The boardwalk at Ocean City, Maryland.

As coat weather changes to t-shirt weather, the thought of summer vacation plans begin to surface in everyone’s mind. What are your plans for the summer?

Luckily, Baltimore is situated in the perfect place for a variety of summer day trips, weekend getaways, and mini-vacations as it is not too far from the coast or other major cities. Here are a few suggestions for nearby vacation and weekend getaway spots:

• The beach is always a popular summer spot and with Ocean City, Maryland only a three-hour drive from Baltimore, it is a great destination for a short or extended stay. Ocean City features a three-mile boardwalk featuring many shops and restaurants to enjoy just steps from the beach. When you’ve had your fill of the beach, you can also visit the numerous outlet stores present at Ocean City or take in the nature with a hiking trip at Assateague Island. For Summer 2012, from May 29^th through September 2^nd, enjoy a free firework show choreographed to music every Tuesday night on the beach.
• A little over an hour’s drive from Baltimore, Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia features white water tubing, rafting, and kayaking in the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. This is a perfect day trip for a hot summer day. Harper’s Ferry can meet the needs of visitors wanting to soak up the sun while floating leisurely down the river and those seeking the thrill of navigating through rapids as it is host to Class I-III whitewater. Watersports in Harper’s Ferry offer excitement for the vacationer and the sportsman, and the beginner and seasoned rafter alike.  Conveniently, there are several sports outfitters stores in the area that offer tube, raft, and kayak rentals for the day or weekend and shuttle services directly to the rivers, as well as all-inclusive packages that allow visitors to maximize their time in Harper’s Ferry.
• Baltimore is also conveniently located only an hour from the museums and monuments in Washington DC and just under three hours from New York City by car. Baltimore also offers a variety of transportation options to both of these destinations, including train and bus services leaving from Penn Station hourly. Washington DC is host to the Smithsonian museums, which are free to all visitors and open most days of the year. The Smithsonian contains 19 sprawling museums and galleries, offering something to pique the interest of every visitor, with buildings dedicated to art, sculpture, and history. The Capital Building is also an exciting place to visit, featuring daily tours where visitors can see, first-hand, the lawmaking process in action. New York City is host to just as many points of interest, including one of the most iconic museums in the world: The Museum of Natural History.  Located by Central Park, the massive museum houses more than 32 million specimens from all over of the world, offering a snapshot of past and present life on Earth. While in the area, you can also check out Central Park, where bike rentals and tours are available daily. While strolling or biking through Central Park, visitors can remark in the amazing views, sculptures, and beautiful flora present in the area.

These are just a few of the great destinations within three hours from Baltimore. Rest assured that, even if you are not in Baltimore, your mail is being received at our Class A building at the Inner Harbor and can be forwarded to whichever exotic locale you choose to visit.  Our custom solutions are tailored to your needs, taking care of any administrative duties you require while you are away or any other time of the year. Whatever you decide to do over the summer, allow yourself to fully relax knowing that all of your calls are being handled by your very own receptionist at Officense.