Aquarium, which features a jellyfish exhibit, a dolphin show, a 4D immersion theater, and more. Be sure to snap some pictures of the blue poison dart frogs.
Another fun side trip from D.C. is Annapolis, Maryland, located along the Chesapeake Bay. It’s only about 32 miles outside of the District. Annapolis is home to the U.S. Naval Academy, and much of the city is structured around that. The Naval Academy even offers daily tours to the public. If you have kids, you’ll want to check out the Chesapeake Children’s Museum which has hands-on, interactive exhibits that will grab children’s attention. The museum’s menu of fun activities includes an interactive theater, construction site, nature trail, herb garden, and more. Because it’s on the bay, Annapolis has some water activities that you may want to take advantage of such as a boats rides or simply a long relaxing walk along the pier.
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