|
User Rating: (Rate It!) My Lists: (Add to My Lists)
ANNAPOLIS. Situated on the Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis is more than a state capital: The Treaty of Paris was ratified here in 1784, and the city even served as the nation's capital for a year. And yet, Annapolis is no staid museum exhibit. Naval Academy midshipmen and students from St. John's University impart a youthful vigor to the city. Its restaurants stand poised with cold brews and delicious blue-crab cakes. Boating, yachting and summertime festivals attract folks to the City Dock all year long. Charming and perennially welcoming, Annapolis is great for a day trip or a journey into the past.
User Rating: (Rate It!) My Lists: (Add to My Lists)
ARLINGTON. Arlington is America's second largest national cemetery and contains the graves of some 250,000 American servicemen and women. Some of the most visited graves include those of President John F. Kennedy, the Challenger astronauts and Audie Murphy, as well as the dramatic Tomb of the Unknowns. The 200-acre site along the Potomac once belonged to Robert E. Lee and was commissioned as a military cemetery in 1864. Visit the informative visitor center and take a self-guided tour or a shuttle tour. Located across Memorial Bridge, less than a mile from the Lincoln Memorial. Parking $1.25/hour. METRO: Arlington Cemetery
User Rating: (Rate It!) My Lists: (Add to My Lists)
BALTIMORE. Rich in history and diversity, Baltimore is the birthplace of Babe Ruth, the final resting place of Edgar Allan Poe and the city where the "Star Spangled Banner" was penned. Its Inner Harbor offers the National Aquarium and plenty of bars and restaurants. The Mount Vernon area delivers art, music, dining and good doses of charm, while Fells Point is a busy maritime district with cobblestone streets and cozy pubs. As for sights, the B&O Railroad Museum, the Baltimore Museum of Art and Camden Yard (home of the MLB Orioles) showcase the city's uniqueness and help make it an attractive day's excursion.
User Rating: (Rate It!) My Lists: (Add to My Lists)
Americans and visitors from around the world enjoy traveling the scenic George Washington Parkway to this idyllic, aristocratic estate, once home to George and Martha Washington. Painstakingly maintained, the site includes 500 acres overlooking the Potomac River. The mansion and numerous outbuildings are original and were designed by Washington himself. Guests are encouraged to tour the main house, visit the gardens, learn about farming at the Pioneer Farm, and hike the Forest Trail. Other must-sees include the gravesites of George and Martha Washington, a slave memorial, library and museums. Free walking tours and other seasonal activities are offered daily April through October. Dining and shopping are available as well.
User Rating: (Rate It!) My Lists: (Add to My Lists)
WASHINGTON. People gladly make the 90-minute trip from DC for the Inn's exquisite food and its luxurious setting, inspired by the Windsor Castle dairy room. Seasonal dishes like pan-roasted Maine lobster with grapefruit, orzo and citrus butter sauce showcase owner-chef Patrick O'Connell's creativity and attention to detail. Desserts are equally sublime – the molten-centered chocolate cake with roasted-banana ice cream tends to send palates soaring. Factor in the impressive 14,000-bottle wine cellar, and it's easy to see why the Inn is one of America's top restaurants.
User Rating:  (Rate It) My Lists: (Add to My Lists)
GREAT FALLS. This warm, intimate restaurant recollects the quaint roadside inns so revered in the French countryside. Surrounding it is a beautiful garden that helps foster a relaxed environment for guests, who are treated as though they are neighbors – even family. The prix fixe menu includes a variety of Alsatian dishes, including a choucroute platter cooked in Crémant d'Alsace. Superbly done seafood, duck and veal are also notable. For dessert, guests are encouraged to try the plum or apple tart with cinnamon ice cream. Outstanding wine selection. Six-course dinner, $59-72.
|
Maestro
1700 Tysons Blvd, Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner, McLean, VA 22102 · 703-821-1515
|
User Rating: (Rate It!) My Lists: (Add to My Lists)
TYSONS CORNER. [Scheduled to re-open January 2008] A crescendo of "Encores!" has been showered upon this brilliant Tysons Corner restaurant, seamlessly directed by the innovative Fabio Trabocchi, whose knack for traditional Italian regional cuisine is matched only by the dramatic flair of his L'Evoluzione dishes (try the Mediterranean dorade with fennel compote and consommé). Three-, five- and seven-course prix fixes are available, as is the Creazione, a tasting menu hand-chosen by Trabocchi. Enhancing the experience is the sophisticated open-kitchen floor plan. The wine list features 500 sommelier-selected bottles from Italy, France and the US.
User Rating: (Rate It!) My Lists: (Add to My Lists)
MANASSAS. Because of its strategic and logistical importance, Manassas was the site of two important Civil War events, the First and Second Battles of Bull Run. During the first, picnickers looked on as the South defeated the North in 10 hours. A year later, General Lee scored a tactical miracle when he defeated a much larger Union force. Today, loop trails, guided tours and information kiosks provide insight into the heroism and loss experienced by both sides. Quiet, serene, almost pastoral, the park's rolling terrain serves as a chilling reminder of what happens when a nation is divided against itself.
User Rating: (Rate It!) My Lists: (Add to My Lists)
MIDDLEBURG. A pleasant escape from the bustle of big city life, this quaint little village serves as a portal to an area of Virginia known as the Historic Hunt Country, long-revered for its steeplechases, fox hunts, antebellum homes and historic, locally owned inns. The romantic Red Fox Inn, for example, dates back to the 1720s and boasts an award-winning restaurant that was frequented by Elizabeth Taylor. Middleburg also lays claim to many fine shops, galleries and eateries, adding to its appeal as a country retreat.
User Rating: (Rate It) My Lists: (Add to My Lists)
ALEXANDRIA. Alexandria may be close to Capitol Hill, but it's worlds away from the political hubbub. The charming Old Town area, planned in the mid-18th century, is now a shaded, genteel district dotted with beautifully historic homes, fascinating colonial museums, unique shops and award-winning eateries like Restaurant Eve. For magnificent views of the Potomac, don't miss Alexandria's revitalized waterfront, where many local artists and craftspeople gather to create and sell their work. METRO: Braddock Rd or King St
You want quality leisure activities. To that end, we've researched a diverse list of options, ruled out the wastes of time, and delivered only the 10Best. We provide quality information about historical sites, theme parks, sporting events, and city parks that you won't want to miss. Peruse our lists, see what grabs your fancy, and then head out for some personal time!
|
Print this Page
Email this Page
Click here to share it »
Book Washington Hotels
Buy Tickets to Washington Events
