Microbreaks in the US South Atlantic

Back with another post on microbreak ideas – this time for the US South Atlantic! Specifically, I’m talking about Washington DC, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida!

Microbreaks in the South Atlantic

Step Back in Time at Virginia’s Historic Triangle

Virginia’s Historic Triangle packs a lot into Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Historic Jamestowne. I’d stay in Colonial Williamsburg where you can time travel to the 18th century and wake-up in the world’s largest living history museum. Filled with shops, historical actors, and beautiful architecture, there’s so much you can see on foot!

Over in Yorktown, enjoy small town charm while visiting the massive American Revolution Museum. You can even visit the recreation of a Continental Army encampment and see why we should all be very grateful for modern medical advancements. Then you can visit the actual Yorktown Battlefield where the American Revolution officially ended.

Completing the triangle is Historic Jamestowne Settlement, home to the first permanent English colony. In addition to being an open air museum, it’s an active archeological site, so depending on when you go, you may witness some new discoveries!

A Microbreak Full of Museums in Washington D.C.

There’s a lot to do in Washington DC, especially as it’s the US’s Capital, but it’s especially fantastic if you love museums. There are so many, you could quite literally spend your entire microbreak enjoying them and barely make a dent.

Start with the Smithsonian museums, which are all free in DC. You’ll be spoiled for choice between the African American History and Culture Museum, American History Museum, Natural History Museum, American Indian Museum DC, Air and Space Museum, Hirshhorn Museum, Arts and Industries Building, Smithsonian Castle, African Art Museum, Asian Art Museum, National Postal Museum, and the Smithsonian Gardens! Also great are the National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery of Art.

In between, take advantage of DC’s international food scene as well as its night life on U Street. It has a great metro system, so when looking where to stay, I’d also look at Alexandria and Arlington across the Potomac in Virginia.

Eastern Shore Escapes in Maryland

If you look on a map, you’ll notice that the right side of Maryland is nearly split off by the Chesapeake Bay. Known as the Eastern Shore, the whole area stretches through nine counties and feels like its own destination. Life here moves slower and sleepier, and it’s a great area to escape to if you need a proper reset. The key is to pick one of the many small towns to relax in, book a room at a small inn, and spend each day going for walks or getting out onto the bay. Oh, and of course, make sure you enjoy Maryland’s famous blue crabs at least once!

Go Where the Wild Horses Roam

While we’re talking about the Eastern Shore, if you go south enough you’ll find yourself in one of the few places where wild horses roam free! Assateague Island National Seashore covers both Maryland and Virginia, and is known for its community of wild horses thanks to Misty of Chincoteague. There are actually two herds – the Maryland side and the Virginia side. Besides the annual Pony Swim in July, the best way to see them is to drive or bike around and maybe camp overnight.

Further down south on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina, is another place you can spot wild horses. Right on Shackleford Banks, one part of Cape Lookout National Seashore, is a society of wild horses! It requires a boat ride to get to, so call the Harkers Island Visitor Center to reserve a spot.

Charming Culture City Breaks

There are so many charming culture cities all around the South Atlantic. In Maryland, there’s its largest city, Baltimore, which is full of cool neighborhoods and a ton of history. Fell’s Point alone should be on every history buff’s list. There’s also the state capital of Annapolis. It’s the quintessential seaport town with colorful buildings, a bay view, and, oh yeah, sailors from the nearby US Naval Academy dressed in their whites hanging out downtown.

Further south, you’ve got two of the most idyllic southern cities in Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia. Then there’s the big city of Atlanta with its amazing brunch scene, incredible Beltline, and tons of historic landmarks like the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site! As you explore, keep your eyes peeled for the utterly whimsical tiny doors hidden all over the city.

For something wholly unique, head inland to Asheville, North Carolina, a mountain town once dubbed the “Paris of the South” thanks to a strong arts and culture scene which continues to this day!

