Escape from the capital - top 10 locations around Washington

Washington, although the capital, is a small city itself. And it’s literally easy to leave it - just cross to the other side of the Potomac River - and now you’re in the state of Virginia. When you reach the final subway station on the Red Line, you will be in Maryland. But of course, you won’t change the situation qualitatively this way. But an hour or two from the capital is a completely different matter. You can go to the Great Falls, see where George Washington lived, or taste wines at a local winery or two. ForumDaily has prepared 10 “weekend escape” options for you. Spring has already arrived, the weather is cooperating - so get going!

1. Picnic near Great Potomac Falls

The Great Falls or Great Falls are only 24 kilometers from the capital, so you can even get there by bicycle. The Potomac River cascades down a cascade of six-meter waterfalls and flows into a narrow gorge. Its length is a little more than a kilometer, and then the river level drops by 23 meters - and from the wide and 300-meter Potomac it turns into a narrow river.

In the park there three viewing platforms - They offer views of all the waterfalls. If you are lucky, you can see turtles or herons on stones polished with water. You can hire canoes or kayaks and try your hand at rafting down the rapids. There are routes for both beginners and for real extremes.

Also, on the first and third Saturday of every month, free master classes on photography are held in the morning. A better place book in advance.

But most people go to the park for a picnic. There are specially equipped platforms with tables and a grill. Remember that the entire territory of the park is an area free of debris, so you need to take all the leftovers and wrappers with you.

Price: 5 $ –input ticket, 10 $ - permission to enter the territory of one car park. Parking is free.

Address: 9200 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, VA 22102

2. On a visit to the President - on the estate "Mount Vernon"

How did the first president of America live, how many slaves provided his life and what did he grow on his plantations? For answers, go to the George Washington family estate, “Mount Vernon.”

Washington inherited it from his older brother, and the estate was not just a home for him, his wife Martha, and her two children from his first marriage. It was here that the entire political elite of the country came to solve state issues. The White House did not yet exist (Washington managed only to lay the first stone, to begin construction, but did not live up to the opening of the residence), so the receptions and meetings were held in Mount Vernon.

The territory of the estate is huge - there are separate slave huts, storage rooms and numerous workshops. The Washington farm had spinning machines, a forge, a washing room, a smokehouse, and even an ice room — a prototype of a refrigerator, where products were stored at a depth of several meters.

The estate is open every day, and Every day here is painted by the minute: You can sign up for tea with Lady Washington, a musical evening or Chocolate Day. And this is just the beginning of a long list. Special excursions are offered separately, for example, tour "Treasures of the Nation-2", according to the Hollywood film of the same name, which was filmed here. Remember the scene of the birthday party of the president, on which the hero Nicolas Cage illegally snuck in? So, they shot it in “Mount Vernon”. They'll show you photos from filming, tell you why the filmmakers worked only at night and, of course, they will show the basement, which was supposed to have a door to a secret tunnel.

Expect to spend the whole day here - in a couple of hours you will not be able to cope.

Cost: $17 – adults, $9 – children

Address: 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, VA 22121

3. Back to the past: work on colonial farm

This is just opposite the Mount Vernon estate - on the other side of the Potomac River. When in the middle of the last century they wanted to start construction on this territory, but the land was quickly registered as Piscataway parkcontrolled by Accoquique Regional Fund (Maryland). The main goal of that time was to preserve the view from Mount Vernon to the river. Later, the land began to develop, and now it is a large agricultural complex.

Here they grow organic vegetables, work on a forest restoration project and raise animals: cows, sheep, pigs and poultry. All of them can be seen while walking through the park.

A small skansen, an open-air museum, was built here separately. This is an average colonial farm of the end of 18 century (in the museum, the owner was given the name Joshua Bolton). You can enter the apartment building and the summer kitchen, get to the tobacco farm and the garden-museum, where they grow herbs and vegetables characteristic of that era.

