ESCAPE KEYS

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is about 100 miles from Washington, just south of Cambridge, Md. From Route 50 in Cambridge, take Route 16 west through Church Creek to Route 335, following signs to the refuge on Key Wallace Drive. A day permit to enter Wildlife Drive is $3 per vehicle (although eagle viewing is plentiful along most of the surrounding local roads). The Visitor Center, with its new observation room, is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. 410-228-2677, http://www.fws.gov/blackwater, http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/.

There are no lodging options right near the refuge (or dining or shopping options, either), but there are several bed-and-breakfasts and motels in Cambridge. If you want to follow your winter eagle viewing with some fancy indoor swimming, off-season rooms at the plush Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge are nearly half of their summer peak, with Internet rates of $159 and up ( http://www.chesapeakebay.hyatt.com/, 410-901-1234). Info: Dorchester County Tourism Department, 800-522-8687, http://www.tourdorchester.org/.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a map of the 13 best wildlife refuges for viewing bald eagles ( http://www.fws.gov/refuges/generalInterest/viewingBaldEagles.html), with three of them near Washington. Other promising eagle country can be found at:

Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Lorton, 703-490-4979, http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=51610.

Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, 301-497-5761, http://patuxent.fws.gov/.

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Rock Hall, Md., 410-639-7056, http://www.fws.gov/northeast/easternneck.

Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Warsaw, Va., 804-333-1470, http://www.fws.gov/northeast/rappahannock.

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Chincoteague Island, Va., 757-336-6122, http://www.fws.gov/northeast/chinco.

James River National Wildlife Refuge, Charles City, Va., 804-829-9020, http://www.fws.gov/northeast/jamesriver.

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Smyrna, Del., 302-653-6872, http://www.fws.gov/northeast/bombayhook.

Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Milton, Del., 302-684-8419, http://www.fws.gov/northeast/primehook.