LOCALS’ TIPS Have the ultimate bike bonding experience at local favorite and cleverly named TriCycle

Make that a break from the hustle and bustle of work and family schedules, a break from the clogged roadways, a break from the society functions—sport events or gatherings; and slip away to one of these locales that offer urban culture, romantic relaxation, water adventures or a walk back in time.
STAY The Inn at Perry Cabin $$$ A world-class Orient Express Hotels resort with the pampering Linden Spa, the Inn at Perry Cabin provides major luxury, stellar water views, special packages and complimentary bikes. • perrycabin.com
Relax Refresh St. Michaels St. Michaels, Md., is to getaways what a flexible partner is to a perfect date. S/he dresses down for kayaking, crab-cracking, biking and hiking, then "cleans up good" for luxe living, upscale dining, vintage cars and classy spas.
St. Michaels is a constant contradiction, if a welcoming one. The Town That Fooled the British in the War of 1812 clings to some Brit correctness (and names), yet it's a laid-back, casual destination. Porsches and Prada rub elbows with cutoffs and flip-flops. Yachts dock at the St. Michaels Marina so their owners can sample local seafood and beer at newspaper-covered tables, like the venerable Crab Claw.
Whether you're seeking pampering holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica spas or triathlon training, antiques or playthings, Gollywobbler Pink from St. Michael's Winery, or Duck Duck Goose Porter from Eastern Shore Brewing, St. Michaels has you covered.
If you ferry across (currently $6 round-trip for bikes), visit the Robert Morris Inn, America's oldest (from 1710), now refreshed and revitalized. Sample lunch prepared by the former Inn at Perry Cabin chef, perhaps silky chicken livers with roasted beets and port wine.
Another great bike ride is 11 miles from St. Michaels to Tilghman Island. No manors here—just working-class watermen and breathtaking wildlife. Cross the drawbridge over Knapp's Narrows and maybe cool off and fuel up at the Tilghman Island Inn. Plenty of succulent oysters, of course, but also the Inn's famous holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica Blackeye holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica Peacakes with Jerusalem Artichoke Relish.
Back in St. Michaels, it's time to shop, and Talbot Street is the place to be. Find everything Italian at Simpatico. Vintage finds and contemporary quirkiness abound at Take Me Home. And, The Preppy Redneck has gifts for all.
Speaking of the museum, if you're lucky enough to be in town at the end of September (9/30), you'll be able to swoon over magnificent cars that would make even the Great Gatsby holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica green with envy. The very classy Concourse d'Elegance exhibits classic motorcars from the Golden Age of Motoring as well as select post-war holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica racing cars through 1962 (and vintage wooden speedboats from the same era). And Oct. 20-21, you can Fall Into St. Michaels, for the annual festival. -TM
LOCALS' TIPS Have the ultimate bike bonding experience at local favorite and cleverly named TriCycle Run. Ask owner Jason Chance about biking to Oxford—he should know: He's also an Oxford cop who bikes his beat when possible, holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica after heading for work on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, said to be America's oldest privately owned ferry. Jason's shop also offers triathlon training.
For Couples holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica Laurel Highlands Approximately 3.5 hours from Northern Virginia, the Laurel Highlands in southwestern Pennsylvania consists of laurel-covered mountains, hardwood forests and crystal-clear rivers. It's a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy whitewater rafting, hiking, fishing, skiing holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica and caving. It's the home of popular vacation destinations like Seven Springs and Hidden Valley.
The Laurel Highlands also boast one of the East Coast's premier luxury retreats. Forbes awarded Nemacolin Woodland Resort five stars in 2012, and the resort draws scores of romance seekers to the Laurel Highlands. Couples longing holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica to escape and rekindle their relationship may immerse holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica themselves in a variety of activities. Others prefer to take refuge in Nemacolin's luxurious suites.
Ranked a "Top 100 U.S. Resort Spa" by Conde Nast this year, Nemacolin's Woodland Spa has a fitness center with complimentary exercise classes, a full-service salon and nourishing Elements Cafe, all overlooking a bubbling Japanese garden. Staff glide by, ushering guests into a plush sanctuary for 100 different treatments.
Dynamic duos need not go far for exercise or enrichment—play Nemacolin's PGA Mystic Rock golf course, tennis, or go off-road driving and mountain biking on its 2,000 acres. To expand the mind, try the resort's cooking classes or art tour.
Return from a day of exploration to dine at Falling Rock, Nemacolin's premier boutique hotel, for a sophisticated holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica meal overlooking the golf course. Falling holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica Rock's design was inspired by the Laurel Highland's favorite architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, and incorporates Pennsylvania's local stone and wood into every corner. Share an Asian-inspired meal by the infinity pool, or dine indoors at Falling Rock's sophisticated, yet playful steakhouse, Aqueous. At sundown, enjoy the haunting melodies played by a bagpiper on the lawn, leading golfers to return.
