Where should I stay on the East Coast in October?
June 20, 2017 10:07 AM Subscribe
I'd like to find a nice B&B or small hotel to stay for long weekend in early October, somewhere within a half day's drive from DC. I'm a little overwhelmed by the choices, so personal recommendations would be great.
I will be traveling on my own, escaping from a stressful job, so relaxing is the main aim of the weekend. Fall is by far my favorite season, so I'm thinking of heading north, to get a little more of that early morning nip in the air that I love. But heading west into the mountains would accomplish that as well. Things I enjoy: walks through nature (although not challenging hikes), lovely old historic architecture, antiques, flea markets and junk shops, museums both formal and weird, folk art and local history. Thanks everyone!
I will be traveling on my own, escaping from a stressful job, so relaxing is the main aim of the weekend. Fall is by far my favorite season, so I'm thinking of heading north, to get a little more of that early morning nip in the air that I love. But heading west into the mountains would accomplish that as well. Things I enjoy: walks through nature (although not challenging hikes), lovely old historic architecture, antiques, flea markets and junk shops, museums both formal and weird, folk art and local history. Thanks everyone!
We spent a lovely weekend at the Inn at the Crossroads just south of Charlottesville last year. It was our first time really touring Charlottesville and Monticello, and it sounds like it'd be right up your alley. There are antiques and farmers' markets and vineyards and orchards all over the place around there.
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:27 AM on June 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by MrMoonPie at 10:27 AM on June 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Fredericksburg VA just to your south offers a bunch of antique shops, several breweries / brew pubs, a bunch of independent restaurants, and several B &B's plus a Marriott downtown within walking distance. Nice hikes through Civil War battlefields are just a few minutes drive away. The Fredericksburg Museum just re-opened after some downtime due to budget issues. We also have Ferry Farm (where George Washington grew up) and his mother's house in town is still standing and open for tours too. A mansion owned by his sister (I think) is also here.
posted by COD at 11:20 AM on June 20, 2017
posted by COD at 11:20 AM on June 20, 2017
Harper's Ferry WV.
Floyd VA and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountain area.
Very different than the mountains, but I've really enjoyed Chincoteague Island in the off season.
Snowshoe WV can be really nice in the fall and there's some weird folk art places around it as well as the National Radio Astronomy Lab, which does some programming for the public.
posted by Candleman at 11:25 AM on June 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Floyd VA and the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountain area.
Very different than the mountains, but I've really enjoyed Chincoteague Island in the off season.
Snowshoe WV can be really nice in the fall and there's some weird folk art places around it as well as the National Radio Astronomy Lab, which does some programming for the public.
posted by Candleman at 11:25 AM on June 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Savage River Lodge - a couple hours from DC, near Cumberland.
posted by ersatzkat at 11:25 AM on June 20, 2017
posted by ersatzkat at 11:25 AM on June 20, 2017
Seconding Harper's Ferry, Fredricksburg, or even Warrenton, VA. Near Warrenton stay near the old town center, not the commercial area) is the Virginia Arboretum which is lovely in the Fall for walks. A short drive away is the largest indoor flea market in the area, which is great in bad weather.
posted by perrouno at 11:34 AM on June 20, 2017
posted by perrouno at 11:34 AM on June 20, 2017
Consider New Hope, PA?
It seems to satisfy most of your interests. Historic architecture, right on the Delaware River, walk along the canal, walking distance to fun shops, antiques and flea markets and a short drive to many more. There are many very nice restaurants in walking distance as well. It's a really nice, off the beaten path, little town. Lambertville NJ is an easy walk across the bridge and extends the experience.
There are a lot of B&B's with different styles to chose from but I'd look at these first:
Fox & Hound, Aaron Burr House, Porches or Carriage House
It make a very nice weekend getaway....
posted by Barnsie at 11:43 AM on June 20, 2017
It seems to satisfy most of your interests. Historic architecture, right on the Delaware River, walk along the canal, walking distance to fun shops, antiques and flea markets and a short drive to many more. There are many very nice restaurants in walking distance as well. It's a really nice, off the beaten path, little town. Lambertville NJ is an easy walk across the bridge and extends the experience.
There are a lot of B&B's with different styles to chose from but I'd look at these first:
Fox & Hound, Aaron Burr House, Porches or Carriage House
It make a very nice weekend getaway....
posted by Barnsie at 11:43 AM on June 20, 2017
Shepardstown WV is very close to DC, is cute and charming, and has hot springs. May still be kind of warm in September though.
posted by foodmapper at 11:59 AM on June 20, 2017
posted by foodmapper at 11:59 AM on June 20, 2017
Annapolis, MD: historic town, old capitol, Naval Academy, lots of non-challenging walks, good food, on the water, etc. I've been there several times and always find it charming.
posted by ubiquity at 12:11 PM on June 20, 2017
posted by ubiquity at 12:11 PM on June 20, 2017
Seconding New Hope, PA. If you need another cute town to visit while you're there, pop over to Princeton.
posted by OrangeVelour at 12:47 PM on June 20, 2017
posted by OrangeVelour at 12:47 PM on June 20, 2017
Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.
