Cheap (non-National Park) travel recs for this summer, please

[Anonymous]

Our family of 5 has two big expenses coming up in the next 12 months, so we were hoping to go on a cheaper summer vacation. In the past, this has meant driving to a National Park (Shenandoah, Smoky Mountains, etc.) and this year was going to be no exception: we planned to go to Mammoth Caves and also enjoy the Kentucky Palisades (a co-worker gave me some suggestions for hiking/boating) and Daniel Boone State Park, and any other state parks we saw nearby.

But with all of the firings in the National Park Service, we're not sure that this trip makes sense for this coming summer.

I've been trying to think of cheaper places that we can go (we've already done a lot of places within driving distance, including as far away as Boston and Chicago). New York isn't cheap so that doesn't help.

We love hiking and kayaking and will most likely bring our own food (religious dietary restrictions). We're not beach people, so Ocean City or any of the other beaches nearby isn't something we're interested in.

We're also interested in going to Acadia National Park, but again we're concerned that it might have lower staffing and therefore long lines, unclean bathrooms, etc.

Any ideas for us?

[Anonymous]

I’d still plan for Acadia. So much to do on MDI and even with the NPS challenges, you’ll still have a great trip. Get your lodging now if you haven’t already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d still plan for Acadia. So much to do on MDI and even with the NPS challenges, you’ll still have a great trip. Get your lodging now if you haven’t already.

+1
There are short hikes such that unusable bathrooms aren't the end of the world.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We were originally planning on going to Mammoth Caves in Kentucky (I only mentioned Acadia because we're also interested in going there but it has the same problem).

Are the PPs suggesting that either of these National Parks should be OK this summer, or only Acadia? And what is MDI?

[Anonymous]

State parks! Cabins at state parks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. We were originally planning on going to Mammoth Caves in Kentucky (I only mentioned Acadia because we're also interested in going there but it has the same problem).

Are the PPs suggesting that either of these National Parks should be OK this summer, or only Acadia? And what is MDI?

Most of Acadia and Bar Harbor (and I think 3 other towns) are on Mt Desert Island.

Don't make a trip JUST to Mammoth Caves. It's cool but it's only worth it if you're in the area.

[Anonymous]

White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire. You could visit Mount Washington, Franconia Notch, and some various museums in the area.

Upstate New York. You could do the Adirondacks or Finger Lakes. Ithaca would be a good base for the Finger Lakes. There is a lot of hiking and water recreation. Corning Glass Museum is worth a visit.

[Anonymous]

you could do state parks. we had fun camping at Ohiopyle and rafting.

[Anonymous]

Can you list where you’ve been? I don’t want to list places you’re not interested in repeating.

Have you tried Colonial Williamsburg? You can walk around the historic area for free, and get a one-day pass to go into a few buildings.

Galax, Virginia has a famous bluegrass festival every summer.

[Anonymous]

One state park we looked at outside NY was Bear mountain. There is a lodge that looks fun. You could get a hotel in NJ one night and go into the city to do some of the cheaper stuff —either just walk around and get a slice, moms is free for kids I think, met has cheaper hours, renting bikes around central ark is cheap and fun. You can often download cheap or free walking tours. From there drive up to bear mountain or someplace else in Hudson valley. Could drive from there to New England.

[Anonymous]

West Virginia has some lovely state parks.

[Anonymous]

Omg quit wringing your hands just go

[Anonymous]

A few ideas:
1. Plan the National Park trip anyway (they apparently re-hired the seasonal NPS employees whose offers they had rescinded), but also look up a lot of other things to do in the area just in case.
2. Niagara Falls/Buffalo area have pretty cheap lodging & stuff to do. Throw in Toronto if you want, and stop by Pittsburg on the way home.
3. Both Maryland and Virginia have some nice state parks. You could do a loop camping at some of those. New Germany SP in Maryland is small but nice. I’ve heard great things about Douthat & Grayson Highlands state parks in VA. Sky Meadows & Shenandoah River are nice, too. And Ohiopyle, as mentioned above (stop at Fort Frederick State Park, and if open Fort Necessity).

[Anonymous]

I’ve heard good things about Hocking Hills State Park in Ohio

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:West Virginia has some lovely state parks.

Have you been to the newest National Park - New River Gorge? Lots to do there and it's really beautiful.