Washington to Albany drive: 24 ranked stops, break in Monroe Township

Upscale regional Italian trattoria in a stylishly rustic setting, making fresh pastas and farm-to-table dishes with local ingredients. Order: Fresh pasta.

rolling Piedmont woods near Newark

Rooftop-deck Locust Point institution where you pick fresh-steamed Old Bay crabs by the dozen at paper-covered tables. Order: Steamed blue crabs.

Routinely ranked Maryland's best public course, Bulle Rock hosted the LPGA Championship from 2005 to 2009. Dye stretched it across rolling farmland with dramatic elevation and his trademark hazards.

Cindy Wolf's refined Low Country tasting-menu flagship, a perennial James Beard finalist with a Beard-medaled wine program. Order: Chef's tasting menu.

lakes and ridges in the northern Highlands

A Newark dining tradition since 1978 serving authentic Northern and Southern Italian cuisine in an elegant, welcoming setting. Order: Lobster ravioli.

the retro-park that started the whole movement — the B&O Warehouse beyond right field

Longtime riverfront favorite with seafood staples, a raw bar, upscale fare and cocktails right on the Christina River. Order: Raw bar platter.

an easy forest loop to a pretty fall near Baltimore

Warm Italian-inspired restaurant just off Warren Street with arancini, handmade pastas and grilled flatbread meant for long fireside dinners. Order: Handmade pasta.

the cathedral rebuilt — Monument Park, the façade, and the weight of all that history

A busy public course in the suburbs.

the rowdiest crowd in baseball, the Liberty Bell, and a cheesesteak worth the line

Legendary East Harlem red-sauce institution since 1896 with famously impossible-to-book tables passed down among regulars. Order: Lemon chicken.

Cult-favorite counter serving inventive Asian-Ethiopian steamed buns and rice bowls, ranked among Yelp's Top 100 US restaurants. Order: Neighborhood Bird tempura chicken bun.

A classic city municipal course.