Cambridge day trip for b-day surprise

Hello friends, my wife's b-day is next week and I was thinking of renting a car for a surprise trip out of town.  Any suggestions for places within 100 mile radius that are exceptional (excluding London of course)?  We hail from Colorado and love natural beauty but unfortunately the national parks are a bit far for a day trip.  Even though I love to drive I don't want to spend all day in the car.  Many thanks in advance for suggestions!

Hi - am I right in thinking that you want a day trip from Cambridge?

A few suggestions

Lavenham is lovely - a real chocolate box Suffolk village, though it won't take a whole day unless you're really keen on antique shops. You could probably combine it with Clare for another village visit, or there's a national trust place called Ickworth, I think, which is near.

It's also fun to go to Aldeburgh, on the coast, eat fish and chips, walk along the beach to the pseudo-Elizabethan village, etc. You could combine that with Southwold, which is lovely - visit the pier, drink the locally brewed beer.

Or there's the north Norfolk coast. If the weather's good, you can go to places like Kings' Lynn (some lovely bits, some nasty 60s buildings), go seal watching, walk along the beach, go to Walsingham etc.

I'm sure you've been to Ely and the cathedral already, but it's also a good day out.

Hope this helps!