The entrance to the park is free, but if you want some kind of activity - it is better to pay for guided tours. For example, a whole quest is offered for children here: to return to the past and try to live without the modern blessings of civilization.

Address: 3400 Bryan Point Road in Accokeek, Maryland

Cost: The entrance is free, guided tours cost $ 6-25

4. Walk through the old the city of Alexandria

From the center of the capital, with its monumental architecture, it is quite easy to get to the European town of the end of 17 century. You just need to jump into the train of the yellow line of the subway and get to the station King Street. From there, a free historic trolleybus (you will not confuse it with ordinary public transport) will bring you directly to the main street of the old town.

You can get to the embankment - and then walk back to the subway. Or get off at the beginning of the street, and on the way back take the trolley bus.

The old city has its own information center - Ramsay Housewhere you can take maps and brochures. With them, the walk will be easier. Do not miss the house where Confederate Army General Robert Lee was born, Gotsby's tavernwhere George Washington and his wife Martha, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams loved to go. And Stabler-Ledbetera Antique Pharmacywhere you can see how people were treated in the 18 century.

Museum Lyceum will tell about the history of the city, and Art Center in the former torpedo factory will offer 5 galleries and three floors of works of modern art.

Moving deep into the city, you will reach Alexandria Embankment, where you can have lunch, sit on the lawn or rent a boat.

Address: 1900 King St, Alexandria, VA 22301

Cost: Walk around the city is free, entrance to museums need to specify separately.

5. Guided tour Military Maritime Academy in Annapolis

Maryland's capital, Annapolis, is only forty kilometers from Washington, a convenient destination for a day trip.

All guidebooks agree on one thing: the first thing to visit in the city is Naval Academy. Here officers are trained for the US Navy and marines.

For tourists on the territory of the Academy is possible only one entrance - through the information center. First, you will be shown the 13-minute film about the Academy, then the guide will conduct a one and a half hour excursion, during which he will tell where the cadets live and study, how the kitchen attendant manages to set the table for four and a half thousand people and why in the Academy building stained glass windows from Tiffany.

Be sure to go to the Center for Physical Education to see the Athletic Hall of Fame and the Olympic-size swimming pool.

At noon, do not miss the traditional building - if the weather permits, the cadets can be seen in all their glory. You can also go to Academy Museum, where a large collection of models of ships.

Since the academy is a regime object, you must take a passport with you and pre-read everything rules of stay in the territory for tourists.

Address: 52 King George Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21402

Cost: 10.50 $ - adults, 8.50 $ - children

6. See old fort "McHenry" in Baltimore

This fort was instrumental for America in the 1802 war of the year. When the British captured Washington and burned the White House, they launched an offensive on Baltimore. Two days of fighting and the joint work of the naval and land forces of America forced the British to retreat.

Now the fort is a large national park where you can learn more about the wars in which America participated. For children there tour "Ranger"during which the history from textbooks comes to life, and volunteers tell about all the complex events in a game form.

With the onset of heat every weekend, military reconstructions are being organized here: you can see how the military of the last century looked with your own eyes.

In May, McHenry organizes the traditional “living flag” event - about 4 thousand schoolchildren wear clothes of the appropriate color, and together they form the US national flag, which is visible from a bird's eye view.

The fort is not far from Baltimore - If you have any strength left, take a look there too. Children will be delighted with local aquarium and museum ships moored in the harbor.

Address: Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine 2400 East Fort Avenue Baltimore, MD 21230 410-962-4290

Cost: 10$

7. Live in a city during the Revolution - Williamsburg

Ladies here go in long dresses and hats, men always have a saber with them, and the main public transport is horse-drawn carriages.

The Colonial Williamsburg City Museum is one of the largest museums in America. It represents a typical 18th century town and shows in detail how Americans used to live.

