I will be doing a three month trip to New England June thru August with a couple other RVers. We will visit as many states as we can, but have chosen to do this venture over three months so that we can take our time. As has been said, "It's not the destination, but the adventure getting there." We are looking for suggestions on where to go, what to do, special events, and any other helpful hints that you might provide especially if you live in a particular NE state. We do plan a trip across the border to Nova Scotia, but have not previously been there either. We are experienced RVers and that has taught us that there are some things we don't wish to experience - like expensive toll roads and places one shouldn't drive an RV. All suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Rick PS: Golf will be involved. Who thinks their state has the best course?
When we went to Boston from Atlanta a couple of years ago, we went throught Harrisburg Pennsylvania to Allentown and across the Tappanzee ( spelling ) bridge to bypass I95 due to the traffic and not wanting to be stuck in DC during rush hour. We stayed at a nice KOA in Middleboro Massachusettes to be equal distance from the site we wanted to see. We were able to do Boston, Cape Cod and Newport RI from this location. It was a day trip for each site. We found the town of Plymouth Mass to be scenic and there were a couple of good restaurants there. From Boston, we went to Booth Bay Harbor and stayed at Gray's Homestead. I do not recommend this campground due to the size of your rig. From there we went to Bar Harbor and stayed at Mt Desert Narrows. This campground was OK, very similar to the others in the area. I hope this helps in any way. There are others on this forum who have a lot of knowledge of the New England area.
In addition to any info that mastercraft gave you, just a few things out of my head you should not miss: Mystic Seaport http://www.mysticseaport.org/ US Navy Submarine Force Museum, the only submarine museum operated by the US Navy, among other artifacts it has the original Nautilus. http://www.ussnautilus.org/ The White Mountains, especially the Presidential Range http://www.visitwhitemountains.com/ Depending on your length of stay in Nova Scotia, Lunenburg ( http://www.town.lunenburg.ns.ca/), Peggy's Cove (http://www.peggyscove.ca/), Grand Pré (especially for the Ladies, remember the poem Evangeline) (http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/grandpre/index_e.asp) and Cape Breton Island with the Cabot Trail are a must. (http://capebretonisland.com/), (http://www.cabottrail.com/) or (http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ns/cbreton/index_E.asp) As for golf, you should have no problem finding some good courses.
RLM, If you wish to visit " Coastal Maine", I would be glad to forward information on campgrounds, points of interest, places to eat, and what to avoid. This info is gained through our yearly visits and experiences to Maine over the last 18 years. Have been to Nova Scotia, but our info is old as we were there over twelve years ago. To experience Maine, it's coastal regions, and points of interest, you will need stay at least two weeks to even scratch the surface. We, at this point, having visited the coastal areas for numerous years, are fanning out to the northern parts of Maine. So if I can be of help, please feel free to ask.
Mastercraft> Beantown is on the list. We’ve got recommendations for several Italian restaurants from someone who used to live there. I’ve been to the Cod and Newport. Definitely want to go back. Will take a look at that route. It would also facilitate a trip to Hershey and Amish country. wprigge> We’re all retired military. So that stuff is always interesting. Great websites. Will add to our list of places. Butch> Yes we’d definitely like more info on coastal Maine. One of the other fellows lived in Maine for a short period, so it’s high on his list. Rich
RLM, We spend time in Penn in spring and fall. I see Hershey on your list, yes very nice town to tour and Hershey Highmeadow Campground can fit a 40' MH. The hold town has a very nice smell. The Amish people have a lot to see and do. We set up base camp near New Holand at a place called Spring Gulch Resort Campground. The best sites are on hill - left side, very nice place. From this base camp you can tour Intercourse (big meeting place for people), Lancaster, large number of Amish places to see, Railroad Mus. at Kinzers, Watch & Clock Mus. at Columbia, and if you have time tour Philadelphia very nice downtown. We also did a tour of Ford plant in New Holand. They build the round hay rolling equipment. Food to die for is at Shady Maple Smorgasbord in Blue Ball on Hwy. 897. Turn right out of park travel over the hill to Hwy. 322, turn left and Hwy. 897 will be on your right, Shady Maple will be on small hill on your left, look for lots of cars in parking lot. You may wish to return number of days to eat more. They have three meals per day and open Mon - Sat only. The same Amish man also owns the large market on north side of Smorgasbord. A tour of that place is a trip. Everything you can think of to eat is in that market. All this is close to the campgrounds. Enjoy!
