Quick Day Trips from the D.C. Area

Given its centralized location, the D.C. area, or as known as the “D.M.V” area by locals (District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia) is within driving distance of many other East Coast cities. If you and your family want to explore the East Coast region of the United States, here are a list of three destinations that you and your family will want to visit. 

Baltimore, Maryland 

Located only one hour north up Interstate 95, Baltimore is the closest city in our exploration guide. If you are a sports fan, you may know that this is the home of “The Iron Man” (Cal Ripken Jr. ). A couple of attractions to visit in Baltimore are Fort McHenry, which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the nation’s “Star Spangled Banner”. The park also caters to families who may be traveling with small children too. The fort participates in an activity called the the “Junior Ranger Program”, which allows kids and families to participate in a miniature scavenger-like activity to learn more about the history of the fort. At the end of the activity, the children receive a badge and a certificate acknowledging that they have successfully completed the program. In addition to historical landmarks, Baltimore also has a great influence in the arts scene. One of the great museums that is located in the city is the Baltimore  Museum of Art. The museums contains many art collection from Asian, African, and European. The best part of the museum is that it is free for everyone who wants to visit!

Richmond, Virginia

Two hours south of the D.M.V area lies the old, colonial city of Richmond, Virginia. One interesting fact about the city is that at its St John’s Church , revolutionary leader Patrick Henry uttered the famous words “Give me liberty, or give me death”. The church still stands today and you are able to tour the historical monument. If you are a lover of literature, the city is home to the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, which celebrates the influence that Poe had on American literature. 

Bethany Beach, Delaware

Situated three hours west is the beautiful beach town of Bethany Beach, Delaware. Not only is it a place to relax and soak up the sun, but the area has also preserved its historical sights. One of the area’s historical landmarks is the Fenwick Island Lighthouse, which was first activated in 1859. An interesting fact about the lighthouse is that it is close to the Transpeninsular Marker, which defines the borders of the states of Delaware of Maryland and Delaware. Although the lighthouse was decommissioned in 1978, it has not lost the awe of people. 

The cities that I have highlighted are just a small percentage of places to visit that are within driving distance of the D.M.V area. What are you waiting for?! Get out there, drive, and explore!

*****Photo by Bob Burkhard on Unsplash