suggestions for vacation?

Wife and I are heading east (grrrrr) for "vacation" in a coupleweeks. So far, Saturday through monday is spoken for, couple days with herbrother, day with her friend from high school. We're starting out in central Jersey. Suggestions on what to do the rest of the week?

In all fairness, I'm not an east coast fan. I enjoy the southwest, the central west, the midwest.... being a born and bred hoosier, I find the mentality of the east coast depressing. So give me some idears to entertain us for a few days. I'm of the mind to head north and hit the last 3 states in the US that I have not hit (maine, Vt and NH).

The good news is, anything will seem nice compared to Central Jersey.

Interested in the space program and/or aviation history at all? The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near the Dulles airport is amazing. The have the Enola Gay, an SR-71, the shuttle Enterprise, and countless others. We've been twice and still haven't seen everything.

Heading north isn't a bad ride, my wife and I did it in the fall. Start here Hemmings and work your way up. Since it's not ski season you can probably get some good deals on hotels. Priceline got us a room on Okemo Mt for $60 one night. We didn't go to see anything in particular but came across some interesting shops and tourist traps.

Born and raised in the Philly area, now live near Allentown, PA. I'm about 30 minutes from central Jersey. What kind of stuff do you want to do? If you aren't into the east coast mentality, there are lots of relaxing things around. Some of the Jersey beaches, or the Pocono mountains. The states you mentioned are nice too.

Almost forgot, if you are going to be up there in a couple weeks The Great Race will be stopping for the night in Saratoga NY at the auto museum there 6/16 and the race will finish at Hemmings on 6/17 http://www.greatrace.com/

I think the thing that drives me nuts about going "back east" is watching the wife transform before my eyes. She goes from "normal" midwesterner to seast coast nutso JErsey chick. She just doesn't stop talking!.

Much depends on what you enjoy doing and where you want to end up before the return trip. There's Hershey Park in PA. A trip up Mt Washington in New Hampshire might be fun. Atlantic City. All the stuff in D.C.

Drive East until you hit Route 7 and then go North. Stop at Barrington Brewery in Great Barrington, Mass. http://www.barringtonbrewery.net/

Continue North as Wally suggested and check out Hemmings. There's a nice monument in Bennington as well that's pretty cool. Go a little further North on 7 or 7A and drive up Mt. Equinox, one of the coolest roads anywhere. Drive back down if your car has brakes. Watch out for groups of walking monks.

http://www.equinoxmountain.com/index.php

http://www.equinoxmountain.com/skylinedrive/

The vintage hillclimb is Aug 21-22 this year. I accidentally took a ride up there on race weekend one year. Nice surprise!

http://www.equinoxmountain.com/skylinedrive/race.htm

Tennessee. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg have more go karts per square mile than anywhere else I think, but the mountain roads are an absolute treat. About an hour south is Deal's Gap. Nuff said.

I honeymooned there the third week of September and made it for the Smokey Mountains Rod Run. Cars as far as the eye can see, made the honeymoon extra special for me.

If your car has a clutch, the legendary Pigeon Forge traffic will not play nice. But everything is Gatlinburg is within walking distance. Its only about three hours from me so that's usually where I go. You can rent a cabin on the mountainside and its quiet. Very quiet, like listen to your hair grow quiet.

But most things are kinda pricey, so bring lots of cabbage.

pinchvalve wrote: The good news is, anything will seem nice compared to Central Jersey.

'Cmon now... I've been to quite a bit of the midwest. It ain't exactly a tourist destination in it's entirety but you can find a few gems. NJ has quite a few to offer all on its own if you look around a little.

Spend a little time in a B&B or on a road bike along the Delaware river somewhere between Frenchtown and Trenton. Go karting at NJMP. There are real breweries with great stuff all around. Drag racing at ATCO, Gambling on the Ocean? Hookers? Horse racing? Where else can you find that all in one place?

For a bit more of a drive - spend the weekend canoe camping across Lake George. Do a little rock climbing in the Catskills.

NYC. Stay in Midtown and pack comfortable shoes.

