Washington DC

7 Weekend Getaways for When You Need to Escape DC This Winter

From underrated cities filled with museums to quaint towns with ski slopes and relaxing spas.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

Once the holidays wind down and winter truly descends on DC, it may feel like time to escape the city. And luckily, our region is filled with underrated cities and sleepy hamlets that make for a perfect getaway-especially in the winter, when you can enjoy the quiet beauty without all the crowds.

So whether you want to hit the slopes at one of the best places to ski near DC or find your zen in quaint towns filled with wineries, museums, and spas, you can escape the winter doldrums at these mid-Atlantic destinations. We’ve rounded up seven getaways in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania that make perfect escapes from the city, so get out of town and head to one of these spots before the season ends.

Flickr/jpellgen (@1179_jp)
Flickr/jpellgen (@1179_jp)
Flickr/jpellgen (@1179_jp)

Wilmington, Delaware

Distance from DC: About two hours
President Joe Biden’s hometown has long been famous for, well, being the hometown of Joe Biden. But this waterfront Northern Delaware town’s museums, riverfront, and gardens make much more than that-and the word is slowly getting out.

The city is awash in things to do, even on blustering winter days. Visitors can stroll along the 1.3-mile Riverfront Wilmington where you’ll find dozens of shops, attractions, and eateries, the newest of which is Taco Grande restaurant and tequila bar. A new exhibition at the Delaware Art Museum celebrates the 50th anniversary of a groundbreaking Black art exhibit with nearly 100 works of art. Or head 12 miles north to visit the famous 1,000-plus acre Longwood Gardens, located just over the Pennsylvania border. The botanical garden is hosting Winter Wonder, a pop-up featuring hundreds of orchids and winter perennials.

Stay overnight in the 109-year-old historic and legendary Hotel du Pont, which recently underwent a redesign and added a modern French brasserie called Le Cavalier in 2020. The restaurant’s chef Tyler Akin co-founded the Independent Restaurant Coalition, which strives to provide restaurant relief during the pandemic and is hosting a series of chef collaboration dinners and brunches in Wilmington. Located in the same building, three-year-old DE.CO food hall sells sushi, pizza, and more.

Old Farm Winery at Hartland
Old Farm Winery at Hartland
Old Farm Winery at Hartland

Loudoun County, Virginia

Distance from DC: About an hour
Though just an hour away from DC, Loudoun County’s rolling hills will feel like a true respite from city life this winter.

The area is home to nearly 50 wineries, where you can cozy up next to a wood-burning fireplace or an outdoor fire pit while sipping red and white varietals. Several new wineries have opened over the past year, including Endhardt Vineyards in Purcellville, Old Farm Winery at Hartland, and Round Hill’s William Gap Vineyard, where you can host a private wine dinner for you and your friends.

Enjoy massages, body wraps, and other spa treatments at Salamander Resort & Spa or Landsdowne Resort & Spa. Both resorts are located in quaint towns-Middleburg and Leesburg-that are worth exploring for their boutiques and restaurants located in eye-catching historic buildings.

Baltimore Museum of Art
Baltimore Museum of Art
Baltimore Museum of Art

Baltimore, Maryland

Distance from DC: One hour
New art exhibits, restaurants, and bakeries make Baltimore a worthwhile destination to revisit this season.

Known for its extensive collection of works by Henri Matisse and contemporary art, the Baltimore Museum of Art’s newest exhibit, which begins March 6, explores the legacy of American painter Joan Mitchell. If you’re looking to have a full weekend dedicated to art, expand your journey to the nearby Walters Art Museum, where you can see an exhibit highlighting its recent acquisitions. Families headed to the city have plenty of attractions at their disposal, too, including The National Aquarium in Baltimore, the Maryland Science Center, and the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

Beyond all of the great things to do by day, Baltimore is home to tons of incredible bars and restaurants that will keep you occupied into the night. Darker than Blue Cafe recently reopened in the Mount Vernon neighborhood after closing eight years ago and is serving the same memorable chicken and waffles and blackened catfish. So that’s a must-visit if you never got to try its first iteration. Other notable restaurants that opened in the last year include the stylish, Black-owned BLK Swan, restaurant and butcher John Brown’s General & Butchery, and Busboys and Poets’ first Baltimore outpost. To satisfy your sweet tooth, pick up a treat from one of Baltimore’s Black-owned dessert shops: the vegan Cajou Creamery or Aunt Kelly’s Cookies.

Wintergreen Resort
Wintergreen Resort
Wintergreen Resort

Central Virginia

Distance from DC: Two hours and 30 minutes
With the Blue Ridge Mountains offering both a scenic backdrop and excellent ski slopes, Central Virginia makes a great winter getaway. The family-friendly Wintergreen Resort in Nellysford offers 26 slopes for everyone from newbies to expert skiers, as well as tubing and snowboarding-and there’s a heated indoor pool and spa, perfect for unwinding after a day of downhill racing.

