Four States in Four Hours Day Trip

We had an unexpected invitation for a lunch date in Cape May, New Jersey. We had heard about Cape May for many years but never had a reason to go until yesterday. There are three ways of getting there from here in Virginia - along 95 through Baltimore, along 301 through Delaware, or taking the ferry in Delaware in Lewes to Cape May. We took the ferry across Lake Michigan from Milwaukee to Muskegon a few years ago to avoid Chicago. It was cold, rainy, and rough weather - not a great experience. So we nixed that idea and decided to drive the 301 route through Delaware. So we started out at 8 AM and headed out on the freeway. I had a feeling we took the wrong path early on. What should have taken four hours was more like five. Driving around DC in Monday morning rush hour is a royal pain anyway. The google maps was all over the place and we missed the nearest turnoff to head towards Annapolis, Maryland and the Bay Bridge. Once we finally got there it was a rather pleasant drive through the small towns of Delaware and then in to New Jersey. What surprised us the most were all the farms, but also all the cowboy stores. Since we haven’t really been anywhere since we moved to Northern Virginia from Capitol Hill in April, it was a nice diversion. Day trips are fun, but getting back home felt even better. I can’t say I always felt that way going back to DC.