Also, don_t overlook Roanoke and the lovely Shenandoah valley towns along I-81...Staunton, Lexington, Harrisburg, Natural Bridge, New Market...etc..or go to Luray Caverns or drive up in the Blue Ridge mountains on skyline drive....in another month the leaves turn as well and it_s very pretty.
And of course there is the suburban and very wealthy northern Virginia which is really considered suburbs of DC. Lots of fine restaurants, shopping and traffic.