Day Trips and Weekend Getaways - Mid Atlantic

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

A spectacular array of day trips, weekend getaways, and other travel opportunities can be found in the Mid Atlantic Region. This article provides travel ideas and examples of short trip destinations.

When planning a trip, travelers may want to consider a number of factors before choosing a destination.

Time affects virtually all travel in the Mid Atlantic Region. With some interests, timing will be a minor issue. For others, timing is critical.

Factors such as traffic, temperature, and availability of goods and services are all affected by time and season.

The following are trip ideas by state and region:

Jersey Shore

The Jersey Shore is one of the most popular getaway destinations in the northern part of the region. The Jersey Shore is known for its seaside towns, amusement parks, and other attractions.

Popular Jersey Shore destinations include Sandy Hook (Gateway National Recreation Area), Asbury Park Beach, Ocean Grove, Belmar, Manasaquan, Seaside Heights, Island Beach State Park, Atlantic City, Ocean City, and others.

Cape May

On the southern tip of New Jersey, Cape May is a popular travel destination. The area is popular with birdwatchers, especially Cape May National Wildlife Refuge, and Cape May Point State Park.

Delaware Coast

Because of its strategic location, the Delaware Coast is one of the area's most popular destinations. The area is home to numerous beachfront communities. Near Lewes, Cape Henlopen State Park attracts beach enthusiasts, birdwatchers, fishermen, and others.

Baltimore

One of America's oldest cities, Baltimore is a favorite city to explore. Access to Baltimore is possible by auto, bus, rail, air, or sea. The Inner Harbor is a must-see starting point. From there, visitors can spend time exploring museums, shopping, boat tours, historic neighborhoods, or take walks along the harbor.

Western Maryland

Western includes scores of destinations for day trips and getaway excursions. Popular attractions in Deep Creek Lake, Historic Cumberland, and others.

West Virginia

In West Virginia, Harpers Ferry is one of the best kept secrets in the Mid Atlantic region. The appeal of this historic town is due mostly to its geographic location. Harpers Ferry is located at the junction of two of America's most famous rivers; the Potomac and Shenandoah.

Ocean City MD

Ocean City, Maryland (OCMD) is Maryland's most popular coastal beach resort. Each year, Ocean City experiences a dramatic change as its population swells from less than 10,000 winter residents to over 2 million in the summer months.

Chincoteague Island - Assateague Island

Located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Chincoteague Island is a favorite weekend getaway destination for beach lovers, birders, and anglers. Once a small fishing village, the town is a mix of shops, restaurants, motels, and vacation cottages. A few minutes away is Assateague Island, home to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, sandy beaches, and the world-famous wild Chincoteague ponies.

Hampton Roads Virginia

The Hampton Roads - Tidewater region is known for its waterfront activities. Travelers can explore the seven cities of Hampton Roads and other areas.

Coastal North Carolina

North Carolina is home to some of America's most popular beaches from the Outer Banks to the Crystal Coast.

Along the coast are important estuaries, including Albemarle Sound and Pamlico Sound, fed by the Roanoke, Neuse, and Cape Fear rivers.

Related Information

Mid Atlantic Beaches and Coastal Travel Destinations

Things To Do in Harpers Ferry West Virginia

Winter Recreation Ideas

Passaic River Waterfront Park - Newark NJ

In Newark, New Jersey, public access along the Passaic River will be improved by a waterfront construction project.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New York District is restoring the Passaic River shoreline with a new bulkhead wall designed to prevent the shoreline from eroding.

The banks of the river had been largely abandoned because the shoreline was eroding and the river was filled with trash. The Passaic carried contaminates from one of the state’s largest toxic waste sites.

The community has shown interest in a riverfront park to revitalize the waterfront area and the work the Army Corps is doing is laying the foundation for their plans.

The Army Corps of Engineers in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Newark is performing The Joseph G. Minish Passaic River Waterfront Park and Historic Area Project.

The project encompasses almost 2-miles and over 30-acres of land along the west bank of the Passaic River between Bridge and Brill Streets in New Jersey's largest city.

The Army Corps is overseeing the construction of 6,000 feet of new bulkhead along the river, which entails restoring 3,200 feet of riverbank, constructing a 9,200-foot waterfront walkway, and creating landscaping using native plants.

In addition, it’s also establishing park facilities, plazas, walking and biking paths, playgrounds, and baseball and soccer fields.

The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2023.

source: New York District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers