Best family vacations within 5 hours drive
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Anonymous
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Of the DC metro.
No other parameters - just curious what others have found. I’m getting more and more tired of flying and want to explore the mid Atlantic more. |
Anonymous
| New River Gorge. We took our teens ziplining, rock climbing, white water rafting, and more. Everyone loved it. |
Anonymous
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Pittsburgh if you like cities and museums. There's a children's museum, the National Aviary, incline railroads, lots of other stuff.
I haven't taken my kids to Philly or Lancaster but went to those as a kid and adult and there's tons to do. The Brandywine Valley (PA, DE) is also nice. Williamsburg of course, but I also take my kids to Richmond and Newport News a lot. Newport News has nice parks, the Virgina Living Museum, Mariners' Museum, Bluebird Gap farm is nearby in Hampton and there's plenty more around there. My kids also loved Staunton for 2 nights. |
Anonymous
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Slightly longer (6 hours) is Ithaca/Finger Lakes.
New York City (though I'd take the train) We like Sandbridge (VA Beach) though some find it to plebeian. That's just a relaxing at the beach trip though, there's not a whole lot there. |
Anonymous
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There is so much in this area within 5 hours!
Beaches - DE, NJ, VA Mountains - WV, VA, MD, PA Specific towns not already mentioned: Slippery Rock, PA Colonial Beach, VA Harpers Ferry / Charles Town / Sheppardstown Staunton VA Blacksburg VA Lurray VA Irvington VA St Michael's MD Calverton Cliffs MD |
Anonymous
| Williamsburg I guess. Camping maybe in the national forests? I mean, NYC? That’s it. |
Anonymous
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Seconding new river gorge. Rafting, hiking, zip lines. Fayetteville is cute.
Skiing in WV is an option too. Various options. Cape May, NJ for a beach town. Drive to lewes and take the ferry across. |
Anonymous
You need to get out more. There are tons of places to go within 5-6 hours. Pittsburgh and Philly are both great trips with kids. There are tons of things to do for kids of varying ages. Richmond and Baltimore too but those could be day trips. |
Anonymous
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I love Philly. So much to do. They have a great zoo, museum's, fantastic food choices, great boutiques, funky thrift stores, great hotels and it's safe if you stay away from the sketchy areas. You must get a Philly cheesesteak. I like Geno's steaks.
Spruse Street Harbor Park is very nice in the summer. It has live concerts with food trucks with games with a board walk. |
Anonymous
I definitely get not liking to fly. If time allows, and it sometimes does, since I’m a teacher and spouse is semi-retired, we are driving for more of our domestic trips. Last year we drove to Colorado. We have been there many times and always flew. Driving wasn’t that bad and way better than flying and renting a car. Locally, for the beach I like Fenwick Island. Canaan Valley is also really nice and has enough to do if your family likes being outdoors. I keep hearing good things about New River Gorge, WV, but have never been. For cities, Pittsburgh, Philly and NYC are great. NYC is where I make an exception that driving is better. The train is the cheapest and easiest way to get there. |
Anonymous
Williamsburg is ok. You can stay at Kings Mill resort and they have a free shuttle to Busch Gardens. But it's mostly retired people. |
Anonymous
Glad someone else here is adventurous! I’d add: NYC Shenandoah National Park Assateague/Chincoteague Cape Charles/Kiptopeke state park Lake Anna Deep Creek Roanoke Charlottesville Cape May Atlantic City Davis/Thomas West Va/Blackwater Falls Poconos Raleigh Hot Springs VA Berkeley springs Natural Bridge Ohiopyle Gettysburg Lancaster Hershey Philly Pittsburgh Massanutten Homestead Greenbrier Nemacolin Legoland NY Further but still drivable and worth it: Finger lakes Niagara Falls Asheville area Great Smokies |
Anonymous
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We do a lot of driving trips so + 1 to most of what's been mentioned.
Adding, especially if you have little kids, Deer Valley YMCA family camp in PA. |
Anonymous
Omg my childhood unlocked. Every year we went. Amazing. Isn't there a waitlist? |
Anonymous
| Drive a little longer and do Niagara Falls and Toronto or Great Smokey Mountains. |