Still looking for a nearby spring break trip? No need to worry. Impress the family with an impromptu vacation to one of these drivable destinations, no flights required.
Tilghman Island, Maryland
Distance: About two hours drive from Alexandria
A quaint, quiet, fishing-village escape might be the perfect spring reset. This laid-back island on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, only 3 miles long with fewer than 900 year-round residents. It’s ideal for families who want fresh air without a packed itinerary (And if anyone gets restless, walkable St. Michaels with its shops, restaurants, and Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, is just a 15-minute drive away).
Stay at The Tilghman Island Inn or Wylder Hotel Tilghman Island, both waterfront properties with private terraces, swimming pools, and bay access. The Wylder Hotel has live music at its Tickler’s Crab Shack, complimentary bicycles for guests, lawn games like cornhole, and evening bonfires with s’mores.
Beyond the hotel grounds, families can visit the Tilghman Watermen’s Museum to learn about the island’s crabbing and oystering heritage. Book a spring fishing charter or kayak excursion on the Chesapeake, or bike out to Black Walnut Point for wide-open water views and birdwatching. Kids can search for sea glass along the shoreline and watch working boats come in at the marina.
Before leaving town, grab breakfast at Two if By Sea, a colorful, casual eatery with an assortment of benedicts, pastries, skillets, pancakes, and housemade jams.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Distance: About 2.5 hour drive from Alexandria, or three hours via Amtrak
Hop in the car or on the train and head to the City of Brotherly Love. Find family-friendly museums, exciting exhibitions, and top-rated restaurants in a city that’s steeped in history and easy to navigate.
Throughout 2026, Philadelphia will be hosting Revolutionary War-themed activities tied to the American 250.
Stay at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia right on Independence Square. Nearby attractions include the Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, the Museum of the American Revolution, the Betsy Ross House, and the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. Take advantage of the hotel’s complimentary Micro Kickboard scooters and custom bikes to help the whole family get around town.
Wind down with mini-golf and carousel rides at Franklin Square, one of the five original public squares planned by William Penn in 1682. Grab lunch at Reading Terminal Market, an indoor food hall with more than 80 independent merchants. Dessert calls for ice cream at Franklin Fountain or gelato from D’Emilio’s Old World Ice Treats (one of many excellent eateries in South Philly’s East Passyunk neighborhood).
If you’re traveling with younger kids between March 27 and 29 and don’t mind the half-hour drive to Oaks, an expo-sized interactive experience called Jurassic Quest will feature life-sized dinosaur rides and inflatable attractions. Designed for kids ages 2–10, it takes place at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center.
Other Philly tot-friendly attractions include the Franklin Institute (a science museum with a planetarium and a famous walk-through giant heart), the Please Touch Museum (a children’s museum designed entirely for interactive play), and the Philadelphia Zoo (America’s very first zoo).
Richmond
Distance: About 1.5 hours drive from Alexandria, or a little under two hours on Amtrak
Richmond makes an easy and engaging spring break getaway for families. Begin with the city’s past at the Virginia State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson. Free guided tours introduce visitors to Virginia’s role in early American history.
For younger children, the downtown Children’s Museum of Richmond offers interactive spaces that encourage imaginative play. The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts offers free general admission, expansive galleries, and a peaceful sculpture garden and lawn where kids can stretch their legs between exhibits.
Spend a morning at Maymont, a 100-acre Victorian estate with landscaped gardens, wooded trails, and a small farm where kids can meet goats and sheep. This year, Maymont celebrates 100 years as a public attraction with special events throughout the year, an updated wildlife trail, and the reopening of its fully furnished Gilded Age mansion.
Walk or bike along portions of the Virginia Capital Trail, a paved path that begins downtown and follows the James River through leafy parkland. Or explore Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, about 15 minutes north of downtown, where vibrant spring blooms, a sprawling children’s garden, and treehouse-style play areas invite kids to climb and explore.
When it’s time to eat, downtown Richmond has plenty of casual family-friendly options, but The Roosevelt in nearby Church Hill is worth a short trip for its elevated Southern fare and relaxed neighborhood atmosphere.
To stay close to the action, book a room at Omni Richmond Hotel, which connects to the downtown skywalk and has an indoor pool, or Quirk Hotel Richmond, a colorful boutique property surrounded by galleries, cafés, and independent shops.
Feature image of Philadelphia courtesy J. Fusco/Visit Philadelphia
