East Coast vacation ideas

[smile145]

I am wondering if anyone has any ideas for a 1 to 2 week long vacation in the fall (maybe late September) on the East Coast. I don't fly so it has to be within a 1 or 2 day drive from NH.

We are doing Disney in 2018 again and we've done cruises recently so looking for something else and also really looking for somewhere brand new. We have done NH, ME, NYC, DC, Niagara Falls. We like outdoors things like hiking and we like theme parks/zoos and we like educational things like muesuems. So it could be a city or a rural area. We are not big on beaches. It's just me and DH, no kids.

Thanks for any thoughts.

 

[lorijohnhill]

Vermont is beautiful that time of year. You could easily take a two week road trip throughout the state.

 

[Bete]

Take in Vermont. Fall colors are wonderful.

We do road trips all the time and we took in a large part of the coast line by staying 1-2 days and moving on to another destination and kept doing this until our time was up.

 

[a742246]

I would say Lake George in NY may be what you may like. You have local hiking, boating, theater (1 hour or so drives) in Glens falls or Schenectady, fabulous restaurants, museums, history, great walking town in Saratoga Springs nearby, and The Great Escape and Lake Placid is nearby. Plus mid-late September rates are low.

 

[TwoMisfits]

You could mix a Hershey/Gettysburg (PA) trip...or even better, you could mix a Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown/Norfolk (VA) trip (home base in Williamsburg since that's where all the really nice condos and hotels are)...

If you do Williamsburg, you have historic Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, Historic Jamestown, Historic Yorktown, the Chrysler Museum of Art (Norfolk), Nauticus (Norfolk), USS Wisconsin (Norfolk), Norfolk Botanical Garden, Virginia Zoo, the outlets, etc...you will also have beautiful weather in late Sept/early October...there is also some beautiful hiking around the Jamestown area...

 

[HeatherC]

I am wondering if anyone has any ideas for a 1 to 2 week long vacation in the fall (maybe late September) on the East Coast. I don't fly so it has to be within a 1 or 2 day drive from NH.

We are doing Disney in 2018 again and we've done cruises recently so looking for something else and also really looking for somewhere brand new. We have done NH, ME, NYC, DC, Niagara Falls. We like outdoors things like hiking and we like theme parks/zoos and we like educational things like muesuems. So it could be a city or a rural area. We are not big on beaches. It's just me and DH, no kids.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Montreal? You could drive through VT on the way!

Philadelphia and Lancaster County?

Charleston, SC

 

[Northernlites]

A tour to Fallingwater in PA.

 

[Ngwira]

Finger lakes in NY state. Poconos in Pennsylvania.

 

[pls5286]

Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg and throw in The Great Smokey Mountain National Park and Cherokee too.

 

[Imnatari]

We love Burlington VT, we drive up there from Seacoast NH almost every summer. There are some great places up and around there to visit. We typically stay on Grand Isle on Lake Champlaign.

 

[Hikergirl]

Another vote for Gatlinburg and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

 

[jmmess]

Have you done the Blue Ridge Parkway? Beautiful scenic drive, lots of hiking, and beautiful towns. There are caverns as well (check out Luray).

 

[QueenIsabella]

Former New Hampshirite here--I wouldn't recommend Vermont, only because it's too close to home, both in distance and "feel". Mind you, I lived close to the border, but they call them the twin states for a reason.

It really depends on what you're looking for DH and I loved visiting the Poconos when we were childless. Amish Country is also nice. Lake George is beautiful (but a little touristy). I would give consideration to Virginia Beach or DC areas--tons to do. Although DC isn't a hiking venue, you do a LOT of walking. But, there's tons to see. Another thought might be Quebec. If you're into it, there's some great whitewater rafting in Canada--DH and I rafted the Rouge River (class 6!) a couple decades back.

A little farther, and I've never been (though I'd love to) is Cape Breton Island.

 

[fifthdimensiondweller]

PA would give you a mix of many of the things you like to do. The Poconos, Gettysburg, Hershey Park, the Liberty Bell, Amish Country.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Myrtle Beach! You don't ever have to go to the beach, though there are lots of water sports opportunities (kayaking, surfing/lessons, jet ski'ing, SUP'ing). The hotels/condos are plentiful and inexpensive that time of year. Lots of great restaurants. They have swamp/river tours. Gatorland (or whatever it's called.) The Waccatee Zoo. Aquarium. ATV tours. Plenty of places to hike. http://www.vacationmyrtlebeach.com/...each-top-6-nature-walks-in-myrtle-beach-area/ Golf, of course, if you're into that. Ropes/Zipline courses. Explore nearby Charleston and/or Pawley's Island.

 

[distherapy]

Richmond and Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown. I'd stay in Richmond for a bit (tons of recent travel articles, like https://www.washingtonpost.com/life...b5145e8679a_story.html?utm_term=.d3fa4cf38e60) and visit the excellent Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the James River park system is great and has what I believe is the country's only urban whitewater rafting. There are great Civil War museums and history centers, trails and bridges along the river. Lots to explore. There are some neat biking tours along the river to wineries, too. The Capital Bike Trail is great.

Then I'd take Route 5 and check out plantations and head to Williamsburg - the colonial area is really interesting, the College of William and Mary is beautiful, and Busch Gardens is fun. You can also check out Jamestown and Yorktown. Good outlet shopping if that's your thing.

 

[smile145]

Thank you for all of your ideas. I have a lot of research to do on all these locations. Those that recommended Gatlinburg, would this still be recommended given the destruction from the fires?

 

[TwoMisfits]

Thank you for all of your ideas. I have a lot of research to do on all these locations. Those that recommended Gatlinburg, would this still be recommended given the destruction from the fires?

That's why I left it out...I figure the area (especially some of the natural stuff you'd want to do) probably needs 12-18 months to get back to what it was...that said, I am looking at it for myself in summer 2018 still (it was my original plan, but now the fire has us keeping it as an option, not a definite)...

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Richmond and Williamsburg/Jamestown/Yorktown. I'd stay in Richmond for a bit (tons of recent travel articles, like https://www.washingtonpost.com/life...b5145e8679a_story.html?utm_term=.d3fa4cf38e60) and visit the excellent Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the James River park system is great and has what I believe is the country's only urban whitewater rafting. There are great Civil War museums and history centers, trails and bridges along the river. Lots to explore. There are some neat biking tours along the river to wineries, too. The Capital Bike Trail is great.

Then I'd take Route 5 and check out plantations and head to Williamsburg - the colonial area is really interesting, the College of William and Mary is beautiful, and Busch Gardens is fun. You can also check out Jamestown and Yorktown. Good outlet shopping if that's your thing.

This is what I was going to say. There is so much to do in that area, plus Washington DC is close too. You could easily spend 2 weeks between the 2 areas and not see it all.

ETA: I just read that OP has already done DC. Maybe add Philly and/or Charleston?

 

[tink1970]

My first thought was also Williamsburg as well although you could also add in Charleston and Savannah. Lots of history, beautiful scenery and it would still be warm (if you're missing summer) in South Carolina and Georgia.