The Richard Johnston Inn in Old Town Fredericksburg (711 Caroline St.; 877-557-0770; therichardjohnstoninn.com) makes for a romantic getaway. The historic building was designed by architect John Taylow, a signer of the Declaration of Independence.
You can tour the charming historic town of Fredericksburg–where George Washington lived from ages 6 to 19–on foot, in a carriage or trolley, or by boat on the Rappahannock River. The town's antique shops alone can keep you busy. Rates at the inn start at $95 a night weekdays, $125 on weekends. If you arrive by train, show your tickets and get 10 percent off your first two nights, 20 percent off a third night. January through March, catch a Walk Inn deal: If a room is available, it's yours for $79 that night (with coupon from visitors center), including Continental breakfast.
The Glade Springs Resort (200 Lake Dr., Daniels, W.Va.; 800-634-5233; gladesprings.com) is five hours from DC, but considering that it has some of the same amenities as higher-priced resorts that are closer–including good golf and fine dining–it's a bargain. From January 1 through March 26, it's a steal at $99 a night Sunday through Thursday, including two free lift tickets for nearby Winterplace Ski Resort (winterplace.com), which has West Virginia's largest snow-tubing park. After a day on the 27 trails, visit the Glade Springs spa, play indoor tennis and basketball, or take a spin around the ice-skating rink.
VisitPA.com, Pennsylvania's tourism Web site, has a Cabin Fever promotion for January: When you make online reservations, you get two nights for the price of one. About 200 properties participated last year, including Glendorn (glendorn.com), in northwestern Pennsylvania, an inn with 41 wood-burning fireplaces that–along with the luxurious Inn at Little Washington–is one of the few Relais & Châteaux properties in the Mid-Atlantic. For more information, go to www.visitpa.com.
Washingtonian staffers contributing to this section were Cristina Abello, Susan Baer, Susan Davidson, Ken DeCell, Rebecca Dreilinger, Kim Isaac Eisler, Mary Clare Fleury, Kimberly Forrest, Brooke Lea Foster, Garrett M. Graff, Cynthia Hacinli, Thomas Head, Todd Kliman, Ann Limpert, Chad Lorenz, Leslie Milk, Aparna Nancherla, William O'Sullivan, Cindy Rich, and Chris Wilson. Also contributing were Cathy Alter, Ann Cochran, and Matthew Graham.
