I lived in DC for years, and if you choose to go there I'll give you all the restaurant/museum info (because there's way more than Smithsonian.) It is a great tourist destination, but having lived there for years I see the downsides as well. Baltimore really isn't worth a weekend get away IMO--it does have a few charming neighborhoods, but they're good for an hour or so.
Williamsburg is Really Fun. If it weren't for my suggestion below, I would say Williamburg for sure. It's got the cool living history and the buildings are fascinating, and you can see people actually doing the work/crafts of the era. In the evening there are candle light tours of the State House and the Governor's Mansion. Eat under the grape arbor at Chownings Tavern and then go inside for the "gambols" in the evening, where people sing and there are period games to play. Had a delightful evening there! And for white table cloth dining there is Sally Lun's and the Kings Arms tavern. (All the food is excellent and delicious, but Colonial American. Chownings is where I first discovered apple pie with cheddar cheese.) And if that's not enough (and really, there is plenty to do and see and eat) there is a huge outlet place very nearby and also Roanoke (I believe there are buses/groups to both of those that you could pick up from your hotel.)
But I would say Philadelphia! Yeah, strange call I know. I never even thought about Philly except as a stop on Amtrak between Boston and DC (I've done the ride many times) and a few years ago I was hosted by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Association for a weekend program. And it was GRAND. The restaurants are MAGNIFICENT. I was totally blown away by the food (and I will happily give you a list of recommendations there.) The Art Institute has one of the best collections of Impressionists in the US along with a really stunning modern collection.
And there's a pretty, quaint colonial section of the city, very different from Boston of the same era.
I'm actually hoping to get back there one of these days soonish.
Anyway, there couldn't have been any one better to win that prize! Have a great time.
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I lived in DC for years, and if you choose to go there I'll give you all the restaurant/museum info (because there's way more than Smithsonian.) It is a great tourist destination, but having lived there for years I see the downsides as well. Baltimore really isn't worth a weekend get away IMO--it does have a few charming neighborhoods, but they're good for an hour or so.
Williamsburg is Really Fun. If it weren't for my suggestion below, I would say Williamburg for sure. It's got the cool living history and the buildings are fascinating, and you can see people actually doing the work/crafts of the era. In the evening there are candle light tours of the State House and the Governor's Mansion. Eat under the grape arbor at Chownings Tavern and then go inside for the "gambols" in the evening, where people sing and there are period games to play. Had a delightful evening there! And for white table cloth dining there is Sally Lun's and the Kings Arms tavern. (All the food is excellent and delicious, but Colonial American. Chownings is where I first discovered apple pie with cheddar cheese.) And if that's not enough (and really, there is plenty to do and see and eat) there is a huge outlet place very nearby and also Roanoke (I believe there are buses/groups to both of those that you could pick up from your hotel.)
But I would say Philadelphia! Yeah, strange call I know. I never even thought about Philly except as a stop on Amtrak between Boston and DC (I've done the ride many times) and a few years ago I was hosted by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Association for a weekend program. And it was GRAND. The restaurants are MAGNIFICENT. I was totally blown away by the food (and I will happily give you a list of recommendations there.) The Art Institute has one of the best collections of Impressionists in the US along with a really stunning modern collection.
And there's a pretty, quaint colonial section of the city, very different from Boston of the same era.
I'm actually hoping to get back there one of these days soonish.
Anyway, there couldn't have been any one better to win that prize! Have a great time.