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11 March 2024 by David Ward
Anchored by America’s capital city, the Capital Region has it all – vast national parks, tranquil coastal waterways, sprawling coastlines, historic battlegrounds, charming small towns, and miles of open road along the region’s many scenic byways. What's more, it's all within easy reach of Washington, DC. To get you started, here are our Capital Region classics:
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is gateway to North America’s largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay. World renowned as America’s Sailing Capital and home of the U.S. Naval Academy, America’s first peacetime capital boasts more 18th-century brick buildings than any city of comparable size in the nation and the oldest State House in continuous legislative use.
Annapolis, Maryland (Credit: Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County)
Arlington, Virginia
Across the river from Washington, DC, Arlington, Virginia is minutes from the National Mall, Smithsonian museums, US Capitol, White House and more. Visit Arlington National Cemetery, the Marine Corps War Memorial and the Air Force Memorial. Check out Arlington’s 45 hotels with rates up to 20 percent less than downtown.
US Airforce Memorial, Arlington, Virginia (Credit: Arlington Convention & Visitors Service)
Baltimore, Maryland
Today’s Baltimore, known as Charm City is a vibrant community that honours the past while keeping a keen eye on the future. The city is where you can see the largest public collection of Matisse in the world (for free!), sip a craft beer in the sanctuary of a converted church, and stay in a four-star hotel poised atop a historic recreation pier.
Baltimore Inner Harbor (credit: Visit Baltimore)
Charlottesville, Virginia
Pretty Charlottesville is one of Virginia's most dynamic destinations, thanks in large part to the delights of Albemarle County, whose Monticello Wine Trail was voted Wine Enthusiast's 2023 Wine Region of the Year. The region is home to the estates of three former U.S. presidents, as well as 40-plus vineyards, a burgeoning culinary scene and a vibrant arts community. It's also a great base for visiting nearby Shenandoah National Park.
Vineyard in Charlottesville, Virginia, USA (Credit: Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau)
Frederick County, Maryland
Surrounded by the rolling hills of the Catoctin Mountains, Frederick County is steeped in American Civil War history, and home to a 50-block downtown with over 200 specialty shops and dozens of restaurants. Sip and sample at wineries, breweries, and distilleries – the most of anywhere in Maryland.
Carroll Creek Park, Frederick County, Maryland (credit: Visit Frederick)
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, the vibrant coastal city of Virginia Beach is home to a flourishing local culinary scene, rich history, a variety of arts and entertainment, and family-friendly attractions. It boasts the world’s longest pleasure beach, divided into three distinct areas, each offering a different coastal experience.
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
In historic Williamsburg, visitors can enjoy everything from luxurious spas, world-class golf and award-winning restaurants to biking and hiking trails, and living-history museums. Voted as one of Travel + Leisure Readers’ '15 Favourite Cities in the United States of 2023', it's also home to America’s Historic Triangle: Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, and Yorktown.
Govenors Palace Gardens, Williamsburg (credit: Virginia Tourism Corporation)