And, of course, down in Florida you’ve got Miami with its rich Cuban culture and St. Augustine, dubbed America’s oldest city. Not to mention, Tampa, which is incredibly underrated! (Two words: chicken yoga).

The key is to look where you live and what makes the most sense getting to by train, car, or plane. And remember my general rule for microbreaks – no more than 2-3 hours of travel.

Delightful Beach Getaways in Delaware

As a state, Delaware is one of the smallest, and its ocean shoreline is even smaller. While much of it borders the Delaware River, a small 28-mile portion sits on the Atlantic Ocean shoreline and stretches between six lovely beach towns – Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, South Bethany, and Fenwick Island. Pick any one to enjoy and prepare for a lovely, unpretentious microbreak filled with relaxing on the beach and wandering into town. The most pressing thing you’ll want to do is make sure you see at least one sunset during your trip!

A National Park Trip in the South Atlantic

This one is for my US National Parks fans! The South Atlantic is home to 7 (or maybe 6 ½) national parks, including the newest one! New River Gorge in West Virginia is the latest addition to the list. Start off at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center and walk over to take in the views of the New River Gorge Bridge. You can spend your day hiking one of the trails or going whitewater rafting. Over in Virginia, Shenandoah encapsulates over 200,000 acres of protected land with over 500 miles of trails, gorgeous vistas at every turn, and an incredible Appalachian history. It’s also the start of the Skyline Drive, a 105-mile highway that’ll take you along the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is especially worth the break if you’re visiting during fall foliage season.

Down in North Carolina, you’ll find half of the Great Smoky Mountains, the most visited national park on the list! See here for an insider guide with one of its deputy park superintendents. South Carolina is home to Congaree National Park, known for its epic biodiversity and that it’s home to the largest old growth bottomland hardwood forest in the southeastern US. It’s a pretty fantastic place for kayaking or canoeing!

And Florida is home to three different national parks – Biscayne, Everglades, and Dry Tortugas. When you picture Biscayne, picture the bluest of waters and coral reefs! It’s near Miami and has some phenomenal snorkeling and scuba diving. As the largest subtropical wilderness in the country, the Everglades evoke a lush image of wetland and forest just by saying their name. If you do anything, do something that lets you take in just how diverse its population is! An airboat tour alone…

For a true adventure, look no farther than Dry Tortugas. The park is 70 miles west of Key West and is only accessible by boat or seaplane. It mainly surrounds the historic Fort Jefferson and will really feel like you’re on an abandoned island in the Caribbean. Plan a camping microbreak to really get off the grid. There’s no cell reception, no public phones, no showers, and only composting toilets for certain hours of the day!

Get Outside in the Outer Banks of North Carolina

The Outer Banks is 200 miles of barrier islands along the coast of North Carolina and an absolute dream for a peaceful beach getaway. They consist mostly of unspoiled shorelines and charming villages sprinkled throughout. While my best recommendation would be renting a place right on the beach where you can walk from your backdoor to the water, I’d also make time for a bit of sightseeing. I already mentioned the wild horses in Cape Lookout above but did you also know it’s a certified International Dark Sky? Come back at night for some epic stargazing. There’s also the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills where Wilbur and Orville Wright made the first successful manmade flight in 1903!

A Floridian Island Getaway

Florida is home to a number of islands that make for a great micro-getaway. Amelia Island is less than an hour from Jacksonville and is known for its absolutely pristine beaches as well as its birdwatching opportunities. Anna Maria Island, at the southern tip of Tampa Bay, is Florida’s best kept secret. Sanibel Island on the Gulf Coast is known for its unspoiled beauty and abundance of seashells. It’s also home to the beautiful Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which, fun fact, won an award in 2018 for America’s best restroom! Of course, all the way down south, The Florida Keys are a whole series of islands (or “keys”) that will make you feel as though you’ve gone to a whole other country. Not to mention they have just about every key lime-flavored dessert you can dream of.

And there you are – some lovely microbreak ideas for the US South Atlantic. In case you missed it, here are my ideas for the US Northeast. Where to next?