STAY HOME & EXPLORE

Think of all the attractions Philadelphia touts to visitors and vow to play tourist in your own town.

• Pick a theme and go: gardens, museums, ethnic restaurants, outdoor art, architecture, college campuses, children's museums.
• Tour the city on a double-decker bus, a trolley or in an amphibious vehicle.
• Take a Segway tour that departs from near the Art Museum.
• Go to theater and musical shows that you never get to when you're not on vacation.
• Don't forget regional sites - hop the R5 to Doylestown and spend a couple hours at the Mercer Museum, then stroll the city's shops and eateries.

The tourism site www.gophila.com blankets Philly and surrounding counties, or call Independence Visitor Center at 800-537-7676.

NATURE'S CALL

Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and other states are rich in state parks, which are good anchors for day trips or longer holidays. They're also places to leave the car parked while you chill out and recharge, far from the madding crowd.

 PLANNING HELP

Mapping your route not only makes for a smoother trip, but also cuts the chances you'll miss an exit, which can cost you a gallon or two if the next ramp is 20 miles down the highway.
MapQuest.com, GoogleMaps.com and other mapping programs can help you get a handle on your route, even if you have a GPS system on your dashboard.
Gasbuddy.com and Gaspricewatch.com provide the latest gas prices for wherever you're headed.
Roadtripamerica.com and AAA's fuelcostcalculator.com will clue you in how much your gas will cost for the whole trip.
AAAMidAtlantic.com has a recently upgraded online TripTik service anyone can use, including roadclosure
information. AAA members can order printed TripTiks at 866-636-2377.

TRAVEL CONTACTS FOR THE STATES IN OUR 200-MILE CIRCLE:

Pennsylvania, www.visitpa.com, 800-847-4872
New Jersey, www.state.nj.us/traveltravel, 800-847-4865
Delaware, www.visitdelaware.com.com, 866-284-7483
Virginia, www.virginia.org, 800-847-4882
West Virginia, www.wvtourism.com.com, 800-225-5982
New York, www.iloveny.com, 800-225-5697
Connecticut, www.ctvisit.com,, 888-288-4748
Washington, www.washington.org.org, 800-422-8644

MORE RESOURCES FROM THIS ARTICLE:

Steamtown National Historic Site www.nps.gov/stea
Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour http://www.lackawannacounty.org/attractions_coal.asp
Lackawanna County Convention & Visitors Bureau:  www.visitnepa.org

The Jersey Shore
Atlantic City  www.atlanticcitynj.com
Cape May www.capemaymac.org/index.html

Saugerties www.welcometosaugerties.com/index.php
Rhinebeck www.rhinebeckchamber.com
Beacon and Hyde Park http://www.hydeparkchamber.org/tourism.htm
Dutchess County Tourism: www.dutchesstourism.com/dtours.asp

Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
Harpers Ferry www.harpersferrywv.us
Shepherdstown, W.V. http://www.shepherdstownvisitorscenter.com/ 

Chincoteague, Va.
Assateague Island National Seashore http://www.nps.gov/asis/ 
Ocean City, Md. www.ocean-city.com

Atlantic City  www.atlanticcitynj.com/beaches_main.asp
Strathmere www.uppertownship.com/Beach_Patrol
Wildwoods www.wildwoodsnj.com/wildwood-beach.cfm
Delaware beaches www.visitsoutherndelaware.com
Ocean City www.ocean-city.com

65 Jersey beaches with contact info http://tinyurl.com/4ryor9