Great Escapes Close to Home

As we slowly leave this record-cold winter behind, it’s easy to start dreaming of warm-weather escapes. Whether you’re planning a spring break trip or looking ahead to summer vacation, now’s the time to start thinking about your next getaway.

Here are four destinations within a day’s drive to spark your imagination — and start booking before everyone else does!

Jersey Shore

We’ve covered some of the big names — Ocean City, Wildwood, Cape May, LBI — but there’s plenty more to explore at the shore. Here are a few towns to add to your summer vacation bucket list.

In Atlantic City, the iconic boardwalk hums with headline entertainment, high-profile restaurants and oceanfront resorts that turn a laidback beach day into a sparkling night out. Downtown, the Tanger Outlets promise designer finds without the hefty price tags, and the climb up Absecon Lighthouse — New Jersey’s tallest — rewards with breathtaking coastal views.

Prefer things quieter? Nearby Margate beckons with wide beaches and a stop at Lucy the Elephant, the delightfully eccentric six-story landmark that’s greeted vacationers for generations.

Farther south, Sea Isle City delivers a classic, family-friendly shore experience. The heart of Sea Isle is the Promenade — a 1.5- mile concrete walkway along the coastline, perfect for morning strolls with coffee, evening ice cream runs and breezy bike rides. Five miles of sandy beaches keep families happily parked until sunset, while free concerts, family fun nights and movies under the stars bring everyone to the Excursion Park Band Shell at night.

For many beachgoers, Avalon and Stone Harbor define quiet luxury at the shore. In Avalon, Dune Drive’s boutiques, cafes and polished dining rooms set a stylish tone between hours on pristine beaches that are “Cooler by a Mile” — sitting about a mile further out to sea than surrounding towns.

Just minutes away, days in Stone Harbor unfold on the sand or along the marsh paths of the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary, while evenings are spent browsing 96th Street’s chic storefronts. Both offer a sophisticated, effortlessly refined escape. VisitAtlanticCity.com; VisitSICNJ.com; VisitAvalonNJ.com

Delaware Beaches

From boardwalk bustle to protected shoreline, Delaware’s small-but-mighty coast makes it easy to match the mood to your vacation style.

In Rehoboth Beach, sandy afternoons give way to strolls along the iconic mile-long boardwalk. Families gravitate to Funland for old-school rides, refuel with Thrasher’s fries and saltwater taffy, then browse tax-free treasures on Rehoboth Avenue and the open-air Penny Lane Mall. On weekend nights, an eclectic mix of performers take the stage at the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand.

Just south, Dewey Beach packs ocean and bay into one lively strip, where sun-soaked days slide into waterfront cocktails and late-night energy.

For travelers seeking serenity, Delaware’s southern beaches offer a gentler pace. Bethany Beach’s tidy boardwalk invites quiet mornings on the sand, quick walks to dinner and seaside concerts at the bandstand.

At the very tip of Delaware, Fenwick Island opens onto broad, uncrowded sand, popular for swimming, surfing and paddling the quiet back bays. A stop at the historic Fenwick Island Lighthouse — the state’s oldest — adds a dash of heritage to the day.

Set between the northern and southern resorts, a different kind of escape awaits at Delaware Seashore State Park. Cross the Indian River Inlet Bridge for miles of preserved ocean and bay shoreline, beloved by anglers, beachgoers, paddlers and cyclists, then tour the Indian River Life-Saving Station for the tales of dramatic maritime rescues. With two waterfront campgrounds, bayfront cottages and a four-bedroom house, the park works as either a scenic stop or a getaway all its own. Beach-Fun.com; TheQuietResorts.com; DEStateParks.com

Maritime Maryland

Whether you’re craving canal-town charm, classic boardwalk nostalgia or waterfront nightlife near the nation’s capital, Maryland has a getaway for you.

Just far enough to feel like a getaway, Cecil County makes slipping into vacation mode effortless. In Chesapeake City, wander brick sidewalks, settle into waterside restaurants and watch ships glide through the C&D Canal — one of the busiest canals in the world.

Nearby North East blends busy marinas with antiques and dockside meals, plus the charmingly nautical Upper Bay Museum. Outside town, a hike to Turkey Point Lighthouse in Elk Neck State Park rewards with sweeping views where the Chesapeake meets the Elk River.

In the heart of the Eastern Shore, you can’t get a more classic beach vacation experience than Ocean City — 10 miles of sand, a beloved boardwalk and offshore adventures in the White Marlin Capital of the World (really!). Just south, Assateague Island National Seashore swaps arcade lights for wild ponies, quiet beaches and prime paddling.

For a fun inland stop, Berlin’s boutiques, galleries and historic Main Street make it one of the Smithsonian’s “20 Best Small Towns to Visit.”

Trade in your flip-flops for a little polish in Prince George’s County. Just minutes from Washington, D.C., National Harbor is abuzz with dining and shopping galore — and a spin on the Capital Wheel offers front-row views of the monuments across the Potomac. Farther north, the College Park Aviation Museum preserves flight history at the world’s oldest continuously operating airport, where Wilbur Wright trained the first military aviators. Add the murals and indie flair of the Hyattsville Arts District, and you’ve traded beaches for a completely different kind of getaway. DiscoverCecil.com; OCOcean.com; ExperiencePrinceGeorges.com

Summer in the Poconos

When warm weather settles over the Pocono Mountains, ski slopes give way to green ridgelines, sparkling lakes and vacation options that range from hammock naps to high-speed thrills.

For many, the anchor is Lake Wallenpaupack, where pontoon rentals, paddleboards and fishing charters fill long, sun-drenched days. Dock-and-dine restaurants ease the transition from afternoon cruising to dinnertime, and swimming and lakeside lounging at Palmyra Township Public Beach might make you forget the Atlantic altogether. For a change of pace, take the kids to Claws ‘N’ Paws Wild Animal Park or Costa’s Family Fun Park for go-karts, laser tag, mini-golf and more.

Looking for an all-in-one base camp? Camelback Mountain Adventure Park packs in thousand-foot ziplines, backroad UTV trails and Pennsylvania’s only mountain coaster. Resort-minded travelers are drawn to Mount Airy Casino Resort, where an indoor/outdoor pool complex, championship golf, spa services and sleek dining set the tone. Days might unfold in a shaded cabana or on the fairways before shifting to cocktails, live music and late-night entertainment.

If reconnecting with nature is the goal, the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area offers over 70,000 preserved acres along the Delaware River, the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi. Hike to tumbling waterfalls, bike wooded trails or spend a lazy afternoon canoeing or tubing down the Delaware River. Scenic overlooks reward even short walks, delivering wide-open views that feel miles from everyday life. PoconoMountains.com; CamelbackResort.com; MountAiryCasino.com; NPS.gov/DEWA