Road trip planning to the NE USA (looking for suggestions)

AndyBees

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We are planning a road trip to the Northeast of the US and into Canada. The trip will begin about mid-week after Labor Day (9/4) from Southeast Kentucky.

It is our intent to enter West Virginia via I-64 and from there let it happen. We want to see something significant to moderately significant in each state. We plan to stay away from the coast other than in Maine. So, we'll be doing some cross country/back road driving. Although we've visited every state sometime in the past as well as all the provinces in Canada's northeast (excluding PEI), the couple traveling with us have not. So, we my do some zigzagging to grab a look at something in each state.

We have no interest in places like New York City, Boston, etc. (been there and don't that).

Heading northeast
WV
Maryland (western section)
PA (central section)
New York (central section)
Vermont
New Hampshire
Maine

Canada
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island

Return trip, we'll pick-up
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Rhode Island

Suggestions are welcome.... (those off the beaten path things;))

Not sure at this point if we'll be driving the TDI Vanagon or not...
 

alext91

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Heck yeah! I would definitely recommend driving through Franconia Notch on your way through NH. Mt. Washington auto road is also another popular destination. Not sure where you're planning to go in Maine, but Acadia National Park offers some absolutely gorgeous views and hikes, especially in the fall. Nothing beats catching the sunset on Cadillac mountain (first point on the east coast to see the sunrise) Early September might be a tad early, but you should still get some gorgeous views. What other types of things are you looking to do? Food? Beer? Sounds like an awesome trip!
 

AndyBees

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Alex, yes, we're taking in Acadia. We did it after the TDI Fest, Sept, 2013. It is very impressive and Bar Harbor has lots of nice restaurants too! So, this is why we intend to take in Maine's coast.....

We missed the tour up Mt. Washington during the TDI Fest (doing tune on my ALH caused me to miss it)..
 

IndigoBlueWagon

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Look around the Willilamstown, Shelburne Falls, Northampton, Amherst area in Western MA. Shelburne Falls in particular is a lovely town, and you can drive some of the Mohawk Trail (Route 2) coming or going.
 

meerschm

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There also is a nice fort (reconstruction over urban renewal) in Rome NY
https://www.nps.gov/fost/index.htm


and the Adirondacks have some nice views, nice hikes and a bunch of hills to climb, if you are up for that. Float plane rides from Long Lake can be fun.


http://ausablechasm.com/ is an interesting feature, and there is a very close by museum in a house about the north end of the underground railroad
https://northcountryundergroundrailroad.com/museum.php


and you can take the ferry across Lake Champlain to Burlington VT from Port Kent NY.
 
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AndyBees

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Ah, thanks for these suggestions ....

Keep them coming!
 

Tdijarhead

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Knobels, if you have kids along, Gettysburg is amazing, tour the battlefield, go to the Eisenhower farm. Farther north the PA Grand Canyon near Wellsboro.
 

AndyBees

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Knobels, if you have kids along, Gettysburg is amazing, tour the battlefield, go to the Eisenhower farm. Farther north the PA Grand Canyon near Wellsboro.
No kids, just four old farts.

But, I've been looking into the PA Grand Canyon and Eisenhower farm ...
Thanks for the tip!
 

Tdijarhead

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The Eisenhower farm is like a time capsule back to the 50-60’s. It’s part of the Gettysburg battlefield, although maintained separately I think.

The PA Grand Canyon is about 3 hours north almost to the N.Y. state line. If you make it up that far you should stop and say hello. That’s my neck of the woods.

Watkins glen NY has a park/trail that goes up a gorge with lots of waterfalls. It’s on the southern end of Seneca lake which is one of the finger lakes. Beautiful area.

Corning museum of glass (CMOG) in Corning NY is an interesting tour. My daughter who drives the diesel bug works there.
 
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Jetta_Pilot

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If you are planning for Nova Scotia and PEI, I suggest you go to "Pictou, NS" where you can take the ferry "FREE" to PEI, a 75 minute ferry trip.



If you drove across on the bridge and took the ferry off the island the cost is $ 79.00



You only pay getting off the island. For that I suggest to take the "Confederation Bridge", you only pay for the car. The cost is $ 47.95 Confederation bridge is about 14km long.


Nova Scotia to PEI ferry schedule




This is where I stayed in Pictou, NS overnight to get on the 8am ferry crossing.
From $ 89.00 for 2 including breakfast.


Braeside Inn



Hope you have a GPS, it'll make your travels so much easier.


Enjoy your trip:D
 

meerschm

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We are over half way through a two week tour of Newfoundland. (we need to come back for a month or so) We stopped in Pictou on the way up, if you stop there, plan on some time to see the Hector. Hector is a reconstructed ship which carried Scottish immigrants to Nova Scotia. also a nice museum. worth a stop


Baddeck is worth a stop too. We plan a day in the Cape Breton Highlands park on the way home.
 

