By Katherine Bigley, Staff

Frederick, Maryland

Maryland’s second-largest city has figured prominently in three centuries of American history. Guided walking tours and candlelight ghost tours around Frederick’s beautifully revitalized, 50-block downtown area show off intriguing architecture and sites linked to celebrated “locals” like Francis Scott Key and Civil War heroine Barbara Fritchie. Specialty shops, art galleries and antiques stores round out the scene. No wonder the National Trust of Historic Preservation recognized Frederick as one of “America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations.”

Visit the Frederick city web site.

By: Anna Cassella, Staff

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo in located in Washington D.C. and is open everyday of the year except for December 25.  From April to October it is open from 10am to 6pm, and from November to March, it is open from 10am to 4:30pm.  It is the home to 2,000 individual animals of 400 differnt species. The National Zoo is most popular for their Giant Panda. On their website, they have a list of daily programs that visitors can watch which include, animal training, feeding deomonstartions, and talks.  Entrance into the Zoo is free, but you do have to pay for parking.  It is also accessible by Metrorail or Metrobus.

By: Laura Dauer, Anna Cassella, and Katherine Bigley

If you truly want to get away from it all, a trip to Seneca Rocks, West Virginia is just the thing to blow off the cares of your daily grind. The area offers everything from spelunking, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, rafting, rock climbing - virtually anything you can think of for that "man vs nature" feeling. There isn't a shopping mall, fast food chain or high rise in sight.

 For a map on how to get to Seneca Rocks click here

By Laura Dauer: Staff

Less than an hour of a drive away from Loyola, Historic Downtown Annapolis offers some of the most scenic and relaxing atmosopheres you could imagine! There's always so much to do such as visiting historical sites like the capital and Kunta Kinte memorial, as well as restaraunts buzzing with history like the Middleton Tavern where George Washington dined on many occasions. Up Main Street you will never get bored walking up the brick road and stopping in the variety of old shops, bars, and restaraunts. Also, this is a great spot to listen to all types of music or other performances (or even perform something yourself.) And nothing beats sitting on the city dock and watching all the neat ships and boats come in and out of the harbor.

Read more: Downtown Annapolis