Day 1 - Arrive at Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington, DC is a cosmopolitan capital city, packed with many famous sights and free attractions and is home to some of the world’s best-known museums and galleries, including the Smithsonian Institution and the International Spy Museum. Combine this with hip new restaurants and bars, stunning hotels, great nightlife, live music, theatres, charming neighbourhoods and terrific shopping options and you have a fantastic city break destination.
Spend two nights in Washington, DC.
Day 3 – Washington, DC to Cumberland Approx. 135 miles
Head north-west from the city to Cumberland. Home to history, innovation, scenic beauty and adventure, Western Maryland is unique in its wealth of opportunities for enjoying outdoor activities, exploring US history and architecture, and more. Bike the C&O Canal and Great Allegheny Passage, see George Washington’s Headquarters – a one room cabin, built in 1754-55 and the only remaining structure of Ft. Cumberland.
Stay one night in Cumberland.
Day 4 – Cumberland to Ellicott City Approx. 130 miles
Travel out on the Maryland Historic National Road. This National Road facilitated America’s westward expansion, originally connecting Cumberland with the Ohio River, and then extending eastwards to Baltimore. You will pass through places such as Hagerstown and Antietam, a significant Civil War battle site, through farmland and countryside, and small towns offering farm to table dining and unique shopping. Stay one night in Ellicott City where you can tour the B&O Railroad Museum: Ellicott City Station, the destination of the first 13 miles of railroad in America.
Day 5 – Ellicott City to Baltimore Approx. 15 miles
‘Charm City’ as it is known, is surrounded by waterfront restaurants, serving fresh local seafood as you overlook the Chesapeake Bay. If it’s pizza and pasta that whet your taste buds, head off to one of the cosy restaurants in Little Italy before spending the evening amongst the lively area of Fells Point, where many old bars and pubs have been restored. Be sure to find time to stop and shop in Harborplace Shopping Mall or the Canton Crossing Shopping Mall which houses Target, Nordstrom Rack, Old Navy and more. A stop by Arundel Mills on your way to Annapolis is always an event! It’s not just food and drink that make the city so popular. Baltimore is home to the National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, IMAX theatre, Historic Federal Hill, maritime museums and the USS Constellation. There are harbour cruises available or you could take a water taxi to Fort McHenry or Fells Point.
Spend two nights in Baltimore.
Day 7 – Baltimore to Easton Approx. 125 miles
Head north and around the top of the Chesapeake Bay to Chesapeake City, where you can pick-up the Chesapeake Country National Scenic Byway. Explore the picturesque waterfront villages of the Eastern Shore, paddle or hike along some of the coastline, stroll on a beach, take to the bay on a fishing charter, or see migrating birds and other wildlife in one of the many refuges. The back roads through the Eastern Shore will take you back to a time when life was lived at a much slower pace.
Day 9 – Easton to Washington Dulles International Airport Approx. 100 miles
Posted by: America As You Like It
Posted on: 13/02/2025