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Teetering on the edge of Maryland and Virginia, the capital is also ideally placed for memorable weekend getaways. You can hike up craggy peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains, spy wild ponies along the Eastern Shore and go sailing inside the Chesapeake Bay. There’s much to discover here, from windswept beaches to sprawling presidential estates. And if your ideal weekend entails relaxing, Delmarva (Delaware-Maryland-Virginia) has you covered, with historic B&Bs on the waterfront and scenic restaurants with award-winning farm-to-table fare.

Audrey & Daniel’s Adventure

Want to tick off some of the exciting experiences had by Audrey

and Daniel? Look for the camera icon throughout this guide.

Beyond the grand architecture and soaring monuments of Washington, you’ll find a city of tree-lined neighborhoods, world-class museums and a buzzing restaurant scene serving up specialities from every corner of the globe.

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Lincoln Memorial

Adventures on the Eastern ShoreThere are plenty of highs on this eastbound jaunt, starting with a sweeping panorama from Washington’s highest point. Afterwards, you’ll roll through Maryland’s historic state capital, then head skyward once again on a soaring free flight over the fields of Virginia. Other highlights include wildlife watching, a peaceful island paddle and rambles along old-fashioned Main Streets.

DISTANCE

540 MILES

Start the day with a visit to DC’s most recognizable land-mark. Stretching 555ft above the ground, the massive Washington Monument is the tallest building in the city, weighing in at a mere 81,000 tons. The monument was ac-tually built in two phases: look closely about a third of the way up to find the delineation between two different hues of stone. Head up to the top for a mesmerizing view over the capital, and the Potomac beyond.

Jump in the car and drive east to Annapolis, the small state capital of Maryland sitting pretty near the Chesa-peake Bay. Stretch your legs on a walk along the cobble-stones of its colonial streets, and take a peak inside the 18th-century State House. The Chesapeake is famous for its blue crabs, and one of the best places for a seafood feast is at the old-school Cantler’s Riverside Inn, just a short drive out of town.

After lunch, drive south to Onancock, Virginia, where you can take a hang-gliding flight over the Eastern Shore. On a tandem ride offered by Virginia Hang Gliding, you’ll get a lift into the sky (via a light-sport airplane), then descend by peaceful free flight from an altitude of up to 5280ft. It’s

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The iconic Washington Monument

a pure adrenaline rush amid magnificent scenery as you breeze over the patchwork quilt of forests and fields, with the Atlantic off in the distance.

That evening, drive up to Chincoteague Island, a sleepy bayside town with a heart of gold. Grab a takeaway platter from Captain Zack’s, a much-loved family run seafood shack, and eat it down at Robert Reed Waterfront Park, off Main Street. Spend the night at one of Chincoteague’s laid-back B&Bs, like the friendly Miss Molly’s.

DAY 2

In the morning, rise early for an idyllic paddle around the calm back bay of Assateague Island. As you glide through creeks and along picturesque coves, be on the lookout for the famous wild ponies, which have the run of the island. You might also spy diving pelicans or even a bald eagle soaring overhead. Assateague Explorer offers kayak tours.

After gazing (hopefully) at the ponies from the water, head onto Assateague Island for a hike along the wood-land trails. Several forest-lined loops wind past meadows, where you can sometimes spot frolicking horses. Up next is a drive down to the red-and-white-striped lighthouse and a climb to the top - a fine setting to glimpse some of the island’s 300 bird species.

In the evening, head up to Berlin, Maryland, one of the quaintest (and loveliest) small towns on the East Coast. Take a stroll down Main Street and check into the Atlan-tic Hotel – a Victorian-era guesthouse set with period furnishings. Cap the night off with dinner and live music in the Globe Theater. In 2006 this 100-year-old building was revitalized with an art gallery, lounge and dinner the-ater where you can catch a wide range of performances. It’s a great spot to enjoy your final night of the trip before driving back to DC.

Did you know?

Wild ponies have resided on Assateague Island since the 1600s, though no one knows for sure how they

arrived. Some believe they swam ashore when a cargo-carrying Spanish galleon wrecked off the island.

Hang-gliding over the Eastern Shore

Assateague’s legendary wild ponies

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WATERFRONT EXPLORERLively harbor towns, peaceful island villages and the sun-kissed sands of the Atlantic form the backdrop to this picturesque ramble that travels from DC to Delaware. The Chesapeake Bay plays a starring role, with sunset sails, crab feasts and strolls along serene shorelines. You’ll eat well on this itinerary, whether in seafood shacks, sprawling markets or elegant dining rooms that celebrate Maryland’s culinary bounty.

DISTANCE

340 MILES

Get an early start to the morning at DC’s Eastern Market, a buzzing food emporium on Capitol Hill dating back to the 1870s. Head to the rear for the famed blue bucks – blue-berry buckwheat pancakes – served at Market Lunch. Other vendors serve up fresh bread, fruit, cheeses and other local produce, perfect snacks for the drive ahead.

Just 40 miles northeast of DC, Charm City (aka Balti-more) lives up to its name with its pretty harbor, excellent farm-to-table restaurants and friendly, wisecracking locals. You could spend days exploring Baltimore, but focus on a few key sites this weekend: check out the wild sculptures and paintings at the American Visionary Art Museum, tour the impressive ships on the waterfront (such as the three-masted 1854 USS Constellation) and take in some of history (and fine views) from Fort McHenry.