Visitors can also indulge in a weekend stay at the legendary luxury resort Keswick Hall, which reopened in October after an extensive multi-year renovation. The new features include acclaimed chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s first Virginia restaurant, Marigold, which sources produce from the hotel’s farm.

The Stewart
The Stewart
The Stewart

Eastern Shore, Maryland

Distance from DC: One hour and 30 minutes
While the Eastern Shore’s waterways woo visitors in the summer, the area’s restaurants, wineries, and art galleries make it an idyllic getaway during the winter months.

Dubbed the cultural capital of the Easton Shore, Easton is home to Studio B Art Gallery, the Trippe Gallery, and other art venues where you can purchase paintings that depict the area’s stunning landscapes.

Architecture buffs will find a treasure trove in downtown Easton’s rehabbed historic buildings. Bluepoint Hospitality Group has turned many into glitzy restaurants, lounges, and cafes filled with priceless art and eye-catching details, including The Stewart whiskey lounge and fine dining establishment, Bas Rouge. Casual eats can be found at Roman-style pizzeria Roma Alla Pala or the Wardroom, where you can pick up wine and food products.

For a full trip focused on eating and drinking, pair wine and cheese at Crow Vineyard & Winery LLC in Kennedyville, where you can spend the night at the property’s B&B if you book at least two nights and show proof of vaccination. Or spend the night at St. Michael’s newest hotel, the 34-room boutique property Wildset, and dine at its onsite seafood restaurant Ruse. For dessert, grab a s’mores kit and toast the marshmallows at the outdoor fire pit.

The Andy Warhol Museum
The Andy Warhol Museum
The Andy Warhol Museum

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Distance from DC: Four hours
This former rust-belt town has become a magnet for food, beer, and art lovers looking for an affordable weekend of restaurant and museum hopping.

Visit the four museums that comprise the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, starting with the Warhol Museum. Featuring exhibits and interactive experiences on eight floors, it’s bound to enhance your appreciation of pop art’s most famous proponent. Nature and bird lovers can head to Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens for an orchid and bonsai show or the National Aviary.

Wisp Resort
Wisp Resort
Wisp Resort

Deep Creek Lake, Maryland

Distance from DC: Three hours
With abundant state parks, a freshwater lake that covers 3,900 acres, and a ski resort, Deep Creek Lake offers a great winter getaway for outdoor lovers.

Winters in Western Maryland were practically made for skiing, so a visit to Deep Creek Lake is an ideal way to experience the season. Wisp Resort features 33 slopes covering 11 miles and ranging in difficulty for novice and expert skiers and snowboarders. The resort also offers lessons for those who have never hit the slopes or need a refresher. For cross-country skiers, head to one of the trails in the county’s seven state parks.Want more Thrillist? Follow us on InstagramTwitterPinterestYouTubeTikTok, and Snapchat.

Julekha Dash is a Maryland food, travel, and arts writer who is always looking for her next weekend getaway in the Mid-Atlantic. She has written for the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, Travel & Leisure, Eating Well and others. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram and check out her Contently portfolio.

Washington DC

15 Totally Free Things to Do in DC

A full itinerary, completely free of charge.

Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery
Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery
Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery

Washington DC is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, and for those of us who call the District home, it’s easy to see why. With dozens of world-class museums, murals that transform streets into galleries, and sites brimming with history, DC offers a full agenda-completely free of charge. Whether you want to try a new farmer’s market, explore a new hike, or polish off your roller skating or canoeing skills, here are some of our favourite free things to do in the District.

Flickr/gawnesco
Flickr/gawnesco
Flickr/gawnesco

Hike, bike, or stroll along the C&O Canal

The historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal is one of the most accessible nature escapes from the District. Thanks to a multi-year restoration project, the first mile of the canal is an idyllic walk that’s easy to access in Georgetown. Stick to a short stroll there, or grab a bike or lace up your hiking shoes for a longer adventure along the 184.5-mile canal.

Jump on the pickleball craze

Pickleball is working its way up the ladder past kickball and softball as one of America’s favourite games. Jump on the craze and practice your paddling at one of the District’s pickleball courts in Takoma Park, the Palisades, and more. Plus, Washington DC Pickleball invites guests to drop in to beginner sessions to try their hand at the sport before signing up for a $30 annual membership.

Flickr/mcfeelion
Flickr/mcfeelion
Flickr/mcfeelion

Bike the Mount Vernon Trail

DC is incredibly bike-friendly, and luckily that applies to the land immediately outside of the city as well. Start in the city and bike along the Mount Vernon Trail, a scenic route that hugs the water and cuts through the woods. It’s about a 10-mile trip from DC to Mount Vernon, but you can cut the trip slightly short and end at the Old Town Alexandria waterfront-just make sure to factor in time for ice cream before pedalling home.

