My favorite water + wine summer getaways near the DC area

One of the reasons that I love living in Northern, VA, is that you don’t have to travel far to escape the city life. Whether it’s the beach, visiting a winery, or driving through some of the most beautiful roads, you can’t beat being close to so many vacation destinations. Now more than ever, as the country is reopening but some of us are still nervous about traveling via plane, local travel is necessary. I’ve listed some of my favorite places to travel near the DC area, where you can combine a trip to the beach + a visit to a winery.

Chincoteague/Assateague Islands

Distance from DC: 3.5 hours

Sister Islands Chincoteague and Assateague are located off the Maryland and Virginia coasts, but are within minutes of one another. It is easy to visit and explore both islands in one day – or over a weekend if you choose. While there aren’t a ton of things to do on the islands – I think that is the beauty of them. Assateague, which is nearly 40 miles long is known for its beautiful beaches, wildlife, and ponies that roam freely. I’d suggest renting a boat and exploring the island. It’s a great way to see it all.

Chincoteague – a small barrier island, with no boardwalks or resorts, is a pristine beach with miles of unspoiled beauty. Unlike some of the other beaches, this island does not have any fine dining restaurants, nightlife, or trendy hotels – which might be a deterrent to some. However, if you are looking for somewhere to relax and enjoy fewer crowds, it’s the perfect destination. Make sure not to feed the horses and bring plenty of bug spray. Also, if you’re dining out, but please to go early. Most restaurants close around 8 or 9 p.m.

Where to stay: Fairfield Inn & Suites Waterfront

Where to sip: Bloxom Vineyards/The Bistro in Bloxom (about a 30-minute drive from Chincoteague)

Where to dine: Bill’s Prime Seafood and Steak

St. Michaels (Easton, MD)

Distance from DC: Approximately 2 hours

When I moved to the DC area, my colleagues used to rave about the beauty and charm of St. Michaels. This picturesque town is located along Maryland’s Eastern Shore on the Chesapeake. There are lots of things to do and see such as museums, shops, and activities such as sailing, boating, fishing and kayaking. It is also a foodie’s dream with everything from fresh seafood to Italian eateries and cafés.

Where to stay: Inn at Perry Cabin or St. Michaels Harbour Inn, Marina and Spa

Where to sip: Great Shoals Cellars

Where to dine: Stars at the Inn at Perry Cabin or Limoncello Restaurant

Rehoboth Beach /Cape May Beach

Distance from DC: Driving –2.5 to approx. 4 hours (without traffic)

Rehoboth Beach (DE) and Cape May Beach (NJ) are both the quintessential All-American Beach Towns. While they are both beautiful, they are different. When tourists come to the DC area and want to access to a beach, many people ask whether they should visit Cape May Beach or Rehoboth Beach as both are rated as one of the best east coast beaches to visit. I agree because I like them both for different reasons.

Rehoboth Beach is one of my favorite beaches in Delaware. It is beautiful, wide and flat. It has great restaurants, lots of boutique stores, and outlets. The water is typical east coast – a little murky, but the beach is clean and family-friendly. It is a popular beach, so it does get crowded at times, but there is room for everyone. It is also very LGBTQ friendly & ethnically diverse.

Where to stay: Avenue Inn and Spa

Where to sip: Nassau Valley Vineyards

Where to dine: Salt Air

Cape May Beach – If you are an ambitious traveler like me and want to make the most out of your visit – I’d suggest visiting both. Depending on the traffic, you may opt to drive to Cape May or you can take the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. The ferry ride is about 90 minutes, but it relaxing and a great way to enjoy the views of the ocean and feel the breeze. You may also put your vehicle on the ferry for an additional fee if you want to be able to drive around the island.

Cape May is a beautiful yet charming beach town and has a lot more to offer than some of the other beaches in the area. The water is less murky, and the sand is firm. It has historic Victorian Homes and B&Bs, so it is a great place to walk around when you want to take a break from the beach. In recent years, it has become a vacation hotspot for many celebrities such as Oprah, Tina Fey, and Anne Hathaway. It also has some great wineries such as Cape May Winery and Turdo Vineyards and Winery if you choose to add a trip to a winery to your visit.

Where to stay: Congress Hall Resort

Where to sip: Cape May Winery and Turdo Vineyards and Winery

Where to dine: The Mad Batter

Smith Mountain Lake, VA

Distance from DC: 5 hours

While Smith Mountain Lake is a bit of a distance from the DC area, it is gorgeous. It is Virginia’s second-largest and most popular lake, and for good reason. It has 500 miles of shoreline and is surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

One of the disadvantages of visiting is the lake, is that the only real way to see the lake is to rent a boat. There are numerous boat rental companies and they are reasonably priced. It’s great for swimming, sailing, jet skiing and fishing. There is a very nice dam, beautiful islands and some very impressive real estate. I spent two days out on the water – and still didn’t get to see it all.

Things to consider: If you have some extra time, I’d suggest exploring some of the wineries in Charlottesville as it is the halfway point between DC and Smith Mountain Lake. I highly recommend Pippin Hill and Carter Mountain Orchards.