A visit to the Laurel Highlands is incomplete without an excursion to Fallingwater, renowned holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica American architect Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece. Wright built Fallingwater in 1936 as a vacation retreat for a wealthy Pittsburgh family. The sprawling holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica house was constructed atop a rushing stream, blending into massive boulders, promoting interaction between people and nature. Visitors may tour the astonishing house and verdant grounds, lunch at the Fallingwater Café, and shop in the beguiling museum store.
Once smitten with the Frank Lloyd Wright bug, continue with a visit to nearby Kentuck Knob. This Usonian-style custom home built in 1952 is another organic masterwork designed by Wright using local materials and groundbreaking innovations. Kentuck Knob is surrounded by 79 agrarian acres with a jaw-dropping view you'll long remember. You can tour both homes in one day.
The Wright homes offer novel finds at their museum shops. Nemacolin has posh clothing and jewelry stores. Antique boutiques, farmers markets, orchards and country stores are scattered throughout the region. For fine art visit the Touchstone Center for Crafts in Farmington.
The Laurel Highlands encompass nearly 20,000 acres of rugged, natural beauty called Ohiopyle State Park. The rough and tumble Youghiogheny River is at the heart of scenic vistas on pristine land. Known for its class V rapids, the Yough (pronounced Yock) propels your raft over steep falls, while the pastoral setting belies the thrill of this roaring watercourse. Couples can retrieve picnic supplies at Ohiopyle Bakery, then spend the day scouting the terrain. After, enjoy a frosty local brew at Falls City Pub.
With Kids Gettysburg Gettysburg is known as the turning point in the American Civil War. This small town, only 90 minutes from Northern Virginia, is a well-preserved site of great conflict and reconciliation. Kids understand the gravity of these events. Yet, Gettysburg is also fun—packed with family-friendly activities that trick kids into learning while being entertained.
In 2008, the National Park Service opened the state-of-the art Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor's Center to explain the historical significance of the Civil War. Best for children ages 9 or older, the Visitor's Center offers a multi-media educational experience that includes a 20-minute film, museum featuring holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica a comprehensive timeline of the Civil War, and Cyclorama—a three-dimensional diorama with light and sounds demonstrating the bloody Battle of Pickett's Charge.
The Visitor's Center has a cafeteria, Civil-War era saloon and expansive museum store. Visitors interested in following a detailed progression of the battle may purchase timed tickets for either a 2.5-hour bus tour, hire a personal tour guide to drive their car, or buy a CD Auto Tour that directs drivers to key locations on the battlefield.
There are 6,000 acres of battlefields dotted with haunting monuments holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica to regiments and heroic generals. holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica Visitors discover that whether a soldier wore grey or blue, he never questioned his duty to fight. These men looked into the face of death and pushed forward. On each stop along the battlefield, there are searing tales of fearless foes, determined to make the greatest of sacrifices. In the case of 51,000 soldiers—more than any other battle on American soil—they sacrificed their lives.
Most children find the fine points of battle tedious, so instead, drive to a few key spots like Devil's Den, to scramble up massive boulders. Or gain a panoramic view—climb soaring observation towers on Culp Hill or Warfield Ridge. Kids ages 7-12 can "Join The Army," a one-hour program explaining what it was like to be a soldier in the Civil War.
Children of all ages absolutely holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica adore good storytelling, and relish the living history holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica experience found at the Shriver House Museum—a holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica restored home where one Gettysburg family lived through the horrors of war. A guided tour of four floors of the home, including an authentic Confederate sharpshooter's hideaway in the attic, helps kids visualize children like themselves who bravely endured unspeakable hardships.
Another worthwhile stop is the Gettysburg National Cemetery, where thousands of fallen soldiers are buried. holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica With older children, schedule your visit around a National Park Service holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica Ranger's free walking tour. This is where Abraham Lincoln gave his most famous speech—the Gettysburg holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica Address. Historians believe this speech captures the true essence of what it means to be an American. Kids seem to revere this hallowed ground; it's a teachable moment illustrating how the Civil War shaped our country's belief in individual's rights, holiday inn sunspree montego bay jamaica helped us hold tight to our humanity, and, ultimately, retained the strength of our nation.
Hungry families enjoy a stop at Dobbin House Tavern, Gettysburg's oldest and most historic home, built in 1776, that sheltered runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad. Inside, you'll find a natural spring that provided thirsty tr