Tilghman Island, Maryland
Located two hours from Bethesda, across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, three-mile-long Tilghman Island is infused with the charm of a 19th-century fishing village. Accessible by drawbridge, the island offers an endless choice of activities, but the panoramic water views and slow island pace beg relaxation.
Where to Stay
All 20 rooms in the elegant Tilghman Island Inn (www.tilghmanislandinn.com, 800-866-2141) boast sweeping water views. Weekend rates range from $250-$300 and weekend packages, which include two nights, a five-course dinner for two, continental breakfast and Sunday brunch, start at $620. The intimate Lazyjack Inn (www.lazyjackinn.com, 800-690-5080), decorated with antiques and original artwork, overlooks Dogwood Harbor and the last fleet of commercial skipjacks in North America. Owner Carol Richards serves a gourmet breakfast Rarely missed by guests. Weekend rates range from $186-$289. Rooms at the Chesapeake Wood Duck Inn (www.woodduckinn.com, 800-956-2070), a restored 1890s boarding house, have views of Dogwood Harbor and the bay. Rates start at $149.
Where to Eat
Opt for the chef ’s five-course tasting menu at the Tilghman Island Inn. Dishes change seasonally according to the availability of fresh seafood and local produce. The unassuming weathered-gray Bay Hundred (www.bayhundredrestaurant.net) serves seafood and pasta specialties in a dining room surrounded by the Knapp’s Narrows. For more casual ambiance, try a platter heaped with steamed crabs at Harrison’s Chesapeake House (www.chesapeakehouse.com) on the huge outdoor deck.
What to Do
Opportunities to spend time on the water are numerous. Book a fishing charter, eco-tour, lighthouse tour or spend the day sailing on the oldest working skipjack. As the sun sets, take an evening cruise complete with a champagne toast (www.tilghmanisland.com/onthewater.php). For guests who would rather steer their own course, Tilghman Island Marina (tilghmanmarina.com) rents water sports equipment, including wave runners, jet skis, kayaks and a fleet of boats from sailboats to fishing boats and pontoons.
Stroll through the island’s small, but unique collection of shops. Crawford’s Nautical Books (www.crawfordsnautical.com) features over 12,000 volumes on nautical, naval and maritime subjects. Tilghman Island Treasures (www.tilghmanislandtreasures.com) carries Chesapeake Bay-themed accessories. Bring home a crab doorknocker or one of their gift baskets complete with Chesapeake Bay oysters in the shell, jars of shucked oysters, an oyster knife and recipes.
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Think “Gettysburg” and Civil War soldiers and a major battle likely comes to mind. Just 90 minutes from Bethesda, amidst the blue and gray, the sabers and muskets, lies a small town full of period charm.
Where to Stay
The 200-year-old downtown GettysburgHotel (www.historichotels.org/hotel/183, 717-337-2000) has spacious rooms with antiques, fireplaces and Jacuzzis. Abraham Lincoln wrote his immortal Gettysburg Address just steps away and the hotel served as a temporary White House for President Eisenhower. Weekend rates range from $130 to $400 per night. The Herr Tavern & Publick House (www.herrtavern.com, 800-362-9849) built in 1815, has 18 rooms and suites, some overlooking the battlefield. Most feature fireplaces and Jacuzzis; some have private decks. Landscaped grounds surround the inn. Weekend rates including breakfast range from $129 to $209.
Where to Eat
Have a drink at the Gettysburg Hotel’s McClellan’s Tavern (717-337-2000), featuring a 19th-century English bar or try Farnsworth Tavern (www.farnsworthhouseinn.com/tavern.html), where Civil War reenactors frequent the bar. Centuries on the Square (www.hotelgettysburg.com) serves traditional dishes in its Federal-style dining room overlooking the town center. In warmer weather, request a table outside. Try one of Gettysburg’s period-styled restaurants. The Farnsworth House (www.farnsworthhouseinn.com) sheltered Confederate sharpshooters during the war. The dining room and garden area offer colonial and continental dishes. Wait staff in period dress at the Dobbin House Tavern (www.dobbinhouse.com) serve dinner by candlelight. The restaurant uses local produce in its colonial and continental cuisine and serves homemade breads and desserts from its bakery.