Jetta_Pilot

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We are over half way through a two week tour of Newfoundland. (we need to come back for a month or so) We stopped in Pictou on the way up, if you stop there, plan on some time to see the Hector. Hector is a reconstructed ship which carried Scottish immigrants to Nova Scotia. also a nice museum. worth a stop
Baddeck is worth a stop too. We plan a day in the Cape Breton Highlands park on the way home.

There is an interesting "Alexander Graham Bell" museum in Baddeck. It lets you see AGB was a much more varied inventor than just the telephone.

As for Newfoundland, you have to "Kiss" the Cod (Fish) and down a shot of Newfie Screech to become an honorary Newfoundlander and if this is done you will also get a certificate attesting that you have complied with the ritual.

A cute bit of info for Newfoundland. You will see houses built near a road and have a front door about 3-4 feet above ground with no steps to the door. This is referred to as "The mother in-law door" !:eek:


A few years ago I was contemplating driving to Newfoundland, but I decided to take a 10 day escorted tour. You learn a lot when the tour guide is a local and has tons of info for you.
 
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AndyBees

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Guys, thanks for the suggestions and keep them coming.

I'm making notes, searching the suggestions, etc.

The ritual of becoming a Newfoundlander reminds me of getting Hyderized at a local bar in Hyder, Alaska.. T-shirt and/or baseball cap as the souvenir (been there and done that, 96, 99 & 14).
 

meerschm

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The Cabot trail road conditions are not the greatest. worse outside the park. they are working on pavement projects, but not all of it. lots of cracks and bumps, and lots of narrow shoulders with a drop from the pavement.


All the spectacular vistas are on the west side of the route.

We did have some interesting conversations with working lobster boat crews along the east side, but they tell us the season is only two months.
 

AndyBees

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Knobels, if you have kids along, Gettysburg is amazing, tour the battlefield, go to the Eisenhower farm. Farther north the PA Grand Canyon near Wellsboro.
Wow! I just looked at the PA Grand Canyon. Looks like an old railroad route has been converted to a walking trail.

This would be out of our way, but it will certainly be added to our Buck List for a future adventure!
 

Tdijarhead

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Wow! I just looked at the PA Grand Canyon. Looks like an old railroad route has been converted to a walking trail.

This would be out of our way, but it will certainly be added to our Buck List for a future adventure!

Yes it has, and it is flat and smooth, paved. Popular with walkers, joggers and especially bikers. Our neighbors are often biking on it, I’ve biked and ran it a couple of times I’m not even sure how long it is I think it runs the entire 50 miles or so of the canyon I’ve never had the time to do the entire distance.
 

AndyBees

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Departure day, finally

Well, tomorrow is the big day. We'll be heading to New England and on to the Canadian maritime provinces for a two week road trip..

We had planned on heading out on September 4th. Unfortunately, a family member had major brain surgery on that day (all is well). So, we had to stay and take care of things and help out with the grandkids (it was their maternal grandmother who lives in Georgia).

So, one of the blessings of the delayed departure date........... we ain't in Nova Scotia in the aftermath of Dorian the Hurricane!:D Seems I saw on a ticker bar that 80% of homes and businesses are out of power in Nova Scotia..

Since this is not a VW event in any way, I'll not post any pics until we return.........
 

Tdijarhead

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Have a great trip, drive safe, some of the northern areas should have some color started on the trees. Here in northern PA we’re still a couple of weeks away from peak color, it’s just getting started here.
 

AndyBees

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Day 1 - to Cumberland, Maryland
Day 2 - to Monticello, NY down the road from Woodstock Festival 1969
Day 3 - to Gorham, NH......... Mt Washington tomorrow then on to Bar Harbor, ME. We will be going by Bethel, ME, site of 2013 & 14 TDI Fests
 

where2

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Andy, Hope you're enjoying the trip thus far. (even without the VW) I have friends from VA who parked their RV in our "other driveway" at our place in northern Maine today (they texted me a photo at lunch) It certainly made me miss not having time for a vacation this year, and not getting to see northern Maine...

Thanks for the idea for crowd sourcing great sights to see on road trips. My wife and I will have to take in some of these sights suggested by everyone as we make our FL to ME trips. The PA Grand Canyon sounds quite intriguing.
 

AndyBees

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Day 4 - Bar Harbor, Maine
Day 5 - Bar Harbor, Maine
Day 6 - Hopewell Rock, New Brunswick
Day 7 - Sydney, Nova Scotia
Day 8 - Sydney to do the Cabot Trail Loop around Cape Breton
Awesome weather so far.....
 

AndyBees

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Day 9 - From Sydney to Miner's Museum at Donkin, Nova Scotia and the Fortress of Louisbourg on south. From there, we headed west to Truro, Nova Scotia. (cold and windy)
Day 10 - From Truro to Augusta, Maine (heading home)....
 
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