NH - Mt Washington; be weather-prepared whether you drive or train. Franconia Notch area is picturesque.

VT - Lake Champlain, with a sidetrip to Ft Ticonderoga if you enjoy history.

ME - Acadia National Park

If you are in the Central Jersey neck of the woods:

Awesome microbrewery in Lambertville. They give tours and samplings Friday through Sunday: http://www.riverhorse.com/

British brewpub in Milford, NJ just a little north of Frenchtown: http://www.britishbrewpub.com/

Fantastic winery I took my gf to on Memorial Day: http://www.sandcastlewinery.com/sandcastle.html

Some of the ski resorts in NH in the summer have a lot going on. Went to attitash for my HS senior trip and mtb/hike/mtboard/horserode/rockclimbed/waterparked/alpineslid(concrete louge!)/riverdipped to my hearts content.

Come to think of It, that should be MY next vaca!

Not sure what is in Central Jersey.. I tend to ignore everything north of the Mullica River.

If you are into hiking.. the Batona Trail in Batsto State Forest is a nice 50 mile hike through one of the truely Barren places in NJ.

Yes, you can find areas in NJ without people.. most of the southern end is full of them.

Hit the casinos in AC.. but beware, they know how to vacuume out all the cash in your pockets and accounts... and in a hurry.

If you go further south, there is the madness that is WildWood and it's famous Boardwalk (and seemingly mile wide beaches) and Cape May is one of the few towns on the list of Historic Places.

Taking the Ferry to Del is very relaxing too.

Just remember.. the "jersey chic" thing only really occurs up north.. we are much more laid back in the southern end of the state

When one gets done bashing Jersey, a whole lot of it is really quite nice.

Don't know what you're interested in, you still haven't said anything along those lines. But, these sites can help you figure things out in Jersey. http://www.jersey.com/English/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.visitnj.org/

http://www.visitsouthjersey.com/

http://www.destinationjerseycity.com/

http://www.touristinformationdirectory.com/new_jersey/chamber_commerce_tourist_attractions.htm

http://www.newjerseybeautiful.com/

http://www.aboutnewjersey.com/

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/New_Jersey/Tourist_Traps-New_Jersey-TG-C-1.html

David S. Wallens wrote: NYC. Stay in Midtown and pack comfortable shoes.

Um, no. Not our style. Not going to Tennessee for "vacation"... just seems like a waste. Maybe for a weekend.

I'm actually just thinking of coming home and getting house work done.....

mad_machine wrote: Just remember.. the "jersey chic" thing only really occurs up north.. we are much more laid back in the southern end of the state

+1

foxtrapper wrote: When one gets done bashing Jersey, a whole lot of it is really quite nice. Don't know what you're interested in, you still haven't said anything along those lines. But, these sites can help you figure things out in Jersey. http://www.jersey.com/English/Pages/default.aspx http://www.visitnj.org/ http://www.visitsouthjersey.com/ http://www.destinationjerseycity.com/ http://www.touristinformationdirectory.com/new_jersey/chamber_commerce_tourist_attractions.htm http://www.newjerseybeautiful.com/ http://www.aboutnewjersey.com/ http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/New_Jersey/Tourist_Traps-New_Jersey-TG-C-1.html

I know a lot of you Jersey people are very proud and I respect that. But I'm not spending any more time in your state than I possibly have to. Wife will get her beach time while at her brother's place. I'll get my beer drinking time. AFter that, I don't care. I don't like congestion, jug handles, people pumping my gas, toll roads and people.... I've been to Jersey several times and I'm not finding anythign I like. This will be my 5th trip to Jersey now. I just hope this time we don't blow 3 struts like my last trip.

I just want to get away for a few days. Away from home, away from people.

You don't really want to miss all the culture that Jersey has to offer do you?

Funny.... I've never watched that show. Don't see a need to either.

Wally wrote: You don't really want to miss all the culture that Jersey has to offer do you?

Those are New Yorkers... we wish you would keep them, Wally

Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Upstate NY. Totally awesome, as they fly their junk.