Looking for a Mid-Atlantic Destination

[steelmooch]

Hello, all...and thanks for your time, expertise, and consideration. 

I'm looking for a destination for a 4-day weekend...a short "couple's refresher" trip.  Does not have to be a "travel trailer" type of trip...a B&B, a hotel, or an Air BnB would be just fine. 

I'd like to stay <4 hours drive out of Pittsburgh.  Late October probably. 

Looked into some of the attractive $600pp flight/hotel all-inclusives in the Caribbean, but by the time you upgrade to decent flights that don't consume the entirety your first and last travel days, it ends up being at or above $800pp, and I already have buyer's remorse about that for a long weekend. 

Looking for a nice, mellow time.  Art/crafts/wine/antiques/cute towns/fresh air/nature...we're not picky.  Not looking for amusement parks, big crowds, traffic, etc. 

The Laurel Highlands are great, but sort of our old stompin' grounds, so I'd like to try something besides that. 

We had a nice time around Watkins Glen and Seneca "wine country", but that's a little bit of a haul for us from Pittsburgh. 

Any ideas or experiences that might fit the bill for us? 

Thanks and happy travels. 

 

[SeilerBird]

You might rent a small trailer and spend a few days on the Outer Banks off the Carolinas. There is a fabulous beach front campground close to Ocracoke.

https://www.nps.gov/caha/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

 

[steelmooch]

Thanks!  Love the outer banks...we've had great vacations in the Waves/Salvo area and definitely want to do Ocracoke. 

The 10-hour drive from Pittsburgh + ferry ride to and from the island would be a bit much for us over a 4-day weekend, though. 

 

[Hfx_Cdn]

      That time of year it is gorgeous in Lancaster County, Amish Country.  If you have never done it, look at places to stay in Lancaster, Reading or even Hershey.  Plus you will be bang on the 4 hour drive mark.

Ed

 

[steelmooch]

Thanks, Ed!  On the research...great ideas. 

 

[PopPop51]

A couple of years ago we had a uniquely wonderful, getaway weekend in the Virginia/West Virginia mountains.
See http://mountainrailwv.com/tour/wild-heart-adventure-package/

I'll excerpt their web page, as it describes thr experience well:
Visitors will ride steam-driven Shays of the Cass Scenic Railroad to Old Spruce, transfer to the diesel-powered Cheat Mountain Salamander, have an on board sandwich buffet lunch, spend the night in Elkins to enjoy multiple attractions and return by the same route to Cass on any scheduled return date.
On the other side of the coin, passengers can board in Elkins or Cheat Bridge, enjoying an on board sandwich buffet as they travel to Old Spruce. Once at Old Spruce, guests will then transfer to the Cass Scenic Railroad climbing upward to Bald Knob, the third highest point in the state. After the train descends back down the mountain into Cass, guests can stay in one of the historic company houses at the Cass State Park.This new wilderness excursion explores the most remote areas of the Mountain State ? some areas so remote that even automobiles cannot access! Take in the sights of West Virginia?s most pristine rivers and enjoy the views of our mountains ? all by Mountain Rail.

Cass is VERY quiet after the last train of the day, so if you're looking for some "just the two of us" time, you'll definitely get that.

 

[steelmooch]

Thank you!  Great info! 

 

[Gimpyknee]

Our honeymoon (and first anniversary) were spent in Woodstock, VA - it's the county seat of Shenandoah County, on US-11 south of Winchester.  It's on the west side of the mountain from Luray.  There is an amazing concentration of vineyards/wineries in the vicinity.  Just south of there is Edinburgh and Mt. Jackson - also great places to hang out.  Search AirBnB for the "Crooked Little House" in Woodstock.

 

[PapaJerry69]

Eastern shore of Virginia, such as Chincoteague  is amazing, quiet and not far from many great sites,
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Island | National Park Information | npca.org‎ and more.