Walking around the city, carefully look at the lawns in front of the houses - if there is a flag there, then the building is open and waiting for tourists. Inside may be a forge, a workshop for stitching books or, for example, basket weaving. You can not only watch the process, but also take an active part.

In order to feel one hundred percent resident of the revolutionary city, one can rent suits and crew. Then the walk will be truly masterly. On the way, you will surely meet a local celebrity - a dog named Lady Liberty, take a ride and stop near various historical reconstructions that show sketches from the life of the city.

You will be let in governor's house, and they will not just show a couple of rooms, but they will take you to the kitchen, where you will learn what dishes the nobles made dinner three centuries ago.

For lovers of mystics here offer haunted walkwhich begins as the sun sets over the horizon.

City Museum is open all week, something new is happening here every day .

Address: 101 Visitor Center Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23185

Cost: 13-25 $

8. For wine in Loudon Province

Just an hour's drive from the White House - and instead of wide roads and architectural classicism, a city full of bureaucrats in suits, you will find yourself in a real paradise with a slow life, natural products and delicious wine.

Loudon Province is one of the "wine" regions of Virginia. Wine began to be produced here in the 17 century, and now there are more than 50 wineries in Loudon. So the choice of where to go for wine is great.

One of the closest wineries to Washington DC - Tarara winerywhere for 10 dollars they will arrange a tasting for you, and then they will show you a special viewing platform. It offers an incredible view of the mountain Sugarloaf.

В Hidden Brook Winery in addition to wine, they will treat you to chocolate and be invited to live music concert. This is done on a regular basis, you only need to check schedule on the site.

Personal tour of the production offers a winery Barrel Oak Winery. The owners are very fond of dogs, so you can come with pets to the farm.

In general, not to get lost among the abundance of wine and offers, use guide in the region. It contains detailed addresses of wine farms, prices for tasting and, of course, a full range of wines.

Address: Loudoun county, VA

Cost: Depending on your program

9. To the ocean in Lewis City (Delaware)

The old town in which about a dozen beaches and parks with access to the ocean. Therefore, here you will definitely find the very place for a little vacation.

Locals most recommend paying attention to the park. Cape Henlopen State Parkwhere the Delaware Bay goes into the ocean. In addition to beautiful landscapes, you will be offered a list of different walks in the park: if you want, you will walk along the coast, if you want - you will go deep into the sand dunes or arrange a cycling trip.

Access to the beaches and swimming in the Atlantic should be included in the program. As well as a panoramic view from the observation tower of the Second World War.

More Lewis is famous for his kite festival. This year it will take place at the end of March, and even if you don't know how to fly a kite, come just to see the sky dotted with colorful kites - the view is worth it.

Lewis is 200 kilometers from Washington. Therefore, if you leave early in the morning, you are guaranteed a late breakfast by the ocean.

Address: Follow Rt. 50 to Bay Bridge, left on 404, left on Rt. 16, to Rt. 1 to Lewes, to Rt. 9 into Lewes.

Cost: Depending on your program

10. Spend a day "chocolate" in the amusement park Hersheypark

It has everything you need for happiness, especially children’s: attractions for every taste, a zoo, regular interactive games and lots and lots of chocolate. Actually, even the city of Hershey in Pennsylvania is named after the famous Hershey chocolates.

One of the largest confectioneries in America was created by Milton Hershey in 1894. His chocolate business has become so popular that literally ten years later the town of Derry Towing was renamed Hershey, and since then its popular name “chocolate city”.

The eponymous park here tells the whole history of the factory. You will be shown rainforests, where cocoa trees grow and tell you how to properly harvest their beans. They will also conduct the production and, of course, will try the products.

At the weekend, the park is filled with children and parents, so it’s better to buy tickets online - this way you will save more than one hour at the checkout.

The territory of the park is huge and, importantly, all tours are focused not only on entertainment, but also on educational programs, the schedule of which can be specified https://www.izakayasushilounge.com.

Address: 100 W. Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, PA 17033

Cost: $32,95