Oh, go to DC!!! We've been there twice, last time we rented a vehicle and drove around. Mount Vernon was our favourite spot (Washington's estate) and old town Alexandia was nice too. Of course you could spend all your time right in downtown DC seeing all the gorgeous memorials and buildings and also Arlington National Cemetery.

Toni, as I was reading your questions, I was thinking St. Augustine as I read. Lot's of history for DS, and beaches for DD's. Great food. I enjoyed taking the ride in the horse drawn surry, that took you to points of interest (this was a long time ago). The driver/guide is great to point out places and facts as you go. That is on the east coast, just didn't know how far north you meant. I'd also like to visit the Carolinas and Virginia and West Virginia someday. (But I like to drive, and see it all as I go.)
Leslie

Where on the east coast are you thinking about?

I second DC. Very educational and Arlington is a "must see."

Massachusettes is also very fun. Salem is a hoot, but I was a bit disappointed in Plymouth Rock.

Lots to see around Philadelphia, and I definitely recommend Manhattan! It's one of those "once in a lifetime" adventures!

Maine (Bar Harbour) is breakthtaking if you're thinking of going that far north. It also won't be as hot as some of the places further south. Even DC will be hot in July. If you visit Acadia National Park, you may even want a sweatshirt! :-)

I've not been impressed with the beach on my numerous visits to Florida, with the only exception being near Miami. I've never been as far south as the Keys but would love to go!

Toni, Williamsburg sounds like a good place for you to visit. Not only are there plenty of plantations around to visit, there's Colonial Williamsburg (restored colonial town), Jamestown, Yorktown (which has a beautiful small beach on the York river). We also have Busch Gardens (great rides and shows in the park) and water country. Right down the road from Water Country is Presidents Park (a full bust of each president with plenty of recorded info about each president). If you want to visit a big beach, Va Beach is only about 30 miles away. You would probably need to rent a car once you land in either Norfolk, VA or Williamsburg/Newport News International airport. PS Plan to stay at least a week to see part of the things around here.

Thanks everyone, I'm just starting to plan and not even 100% sure we'll go east. We want to if we feel informed and compleled to see some this historic *and busy* country. I guess after seeing Disney world last January we would want to have a restful vacation but I get excited to sightsee anything new.
Casey~ I love historic homes, do you know if Mt. Vernon is open to view the inside?
OKwriter~ I'm now wondering what makes Manhattan a place to see. sounds like you are in the know. Do tell, please.
As for Virginia Beach, My sister lived there for a few years and liked it very much. It might be overflowing with tourists about then, guess that what happens in the summer.lol
Williamsburg would be in the top 5 for dh and ds! They love that stuff.

Come on in to DC!! There really is a lot to do. I was born and raised here and I guess because of that, I don't even see as much as I should. But when I listen to the places that tourists see, I'm jealous that I haven't been to them. Depending upon how long you are staying, you could easily drive to Williamsburg - a few hours, but worth a couple of days visit, for sure. If you want beach action, you can always head the beaches for a day trip from DC - Ocean City, Bethany, Rehoboth. But DC has sooooo much; I haven't been (sorry for that) but I hear the WWII Memorial; the Viet Nam Memorial and the Holocost Museum and the American Indian Museum are real hits. Also, there is the Spy Museum - haven't been there either, but OMG, the raves I've heard about that place. Then there are the traditional museums and sites - Capitol, White House, Monument, Supreme Court, Botanical Gardens, Arlington Cemetery, The National Gallary of Art (Mom used to work their and we shook hands with Diana when she and Prince Charles visited) and all of the others. The Smithsonians are great - I think one is closed for renovation but may be reopened by the time you get here. The Smithsonian' Space (NASA) museum at Dulles Airport is very nice too. You'll definitely need at least a week to just touch on everything but just plan early on what you want to see. There are bus tours as well, once you get here. BTW, the zoo (pandas) is very nice, as well as Embassy Row. DC has some very good and very famous restaurants, abeit, IMO, not as good as other parts of the country (unless you love MD crabs!). But, still very good nonetheless.

If you decide to head this way, let me know. I can try to help you on some things. You will need to get tickets for the White House, and that type of thing. I'm sure though, that a travel agency can help with that too. Just get them early. There are also movies (ouside) on the grounds of the Wahsington Monument - family movies and lots of fun. If you do July - the fourth, there is always the fireworks display - very crowded, but also fun.

OK, it that enough to do? Of course there is more, depending on what you like to do. Let me know if I can help.

gng

come on out and have some fun.

If you need a beach and history - head to Charleston, SC. It is just beautiful there. DC will be hot in July and no ocean breezes there but there is a lot to see.
Kind of asking a mother of 12 which is her favorite...

Yes there are tours of the home at Mount Vernon. We didn't go inside (you can't take pics inside) but we saw everything else on the estate.

Like I said, seeing Manhattan was - to me - just one of those "once in a lifetime" opportunities. Totally dispelled many of my preconceived ideas about what it was like. We were on a driving tour, and we stayed at a KOA in Newburgh (sp?). They have a one-day bus tour from there, but we honestly got to see SO much stuff in a day! Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, Fulton's Fish Market, Times Square, Wall Street, Central Park - so much and so long ago that I can hardly remember! Granted, seeing it all in one day meant skimming the surface...there is so much more there I'd love to do if I had time. Even so, it is fun now to see those places on TV and think, "Been there! Done that!"

:-)

Well, being partial to SC, I'd say come to Charleston and Myrtle Beach. (2hrs away) We have many plantations, mansions, forts, beaches, and of course, charm.