South Bethany or Fenwick Island.
posted by jgirl at 1:28 PM on June 20, 2017
South Bethany or Fenwick Island.
posted by jgirl at 1:28 PM on June 20, 2017
Smithfield Station Is about a three hour drive from dc, and is lovely hotel right on the water, and Smithfield is a quirky town with a lot of Victorian homes, and a the local museum supposedly has the world's oldest ham. So that's something. It's also reasonably close to Williamsburg.
posted by empath at 2:37 PM on June 20, 2017
posted by empath at 2:37 PM on June 20, 2017
Seconding Charlottesville. Even the drive down from DC (once you get off the interstate/past Gainesville) is lovely and relaxing, particularly in the fall with all the colors. The town can get a little busy during home football games (schedule here) which might influence accomodation pricing a little. Stay on the Downtown Mall if you can; lots of small B&Bs dotted around that area which are perfectly lovely.
walks through nature (although not challenging hikes): in town you've got the Monticello-Saunders trail and Darden Towe Park; outside town you have the Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah, lots of hikes of varying difficulty. (Check Hiking Upward for searchable hikes in the entire Mid Atlantic region.
lovely old historic architecture: ok, there is Monticello which everyone knows about, but there's also Ash-Lawn Highland (which has a pretty cool architecture/archeology origin story!) and Montpelier (which prides itself on focusing on the lives of those silenced in the colonial era, i.e. slaves and women). The grounds of UVa, particularly the Academical Village, has some gorgeous architecture (ol' Mr. Jefferson wanted students to learn by living not just through textbooks, so each building is in a different architectural style, yet they form a cohesive whole -- it's a remarkable place, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Also, the Paramount Theater on the Downtown Mall is a restored 1930s movie palace which is absolutely amazing; see a show if you can though I think you can just walk around inside during non-show hours.
antiques, flea markets and junk shops: There is a farmers and craft market on Saturday mornings just off the Downtown Mall; also a kitschy pawn shop on the Mall, and lots of nicer secondhand shops.
museums both formal and weird, folk art and local history: The Fralin, The McGuffey, the Kluge Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum (yes, a town in Central Virginia hosts the only Australian aboriginal art museum in the US). About half an hour away in Staunton, you have an enormous living history museum depicting farm life from the 1600s to the 1850s (including a West African farm and a Native American farm).
Yes, Charlottesville scratches all your itches. Can you tell I miss that place?
posted by basalganglia at 4:30 PM on June 20, 2017
walks through nature (although not challenging hikes): in town you've got the Monticello-Saunders trail and Darden Towe Park; outside town you have the Blue Ridge Parkway and Shenandoah, lots of hikes of varying difficulty. (Check Hiking Upward for searchable hikes in the entire Mid Atlantic region.
lovely old historic architecture: ok, there is Monticello which everyone knows about, but there's also Ash-Lawn Highland (which has a pretty cool architecture/archeology origin story!) and Montpelier (which prides itself on focusing on the lives of those silenced in the colonial era, i.e. slaves and women). The grounds of UVa, particularly the Academical Village, has some gorgeous architecture (ol' Mr. Jefferson wanted students to learn by living not just through textbooks, so each building is in a different architectural style, yet they form a cohesive whole -- it's a remarkable place, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Also, the Paramount Theater on the Downtown Mall is a restored 1930s movie palace which is absolutely amazing; see a show if you can though I think you can just walk around inside during non-show hours.
antiques, flea markets and junk shops: There is a farmers and craft market on Saturday mornings just off the Downtown Mall; also a kitschy pawn shop on the Mall, and lots of nicer secondhand shops.
museums both formal and weird, folk art and local history: The Fralin, The McGuffey, the Kluge Ruhe Aboriginal Art Museum (yes, a town in Central Virginia hosts the only Australian aboriginal art museum in the US). About half an hour away in Staunton, you have an enormous living history museum depicting farm life from the 1600s to the 1850s (including a West African farm and a Native American farm).
Yes, Charlottesville scratches all your itches. Can you tell I miss that place?
posted by basalganglia at 4:30 PM on June 20, 2017
I know you said west, but... When I want to de-stress after what is normally a terribly busy Sept/Oct, I go to The Atlantic Hotel in Berlin, MD. It's a nice historic building (The Runaway Bride with Julia Roberts and Richard Gere was filmed there) and each room is charming and different and comfy, and a lot cheaper in the fall/winter than in summer. The town itself is quaint, with antiques stores and little shops. There's several good places to eat, a great local brewery, and it's less than 30 minutes drive to lovely Assateague Island National Seashore, with nice easy walks on both the beach and the bay side - with wild horses if you're lucky! It's also close to Ocean City if you want some culture and/or some more exciting surroundings one day.
Also seconding Charlottesville and Harper's Ferry.
posted by gemmy at 5:42 PM on June 20, 2017
Also seconding Charlottesville and Harper's Ferry.
posted by gemmy at 5:42 PM on June 20, 2017
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posted by sammyo at 10:22 AM on June 20, 2017