Location: 4344 Columbia Road, Ellicott City, Md.
Drive time: A little more than two hours.
The scoop: Located about 25 minutes west of Baltimore, Ellicott City is a former 18th-century mill town on the Patapsco River that prides itself on its wealth of historic sites.
Cost: $159-$219.
Amenities: The inn offers three distinctively decorated guestrooms and three two-room suites, some with fireplaces and double Jacuzzi tubs. If you’re traveling with the kids, ask for Betty’s Suite, with its pullout queen bed. The ground-floor Terrace Room has its own entry and terrace. Full breakfast is included, and owners Susan and David Balderson are happy to accommodate special dietary requests.
Don’t miss: The Spirits of Ellicott City Ghost Tour, which features spirits of the thirst-quenching and hair-raising varieties. And be sure to stroll Main Street, with its array of antique shops, mom-and-pop boutiques, pubs and restaurants. Or visit America’s oldest surviving railroad station, and hike, bike or fish in Patapsco Valley State Park.
Contact: (410) 461-4636, waysideinnmd.com
