5 weekend getaways when Pope Francis visits Philly

Quit your complaining.

We get it. The Pope is coming-he'll be in here Sept. 26 and 27-for the World Meeting of Families-Sept. 22 to 25. Philly is going to get crazy.

So, get out of town.

Need a place to go? We rounded up five ideas for a trip to take during the papal visit. They aren't too distant. Just far enough so you can't see the tip of the Pontiff's cap.

Annapolis, Maryland

Annapolis is an architecturally rich, compact town made for strollers. A walk along the waterfront can wipe away the stress of the past week's Papal apocalypse.

Miles away from Philly: 129

Stay: The Historic Inns of Annapolis (58 State Circle, 800-847-8882, historicinnsofannapolis.com) features three charming properties you can call home for the weekend away: The Governor Calvert House, the Robert Johnson House and the Maryland Inn. If you prefer to stay at a bed and breakfast, the city has several options to choose from including the Annapolis Inn (144 Prince George St., 410-295-5200, annapolisinn.com).

Play: The 26th Annual Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival (kuntakinte.org), a celebration of African American heritage, begins on Saturday at the Susan Campbell Park. At night, check out the Annapolis Fringe Festival (fringefestivalannapolis.com), including over 20 street performers under two tents along the entire first block of historic West Street.

In between festivals, do a little shopping along Main and West streets, State Circle and Maryland Avenue are popular.

Drink: Celebrate Sunday Funday at the 25th Annual West Annapolis Oktoberfest (410-956-7278, westannapolisbusinessaffiliation.org) where everyone can be German for a day. Just don't get too buzzed that you can't make it home Sunday night.

If you are looking for a calming relief, make your way to Princeton, an easy to access town by NJ Transit and exceedingly walkable. The college town is the best place to calm down.

Miles away: 45

Stay: Set on a tree-lined street in Downtown Princeton, The Peacock Inn (20 Bayard Lane, 609-924-1707, peacockinn.com) is a ritzy boutique hotel in a colonial-style mansion dating to the 18th century. Their elegant restaurant with 1930s artwork and murals serves contemporary American cuisine. There's also a chic bar and a furnished veranda. Order the Cradle of Life at the bar.

Or stay at the Nassau Inn (10 Palmer Square, 609-921-7500, nassauinn.com). A block away from the Princeton University, this circa-1930s lodging replaced a historic Revolutionary War-era tavern. Its fieldstone-and-shingle exterior overlooks the picturesque Palmer Square.

Play: Take a drive outside the city limits for some fine art in nature. Grounds for Sculpture (80 Sculptors Way, 609-586-0616, groundsforsculpture.org) is a 42-acre sculpture park and museum 15 minutes from downtown Princeton. The grounds have over 270 large-scale contemporary sculptures.

Stop by the Princeton University Art Museum (McCormick Hall, 609-258-3788, artmuseum.princeton.edu), just named to Fodor's list of the top 15 best small-town museums in the United States.

The McCarter Theatre (91 University Place, 609-258-ARTS, mccarter.org) offers over 200 performances of theater, dance, music and special events each year. While the Pope is in Philly, a new adaptation of Tennessee William's 1956 screenplay Baby Doll makes its U.S. debut at the McCarter.

Eat: Locals regularly eat at Hoagie Haven (242 Nassau St., 609-921-7723, hoagiehaven.com). The Haven, the best place to get a 3 a.m. bite, was even referred to on The Daily Show as one of Jon Stewart's favorite restaurants.

For lighter (and healthier) grub, dine at Elements (66 Witherspoon St. 609-808-8808, elementsprinceton.com). Passionate about sourcing fresh, organic ingredients and sustainably raised meats and seafood, executive chef Scott Anderson's New American menu is award winning and delish.

Stop by the Bent Spoon (35 Palmer Square West, 609-924-2368, thebentspoon.net) for dessert at this inventive and one-of-a-kind ice cream shop.

Off season is local's season in Cape May. While the weather is cooling down, the water is still warm until mid-October. Lifeguards are off duty, which means you can bring the pooch to play and don't need beach tags.

Miles away: 93

Stay: Open all year, the Victorian Motel (223 Congress Place, 609-884-7044, victorianmotelnj.com) is centrally located and offers affordable and newly renovated rooms. For a more upscale option, try Star Inn (29 Perry St., 800-297-3779, thestarinn.net). A small motel with 10 brightly painted one-bedroom suites, the inn is owned by Congress Hall so you have access to all of their extravagant amenities as well.

