New Year’s Getaways: St. Michaels to Middleburg

Looking for something to do outside the city for New Year’s and the night before? We have you covered with a rundown of the best In Country holiday celebrations.

Easton and St. Michaels

Get away to the bay on New Year’s Eve with a trip to Easton or St. Michaels, Maryland. The two charming towns are a scenic 20-minute drive apart and have a lot to offer this New Year’s. In Easton, the town celebrates the coming of the New Year with First Night Talbot, a big event in Easton Town Centre that includes food, musical performances and fun activities for kids. The night concludes with the Crab Drop, a play on the famous Times Square countdown to the New Year — with a six-foot-tall papier-mâché crab.

Also in town, the Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is playing a special New Year’s Eve concert at Christ Church, starting at 6 p.m. Tickets range from $60 to $85 and can be purchased by calling 888-846-8600. 111 South Harrison St., Easton, Maryland.

As for accommodations, try the sumptuous Inn at 202, which has rooms starting at $290 per night and open dinner reservations early on New Year’s Eve. 202 E Dover St., Easton, Maryland. Or try the Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond, with rooms starting at $585 for New Years Eve. It’s in St. Michaels at 308 Watkins Lane.

Annapolis

Annapolis is bustling with food and hospitality options for New Year’s Eve. The capital city celebrates the occasion with two firework displays (at 7:30 p.m. and midnight) and live music on the city dock in the heart of town. Try one of Annapolis’s renowned restaurants like VIN 909, a wine bar offering Italian and new American cuisine, or something more casual with views of the water, like Dock Street Bar and Grill. For accommodations, the Chez Amis B&B is the number one recommendation by Trip Advisor, and is centrally located in the historic district of Annapolis. But as I write this, there is only one room left, and it’s going for $175 on New Year’s Eve. VIN 909: 909 Bay Ridge Ave. Dock Street Bar and Grill: 136 Dock St. Chez Amis: 85 East St.

Middleburg, Virginia

Your New Year’s plans can be a bit more relaxing in the Virginia countryside where great artisanal foods, sweeping meadows and a number of delightful inns await. There’s the Goodstone Inn, which has rooms with a view starting at $335. Their New Year’s Eve is celebrated over fresh cuts of meat from nearby farms along with some of Virginia’s finest wines. Or, celebrate the occasion at the sprawling Salamander Resort and Spa. Salamander hosts its Toast to the New Year Celebration from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., and offers all of its regular activities, like horseback rides and massages, on Jan. 1 so you can treat yourself for the New Year. Check in on Dec. 30 to make the most of your stay. Rooms start at $473. Goodstone Inn: 36205 Snake Hill Road. Salamander Resort and Spa: 500 N Pendleton St.