Help a frazzled chic find a place to chill.

September 25, 2006 8:28 PM

I have been told by many (including boss) I need to take a vacation...so I am looking for somewhere to go this wknd...within a 3-4 hr drive of DC area where I can relax and not spend a ton of cash either. I am a 30-something female who likes a little bit of everything (not a nature nut, but I appreciate it, same with museums.)

I need to go this wknd as I will probably be shipped off overseas on a project in a couple of weeks for the rest of the year. Any cool Yoga places like Kripalu below the Mason-Dixon?

posted by psususe to Travel & Transportation (13 answers total)

My first thought was to go somewhere in the Shenandoah Valley that's quiet, with a view and good food, where you could just chill, read, walk outdoors, visit small towns.

Harper's Ferry also has resorts of that sort.

The drive out to Maryland's Eastern Shore is kind of stressful (depending where you start from in DC area), but it's got great cold beaches if you like to walk on beaches with a sweater, bike around a marsh, get saltwater in your wind-whipped hair, eat crabcakes, and sit and read in slightly crummy motels. (Chincoteague/Assateague is the main place I've been.)
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:00 PM on September 25, 2006

Years ago, I went to Coolfont in Berkely Springs, West Virginia. We stayed in a nice chalet nested in the woods and it was a very relaxing weekend. There are hiking trails, horseback riding, a pool, and tons of other amenities. It's about a 2 hour drive from DC. This is a great place to go to get away for a weekend to escape from everything. We did a winter trip, but I would imagine that the area would be quite beautiful this time of year with the changing seasons and cooler temperatures.
posted by galimatias at 9:14 PM on September 25, 2006

Williamsburg, Virginia. The historical part is great and can take as much time as you have. On balance, Busch Gardens is a lot of fun too. You can also just take a break!
posted by KneeDeep at 9:26 PM on September 25, 2006

Staunton, in the Shenandoah Valley, is lovely. It's a nice little town, etc etc, but the thing that makes it stand out is the Blackfriars Theatre. It's a complete reconstruction of the theatre Shakespeare used in his day, and they put on different Shakespeare and contemporary plays all the time. If that sounds at all up your alley, it's a wonderful place.

And even if it doesn't, the way they do these plays makes them so much more accessible to the public. This is definitely not somewhere for lofty, dry, boring Shakespeare.
posted by twirlypen at 9:32 PM on September 25, 2006

Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. Sounds a lot like Coolfont, plus you get the benefit of the hot springs! You pay about $15 or so (as far as I can recall) for a looong soak in a gigantic private bath/tile-lined room. A giant, hot bath.

Then, go have dinner at Lot 12, one of the best restaurants I have ever eaten at. In the middle of nowhere! In West Virginia!
posted by GriffX at 9:43 PM on September 25, 2006

See also this thread.
posted by ZakDaddy at 11:02 PM on September 25, 2006

I'm the one that posted the question that ZakDaddy linked to. We ended up going to Harper's Ferry and had a great time, but a close second was the Brandywine River Valley in PA, which we plan on visiting next month.
posted by amarynth at 4:17 AM on September 26, 2006

Yogaville, near Charlottesville (also a nice place)
posted by sandking at 6:18 AM on September 26, 2006

If you're at all interested in Buddhism or meditation, Khandro Rinpoche has a retreat center near the Shenandoahs.
posted by bobot at 7:03 AM on September 26, 2006

If you want more small urban environs, a bed and breakfast in Annapolis may be the solution to your problems.

3-4 hours from DC, you're pretty much chosing between Ocean or Mountain views. You could make it up to Philly in that time (maybe even New York City if the traffic's at your back) if you're more interested in museums or night life.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:29 AM on September 26, 2006

Skyline Drive? (camping)
Williamsburg? (historical -- no wait, I think it might be William & Mary's parents' weekend this weekend -- if so, definitely avoid that area)
Rehoboth Beach, MD? (beach town, maybe less hectic and lower prices now that it's September)
A day hike at Great Falls? (awesome waterfall)
Rent a sailboat and go out on the Chesapeake?
posted by salvia at 10:07 AM on September 26, 2006

I would go to Nags Head, now's the best time of year to go. But it's an hour or two beyond the radius of your 3-4 hour driving restriction. Williamsburg is on the way, however -- you could do both!

(BTW a weekend is not enough for a vacation -- take off at least a few days.)
posted by Rash at 10:48 AM on September 26, 2006

late to the party, but Rehobeth, DE is pretty laid back. Just don't venture south to the MD side of the island.
posted by empath at 8:55 PM on October 3, 2006