Explore a sculpture park

While not located in the District proper, Glenstone, an expansive sculpture park in Maryland, is worth the 45-minute drive. Tickets to the park are free (just be sure to reserve several weeks in advance), and the 300-acre space offers stunning art, architecture, and open land. In addition to its indoor gallery spaces, you can spend hours walking on paths that wind through sculptures, meadows, and forests.

Flickr/Geoff Livingston
Flickr/Geoff Livingston
Flickr/Geoff Livingston

See the monuments at night

When the sun goes down-and the summer humidity somewhat dissipates-head to the National Mall for the rare chance to see the monuments without busloads of tourists. Moonlight will give you a different perspective as you traverse the marble steps of the Lincoln Memorial or gaze up at the Washington Monument set aglow with lights.

Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery
Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery
Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery

Museum hop the day away

One of DC’s greatest strengths is its world-class Smithsonian museums that are open to the public free of charge. There is no shortage of options, from the intimate Renwick Gallery, to the sprawling National Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonians offer something for everyone. Pro tip: Some of the museums are open late in the evenings, making for an ideal date night.

muralsdc
muralsdc
muralsdc

Explore the city’s murals

Washington is home to hundreds of murals that are becoming as much a part of the city’s landscape as the monuments on the National Mall. Take a self-guided tour of these colourful creations no matter which neighbourhood you happen to be in. MuralsDC, the organization behind 150 of the District’s public artworks, is a great resource for mapping out a route to explore the city’s street art.

Hotel Washington
Hotel Washington
Hotel Washington

Take in a birds-eye view of the city

Washington looks pretty stunning from up high, and there are few spots within the city that make for phenomenal vantage points. Rooftop bars and restaurants offer epic views for the price of a drink or two, but there’s no more iconic sight than seeing the city from the top of the Washington Monument, which is completely free. Book a ticket ahead of time and ride an elevator all the way to the top of the monument and step out on the 500-foot observation deck.

Flickr/Nicolas Raymond
Flickr/Nicolas Raymond
Flickr/Nicolas Raymond

Wander through a garden

DC is home to some of the most beautiful urban gardens in the country, and many of them are open to the public for free. There is nothing like an afternoon spent strolling through, or picnicking, at the expansive 446-acre United States Arboretum or wandering through the Botanic Garden on the edge of the Mall. For something a bit smaller, explore the grounds at Tudor Place or Dumbarton Oaks (free in the winter), both of which are in Georgetown.

Flickr/ehpien
Flickr/ehpien
Flickr/ehpien

Hike the Billy Goat Trail

You can catch one of the District’s most popular hiking trails, the Billy Goat Trail, from the C&O canal. The full trail is 4.7 miles and ranges from easy to strenuous, so hike a section in and back or make the full loop for the variety.

Pay your respect at Arlington National Cemetery

Just across the Potomac from DC, Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for more than 400,000 veterans. The cemetery is an expanse of 639 hallowed acres and the ANC Explorer allows visitors to locate graves, notable sites, and take self-guided walking tours to spots including the tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well as the final resting place of President John F. Kennedy.

Lace up your roller skates

When was the last time you went roller skating? Chances are it’s been too long. So get back into this nostalgic activity at the Anacostia Park roller skating pavilion. You can rent skates for free, just show proof of a government-issued ID, and the skating pavilion is open from 9 to 5 every day.

Help clean up the Anacostia River

We all know there’s a lot of work to be done to keep our waterways clean. Do your part, and have some fun, by participating in the city’s Green Boat initiative. On select weekends, DCers can join a two-hour guided paddle along the Anacostia River to collect trash and monitor the river’s progress.

Eastern Market
Eastern Market
Eastern Market

Stroll your local farmer’s market

DC’s close proximity to the farms of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and beyond mean that the city’s farmers’ markets always have something to offer. Check out the year-round markets like Eastern Market in Capitol Hill and the Sunday market in Dupont Circle or head to seasonal markets like the pop-up in front of the White House that draws vendors like Cucina al Volo and Call Your Mother Deli.

The Library of Congress
The Library of Congress
The Library of Congress

Play tourist all around the city

It’s easy to forget that all those traditionally touristy activities can be fun for locals too. If you haven’t been on a tour of the White House, the National Archives, the Library of Congress, or the Capitol, this is your sign. All are free with advanced reservations. Plus, tucked in the northern quadrant of NW, the Washington National Cathedral is free and open to all. Tour the cathedral’s impressive architecture, 215 stained glass windows, 112 Gothically-inspired gargoyles, and enormous pipe organ. See if you can spot the sculpture of Darth Vader.

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Madeline Weinfield is a Thrillist contributor.

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