What to Do
Stop at the Gettysburg National Military Park (www.nps.gov/gett) visitor’s center for artifacts, films, interactive exhibits and ranger-guided programs that make the three-day Civil War battle come to life. Tour the battlefield by car, bus or foot. Each weekend, living history encampments occur throughout the town with soldier and civilian reenactors living as they did in 1863.
Shops, galleries and restaurants line the downtown streets. 17 on the Square (17onthesquare.com) houses a wide variety of antique dealers. Gallery 30 (www.gallery30.com) sells fine art, custom jewelry and books. Civil War Fine Art (www.civilwarfineart.com) and MKünstler Gallery (www.mkunstlergallery.com) specialize in period art. On Chambersburg Street, local Adams County Winery (www.adamscountywinery.com) sells its award-winning vintages, including Stray Cat Strut and Tears of Gettysburg.
The Majestic Theater (www.gettysburgmajestic.org) showcases live arts performances and current, classic and art films. The theater reopened in 2005, restored to its 1925 Colonial Revival splendor, with a glazed, pressed-tin ceiling and stained-glass chandeliers.
Washington, D.C.
Everyone else does it, so why can’t we be tourists in Washington, too? There’s nothing like rediscovering D.C. in the spring—the season that reminds us all why we live here. And you can’t beat the drive (or Metro ride).
Where to Stay
Although many hotel chains have a D.C. location, the city is full of unique lodging. Located on Capitol Hill, stylish Hotel George (www.hotelgeorge.com, 202-347-4200) has oversized beds, marble baths and cobalt-blue leather furnishings. Weekdays, there is complimentary wine tasting in the white-and-coral lobby. Weekend rates start at $309. The hotel’s sleek Bistro Bis offers classic French cuisine in a modern bistro atmosphere. At the Tabard Inn at 17th and Nstreets Northwest (www.tabardinn.com, 202-785-1277), guests can enjoy cocktails and live jazz in front of the sitting room’s fireplace or out on the summer patio. The hotel is charming in an eclectic, casual way. Rates begin at $152. The boutique style Topaz Hotel (www.topazhotel.com, 800-775-1202), tucked away on a quiet street near the happenings of Dupont Circle, is colorfully decorated in lime green, bright blue and red, and accented with New Age touches, including exotic teas, energy drinks and specialty yoga rooms. Weekend rates begin at $279.
Where to Eat
Experience the modern lines of Georgetown’s Hook (www.hookdc.com) and its menu of responsibly sourced seafood, which often includes lesser-known varieties such as wahoo and weakfish.
Wine-centric Proof (www.proofdc.com), in the hot Penn Quarter, encourages diners to share the menu’s charcuterie or 20-plus cheeses. Wolfgang Puck’s The Source (www.wolfgangpuck.com/restaurants), adjacent to the new Newseum on Pennsylvania, uses local and organic produce and native specialties, such as Chesapeake Bay blue crabs. Small plates are available in the ground-floor lounge and Asian-inspired cuisine in the restaurant upstairs.
What to Do
Gain a new perspective. Visit a museum not located on the Mall—Women in the Arts (www.nmwa.org) or the Phillips Collection (www.phillipscollection.org). See the most recently installed monuments—the World War II Memorial (www.nps.gov/nwwm), Korean War Veterans Memorial (www.nps.gov/kwvm)—or the lesser-known monument to Franklin Delano Roosevelt (www.nps.gov/fdrm) with four outdoor “rooms” representing his four presidential terms. To speed things up, cruise the streets on a Segway (www.citysegwaytours.com/washington) or rented bike (www.bikewashington.org/rentals).When the sun sets, enjoy a cruise along the Potomac (www.odysseycruises.com/dc) or a moonlight tour of the monuments (www.trolleytours.com/Washington-DC/night-tours.asp).
