NY, New England Vacation Ideas?

[Ben Ruset]

I'm thinking about taking a week off and going somewhere in early September. I'd like to be somewhere away from NJ (figure about a 5h car ride, give or take), preferably somewhere scenic where I can do some hiking, photography, and maybe a little kayaking.

I was thinking perhaps somewhere in the Adirondacks, but I'd also consider places out by Jim Thorpe, Vermont, etc. I found a great place in the Adirondacks that has a bunch of wilderness cabins, but the idea of no (easily acquired) shower or running water kind of puts me off. I was also thinking up by New Paltz, NY but the only place up there that I know has been closed down for a few years.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions you folks may have!

 

[NJBill]

I'm thinking about taking a week off and going somewhere in early September. I'd like to be somewhere away from NJ (figure about a 5h car ride, give or take), preferably somewhere scenic where I can do some hiking, photography, and maybe a little kayaking.

I was thinking perhaps somewhere in the Adirondacks, but I'd also consider places out by Jim Thorpe, Vermont, etc. I found a great place in the Adirondacks that has a bunch of wilderness cabins, but the idea of no (easily acquired) shower or running water kind of puts me off. I was also thinking up by New Paltz, NY but the only place up there that I know has been closed down for a few years.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions you folks may have!

Upstate New York is my all time favorite camping and outdoor vacation destination.
Take a peek at Old Forge New York for lots to do, nice small town and plenty of lodging options.
My next favorite location is Wilmington New York but a bit of a haul up in the Lake Placid area.

 

[Boyd]

The Finger Lakes region of New York (my old stomping grounds) might be worth a look. Lots of nice scenery, state forests, lakes, wineries, historic sites, Lake Ontario to the North. Somewhat off the beaten path. It should be somewhere around 5-6 hours from your place (I made more trips than I can count back when I still had a home there). http://www.fingerlakes.org/

 

[Gibby]

Ben, even though you specified NY or New England, have you considered heading in the opposite direction. The Blue Ridge Mountains in West Virginia are very beautiful in the Fall.

 

[46er]

I had a place for a decade or so outside of Lake Placid in Jay. Lots to do or see up in that area, a 6 hr ride from where I am now. From when I got on the GSP until I was about a mile from the cabin, not a traffic light, but a few toll booths If your looking for fall color, try to postpone till the end of the month. If you think you might be interested let me know and I can forward tons of info.

To start;

http://visitadirondacks.com/

http://www.pbase.com/46er/adirondack_park

 

[Boyd]

The Blue Ridge Mountains in West Virginia are very beautiful in the Fall.

Upon the Blue Ridge Mountains, there I'll take my stand,
Upon the Blue Ridge Mountains, there I'll take my stand,
Rifle on my shoulder, six-shooter in my hand.
I've been all around this world....

Sorry, was just listening to the Jerry Garcia acoustic Dead recording from 1970.

 

[Gibby]

Upon the Blue Ridge Mountains, there I'll take my stand,
Upon the Blue Ridge Mountains, there I'll take my stand,
Rifle on my shoulder, six-shooter in my hand.
I've been all around this world....

Lulu, my Lulu, come and open the door
Lulu, my Lulu, come and open the door
Before I have to walk on in with my old forty-four
Lord, I've been all around this world...

 

[bobpbx]

I second Lake Placid Ben, because they do have motels/hotels and a great bar on the lake with good brew. And I stayed a couple times in Jay myself, at this little place along the Ausable River. Very scenic. You can drive up Whiteface Mountain to the ski lodge. Well worth the trip. You can even see the old Olympic Ski Jump. Why not wait till Columbus day, when the foliage will be awsome?

 

[Ben Ruset]

Why not wait till Columbus day, when the foliage will be awsome?

I certainly could, I just feel like I need to get out of Dodge for a while.

 

[dogg57]

I did enjoy Long Lake.Like the small town people,Me I also enjoyed watching the Planes use the lake as a runway(.Long Lake is a town in Hamilton County, New York in the United States. The population was 711 at the 2010 census. The town is named for 14-mile long Long Lake beside which it sits. Wikipedia)

 

[46er]

Why not wait till Columbus day, when the foliage will be awsome?

And Oktoberfest will be Oct 5-6 this year, with OomPah bands, beer, food, beer, dancing and last, but not least, beer.

The Brwewfest is on Columbus Day.

 

[joc]

Ben ,
Sacandaga lake is very Reasonable .Its scenic , has a lot of good hiking /kayaking /fishing .
while a bit more commercial , you have Lake George , which really does offer a lot .
I have personally done NY /New England in Sept , it was very enjoyable . One year even did Cape Cod in Sept .Lime Rock Area of CT is nice .Even the Berkshires are fun in Sept . Did Rhode Island one Sept !!