Then, if you like LOTS of shopping, excitement and good shows, head to Myrtle Beach.

There's so much on the east coast to see and do, you'd need a couple months!

A few areas of note:

Upstate NY...nestled in beautiful green mountains is Cooperstown, Pa...a Victorian village, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame, The Cooper House, with a beautiful exhibition of folk art and Indian artifacts from all over the counry, and the farm museum..all at the base of beautiful Lake Oswego.
Worth a stay of 1 or 2 days on a car trip.

Drop down south, into Pa, and the Pocono mountains, a 3-4 hour drive south into the Philadelphia area.

Along the way, you can stop at beautiful Washington's Crossing, on the banks of the Delaware river, where the continental Army of the American revolution crossed into Trenton, NJ to confront the British one Christmas Eve.

Philadelphia.
Valley Forge Park, where Washington's army stayed one winter, and received much needed training from european military generals, that allowed them to eventually cross the Delaware and begin winning the war.
Museum of artifacts, log huts, reinactor demonstrations, and tours through Washington's Headquarters building.

You can stay in one of the many hotels in the Valley Forge Area, because it's only a short drive or commuter train ride) into Philadelphia.

Independance Hall (2 weeks around 4th of July is full of activities, culminating with morning ceremony at Independance Hall and parade, fireworks over the river in the evening.
Constitution museum,this is fairly new...within walking distance of Independance Hall, I haven;t been there yet.

Betsy Ross house - home of the oft reputed maker of the first american flag.

Benjamin Franklin museum...on the parkway that Ben himself designed - a great science meseum that was my second home as a child.

at the end of the parkway is the Philadelphia Art Museum....where tourists gather to run up the steps ala Rocky Balboa fo movie fame, and take pictures of each other hugging the Rocky statue at the base of the steps.

South Philadelphia...home of the Cheesteak...the corner of 9th and Warton sts, 2 famous, rival cheesesteak places Geno's and Pat's. PS - I'm a Pat's fan.

Fairmount park....the largest park enclosed in a city in the US(bigger than cenral park in NY), and home of the first established Zoo in the US.

A 2 hour drive east of Philadelphia, and you're at Atlantic City, the beach on the Atlantic Ocean, home of the famous boardwalk, and now a big casino town.

And lots, lots,, more.

And lots, lots, more

I agree with the Williamsburg suggestion ... lots of (relatively cheap) stuff to do within a compact driving distance. Jamestown for early/colonial settlements, assorted plantations to visit along the river, more civil war stuff than you can shake a stick at. And shopping outlets, malls, a big amusement park, museums of all kinds, beaches, etc.

Annapolis would be another place to consider as 'home base' ... it's got alot of history and scenic beauty itself, plus it's close to DC and Baltimore museums, and of course the Chesapeake Bay.

Would you be flying in, or driving? Once you are at your destination, do you mind driving -- and does it matter if it's city, suburb or rural?

You know Macaulay Calkin from Home alone? Remember what he looked like after he put the after shave on. He had his hands on the side of his face with his mouth wide open. That's me right now.

If anyone knows Nebraska, its a long way to everywhere. I pretty much expect to drive long distances to get most places. If I go to the east coast this summer, I'll feel like I'm driving in a pin ball machine. So many places to see in such relatively short driving distances! NICE!

Thanks to everyone for your long posts, reminding me of the most amazing places. I'll print this out and see what everyone here would like to do first and what kind of time frame we will have,, to get the most out of this experience yet to happen.

Toni, I live in Nebraska also. It's so neat on the east coast because things are so much closer together and there are SO many things to see. I hope you can spend a couple weeks or more, I know how it is for farming in the summer, but it will take that long to even scratch the surface. My DH was born and raised in Boston, so we love New England, but Charleston, Savannah, Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are wonderful too. Washington DC, Baltimore and of course, New York City are awesome. I'm envious of your trip, our traveling days are over, but I love everything on the east coast from Bar Harbor Maine to Ft Lauderdale FL!!

I loved Williamsburg over 30 years ago and would do it again. Would love to see Charleston too.

Washington, D.C. Mall was interesting, and that was 40 years ago long before the Viet Nam Memorial. But the humidity and heat will be bad.

Another vote for the Charleston and Myrtle Beach area.
I'm from the East Coast and have been everywhere up and down. I'm sure it's going to be hard to decide. Every place mentioned would be a fun trip.
One thing though...DC and Manhattan can be brutal in July.

DC and NYC are a must see and Baltimore is nice as well. Philadelphia is a must too and while you're there, it's a short drive to Lancaster County and Amish country. While you're this far , you should see Gettysburg. All these places can be hot in July. The Jersey shore is only a three hour drive from central Pa..

..."nestled in beautiful green mountains is Cooperstown, Pa" Cooperstown is in upstate NY ;-)

Good suggestions for the northeast. Heat and humidity could be brutal in the southeast mid-summer. But then, we get it here in the NE, but normally not for the entire summer season.

Another vote for coastal SC/NC. Charleston is wonderful. Myrtle Beach is nice for going to the beach & seeing shows. There are also some great NC beaches adjoining that area. Wilmington, NC is very nice - similar to Charleston but smaller & in very close proximity to some nice beaches.

Williamsburg is great too. It's really interesting & there's so much to see.

Nobody has mentioned the Northeast. Portland, ME, Boston, Cape Cod, Providence, Newport, and Manhattan. They are all within easy driving distance. Lots of historical sights and natural beauty as well in this neck of the woods.