St. Mary’s City, Maryland
Head south toward St. Mary’s County on the west side of the Chesapeake Bay and watch townhouse developments give way to farmland and coastal marshes. St. Mary’s unique atmosphere, says local innkeeper Jim Grube, is a combination of maritime Chesapeake culture and decades of agricultural traditions.
Where to Stay
Located on the grounds of historic St. Mary’s City, The Brome-Howard Inn (www.bromehowardinn.com, 888-801-0656) is set on 30 acres along the St. Mary’s River. The rooms, which have river and country views, are decorated with antiques and period artwork and include fireplaces, featherbeds and down comforters. Owner Lisa Kelley encourages visitors to experience the stillness of the river landscape. Weekend rates range from $145-$185. Woodlawn Historic Bed & Breakfast (www.woodlawn-farm.com, 301-872-0555) sits at the end of a mile-long driveway on a 180-acre estate near Calvert Bay. Owner Grube and his wife, St. Mary’s College President Maggie O’Brien, restored the inn and developed a 10-acre vineyard. They are currently converting an existing barn into a winery and tasting room. Weekend rates for the five cottage suites range from$160-$190.
Where to Eat
The Brome-Howard Inn serves dinner in its cozy dining room and outdoors when the weather permits. The Tides (www.thetidesrestaurant.net) in Lexington specializes in seafood and steak and has an international wine list. Check for special wine dinners. In Leonardtown, Cafédes Artistes (www.cafedesartistes.ws), decorated with antique cameras and photographs, serves French-inspired fare with its extensive wine list. Unassuming Courtney’s Restaurant & Seafood (301-872-4403),where second generation waterman Tom Courtney catches the seafood and his wife, Julie, cooks it, is a favorite of visitors and locals alike.
What to Do
Explore St. Mary’s City (www.stmaryscity.org) where interpreters in period costume recreate the history of the city, established by English colonists in 1634 and the capital of Maryland until 1695. Exhibits include a State House and working colonial farm. Aboard the square-rigged Maryland Dove, sailors tell tales of the era’s tobacco trade and immigration. Waterfront Leonardtown is full of interesting shops, restaurants and galleries. Fenwick Street Used Books and Music (www.fenwickbooks.com) houses over 27,000 books and a vast collection of vinyl records. The Maryland Antiques Center (www.paxp.com/mac) proffers treasures from a variety of dealers and at Crazy for Ewe (www.crazyforewe.com) knitters will find a unique selection of yarns.
Reenergize with an espresso at Room with a Brew (www.roomwithabrew.com) and browse the display of local arts. For a cooler treat, sample one of the 32 flavors at Carousel’s Ice Cream (www.carouselsicecream.com).
Charlottesville, Virginia
Amidst the rolling Virginia countryside, Charlottesville offers history, wine and a charming downtown.
Where to Stay
Keswick Hall (www.keswick.com, 800-274-5391) is located on the lush 600-acre Keswick Estate. An infinity-edge pool overlooking rolling hills, tennis courts, a full-service spa and an Arnold Palmer Signature golf course fill leisurely hours. Weekend rates begin at $425. Built from the timbers of an abandoned gristmill, the elegant Boars Head Inn (www.boarsheadinn.com, 800-476-1988) provides four-poster beds and fine linens. Decorated in a classic country estate style, some rooms have fireplaces; most have balconies or patios. Weekend rates start at $269. For grand luxury on a smaller scale, the Clifton Inn (www.cliftoninn.net, 888-971-1800) features 18 rooms combining historical authenticity with modern convenience. Set on a 100-acre estate, miles of walking trails lead to the private lake, pool, manicured croquet lawn and the Rivanna River. Weekend rates start at $365.
Where to Eat
Floor-to-ceiling windows at Fossett’s (www.keswick.com/web/ okes/okes_c3b1_restaurant.jsp) at Keswick Hall provide the backdrop for contemporary dining featuring regional dishes and local ingredients.A chef ’s tasting menu and extensive wine list are available. Zocalo (www.zocalo-restaurant.com), translated as “center of town” in colloquial Spanish, specializes in Spanish-influenced cuisine such as chili-dusted sea scallops and grilled ancho-rubbed pork. Also downtown, the Blue Light Grill & Raw Bar (www.bluelightgrill.com) serves oysters, steamed seafood and caviar at the raw bar and seafood specialties in the main dining area.
