Hiking vacation spots

[dmperkins74]

Hi everybody I'm hoping you can help. I'm a section hiker and I'm hoping to find a place where my family and I can go on vacation for a week this summer somewhere near the trail. That way we can spend some time together but then I can take a few days to go off hiking. It has to be someplace where my wife and son can entertain themselves while I'm off hiking. A nice house to rent near a lake with swimming and boating and other activities, but with a town nearby would be perfect. I was thinking maybe someplace in the Smokies or up north in the New England. Any ideas?

Thanks,
AlphaPig

[disco-stu]

Check out the Pine Grove PA area. There is a nearby town named Carlisle that offers nice hotels to stay. Pine Grove has outdoor family activities like boat rental, fishing, lake "beach" access and all. Boiling Springs is about 10 min away and is a great place on the trail and head south....

[ScottP]

Asheville, NC? Or somewhere halfway between there and the AT?

[cowpoke]

Check out Fontana Village....southern end of the Smokies...lots of things to keep family entertained.

[johnnybgood]

Check out Smith Mountain Lake near Roanoke, www.smithmountainlakerentals.com/

[DLANOIE]

Well if youy want to come to New England may I suggest North Conway NH. A bustling little town with LOTS to do and situated in the heart of the White Mountains. Not too far from Storyland, Santas Village, Polar Caves, etc etc etc...

[Cookerhiker]

I recommend New Hampshire - lots of real lakes, ariel tramways up Wildcat and Cannon Mountains, family amusements, The Flume State Park, train rides. Re the Wildcat tramway, it would be cool if you hiked up Wildcat from Pinkham and your family met you up there after taking the ariel tram.

[DavidNH]

Well if youy want to come to New England may I suggest North Conway NH. A bustling little town with LOTS to do and situated in the heart of the White Mountains. Not too far from Storyland, Santas Village, Polar Caves, etc etc etc...

This is an EXCELLENT suggestion. You might even consider booking a private room at the AMC highland Center (top of Crawford Notch (outdoors.org). You can then hike up in the Presidentials or in the PEMI or a whole bunch of other places. The AMC knows how to handle kids and no one will ever get bored.

[DavidNH]

...and as for North Conway, there's a nearly unlimited supply of hotels and Inns and even a nearby youth hostel. You can hike in the mountains, paddle a canoe in the Saco River, Swim, go shopping, almost any summer fun activity you can think of can be had in the North Conway area.

[fiddlehead]

Check out the Pine Grove PA area. There is a nearby town named Carlisle that offers nice hotels to stay. Pine Grove has outdoor family activities like boat rental, fishing, lake "beach" access and all. Boiling Springs is about 10 min away and is a great place on the trail and head south....

I think you mean Pine Grove Furnace State Park and not Pine Grove PA.
Two different places but, both on or near the trail.

I like the New England suggestions better. Maine or NH would be my choice.
Try near a ski area as the bigger ones usually have tubing or slides and mt. bike rentals.
Sunday River Maine is not far from Gorham NH which is also near Mt. Washington and many ski areas.

Maine is one of the friendlier states IMO.
The way life should be!

[Datto]

Check out the Pine Grove PA area. There is a nearby town named Carlisle that offers nice hotels to stay. Pine Grove has outdoor family activities like boat rental, fishing, lake "beach" access and all. Boiling Springs is about 10 min away and is a great place on the trail and head south....

The wife and kids could go to Gettysburg also during that time if they haven't already seen the Gettysburg Battlefield and have an interest.


Datto

[Datto]

Also, you could have the family go to Washington DC for a vacation while you take the train from DC up to Harper's Ferry and hike on the AT there. The come back on the train from Harper's Ferry and meet up with the family again in Washington DC (meanwhile, the family goes to the Smithsonian, Capital Building, sees the White House and has dinner with the President and his family, see Ford's Theater, possibly the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art.

Datto

[Cookerhiker]

Given that the OP lives in Harpers Ferry, I wouldn't suggest vacations around there or even Pine Grove Furnace. Assuming his vacation is in the summer, New England is the place to be.

[johnnybgood]

Given that the OP lives in Harpers Ferry, I wouldn't suggest vacations around there or even Pine Grove Furnace. Assuming his vacation is in the summer, New England is the place to be.

I agree with this and also noticed the OPs location. I gave an alternative in lieu of the suggested northern vacation areas.

[dmperkins74]

Thanks for all of the suggestions, lots of good options. I especially like the Fontana Dam suggestion that looks fantastic! Yeah, I've done a lot of PA and of course MD and northern to mid va, so I was definitely thinking more southern VA and below or NY and above.

Thanks for the suggestions, open to more
alphaPig

[jbsbestfan]

what about that Roan Mountain State Park in Tennessee......near beautiful AT area, they have cabins, tennis courts, pool, and a river (big stream)to play in.
I keep saying I am gonna go there but haven't yet.

[joshuasdad]

Berkshires in MA are an option.

[Datto]

Given that the OP lives in Harpers Ferry, I wouldn't suggest vacations around there or even Pine Grove Furnace. Assuming his vacation is in the summer, New England is the place to be.

Didn't see the original poster's location before posting. Big duh.

"So, when are you due? Oh your not..."


Datto

[mudhead]

I don't even like driving thru N. Conway, NH. Can't imagine staying there on purpose. Lots of pretty quite close to there.

Depends what they need to entertain themselves.

[Mr. Bumpy]

Gatlinburg.

There, I said it.