One of the greatest appeals of Washington, D.C. is the easy access it provides to the beauty beyond the city. Just outside the District, you'll find a region offering the serenity of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah Valley, Virginia's beautiful horse country, countless vineyards, and the historic Civil War sites of Gettysburg, Manassas and Antietam, as well as Colonial and Revolutionary War sites. Other interesting cities such as Baltimore and Richmond, and the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic beaches are all within easy reach.

For more information about recreation in the area, visit the National Park Service website:
www.nps.gov/parks.html

And for destinations just outside of Washington, visit http://cityguide.aol.com/washington/road-trips