What to Do
The Charlottesville area is considered the wine capital of Virginia with 21 wineries comprising the Monticello Wine Trail (www.monticellowinetrail.org). Most tasting rooms are open to the public. Maps of the wine trail divide it into four routes, making several stops possible in a day. Guided tours are available from Arcady Vineyard (www.arcadyvineyard.com) at $115 per person, including pick-up service, guide, appetizers, tasting fees, drinks and a gourmet cheese-and-fresh-fruit lunch. Itineraries are customized for each couple.
Tour Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello (www.monticello.org) and University of Virginia (www.virginia.edu), James Monroe’s Ash Lawn-Highland (www.ashlawnhighland.org) or James Madison’s Montpelier (www.montpelier.org). The Albermarle Convention & Visitors Bureau sells a Presidents’ Pass that combines admission to several sites (www.pursuecharlottesville.com).
Spend time in the heart of Charlottesville at the historic, brick-paved downtown pedestrian mall with more than 120 shops and 30 restaurants—many with outdoor cafés—located in restored and renovated historic buildings on and around Main Street.
New River Gorge, West Virginia
New River Gorge, about 41/2 hours from Bethesda, is renowned for spectacular scenery and outdoor activities. The New River flows through deep canyons, creating opportunities for whitewater rafting, rock climbing and hiking. Visitors may want to return on Bridge Day in October and join the 200,000 people who gather to watch 300 BASE jumpers parachute off the New River Gorge Bridge, diving 876 feet into the river below.
Where to Stay
New River Gorge-area accommodations run the gamut from hotels/motels to cabins, campgrounds and bed and breakfasts. Cabins on the Gorge (www.cabinsonthegorge.com, 800-252-7784) in Fayetteville is a full-service resort with lodging, restaurants and Class VI outfitters. Well-appointed log cabins—with lofts, fireplaces and outdoor hot tubs—have luxury baths with heated floors, double shower heads and a stereo system, according to Dave Arnold, president of Class VI River Runners Inc., which owns Cabins on the Gorge. Weekend rates begin at $300.
Where to Eat
The buffet at Smokey’s on the Gorge (www.class-vi.com/smokeysonthegorge.cfm) provides gourmet entrees that change nightly. Choices include Appalachian specialties, such as barbecued wild boar ribs or grilled quail, and game, such as venison and buffalo. The open-air, timber-frame pavilion perched on the rim of the canyon allows diners to commune with nature. “Every once in awhile a bird will fly through or the fog will roll in,” says Arnold. In nearby Summersville, Dominic’s Italian Chophouse (www.dominics-wv.com) is a registered historical landmark housed in a restored downtown bank. The restaurant serves Italian food with a modern twist.
What to Do
White water rafting begins mid-March when the New River swells with melted snow and spring rains. The Upper New River has milder Class I-III rapids and wide corridors lined with lush foliage. The Lower New River has challenging Class I-V white water, with narrow stretches that flow around boulders and through canyon walls. Information on 18 local rafting companies can be found at www.wvawhitewater.com/info-request. New River Gorge contains myriad venues for rock climbing and rappelling. Many companies, including Class VI (www.class-vi.com), Hard Rock Climbing Services (www.hardrockclimbing.com) and New River Mountain Guides (www.newriverclimbing.com/aboutnrmg.html), provide excursions for all levels. Excursions are half-day or full-day, and teach the basics or challenge expert climbers. A unique experience, says Arnold, is a trip to Summersville Lake. A pontoon boat transports climbers between sites along the lake’s 20 miles of rock formations. New River Gorge hiking trails wind around rocks, through forests and across plateaus. Highlights include overlooks, waterfalls and cliffs. The National Park Service provides comprehensive trail maps (www.nps.gov/neri).
Gabriele McCormick frequently writes about travel for Bethesda Magazine.
