Off-the-Beaten Path & Day Trips Outside the Beltway

We've listed below a handful of interesting attractions and some new places of interest to see while visiting Washington, DC. Please consult local tourism sites for a full range of activities. For most of the Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia destinations, you'll need a car (or DC/SLA friend) to reach the destinations. Several of the attractions listed below are from TheDistrict.com Day Trips.

Washington, DC

• Dumbarton House
• DC by the Dozen (Washington Post Weekend Section)
• Hillwood Museum & Gardens
• International Spy Museum
• Marian Koshland Science Museum
• Mount Vernon
• Sewell-Belmont House & Museum
• Woodrow Wilson House
• National Building Museum 

Maryland

• Six Flags America - an amusement/water park in DC Metro area

Annapolis

• Annapolis, MD (including the US Naval Academy and the Maryland State House)

Baltimore

• Baltimore, MD (see also SLA MD Chapter 2006 Annual Conference page for lots of Baltimore destination ideas)
• B&O Railroad Museum

Southern Maryland

When looking at a map of Maryland, Southern Maryland is comprised of the three southern most counties in Maryland: Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's. There are many historical and beautiful areas worth visiting if you have the time.

Calvert County

Travel direction and time: Southeast of DC and is about 1 hour by car.

• Solomons Island - wonderful waterfront fishing village on the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay. Don't forget to visit the Calvert Marine Museum and the Drum Point Lighthouse and stop for lunch at Stoney's Kingfisher - one of the best lump crab sandwiches you'll every have on the Bay!

St. Mary's County

Travel direction and time: Southeast of DC and is about 1-1/2 hours by car.

• Historic St. Mary's City - site of the fourth permanent settlement by the British in North America and Maryland's first capital.

Virginia

• Antietam National Civil War Battlefield
• Fairfax, VA including the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
• Manassas National Civil War Battlefield
• Mount Vernon Estate - home of George Washington . See also article in USAToday.com "Washington's whiskey hits the barrel after 200 year hiatus" (4/15/2009) - Members can buy George Washington's whiskey if you go on the Mt. Vernon tour!

Old Town Alexandria, VA

• Looking for a night out or a day trip with shopping? Old Town Alexandria offers restaurants and night life as well as unique shopping, all on or near its historic King Street. How to get there? On the Metro, take the Yellow Line from Mt. Vernon Sq/Convention Center to King Street. When you get out of the station veer to the left to get to King Street. Old Town is also a quick taxi ride away. You'll find restaurants, night spots, quaint shops, an artists' cooperative and more as you stroll down King Street.
• See also Old Town Alexandria wiki page pulled together from SLA member Lisa Pogue who's hometown is Alexandria!

West Virginia

• Harpers Ferry National Civil War Battlefield