While it's still summer, you might opt to take a day trip, or long vacation to the beach, mountains or one of the major cities. Popular destinations include the likes of Shenandoah National Park, Charlottesville, Washington DC, the Outer Banks, and Virginia Beach.

But why not mix it up and try a new place that's still within a reasonable traveling distance?

Here is a list of seven cities you may have not visited before or considered visiting that may be worth your time:

1. Gatlinburg, TN

Distance from Richmond: 6 hr 50 min by car • 3 hr 45 min by plane • No train or bus options

Attractions: Great Smokey Mountains National Park • Space Needle • Ober Gatlinburg • Roaring Fork • Ole Smokey Distillery • Hollywood Star Cars Museum • Mynatt Park

A quirky blend of tourist traps and picturesque mountain town, Gaitlinburg is nestled on the extreme eastern edge of Tennessee. The compact town makes it very easy to walk through the town square in a few hours, while being able to take a quick drive out into the Smokies. The town's knock off Space Needle and Ober lift offers breathtaking views of the town and the Smokies. The town is ideal for people who are looking for a mountain getaway, but have grown tired of seeing Old Rag or Shenandoah.

2. Asheville, NC

Distance from Richmond: 5 hr 30 min by car • 3 hr 10 min by plane • 9 hr 30 min by bus • No train options

Attractions: Biltmore Estate • Great Smokey Mountains National Park • Cherokee Native American Reservation • Pisgah National Forest • Basilica of St. Lawrence • Folk Art Center • Wicked Weed Brewery • Asheville Brewing Company • McCormick Field • Biltmore Winery

Just across the state line, the best way Asheville can be described is a Carytown that is located in the mountains. The artsy scene is accompanied by numerous breweries, vineyards and an array of neat attractions to visit, such as the largest mansion in the nation. And of course, like Gatlinburg, Asheville is within a stone's throw of the smokies.

3. Cincinnati, OH

Distance from Richmond: 7 hr 50 min by car • 1 hr 35 min by plane • 11 hr 0 min by train • 15 hr 40 min by bus

Attractions: Coney Island • Taft Museum of Art • Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens • Underground Railroad Museum • Krohn Conservatory • Over-The-Rhine • Smale Riverfront Park • Great American Ballpark

If you venture long enough to traverse the entire Appalachians, you can find yourself ending up in this southern Ohio city. The medium-sized city features an array of amusement parks, museums, and scenic gardens.

4. Annapolis, MD

Attractions: Annapolis Waterfront • United States Naval Academy

Most people affiliated with the U.S. Naval Academy will tell you, there's a lot more to Annapolis than the Naval Academy. Sure, the Naval Academy is the lifeblood of the town, but there are several features of the town that make seeing Annapolis worthwhile. The town houses a picturesque waterfront and harbor along with dozens of local shops, making it a worthwhile day trip.

5. Roanoke, VA

Distance From Richmond: 2 hr 48 min by car • 3 hr 46 min by train and bus • No plane options

Attractions: Virginia Museum of Transportation • Vic Thomas Park • Soaring Ridge Brewery • River Rock Climbing • Blue Ridge Parkway • Roanoke City Market • Valley View Mall • Jefferson National Forest • Taubman Museum of Art • Valhalla Vineyards

In our own backyard, Roanoke can often be overlooked by visiting Shenandoah National Park or the nearby college towns. The town hosts the state's transportation museum, several breweries, and unique markets to Southwest Virginia.

6. Cape May, NJ

Distance From Richmond: 5 hr 46 min by car • No bus, train or plane options

Attractions: Washington Street Mall • Cape May Boardwalk • Cape May Point Lighthouse • Congress Hall • U.S. Coast Guard Training Center • Wildwood Piers

Despite seeming far north from its New Jersey, Cape May is on the same longitude as Washington, D.C. In fact, the southern tip of New Jersey is called Cape May, giving the town its namesake. A walkable, Victorian-inspired beach town, Cape May offers an escape from the wrath of strip mall suburban hell, and allows you to explore unique shops all on foot. If that is not enough, there's a two mile boardwalk and a beach.

7. Charleston, SC

Distance From Richmond: 6 hr 11 min by car • 7 hr 15 min by train • 2 hr 45 min by plane • 16 hr by bus

Attractions: The Battery • Blackbaud Stadium • College of Charleston • City Hall • Fort Sumter • Charleston City Market • Old Slave Mart • Charleston Museum • Ravenel Bridge • Palmetto Brewery • King Street • Patriot's Point • Charleston Harbor

The best way I can describe Charleston ends up becoming complicated. I like to think of it as a mixture of Williamsburg, Cape Cod, the Outer Banks, and Naples, Florida. In other words, a compact, colonial-themed beach town surrounded by palm trees. Given the array of non-beach attractions, if the weather does not cooperate, there are hundreds of options inland to focus upon.