Play: After you have a pickup game of volleyball on Decatur Street Beach, stroll the shops at Washington Street Mall, a three block pedestrian concourse filled with quaint shops. For lions tigers, and bears, explore the Cape May Zoo (707 Route 9 North, Cape May Court House, NJ, 609-465-5271, www.cmczoo.com)-for free.

A short drive away from Cape May, Cold Spring Village is one of the oldest settled places in America. During the weekend of the Pope's visit, the village hosts their annual county fair. Stroll the Village's shaded lanes where arts, crafts and antiques vendors sell their wares and learn about the trades and crafts.

Eat: Lively, longtime hangout the Rusty Nail (205 Beach Ave., 609-884-0017, caperesorts.com) has everything you want including real sand between your toes and fresh ocean breeze in your hair. Indoor seating spills into outdoor spaces equipped with sand bar, fire pit and shuffleboard. Start your meal with something from the raw bar-like oysters or crab legs-and end with something from the grill.

Louisa's Café (104 Jackson St. 609-884-5882, louisascapemay.com) has been serving farm to table fare since 1980. The long-time beloved eatery continues to serve simple, tasty dishes with locally sourced ingredients

Charlottesville-the farthest destination on our list-may be a five hour drive but is well worth the trip. This striking town is steeped in Southern collegiate culture, and may be your new favorite getaway from the North.

Miles away: 255 miles

Stay: Whether or not you're a golf pro, stay at the impressive mansion Keswick Hall (701 Club Dr., 888-778-2565, keswick.com). Nestled on 600 acres next to the prominent Keswick Golf Club, the 48-room hotel was just named to the US News and World Report Best Hotels List and got five stars from Forbes.

Or if you want to be in the heart of it all, opt for the Omni (212 Ridge McIntire Rd, 434-971-5500, omnihotels.com). Located on the Downtown Mall, Charlottesville's quaint brick-lined row of shops, you will be steps away from the best dining and shopping in the city.

Play: There are lots of fantastic trails to hike, including ones that lead to the doorstep of Monticello (931 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy., 434-984-9800, monticello.org), the home of Thomas Jefferson. Take a tour inside the historic landmark that is located at the top of a beautiful mountain. Gorgeous colors can be seen in the fall when the leaves begin to change.

At Pippin Hill Farm (5022 Plank Rd, North Garden, 434-202-8063, pippinhillfarm.com), just outside Charlottesville, the sweeping vineyards and winery tasting room are pure magic. But the real highlight is top-notch fare on the veranda - with a bountiful cheese plate and big deck chairs, the setup is picturesque and perfect.

Eat: For BBQ, Aces Biscuit and BBQ (711 Henry Avenue, 434-202-1403, acebiscuitandbarbecue.com) is a sure fire bet. Trade in your bib for chopsticks and dine at Ten (120 E. Main St., 434-295-6691, ten-sushi.com), a modern-Japanese tapas style restaurant.

Home to eclectic shopping, riverside dining, impressive theater and cultural attractions, New Hope is a small town with a lot of heart.

Miles away: 32 miles

Stay: Just a few miles south of town is the luxurious Inn at Bowman's Hill (518 Lurgan Rd., 215-862-8090, theinnatbowmanshill.com).

Play: Take a stroll down New Hope's Main Street and browse through the town's collection of unique shops and boutiques. Hand-crafted household items, jewelry and pottery are among the many unique gifts available at Heart of the Home (28 S. Main St., 215-862-1880, heartofthehome.com)

Step back in a time with a walk along the towpath in Delaware Canal State Park. The canal, stretching 60 miles from Easton in the north to Bristol in the south, runs through the heart of downtown New Hope.

Eat: Marsha Brown (15 S. Main St., 215-862-7044, marshabrownrestaurant.com) brings a taste of New Orleans north of the Mason Dixon, serving up Creole favorites like fried catfish, po' boys and gumbo ya-ya in a renovated stone church.

The Logan Inn (10 W. Ferry St., 215-862-2300, loganinn.com) specializes in Mediterranean dishes, including octopus, lamb and Kobe steaks. September is the perfect time to enjoy the inn's al fresco dining along Main Street or venture riverside for waterfront dining along the scenic Delaware River.

End your day with a mojito or margarita at Havana Restaurant and Bar (105 S. Main St, New Hope, 215-862-9897, havananewhope.com). One of the most popular spots in town, Havana known for its Caribbean food and live music, bringing national touring acts to Bucks County.