We stayed at Spring Gultch last summer and ate at Shady Maple. John is right on botth counts. Another attraction we found fun was the "corn maze". It's near the railroad museum. Wear tennis shoes and old clothes, if you go, it is a liitle "dusty". Allow for a couple of hours to find all of the puzzle pieces and then your way out. If you do any shopping, check the labels, a lot of things have the "made in China" tags on them and only look llike Amish made.
As retired military, you might be interested in the Halifax Tattoo, the full schedule is going to come out later, but here you will find info: http://www.nstattoo.ca/site/index.php Travelling through PA I suppose you have been to Gettysburg, if not check this out: http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/home.htm In case you are interested in historical Americana, Hancock Shaker Village in Mass. and the Shelburne Museum are well worth a visit. If some members of your party are interested in quilts, expect to spend a lot of time in Shelburne, or go golfing in the meantime. http://www.hancockshakervillage.org/ http://www.shelburnemuseum.org/ And of course you can not go to Vermont without a pilgrimage to Ben & Jerry's. http://www.benjerry.com/ Once you have decided on an itinerary I might be able to give you some more info.
We spent a week in Maine last summer - Hemlock Grove in Arundel is a very nice campground and is close to Old Orchard and Ogunquit - nice beaches and shopping. Little Ponderosa Campground in Boothbay was also fairly nice, but lots of mosquitoes - if you're in this area I would recommend a browse around the Edgecomb Potters Gallery! We decided to take the scenic route home (which is Canada) and made some notes of some places we want to return because the scenery was breathtaking - Grafton State Park in Maine (Hwy 26) and Umbagog Lake State Park in New Hampshire (just inside the ME/NH stateline). It is in a mountainous area and the road was pretty steep and curvy at times but it wasn't too bad - worth it because of the views! Nova Scotia is also beautiful and I would second all of wprigge's suggestions. The Fundy National Park in New Brunswick is also a great place if you want to just enjoy nature and it might be a good place to stop on your way to or from Nova Scotia (unless you are taking the Cat!).
THANKS everyone. Great information. It appears that we have a lot of planning to do. Campinggirl1964 > Funny you should mention the Cat. One of our party will have one with them and we had previously discussed that issue with them.
RLM, I suspect there is a little misunderstanding. I think campinggirl is talking about a ferry when she mentions THe Cat. There is a double hulled high speed ferry called the Cat between Maine and Nova Scotia. Unfortunately it costs double hulled high speed money to take it. http://www.catferry.com
Yes, wprigge, you are right. I was referring to the ferry. We looked into it a couple of years ago and the cost was out of this world, especially with an RV. Sorry if I caused any confusion, RLM! Interesting topic though - you don't see many cats with their rv'er families. I wonder why that is?
QUOTE(RLM @ Feb 8 2007, 12:16 PM) [snapback]6031[/snapback] I will be doing a three month trip to New England June thru August with a couple other RVers. We will visit as many states as we can, but have chosen to do this venture over three months so that we can take our time. As has been said, "It's not the destination, but the adventure getting there." We are looking for suggestions on where to go, what to do, special events, and any other helpful hints that you might provide especially if you live in a particular NE state. We do plan a trip across the border to Nova Scotia, but have not previously been there either. We are experienced RVers and that has taught us that there are some things we don't wish to experience - like expensive toll roads and places one shouldn't drive an RV. All suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks in advance. Rick PS: Golf will be involved. Who thinks their state has the best course? We live in Maine and know Northern New England pretty well. The best part of the Maine Coast is above Portland...and the father up you go, the quieter and more scenic it gets. Acadia National Park is beautiful...the main park is on Mt. Desert Island, but don't miss the other two sections.....Schoodic Point (great, scenic bike ride along the water, leave your car at Frazier Point Picnic Area and do the loop)...and Isle Au Haut (reached on a day/hiking trip by mailboat from Stonington...easy walk). Nice communities on the Stonington Penisula include Castine, Blue Hill, Deer Isle, and Stonington. If you want to step back in time by 50+ years, head on up the coast to Corea, Cutler, and Lubec. Compobello Island, reached by bridge from Lubec) has a wonderful New Brunswick Provincial Park (complete w/golf course that few people play) and the summer home of Franklin Roosevelt (very interesting). It's very beautiful and very low key part of Maine. Home through the White Mountains of New Hampshire might be warranted. Mt. Washington is impressive and the gaps (passes) are scenic...good roads. have fun.
