New Year, New Travel in the Mid-Atlantic

(Mid-Atlantic Region, December 14, 2021) — A new year is upon us and it’s time to start making new travel plans. The Mid-Atlantic Region boasts a plethora of new and exciting experiences opening (or re-opening) in 2022. We have rounded up a list of spectacular attractions across Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia that highlight each region’s newest reasons to take a road trip and explore.

For more information on any of the following, contact the destination marketing organization listed below. For general information on the Mid-Atlantic, visit MATPRA.org.

 

Delaware

Greater Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley
The reimagined Delaware Museum of Natural History will reopen as the Delaware Museum of Nature and Science in May. March 22 marks the opening of the Delaware Art Museum’s Louis Comfort Tiffany exhibition. Starting May 7, Winterthur will host an exhibition highlighting the partnership between Jackie Kennedy and Henry Francis du Pont to restore the White House interiors. Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jennifer Boes, VisitWilmingtonDE.com, [email protected]

Maryland

Allegany
Allegany County recently joined “George Washington Trail 1753,” which begins in Pennsylvania and is now making its way through the Maryland mountains. Visitors are invited to explore three Allegany County locations that offer a significant piece of the story of George Washington’s first military and diplomatic venture through the region. Allegany County, The Mountain Side of Maryland, Mindy Bianca, mdmountainside.com, [email protected]

Calvert
From sweet kettle corn made right before your eyes, to extreme milkshakes, to hot, fresh baked goods right out of the oven, the brand new Calvert County Sweet Treat Trail satisfies any sweet tooth! To locate spots on the trail, use the interactive Sweet Treat Trail map on our website. Calvert County Department of Economic Development, Hilary Dailey, www.ChooseCalvert.com, [email protected]

State of Maryland
In 2022, take a road trip in Maryland along the newly designated All-American Road Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway, with certified Chesapeake Bay Storyteller tours along the way. Travel along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway to celebrate Harriet Tubman’s 200th birthday. Maryland Office of Tourism, Matthew Scales, VisitMaryland.org, [email protected]

Wicomico
Take a drive on the Chesapeake Country All-American Road, which received that designation in 2021. In Downtown Salisbury, visit the new Lynching in Wicomico County Historic Marker or see a show at revival. Grab a brew at Burnish Beer Co. in north Salisbury, which opened this past fall. Wicomico County Tourism, Vanessa Junkin, WicomicoTourism.org, [email protected]

Pennsylvania

Juniata River Valley
Find fun and solitude in the Juniata River Valley’s waterways. The ‘Waterways of the Juniata River Valley’ 20-page directory is full of fishing information about the Juniata River and its tributaries. The book includes stream characteristics, access points, and best bait and tackle to use. Floating and fishing guide service information included. Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau, Buffie Boyer, JRVVisitors.com, [email protected]

Lehigh Valley
Step back in time as you learn about Moravian culture in Bethlehem. Recently named to the U.S. Tentative List for UNESCO World Heritage designation, this National Historic Landmark District is home to more original colonial structures than anywhere else in the U.S. A host of guided historical tours are available. Discover Lehigh Valley, Alicia Quinn, DiscoverLehighValley.com, [email protected]

Lancaster
Lancaster County’s fresh offerings in 2022 include Sight & Sound Theatres’ electrifying debut of “David,” a reopened Southern Market Center and new food hall, and the latest water experiences from kayakLanCo touring, Sickman’s Mill tubing, and Susquehanna National Heritage Area’s river tours aboard its new historic electric boat “Chief Uncas.” Discover Lancaster, Joel Cliff, DiscoverLancaster.com, [email protected]

Virginia

Harrisonburg
Enjoy a basketball game in the new Atlantic Union Bank Center at James Madison University just recently accepted in the Sun Belt Conference. During your stay, visit the newly opened and expanded Mineral Museum with its destination collection featuring some of the finest mineral examples in the world. Harrisonburg Tourism & Visitor Services, Jennifer Bell, VisitHarrisonburgVA.com, [email protected]

Loudoun
Whet your appetite in Loudoun County in 2022. With more than 40 wineries, 35 craft breweries, distilleries and a slate of world-class “Earth to Table” restaurants, this history-laden county in the lush foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is fast becoming one of the leading epicurean destinations in the US. Visit Loudoun, Jen Sigal, visitloudoun.org, [email protected]

Richmond
The Virginia Museum of History and Culture will complete a major renovation in spring 2022 and will debut a new exhibit, Our Commonwealth. This extensive marquee exhibition will provide an in-depth exploration through Virginia and will feature stories and artifacts from partner organizations and cultural institutions throughout the state. Visit Richmond VA, Meghan Gearino, VisitRichmondVA.com, [email protected]

Shenandoah
Find Your Way Back to four seasons of outdoor adventure with over a quarter of the County covered in National and State Forest. Climb the Woodstock Tower, and ski the slopes of Bryce Resort. Go underground at Shenandoah Caverns and discover the whimsical parade floats at American Celebration on Parade. Visit Shenandoah County, Brenda Black, VisitShenandoahCounty.com, [email protected]

Virginia’s Blue Ridge
Downtown Roanoke’s first boutique hotel, The Liberty Trust, will open in January 2022. Elegantly restored from an early-20th century bank, the hotel features a walk-in vault turned Tasting Room and the building’s original copper doors that were repurposed for the lobby on an episode of DIY Network’s “Salvage Dawgs.” Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, Taylor Spellman, VisitVBR.com, [email protected]

 

Take a look at images from across the Mid-Atlantic. Please be sure to provide photo credit to the appropriate DMO.

 

About the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance
The Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance (MATPRA) is a cohesive unit of regional tourism partners encompassing Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington, D.C. The group serves travel journalists by creating a regional resource that ignores geographical boundaries to better promote common threads, offering story ideas about the Mid-Atlantic region as a whole. For more information, visit MATPRA.org.