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

[Anonymous]

Either the Adirondacks or the Catskills would be perfect. NY state parks/forests are great.

[Anonymous]

White mountains in NH. So much to do. Homes, Santa’s Village, North Conway.

[Anonymous]

Montreal or Toronto?

[Anonymous]

We did a great trip in the Finger Lakes--based in Ithaca as someone else suggested. Lots of great hiking, nice state parks. Ithaca children's garden, Corning Glass museum, Watkins Glen, etc. From there, we also drove to Rochester for the Strong Museum of Play (not sure how old your kids are, but if they're the right age it's a fantastic place) and then over to Niagara for a night.

We also enjoyed a trip to Lake Placid. Swimming, hiking, we did a river float, there's a small Olympic museum, the Wild Center, there's a mountain coaster that follows the path of the old bobsled run.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you everyone for these ideas.

We went to the Finger Lakes, Vermont, and New Hampshire last summer. I agree that it's a great trip. Highly recommend the hiking in all of those places.

We'll look at state parks or may just go to Kentucky anyway. I figured we would spend a few days at Mammoth Caves and then do other state parks nearby and the Palisades, but maybe we should pivot to Arcadia or just a bunch of state parks.

Thank you again! I appreciate the mostly informative and snark-free responses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you everyone for these ideas.

We went to the Finger Lakes, Vermont, and New Hampshire last summer. I agree that it's a great trip. Highly recommend the hiking in all of those places.

We'll look at state parks or may just go to Kentucky anyway. I figured we would spend a few days at Mammoth Caves and then do other state parks nearby and the Palisades, but maybe we should pivot to Arcadia or just a bunch of state parks.

Thank you again! I appreciate the mostly informative and snark-free responses.

We are going to be in the vicinity of Mammoth Cave in April so I looked into going. A lot of the reviews are about the large sizes of the tours, and frankly weren't the most positive. I am on the fence if we are going or not. Planning on the Louisville Slugger Museum and the Kentucky Derby tour up in Louisville on another day, and possibly one of the smaller caves (Marengo or Horse Cave).

Maybe look at Red River Gorge in Kentucky--tons of outdoor adventuring. There is a via ferrata there if that's your jam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did a great trip in the Finger Lakes--based in Ithaca as someone else suggested. Lots of great hiking, nice state parks. Ithaca children's garden, Corning Glass museum, Watkins Glen, etc. From there, we also drove to Rochester for the Strong Museum of Play (not sure how old your kids are, but if they're the right age it's a fantastic place) and then over to Niagara for a night.

We also enjoyed a trip to Lake Placid. Swimming, hiking, we did a river float, there's a small Olympic museum, the Wild Center, there's a mountain coaster that follows the path of the old bobsled run.

Re: Lake Placid… did you camp? If so, where?

[Anonymous]

Quebec! So many beautiful natural areas like Jacques Cartier National park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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).

Look at Canaan Valley WV too or Smith Mountain Lake.

[Anonymous]

I’d suggest the newest National Park - New River Gorge in WV. I know you said no national parks, but this one is literally surrounded by WV State Parks as well, which should have normal staffing levels. We go every year and stay at Babcock State Park in one of the cabins. It’s a beautiful park by itself, is close to lots of fun things to do (white water rafting is a favorite of my sons), and relatively inexpensive.

[Anonymous]

Ugh just stay home then. I've never witnessed someone stress so much over vacation planning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did a great trip in the Finger Lakes--based in Ithaca as someone else suggested. Lots of great hiking, nice state parks. Ithaca children's garden, Corning Glass museum, Watkins Glen, etc. From there, we also drove to Rochester for the Strong Museum of Play (not sure how old your kids are, but if they're the right age it's a fantastic place) and then over to Niagara for a night.

We also enjoyed a trip to Lake Placid. Swimming, hiking, we did a river float, there's a small Olympic museum, the Wild Center, there's a mountain coaster that follows the path of the old bobsled run.

Re: Lake Placid… did you camp? If so, where?

No we stayed in an apartment style hotel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh just stay home then. I've never witnessed someone stress so much over vacation planning.

Agreed. So much stress about these national park trips on this forum. It will be fine, just go

[Anonymous]

Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

[Anonymous]

Oh, if Acadia is driveable, NH and VT would be amazing! Franconia Notch State park has great family friendly hiking. Swimming holes, covered bridges, quaint towns, hiking/biking/canoeing/float trips - we used to live up there and summers were paradise. You can do an off season ski resort and do the mountain amenities (mountain coaster, alpine slides, etc.) or the cog railroad up to the top of Mt. Washington - there are all sorts of activities for every age.