Peter,
I hope you enjoy your new home and area. It must have been a difficult decision to leave California. My wife, son and I spent 5 day's during Thanksgiving with my wife's sister and husband in Dublin, CA. If I didn't live in Vancouver I think that the California coast would be my next choice. I have travelled to Washington and Virginia on business before and really enjoyed the area. Good luck and get the home ready for Christmas. It's just around the corner...
Cheers,
Shaun