East coast winter weekend getaway

https://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/washington-dc-best-winter-weekend-trips

If you don’t mind a further drive or the cold, head up to Niagara Falls. It’s gorgeous any time of year.

If you are in the DC area, I would suggest taking the Amtrak Auto Train south from Lorton/Alexandria to Sanford, FL. Yes, it will cost a bit more than just a typical driving weekend, but not only is it fun (and you have your car with you without having to drive the first 900 miles on I-95) but you will end up less than an hour away from Daytona Beach or Orlando and everything in between.

I would suggest spending a day at either Wekiva Springs or Blue Springs state parks where the waters are 72F all year round. Oh, and it has been in the low 80s for a while now and will be in the high 70s for the next week or more. If nature isn’t your thing, the Mecum Auto Auction is in Kissimmee just south of Orlando for the next week (3500 cars, and is their largest), which puts it close to Disney, Universal, Sea World, Lego Land, etc.

If all that sounds like a bit much, either Charleston, SC or Savannah, GA are also excellent places to spend some time.

Just saying…

Harpers Ferry is kind of neat if you’re at all interested in Civil War era history or outdoor pursuits. The Appalachian Trail passes through town and the lower part of town is “within Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.” The Marc train and an Amtrak line, I think, have routes that stop in Harpers Ferry. It’s about an hour and a half from DC if you’re driving, depending on metro traffic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harpers_Ferry,_West_Virginia

http://www.historicharpersferry.org/

https://wvtourism.com/harpers-ferry-national-park/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60722-Activities-Harpers_Ferry_West_Virginia.html

Maybe don’t plan the trip while the gov’t is still shut down, though.

https://www.journal-news.net/harpers-ferry-effected-by-federal-government-shutdown/article_29815c69-1e73-50ce-9ff3-6e71ca18bbf6.html

Presuming that 2 to 2-1/2 hours is not too long a drive, I’ve had several great weekends at B&B’s around Lancaster PA. I realize you are restricted to lodging via hotels.com so not sure that you’d be able to use places like Rocky Acre Farm in Mount Joy or Bird-in-Hand Village Inn in Bird in Hand (both were wonderful!) but I’m sure there is lodging in the area that would be covered and there are many things to do that do not involve shopping or riding on bits of waxed wood.

Regardless of where you decide to go, I hope you have a wonderful trip. (Your query has caused me to take a trip down memory lane and realize that it is high time for me to again spend a few weekends away.)

Williamsburg, VA (the village tour and walking around the historic part of town is 4 or 5 hours of entertainment (but be sure in advance if everything is open during week days if you are going then) with a side trip to Jamestown (and of course the boats - if you can track down who the current captain is of the boats you likely can use the side entrance by the workshop to get in free). I have heard rumors if you cross the river via the ferry near Jamestown that the other side has stuff to do but I, personally, haven’t done that. Oh and driving around where the settlement really ways (vs the recreation that the foundation did) is just markers and, for the most part, open land. Little of anything is actually left.

Beer?
https://www.beeradvocate.com/extreme/