Washington

Mather Gorge & the Billy Goat Trail

Just 30 minutes from DC, the Potomac River pinches through Mather Gorge at Great Falls and the Billy Goat Trail delivers the best scrambling in the Mid-Atlantic — a full day of rocky Class C terrain without leaving the region.

Middleburg Hunt Country & Virginia Wine

Seventy-five minutes from DC through rolling Loudoun County, Middleburg is the heart of Virginia's horse country — the foxhunting tradition goes back to 1840, the stone-fenced farms are postcard-perfect, and the wineries on the surrounding hills produce some of the state's best Cabernet Franc.

Annapolis: Colonial Capital & Chesapeake Waterfront

Annapolis is the oldest continually operating colonial capital in the country — its 18th-century street plan, brick rowhouses, and working harbor survive virtually intact 45 minutes from DC. The Naval Academy, the 1695 State House, and the oyster boats on City Dock make this the Mid-Atlantic's finest single-day cultural excursion.