No problem on the "cat." Actually the mix-up was a bit funny. I don't know why a dog is preferred over a cat in the RV. Perhaps they can't get the litter box to stay in one place when moving. Our friends are from NC and this pet is black to represent the Carolina Panthers. Panther is also his name. Hmmmm? Being in Texas I considered have a Dallas Cowgirl come along on trips, but the wife wouldn't go for it. Rick
RLM: I have to agree with MaineDon, as to his information on southern Maine, say from Kittery north to Portland. This region is highly populated, with vacation people, in the summer months of July & August and is very busy. Many lighthouses, beaches, restaurants, shops, campgrounds and points of interest are in this region. This area is a stop over for us on our yearly vacation to the Mt. Desert Island- Acadia Nat'l Park region. Note as to routing: Route One is very slow, route 95 is quicker, but is a toll highway a portion of the way north. At Portland, Route 295 is a freebie roadway, and connects with 95 further north. We use Rte 295. North from Portland, Freeport is a must see, as L.L. Bean's main store is located here, plus many other so called, "outlet" stores. There are also campgrounds in the area, and have only stayed at Cedar Haven overnight in the past, was just okay. At Brunswick, you have to make a decision to stay on 295 or take coastal route 1, exit 28, toward: Bath, Wiscasset, Boothbay, (have stayed at Shore Hills cg, very well run). Other campgrounds in area, but have not stayed there. Beyond Boothbay, you travel to Rockland, Rockport, Camden, and on to Belfast, where route 1 and route 3 become one in the same. If you chose to stay with 295 and then 295/95 north to Augusta, one can pick up a bypass north of Augusta, to connect with rtes 3, 202, and 9. Route 3 takes you to the Mt Desert Island--Acadia Nal't Park in about 120 miles. From Belfast to Acadia is about 50 miles via route 3 east. On route 3 south of Ellsworth, passed the Walmart store, is a campground named, Timberland Acres, a fairly large campground that can accomodate any size RV and toad. Most sites are pull throughs with full hookups. Have stayed here, close to all one's needs, grocery stores, (Hanafords, Shaws ), restaurants, banks, repair garages, laundrymat, points of interest, and just plain shopping in the stores at Ellsworth. More campgrounds are in the area, and will give you information and opinions on those. The campgrounds are as follows: Hospitality Woods @ Ellsworth, Poor maintenance, poor customer relations, (attitude problems), we will not use nor recommend, Patten Pond, (off island), Narrows 2, and The Narrows are "Encore" owned, and do not have a good reputation, poor customer relations, would not stay at their parks. "Bar Harbor KOA", a KOA company owned cg, on the water, but is high in price. Note that at low tide, the area has a very bad smell--not good. KOA also owns another campground further south on route 102-- "KOA Woods". On route 3, towards Bar Harbor, are the cgs, "Hadley Point", with small, close sites and full hookup sites are few in number. "Bar Harbor Campground, not to be confused with the KOA, is close to Bar Harbor and one the parks entrances, has full hookups, but does not take reservations, and at one time did not accept credit cards. There are two Nat'l cgs within the park, "Blackwoods" & "Seawall". But they do not have full hookups, limit units to 35 feet, and do not allow slides. Other cgs are "Smugglers Den" @ Southwest Harbor is an older cg with some full hookup sites, but is not a friendly, or a quiet place, "Bass Harbor campground" @ Bass Harbor, located at the western end of the island on "Quiet side of the Island", this is an older cg but has full hookups. Sites are limited, are close, very little privacy, and high in price for it's amenities. There are others but they do not allow Rvs--tents only--- or are very small. So much for the campgrounds. Points of interest: Acadia Nat'l Park, Schoodic Point (part of Acadia) Southwest Harbor, stores & restaurants, working harbor Northeast Harbor & Marina, stores, restaurants, sailing ships, nature cruises, mail boats to outward islands, (Canberry Islands) , working harbor Bar Harbor, stores, restaurants, whale watches, sailing ships, working harbor Bass Harbor, light house, restaurants, ferry boat to Swan Island, working harbor Oceanariums--two on the island, one @ Southwest, one on rte 3 before Bar Harbor Numerous hiking trails, horse carriage rides, bike riding trails Ellsworth, the Black house, and a must see is the "Mardens" store, everything and anything you may or may not want.
