need ideas for romantic overight trip near DC

[punkin]

My FIL offered to babysit the kids Saturday night the last weekend in January, so DH and I were hoping to do something romantic. I do not want to be more than a 2 hour drive from home (Washington DC area). So does anyone have any ideas?

I really wanted to go to NYC, but that is really too far for just one night. I'm a transplant here and really have no idea what's around.

 

[BuckNaked]

DH and I try to spend at least one weekend a year in Old Town Alexandria, just across the river from DC. There are some nice hotels on King Street, and there are tons of great restaurants, small local shops, etc. We could spend hours just walking down King St. and browsing the stores and shops there.

 

[Pugsley]

A couple years ago for Valentines Day DH and I got a room downtown at the Willard (very expensive hotel but we got a great deal from Priceline). We went to dinner and the theater and spent the next day just walking around DC. It was a wonderful weekend and we felt like we were on vacation even though we were only about ten miles from home!

 

[KelNottAt]

Believe it or not, the Hyatt in Cambridge is really nice. We were there for a winter one-nighter 2 years ago (with the kids). It was really fun. Spa, indoor pool, restaurant, game room...

Another option would be one of the B&Bs in St. Michaels. I hear they're very romantic, but expensive.

Then there's The Antrum 1844 in Taneytown, Md. It's way up near the Pa border above Frederick and Westminster. (About 60 miles from Rockville.) I've never been, but people I know rave rave rave about it.

Good luck. Have fun!

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Believe it or not, the Hyatt in Cambridge is really nice. We were there for a winter one-nighter 2 years ago (with the kids). It was really fun. Spa, indoor pool, restaurant, game room...

That sure looks nice--I pass by it going to see my DD at Salisbury.

 

[tkd lisa]

My recommendation would depend on the weather. But there's a really nice B&B in St. Mary's City. If the weather is cold and rainy, there's not much to do unfortunately. It's called the Broome Howard Inn. I happen to know the owners, and you could see my old house from the top floor of the Inn.

If the weather's nice, Solomon's Island is a short drive, and it offers lots of things to do.

 

[PlutoPony]

St. Michael's is nice, especially if you have good weather and can walk around the town and shops. Or maybe Annapolis on the waterfront. If you want to SPLURGE, make reservations for the Inn at Little Washington in Washington VA..... 5 star guest rooms and restaurant. We were considering it for our 20th anniversary but can't rationalize the cost any way we look at it!

 

[BuckNaked]

St. Michael's is nice, especially if you have good weather and can walk around the town and shops. Or maybe Annapolis on the waterfront. If you want to SPLURGE, make reservations for the Inn at Little Washington in Washington VA..... 5 star guest rooms and restaurant. We were considering it for our 20th anniversary but can't rationalize the cost any way we look at it!

A co-worker just spent the weekend at the Inn at Little Washington and proposed to his girlfriend there - he said it was a once in a lifetime experience for them.

 

[jlaspoq]

You could take a jaunt to Fredericksburg if you like wandering through a nice downtown with lots of quaint shops and restaurants... only about 45 minutes or so down I-95.... or as far as Richmond which is still less than 2 hours. Better would be Williamsburg, but it's more like 3 1/2 hours away from DC. Not sure how many hours the Homestead is - it's in the western part of the state and may be several hours from you. Annapolis is very nice. Or Baltimore - visit the aquarium and the Inner Harbor area.

There used to be a book about day trips from the DC area.... you might check a bookstore to see if there's still something like that.

 

[Jennifer S]

DH and I went to St Michael's for our ten year anniversary. LOVED it!! Right now is off season so the prices are cheaper.

We did a romance plan - got 2 nights, dinner, breakfast, dozen roses,champagne, suite w/ a jacuzzi and fire place all for @ $600. We stayed at the St. Michaels Harbour Inn . It was fabulous.

Edit form the website:

"Harbour Romance Package"
Waterfront or Jacuzzi Suite $684.00 November & April
Waterfront or Jacuzzi Suite $630.00 December through March

Two nights lodging in any suite

Dinner for two in Shore Restauran

Breakfast Buffet for 2 on Saturday

$30 credit for Sunday Brunch

Champagne & Roses in your room on arrival

All taxes and Gratuities included

All taxes and gratuities included.

 

[PlutoPony]

A co-worker just spent the weekend at the Inn at Little Washington and proposed to his girlfriend there - he said it was a once in a lifetime experience for them.

