Baltimore

Distance from Washington DC: 66 kilometres
When to go: Year-round

Less than an hour from Washington DC’s Union Station is Baltimore, a lively harbour city (it grew around its tobacco trade with England) with some of the US’s oldest historical districts. Not far from the Downtown area is 19th century Mount Vernon, home to the Washington Monument, the ornate Peabody Library and the Walters Art Gallery, with an impressive collection of 19th-century European art; as well as Fell’s Point, a waterfront district with cobbled streets, quirky shops and over 120 pubs. It’s also a growing culinary centre – Woodberry Kitchen once hosted the Obamas, while nearby The Elk Room’s speakeasy vibe has made appearances on many a ‘best bar’ list.

If you need to stay, The Lord Baltimore, handily positioned between Mount Vernon and the Inner Harbor, has plush rooms, a rooftop bar for hot summer nights and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.