Movin' to Maryland

I'm glad to hear your job hunt has been successful, 10000li! We're actually about 3 hours west of Baltimore ourselves. I don't have much experience with the DC/Balto area, but it's very...erhm, urban and cosmopolitan. Some people thrive in that environment, but as a country girl, I don't feel comfortable there. Also, being so close to Washington, there are LOTS of laws to abide by.

The area can be very beautiful. Maryland is on the North-South divide, so you'll get an awful lot of differing opinions regarding how the world ought to be run. I'm sure you'll do fine with that! ;)

Yes, the humidity can be atrocious, but that's why Carrier invented the air conditioner. :)

You'll be within striking range of some lovely beaches, too, and going the opposite direction, some lovely mountain areas--although you'd probably consider them mere hills.

Anyway, best wishes on your new job, and I hope you & your family enjoy your new home!

The Appalachian Mountain area is also notable for its many scenic cave systems, which, besides being fascinating, are a good way of avoiding the summertime heat.

If you're a Civil War buff, this area abounds in old sites and battlefields, and as this is the Sesquicentennial, many of them are holding special events.

If you're a nature lover, there are dozens of national parks and forests to visit, and the Skyline Drive in Virginia is very scenic.

Washington, DC is of course loaded with museums. The greater DC area is also swarming with beautiful architecture and parks.

There's opportunities for canoeing and whitewater rafting on many of the local waterways, as well as fishing and hunting if you're so inclined.

I once took the Lewes Ferry from Cape May to Delaware. Cape May is an interesting little piece of Victorian history, if you're into that era.

Driving around the area may be a bit of a pill, but there's really no shortage of things to do.