I always make New Year’s resolutions. Some I keep, some I don’t, some I try diligently to keep but peter out about June or July… This year I’m making some day trip-related New Year’s resolutions — and I’m betting I’ll keep all these!
Here are some day trips and places I haven’t been to yet, but which I resolve to do in 2014!
I’ve cheated on this blog — the photos are from the web sites of the various places I’m mentioning, as I’ve not actually been there yet to take the photos!
1. Take a guided kayaking trip around Assateague Island. The website promises that it’ll take us to ” the best areas for pony watching, bird watching and dolphin watching… Join our kayaking adventures to discover a hidden treasure perfect for your family. Discover pristine places only accessible by boat. This is your chance to experience awesome areas where wild ponies live along Assateague.” Okay. I’m hooked — when do we go??!!!
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Photo from AssateagueExplorer.com
2. Explore Winterthur house and gardens:
Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library is an American estate and museum in Winterthur, Delaware. As of 2011 it houses one of the most important collections of Americana in the United States of America. Bonus: there’s an upcoming exhibit on Downton Abbey.
3. Hike to see the falls in Swallow Falls State Park (MD). I’ve been wanting to do this for several years now — maybe 2014 will be the year I actually do this!
4. Leaf peeping along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, followed by lunch in Skyland Resort. I love leaf-peepping. I love eating… why not look at lovely fall foliage while eating at Skyland?? Sounds like a deal to me!
5.Visit Fort McHenry in Baltimore, followed by brunch in downtown Baltimore, and a visit to the Star Spangled Banner House. The two historic sites seem to naturally fall together.
6. Take a segway tour around Washington DC. Last year my husband and I took a segway tour around the National Military Park in Gettysburg — and loved the experience. Since then, we’ve learned there are segway tours in many cities, Washington DC included. This sounds like a neat way to re-experience a city we’ve explored before.
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| Photo from Cheasapeake Lights Boat Tours |
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| Photo from fossilguy.com |
7. Go fossil hunting and hiking in Calvert Cliffs State Park (MD). Known for shark tooth fossils on its beaches, the park offers some pleasant short hikes. I have fossils from here already when the boys and I went 7 years ago. It’s time to revisit.
8. Take a boat tour around lighthouses in the Chesapeake Bay. There are a number of tours available to see various lighthouses by boat, from 2 hours to 2 days long. This just sounds like fun! There’s a day-long trip that sounds most interesting to me, although the overnighter is intriguing — but two days on a boat looking at lighthouses… not sure I’m up for that.
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| Autumn, or the Grape Harvest, by Francisco Goya |
9. Volunteer to help with the grape-harvest at a Maryland winery. Many of Maryland’s wineries seek volunteers to help out with the harvest. I am hoping “no experience necessary”! Despite the beautiful and romantic painting shown here, I’m guessing it’ll be hard, gritty work — but fun for all that.
10. Bike along the C&O Towpath and here. I’ve always loved walking along the tow path, and a few years ago I put walking the entire tow path on my bucket list. I’ve amended that to biking OR walking it. I’m okay if it’s not consecutive — I’m happy doing one segment here, another there….7 miles down, 177 to go!
11. Explore Longwood Garden’s Christmas and Holiday decorations, gardens, and lights! The more I read about Longwood’s holiday decorations, the more intrigued I became. It’s on my list for next year!
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| Photo from Longwood Gardens |
Happy New Year! I wish all of you safe and interesting travels!
Check out the blog’s FB page for updates on places we’ve visited and blogged about: facebook.com/midatlanticdaytrips!
Have you daytripped somewhere interesting? I’d love to hear what you’re doing! Email [email protected] if you’re interested in being a guest-blogger!
Beautiful and marvelous. I was left stunned when I watched dolphins argyll. It was a very great thing to witness… those creatures in there natural habitat.