 

[MarkBNJ]

Northern New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and upstate NY are all rural and isolated, and offer a lot of camping/hiking/exploring opportunities. They are also chock full of blackflies, greenheads, skeeters, and other noisome beasties. If you're heading for the north woods my recommendation is to wait until after the middle of August, when typically things have dried out and the bugs are a lot more tolerable.

I just got back from a week in Colorado, my first visit in twenty years, and I had forgotten how damn perfect the climate is in the mountains in summer. Didn't want to leave. If you consider that option, it's about 30-35 hours driving each way .

 

[Ben Ruset]

Yeah I'm pretty much overwhelmed right now. This happens every time I want to take a trip, and I end up taking the time off but not going anywhere because there's too many options.

Right now I am seeing flights + hotels out West cheaper than what I would pay to drive and stay in New England. This is killing me.

 

[RednekF350]

Right now I am seeing flights + hotels out West cheaper than what I would pay to drive and stay in New England.

Out West is the place to go in my NSHO.
The Grand Canyon baby !
We did the Red Rock Canyon, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Zion NP and Bryce Canyon NP in the space of 8 days this past May.
The trip of a lifetime and I will be back for more !

I have been to Maine four times, Nova Scotia twice and travelled New England when I was younger. My wife and I hiked to the top of Mt. Washington over two days when we were still teenagers. I have no real desire to return to any of those places.

The Western States of Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Nevada are the most beautiful places on earth in my book. I even spent two weeks on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska a few years back hiking and salmon fishing and I would take the West over that.

Go West young man !

 

[Boyd]

I was just in Vancouver a couple months ago on business. All work and no time to get out of town, but - man - that is some spectacular scenery up there. The coastline, islands and very rugged mountains looked amazing from the air.

Everything seemed very expensive in Canada though. Paid $17 CDN for a 6 pack of Molsons at a liquor store in downtown Vancouver.

 

[Spung-Man]

Ben,

How 'bout other Pine Barrens? Most of these are windblown sand piles left over from when the Laurentide Ice Sheet retreated northward at the end of the Wisconsinan. The Albany Pine Bush is a prime candidate for a National Natural Landmark designation since it appears to be the best representative of Pleistocene inland dunes and other eolian landforms.

MAINE

Waterboro Pine Barrens​

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiative...s/maine/placesweprotect/waterboro-barrens.xml​

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Hollis Pine Barrens​

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MASSACHUSETTS

Cape Cod Pine Barrens​

http://www.friendsmssf.com/pinebarrenshome.html​

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Montague Pine Plains​

http://hitchcockcenter.org/index.php/blog/blog_entry_50th/429​

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NEW HAMPSHIRE

Concord Pine Barrens​

http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Nongame/projects/karner_project.html​

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Ossipee Pine Plains​

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiative...hire/placesweprotect/ossipee-pine-barrens.xml​

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiative...ct/ossipee-pine-barrens-map-guide-for-web.pdf​

NEW YORK

Albany Pine Bush​

http://www.albanypinebush.org/​

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Altona Pine Barrens​

http://serc.carleton.edu/vignettes/collection/25562.html​

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Clintonville Pine Barrens​

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiative...ork/adirondacks-clintonville-pine-barrens.xml​

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Long Island Pine Barrens​

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiative...rewework/long-island-central-pine-barrens.xml​

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Rome Sand Plains​

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8080.html​

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Saratoga Sand Plains​

http://www.wiltonpreserve.org/​

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Shawangunk Mountains Pine Barrens​

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiative...k/wherewework/eastern-sams-point-preserve.xml​

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Chase Lake Sand Plains​

Hudson Highlands Pine Barrens​

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PENNSYLVANIA

Montandon Sand Dunes​

http://www.mountainzone.com/mountains/detail.asp?fid=2406056​

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Moosic Mountain Pine Barrens​

http://www.nature.org/ourinitiative...nsylvania/placesweprotect/moosic-mountain.xml​

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Mahantango sand deposit​

Millersburg sand deposit​

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RHODE ISLAND

Kingston Pine Barrens​

http://www.riwps.org/newsletter-16-02.htm​

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You've tried the best, now try all the rest!​

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[pinelandpaddler]

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View attachment 3710 You've tried the best, now try all the rest!​

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Seriously, I was a bit amazed when you informed me of the Ossipee Pine Barrens in the White Mountains of NH. I would have never guessed. I'll be sure to pay a visit next time I'm up there.

 

[Spung-Man]

Hi Gabe,

I was thinking of you too when this was posted! Too late for you to pass through en route home from Mt. Lafayette, bummer. I'm doing some geomorphology work with Dartmouth College and hope to visit the area soon. Many of these "minnie-me" Pine Barrens only came across my radar last year when writing a review for the National Park Service. They have been under-appreciated, but their value to ecosystem and climate-change studies is garnering them some well-deserved attention.

S-M

 

[manumuskin]

I'm headed to new england in october.I will have to check the pine barrens out.