US getaway advice (with annoying criteria)

Being a Governmental(ish, sort of)-employed Britisher I get next Thursday and Friday off, not just Easter Friday, and the following Monday. I'm knackered and need to sleep and also read some work-related stuff but I am stubbornly intending to get away and explore Some New Place in the US for a few days because I can and it's such a damn waste not to.

Criteria:

- somewhere I can explore and enjoy but not feel I have to spend every moment doing that because there's so much to see (i.e. not NY or Boston or Chicago)

- somewhere I can explore on foot

- no more than 2 hours' flying time from DC, preferably less, Amtrak much much better

First shot with almost 0 web research: Charleston.

Do you have any recommendations?

Philly or Baltimore, but bmore's better for a day trip.

Thanks - I was thinking a few days though - somewhere I couldn't get to as a day trip?

We'd all like to flee to the--oh, never mind

Philly's a little better for US history and the art museum (most of 1 day by itself), if you care about that.

yeah philly is probably more cultural/historical; bmore just seems like a cool place to chill and walk around without too much of an agenda. i have always wanted to check out that aquarium tho.

We'd all like to flee to the--oh, never mind

Hey, we just have this little thing this week called the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY that's all but no, hey, it's cool.

Actually, on second thought, RRHOF induction is megalame. But I did go to the Cleveland Zoo last weekend, which was nice. Carry on.

Thanks, Goggled the Philly art museum, looks great and has a Cezanne exhibition; also just found out I have to be in Philly the Monday evening, so maybe I'll go there for two days - one wander round the city and then Monday mostly in the museum. Plus the day trip to Baltimore. Annapolis looks interesting too. Might save the RRHOF for when I'm headed to Chicago this summer if I take it slow to get there from here...

Go to the Mutter Museum of Medical Curiosities in Philly. Worth the trip all by itself.

sounds tiring

Ta, Mutter museum is on the list. Cozwn, apparently it's 3 small rooms so may be mentally tiring but not physically. Visitors seem to give it rave reviews... any more Philly props?

Only that I've had a great time every time I've been there. Obv that's because I was with good company but still -- the city is just cool. Workable.

IIRC something else you may find of moderate interest -- Benjamin Franklin's original house is gone now but there's some kind of conceptual/modern sculpture that forms an outline of the old building? Curious.

Museum of Art, a drink under the dome at the Ritz, Reading Terminal Market, 9th St Italian market, Eastern State Penitentiary, Rodin Museum, The Barnes Foundation, all kinds of awesome bars & restaurants.

OK, so very very convinced, thanks. And Franklin house outline sounds cool - I'll investigate and check it out. Do you know of any good/cheap but not too loud places to stay?

I'd suggest somewhere in or close either Center City or Rittenhouse, it ends up being pretty convenient to everywhere. I've had good luck and very reasonable prices at Club Quarters before.

My employer isn't with Club Quarters, but will focus on those locations... ta...

I heartily concur with Mr Pancakes Hackman, but if you were to flee to the Cleve, you'd have to have a car to get around.

How about AMISH COUNTRY?

I have a driving license but I last used it in 1994, apart from that time I had refresher lessons in Manchester in 2004 and I drove the wrong way down a dual carriageway (didn't stop me having more, but then the driving instructor, erm, left the profession). Actually if anyone has tips for great driving instructors in DC... anyway, will take it to the DC thread. Or maybe I could go on a 'learn to drive on a very long, straight beautiful highway' course in NM! (will take it to the NM thread...)

Would I not need a car to get to AMISH COUNTRY?

No, a horse and buggy!

d'oh yeah
but not all the way from Philly though eh?

You should be able to get an Amtrak train to Amish country from Philadelphia.

http://www.catchthekeystone.com/

watch out for Rumspringa!!

Yay Amtrak! I thought it was just major city-to-city routes.