Make the drive across the bay to Maryland’s enchanting Eastern Shore. St Michaels, which calls itself ‘the heart and soul of the Chesapeake Bay’, is a fine place to start, with Victorian homes, a peaceful waterfront and a main street dotted with antique shops and old-fashioned restau-rants. Take a leisurely stroll to the shore (you can also eat seafood at the Crab Claw on the pier), and enjoy a relaxing night in one of St Michael’s guesthouses. The cozy Point Breeze B&B makes the most of its waterfront setting.

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Strolling in St Michaels

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It’s a short but scenic drive to Tilghman Island, a tiny settlement with a working waterfront. Take a sailing trip on the Chesapeake aboard the Rebecca T Ruark, an 1886 oyster skipjack. Captain Wade Murphy has a wealth of information on the bay, and he’ll happily let you take the wheel if you want to try your hand at sailing.

Drive back through St Michaels en route to Bellevue, a sleepy town at the end of Hwy 329. From there, take the tiny old-fashioned car ferry across the Tred Avon River. You’ll arrive in Oxford, a village that dates back to the 1600s. It’s a fun place to explore, but don’t miss lunch in the Robert Morris Inn, a bayfront beauty (and guesthouse) serving a magnificent seasonal menu.

Heading west straight across Maryland, you’ll reach a lovely stretch of Atlantic coast. There are many fine places to linger, but the Delaware town of Lewes has undeniable appeal. Founded in 1631 by the Dutch, this seaside gem has a mix of English and Dutch architecture, easy-going waterfront restaurants and outdoor options galore, from fishing and kayaking to bike trails and hiking in nearby Cape Henlopen State Park. Spend the night at the Blue Water House, perfectly located near the beach. In the morning, take a sunrise stroll along the sandy shores before returning to Washington.

DAY 2

Did you know?

Fed by more than 150 rivers and streams, the Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in North

America. Its watershed is massive, covering 64,000 sq miles.

The Chesapeake Bay

Robert Morris Inn

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The Wonders of Virginia Steeped in history, Virginia is the birthplace of America and home to grand presidential estates and relics from a colonial past. This scenic drive takes you to some of the state’s historic treasures, while also showcasing its natural beauty, from the rolling vineyards of the Piedmont to the mountainous wilderness of Shenandoah.

DISTANCE

310 MILES

Though it’s just across the Potomac, Alexandria feels like a world away from the marble corridors of Washington. Here you’ll find an ‘Old Town’ (as locals call it) of redbrick homes, cobblestone streets and a waterfront promenade. For a win-dow into the past, visit one of the historic house museums. The handsomely preserved Lee-Fendall House shows how the Virginia gentry lived in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Continue the journey into America’s past with a visit to Mount Vernon, the country estate of George Washington. On a tour of the 19-room mansion, interactive galleries and the hillside grounds overlooking the Potomac, you’ll gain deeper insight into America’s first president.

Some 35 miles west of Mount Vernon, the Steven F Ud-var-Hazy Center is the sprawling extension of Washing-ton’s famous Air & Space Museum, and it’s arguably even more impressive. It’s three times the size of the DC muse-um, and contains the SR-71 Blackbird (the world’s fastest jet, with a top speed of 2200 mph), the space shuttle Discovery and many other eye-catching pieces. Don’t miss the obser-vation tower, where you can watch planes take off and land at Dulles Airport.

A short drive south of the museum, you can glimpse an-other historic site: the grassy fields and dark woods where Union and Confederate soldiers clashed in the first major

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Alexandria, Virginia

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battle of the Civil War. Today this land is preserved as the Manassas National Battlefield Park. Get an overview at the visitor center, then walk amid the tall grasses and split-rail wood fences that set the stage for what was later called the Battle of Bull Run. Overnight in Manassas at the very welcoming Bennett House B&B.

Hit the road early for a scenic drive along Hwy 20, past fields and rolling hills, as you head to Charlottesville. Set on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, C-Ville is a small town that punches well above its weight, with its locavore-loving restau-rants and historic attractions.

The town centerpiece is the University of Virginia, one of America’s loveliest college campuses. Thomas Jefferson, who founded the school in 1819, considered its creation one of his greatest achievements. It’s hard to disagree on a tour around the grounds. Don’t miss the Rotunda, a replica of Rome’s Pan-theon, which Jefferson designed himself.

Have an early lunch at one of the restaurants on the Down-town Mall. The atmospheric Citizen Burger Bar serves up creative burgers (including a juicy vegan option) as well as crispy truffle fries and a delicious roasted beet salad.

After lunch, it’s high time to head into the wilderness of Shenandoah. Spectacularly set on the spine of the Blue Ridge Mountains, this 200-mile long national park has amazing wonders at every turn, from forested hiking trails to clifftop views. Enter at Rockfish Gap and take the curvy Skyline Drive up to Big Meadows. There you can hike some of the most sce-nic trails in the park, including a four-mile loop that skirts past streams and waterfalls along the Rose River trail.

Extend the Shenandoah experience by booking a night in one of the park’s lodges. Big Meadows is a classic stone- and wood-paneled lodge with comfy rooms, a first-rate restaurant and a veranda where you can watch the sunset over the greenery.

From there, it’s a three-hour drive back to DC. Try to squeeze in an early-morning hike before hitting the road.

DAY 2

Tip

There are three presidential estates in the Charlottesville region, including Monticello (Thomas Jefferson’s former abode) and the lesser known but

highly recommended Montpelier, where James Madison resided.

Manassas National Battlefield Park

Blue Ridge Mountains

Produced by Lonely Planet for Ford Motor Company. All editorial views are those of Lonely Planet alone and reflect our policy of editorial independence and impartiality.

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