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Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge- Cambridge, MD
If you have never seen a Bald Eagle in the wild, Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is the place that can make it happen. Although the number varies depending on the time of year, the refuge hosts over 150 of the black and white birds, so the odds are most definitely in your favor- even if you never leave your car.
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Acadia National Park- Bar Harbor, ME
Acadia National Park is moody and somewhat morose in the winter, but also devoid of the summertime masses. Still breathtakingly beautiful, the dramatic rocky coastline and misty mountain lakes offer a quiet respite for intrepid offseason travelers.
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Flight 93 Nat’l Memorial- Shanksburg, PA
The stark, almost Brutalist concrete design of the Flight 93 Memorial allows the surrounding landscape and the tragic events of September 11th to remain the focus of the park.
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Big Meadows Lodge- Shenandoah National Park
National park lodges aren’t always luxurious, but they’re always in great locations. Built in a variety of architectural styles based on geography, no two are the same, making them as unique as the parks themselves. Constructed of native materials by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939, and situated to provide sweeping views of the valley below, Big Meadows Lodge is an absolute classic.
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Great Falls/C&O Canal NHP- Potomac, MD
Fourteen miles upstream from Washington, D.C., the Potomac River dramatically drops in elevation. Falling 76 feet in less than a mile, the result is a stunning series of steep tiered cascades. The falls are best viewed from Olmstead Island, accessible by the C&O Canal tow path, where even high above the river, the water’s power is palpable.
