Smallwood State Park, Maryland

All hail William Smallwood. Not only did he serve in the Revolutionary War, but he left behind the ideal escape from beltway chaos. Just 40 minutes outside DC, Smallwood State Park is a 628 acre paradise with a marina, boat launching ramps, a picnic area, camping area, pavilions, a recycled tire playground and nature trails. The park is on the Mattawoman Creek, less than a mile from the Potomac River, but if you’re ready to swim, errrr, boat/fish with the big fish, the Potomac River is just a mile away. Feeling reflective? Go way back to the 18th century with tours of Smallwood’s Retreat House, open on the first and third Sundays, May through September.