Did u see ALL those rubbish at Marina Bay?

Best day trip to Chesapeake Bay from D.C.?

• Where would you suggest to go (a day trip from D.C.), close to D.C. on Chesapeake Bay (maybe around Shady Side, Fair Haven, Chesapeake Beach area). We're hoping to see one or more quaint towns, rich history, marina(s), boutiques/shops, & good restaurants? Also would like to stroll a bit on the beach. If you know a specific restaurant, that'd be awesome. Some details about the attractions or a link to a good web site would be great. We're going over Memorial Day. Thanks!

• Answer:

  The capitol city’s close neighbor to its north is the urban metropolis of Baltimore, Maryland with its Chesapeake Bay setting. Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is a lively area with restaurants, hotels, outdoor concerts, street entertainers, a shopping mall, historic ships and other fascinating attractions for all ages. Tour the National Aquarium with an outdoor sea pool located on the Inner Harbor near Charles and Pratt Streets. Cruise in a Water Taxi to various sights around the harbor including Little Italy and lively Fells Point. Experience Baltimore’s culture at renowned African-American heritage sites and various festivals. Experience the city’s history at the 1939 Senator Theater listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Have fun cheering on a professional baseball or football team. Also less than one hour’s drive from D.C. (minus the traffic) is Maryland’s state capital, Annapolis. This port town’s colonial heritage is evident in its more than 1,500 historic buildings and homes lining the narrow streets. Walk the campuses of the U.S. Naval Academy or St. John’s College. Eat fresh shellfish caught in the Chesapeake Bay at a restaurant around the City Dock area. Enjoy tranquil parks such as the seventeenth century William Paca Garden or Quiet Waters Park with ice skating and bird-watching available. The Atlantic Ocean shoreline is an easy destination from Washington D.C. Less than 150 miles east of the capitol is the wild tourist town of Ocean City, Maryland. This ten mile strip of countless bars, neon lights and a crazy atmosphere is ideal for those in the right age group and mindset. In all the excitement, don’t forget to look out from the boardwalk at the beautiful wide, white sand beaches. North of Ocean City you can find quieter beaches along the Delaware coast, such as Bethany Beach with seven miles of tranquil shoreline. Assateague Island National Shoreline consists of 40,000 acres of natural wetlands, forests, and waterways. Several amusement parks in Virginia are within day trips of Washington D.C. The closest is Kings Dominion in Dowell, Virginia, less than ninety minutes from the city. Kings Dominion boasts a selection of roller coasters and other thrill rides as well as family attractions. Busch Gardens is a large theme park where visitors seemingly travel throughout Europe, eat, watch entertainment, play games, and ride amusement park rides. Water Country USA is located next to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, Virginia with over thirty water rides and attractions. Virginia’s ‘Historic Triangle’ is fascinating for history buffs. Jamestown, Yorktown, and Williamsburg can be seen from a big picture perspective in a short day trip, but does offer enough activity that one could spend weeks exploring the area’s colonial past and never be bored. Colonial Williamsburg is a massive site with daily historical reenactments. Colonial National Park is southwest of Williamsburg on Route 31, bordering Jamestown and Yorktown. Take an audio tour to learn about these smaller colonial settlements. A little closer to Washington D.C. is Virginia’s capitol city, Richmond. History abounds throughout this small city, about 105 miles south of D.C. Tour the Virginia capital building that was designed by Thomas Jefferson. Visit St. John’s Church where in 1775 Patrick Henry said the famous words, “give me liberty or give me death.” Explore the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, housed in the oldest home in Richmond, built in 1737. Celebrate the South’s side of the Civil War at the Museum of the Confederacy. Walk the campus of University of Richmond or cruise on a boat down the James River cutting through downtown. Heading 140 miles north from Washington D.C. visitors can find more history in the urban metropolis of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Independence National Historic Park, on Market between Second and Seventh Streets, is home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall where the Constitution and Declaration of Independence were signed. Penn’s Landing is Philadelphia’s waterfront district where visitors can tour historic ships including a World War Two submarine. Benjamin Franklin’s presence is felt throughout the ‘City of Brotherly Love.’ The Franklin Institute of Science has a museum with interactive displays and a Planetarium. Lining the wide Benjamin Franklin Parkway are various other museums including the large Philadelphia Museum of Art at the top of the famous steps that ‘Rocky’ ran up during the movie. Walk the massive urban park west of the Art Museum, Fairmont Park. Watch crew teams row on the Schuylkill River near historic Boathouse Row. Fairmount Park includes landscaped gardens, walking trails, bike paths, playgrounds, picnic areas, historic mansions, and a peaceful Japanese House and Garden. Professional sports are popular in this east coast city and Philadelphia boasts competitive baseball, basketball, football, and hockey teams. History and culture exudes throughout the mid-Atlantic region surrounding Washington D.C. Enjoy the diverse activities offered in large cities such as Baltimore or Philadelphia or smaller urban areas like Richmond or Annapolis. Absorb colonial history visiting Virginia’s historic triangle or explore the sandy beaches in Delaware and Maryland.