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Make Your 60th a Fall Getaway

Travel Ideas Before and After the Reunion

Make your 60th a fall getaway by adding a few easy days before or after the reunion. Here are sample ideas that work well for our age, interests, and dates.

New England Foliage & Harbor Towns

Classic New England Leaf‑Peeping
Join an escorted fall‑foliage tour or simple self‑drive through coastal Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, with short walks, historic villages, and scenic overlooks that keep walking to a minimum.

Boston and Coastal Maine
Spend a few days in Boston, then add day trips to places like Portsmouth, NH and Ogunquit or Kennebunkport, ME for lighthouses, harbor walks, and seafood with peak color as a backdrop.

Maryland’s Eastern Shore & Chesapeake Bay

Eastern Shore Small Towns
Explore towns such as St. Michaels, Easton, Oxford, Tilghman Island, or Chestertown for waterfront strolls, historic main streets, galleries, and calm fall landscapes along the Chesapeake.

Bay Cruises and Waterfront Dining
Enjoy a gentle sail or short cruise on the Bay, then settle in for an early seafood dinner while watching an autumn sunset over the water—ideal for small groups and mixed mobility.

Washington, DC

Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) – Powerful, outdoor national memorial listing the names of more than 58,000 Americans who died in Vietnam; flat paths, benches nearby, and especially meaningful for our Class with heavy Vietnam service and losses.

  • National Museum of the United States Navy (Washington Navy Yard) – Flagship Navy museum covering the service from its beginnings through World Wars, the Cold War, and today; strong ship models, guns, and artifacts, but note base‑access requirements.
  • Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (National Mall) – Iconic aircraft and spacecraft, including World War II aviation and Cold War exhibits; much of the museum is open again with new galleries and timed entry.
  • Smithsonian National Museum of American History – “Price of Freedom: Americans at War” gallery traces U.S. military history from the Revolution through modern conflicts with powerful, well‑curated displays.
  • National Museum of the United States Army (Fort Belvoir area) – Large, modern museum just south of DC, with accessible galleries covering the Army’s story from the Revolution to today.
  • International Spy Museum – Private museum focused on intelligence, espionage tools, and Cold War/modern spycraft, with elevators and plentiful seating.
  • National Guard Memorial Museum – Smaller, quieter museum near Union Station that covers the Guard’s role in every major U.S. conflict, often less crowded and easier to navigate.

Virginia

  • Civil War heritage loops
    Build short drives around Richmond, Petersburg, or Lynchburg using established auto‑tour routes that connect battlefields, museums, and cemeteries, with most interpretation available from the car and at short, level stops.
  • Skyline Drive (Shenandoah National Park)
    Drive the 105‑mile Skyline Drive along the crest of the Blue Ridge with frequent overlooks, visitor centers, and lodges; it’s ideal for a relaxed, all‑day foliage drive with minimal walking.
  • Blue Ridge Parkway (Virginia section)
    Continue south on the Parkway for additional overlooks, easy trails, wineries, and music stops, or just do a short section near Roanoke or the Peaks of Otter.
  • Virginia Eastern Shore (Cape Charles to Chincoteague)
    Cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge‑Tunnel and follow Route 13 through small towns, farm stands, and wildlife areas, stopping in Cape Charles for bayfront sunsets and in Chincoteague for wildlife drives and lighthouse views.
  • Chesapeake Bay side trips
    Consider detours to Mathews, the Northern Neck, or other Chesapeake communities with quiet roads, seafood spots, and short waterfront walks rather than long hikes.

Lowcountry: Charleston, Savannah, and the Coast

Charleston–Savannah Lowcountry road trip
String together a few days between Charleston, Beaufort, and Savannah for walkable historic districts, guided city tours, churchyards, and plantations or gardens, with mild fall weather and lighter crowds.

Coastal detours and island time
Add side visits to spots like Hilton Head or Tybee Island for broad beaches, boardwalks, and relaxed seafood meals under the live oaks and Spanish moss.