Andrea Poe

Jan 27, 2025 | washingtonian.com | Andrea Poe

Rehearsal dinners have long been the tradition, but many couples look for ways to amp up fun with their guests—and not just those with parts to rehearse. The wedding platform Zola recently reported a nearly one-third increase in welcome parties between 2023 and 2024, and as the trend continues, brides and grooms are getting more creative. The most common way to entertain out-of-town guests is with a welcome party the night before the ceremony.

Jan 27, 2025 | washingtonian.com | Andrea Poe

Head to “the top of Europe,” as Jungfraujoch is dubbed—the snowy mountain pass, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, has an elevation of more than 11,000 feet. Trains with Old World glam, plus a romantic gondola, deliver you to the top, where you’re rewarded with views of France, glaciers, an ice tunnel, a groovy Lindt chocolate shop, and a restaurant that serves good French wine and German beer.

Sep 29, 2024 | washingtonian.com | Andrea Poe

The Twisted History Tavern TourUnlike many ghost bar crawls, this isn’t just an excuse to drink more booze. As you navigate the narrow streets of Maryland’s capital, you’ll learn the spooky side of its history, dating to the mid-1600s. Pause for sips at three haunted taverns, including the Ram’s Head, a music venue known for a 19th-century apparition named Amy whose bedpost is mounted in the bar. Chesapeake Ghost WalksThe peaceful region is home to some of the East Coast’s most active phantoms.

Sep 29, 2024 | washingtonian.com | Andrea Poe

The Wayside InnMeet “Jenny,” the housekeeping spirit who once tidied the third story of this stone-clad bed-and-breakfast that dates to 1780. Though she hasn’t been seen in a long time, former guests have spoken of a woman’s face peering from the wallpaper before receding. Amenity for the living: Check out a ghost tour in the historic downtown, a city considered Maryland’s most haunted.

Jul 9, 2024 | washingtonian.com | Andrea Poe |Helen Huiskes

Deep Creek LakeDeep Creek has more than 65 miles of shoreline on the Maryland side of the Appalachian Mountains. Temperatures are typically ten degrees cooler than DC in summer thanks to the area’s 2,400-foot-plus elevation. In addition to paddling, rafting, and boating on Deep Creek Lake, you can mountain-bike along its edges and zipline through the surrounding forests.