RLM, Yesterday I finally managed to archive last summer's pictures and films and this gave me some more ideas for your upcoming trip to New England. New York is not part of New England, but you will be passing through anyway, so I suggest a little detour. If you get anywhere near Syracuse, NY, you should go north for a little over 60 miles to visit the 1000 islands. This is actually a misnomer. I did not count the islands, but somebody must have. Using the definition of an island being a piece of land above the high water line 365 days a year and supporting at least two live trees, there are over 1900 of them. Many are inhabited, and some have real castles on them. A few websites that might help you: http://www.visit1000islands.com http://www.1000islands.com http://www.thousandislands.com If you do decide to see the 1000 islands, an interesting side trip for your group of retired military might be to Kingston, ON, especially to Fort Henry. http://www.forthenry.com/home.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Henry,_Ontario The re-enactors are very good, they have a longstanding association with the US Marine Corps. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Henry_Guard From the end of June to the end of August they have a sunset ceremony on Wednesdays ending with the firing of 4 historical 24 pounder guns. You can either just watch the show, eat a bbq (not as good as Texas bbq) and watch the show or have a gala dinner served by soldiers in the former officer's mess and then watch the show from VIP seats. http://www.foodandheritage.com/dinner&show.htm A nearby campground I can recommend is the Rideau Acres, only 5 min. or so from Fort Henry. They are in the review section. http://www.rideauacres.com/index.html In Kingston you can also visit among others the Royal Military College and the Canadian Forces Communication Museum. CFB Kingston also has a golf club, maybe you can try to get in there as a guest. http://www.ggcc.on.ca/golf/index.html If you decide to visit the city of Kingston you could get into the historical Fort Frontenac, founded in 1673. It is on your left right after the bridge and causeway into the city center and only a short walk to good shopping and dining. You will see a high wall, then a small gate. Drive in and try to talk the commissary in the guard house, most likely a retired military, into giving you a free parking pass either in the fort or in the DND parking across the street. You chances are good by that time of the year as many people will be on holidays and there should be lots of parking available. Fort Frontenac today houses the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College. Remember, you do NOT need a passport to get into Canada or back in the USA in 2007. Pasports will be required at the earliest sometime in 2008 and maybe only in 2009. Right now autorities from both countries are trying to get around the passport altogether by making drivers licences safer for example.
RLM, I forgot to mention that the first commander of Fort Frontenac was the famous explorer René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, who was killed by his men somewhere near Navasota, Texas. He had explored most of the Misssissippi and the coasts of what is today Louisiana and Texas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Frontenac http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/René-Robert_C...eur_de_La_Salle http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/treasures/giant...lasalle-01.html http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online...es/LL/fla4.html
wprigge> NY will not be a detour for us. We actually have a scheduled event that requires us to attend a family wedding in Genava, NY which as you probably know is SW of Syracuse. Your info is right on target for that. I logged onto all the sites you send. Great stuff. Thank you so much for taking the time to provide it. Rick
You are most welcome. If you need any other info, don't hesitate. The 1000 islands and the north shore of the St. Lawrence are my usual stomping grounds for a short get away.
RLM: Just a word of warning, there is a campground named "Seaway Island Resort" on Wellesley Island in Fineview. This campground should be avoided at all cost, has numerous bad points that I will not go into here, but you may want to look at the reviews. I'm very sure nothing has changed since the reviews were written. Pure and simple it's a dump ! Being a New Yorker, we personally was disappointed with the 1000 island area within New York. The only "good" point of interest, in NY, was Boldt Castle. Can not speak as to the Canadian side, has to be better than the US- NY side. The only campground, I would consider in NY would be " Merry Knoll 1000 Island" in that area.