What a wonderful memory that would be! I've love to go there but just checked rates again and a Saturday nite stay (in a standard room) with dinner and Sunday breakfast would be ~ $1100 - just for one nite!

 

[BuckNaked]

What a wonderful memory that would be! I've love to go there but just checked rates again and a Saturday nite stay (in a standard room) with dinner and Sunday breakfast would be ~ $1100 - just for one nite!

Oh I know!! He told me that the dinner when he proposed (they had champagne after she accepted) was nearly $600.

 

[caitycaity]

i was also going to suggest the inn at little washington.

dh and i have also spent nights at the mayflower and the willard. eventhough it's not out of town, sometimes it's nice to go to a hotel, eat at the hotel restaurant and get breakfast in bed.

our favorite local escape is williamsburg (2.5 hours from our house in md), though even that might be a bit far for one night.

 

[LoveWDW]

DH and I went to St Michael's for our ten year anniversary. LOVED it!! Right now is off season so the prices are cheaper.

We did a romance plan - got 2 nights, dinner, breakfast, dozen roses,champagne, suite w/ a jacuzzi and fire place all for @ $600. We stayed at the St. Michaels Harbour Inn . It was fabulous.

Edit form the website:

"Harbour Romance Package"
Waterfront or Jacuzzi Suite $684.00 November & April
Waterfront or Jacuzzi Suite $630.00 December through March

Two nights lodging in any suite

Dinner for two in Shore Restauran

Breakfast Buffet for 2 on Saturday

$30 credit for Sunday Brunch

Champagne & Roses in your room on arrival

All taxes and Gratuities included

All taxes and gratuities included.

We did this a couple years ago and loved it. The restaurant was excellent, and the whole thing was romantic. We have been to the Inn several times. Even without the package it is a nice town to visit. Touristy, but some decent little restaurants and pleasant to stroll around.

 

[punkin]

Thanks for all the ideas. I really can't afford the Inn at Little Washington. Those prices are way out of my range

I am only about a 20 minute trip from Fredrick so that's a possibility. What is there to do there? (Edited to say: I just noticed you said Fredricksburg, not Fredrick. sorry)

Williamsburg may also be doable.

Excuse my ignorance, but what is St. Michael's and what is the homestead?

I will share the ideas with DH and get his input.

 

[Jennifer S]

We did this a couple years ago and loved it. The restaurant was excellent, and the whole thing was romantic. We have been to the Inn several times. Even without the package it is a nice town to visit. Touristy, but some decent little restaurants and pleasant to stroll around.

The restaurant was awesome- food was out of this world.

OP St. Michaels is a little town on the water in MD - across from Annapolis. Lots of little shops, boat rides and nice restaurants. Not a place for kids - they would find it boring. We really loved it. I suggested this before to someone here on the Dis and they went and loved it as well. Do a search there are other threads on St. Michaels.

 

[Straitlover]

Travelzoo has a Hyatt in DC listed as on special for $99:

http://hotels.travelzoo.com/washington-dc-hotels/221911

This looks lie a nice place to me! Don't know how romantic, though.

 

[suzannen]

DH and I have done both the Inn at Little Washington in Washington, VA and the Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, MD for anniversary trips.

The Inn at Little Washington is more expensive and more formal, but really fabulous. They greeted us by name as soon as we got out of the car, even though we hadn't even given our name. They knew it from our license plate number (it's very small and a very small town, they need to know if you are bringing a car to park). Our beautiful room had warm chocolate chip cookies, fresh flowers, a pitcher of fresh mint ice tea and a handwritten note from Patrick O'Connell welcoming us. The restaurant is outstanding.

The Inn at Perry Cabin (formerly owned by Laura Ashley) is more relaxed, but very beautiful and on the water. They also have a wonderful restaurant and St. Michael's is totally adorable. We had a wonderful time here also.

 

[Mercy]

DH and I try to spend at least one weekend a year in Old Town Alexandria, just across the river from DC. There are some nice hotels on King Street, and there are tons of great restaurants, small local shops, etc. We could spend hours just walking down King St. and browsing the stores and shops there.

I second Old Town Alexandria... my DH and I love it there, the shops and restaurants are great. Last time we stayed at the Sheraton Suites, very nice and the beds have those Sweet Sleeper mattresses... aaaahhhh!!!!