PDA

View Full Version : good towns to meet loved ones????



climber2377
02-28-2010, 12:23
i am interested in figuring which towns are best suited for meeting up with loved ones that could drive down from the northeast to spend a day or two relaxing in town and hiking around with them.

if you have any good suggestions please estimate about how long it might take to hike to them from springer, what is to do in the area, and how close it is to a highway.

i plan to do some searching on my own but figure why not see what others think. thanks!!

JustaTouron
02-28-2010, 12:58
You may be thinking more narrowly than you need to by just looking a "trail towns."

For a hiker taking a zero or two in Washington, DC or NYC would be PIA, likewise taking a break by visiting the amusement park in Hersey, PA however for someone with a car getting there from the trail would not be bad at all. (That assuming you can take that much stimulus after being on the trail)

climber2377
02-28-2010, 13:25
hershey might be a fun little journey. any other nearby amusement parks? like kings dominion or even bush gardens? i wonder how far they are from the trail?

modiyooch
02-28-2010, 13:34
asheville, NC

Doctari
02-28-2010, 15:19
hershey might be a fun little journey. any other nearby amusement parks? like kings dominion or even bush gardens? i wonder how far they are from the trail?

Maybe, but bear in mind the culture shock of going to a crowded tourist destination like Hershey PA or Gatlinburg TN. Just crossing Newfound gap in the smokies can be quite tiring.

My suggestions:
Gatlinburg Tn (see Culture shock above), Hot Springs NC, Erwin Tn, Damascus VA, Atkins VA. All with ample lodging, easy access to the highway, restaurants where family can treat you to a few meals, close to or on the trail.

Pacific Tortuga
02-28-2010, 15:42
"good towns to meet loved ones"

Don't think it was love but fell deep in like with StarLyte in Duncannon.

Does that count ?

modiyooch
02-28-2010, 20:50
"good towns to meet loved ones"

Don't think it was love but fell deep in like with StarLyte in Duncannon.

Does that count ?I do not recommend Duncannon, at all.
Harper Ferry? Do they like historical places?

JJJ
02-28-2010, 21:24
Abingdon/Damascus is pretty easy access as far as highways are concern but a pretty fer piece from the northeast.
The Skyline Drive has Big Meadows nice camping/lodging/cabins in Shenandoah Park -a bit closer.
It would give them a slight flavor of your trip as well.
Plenty of wildlife and scenery even from a car.

climber2377
02-28-2010, 21:31
tell me more about demascus, and shenandoah please. how long do you think it would take to get there from springer?

Lone Wolf
02-28-2010, 21:35
tell me more about demascus, and shenandoah please. how long do you think it would take to get there from springer?

it should take you 5-6 weeks to reach Damascus. it's 12 miles off I-81. lots to do here. the Virginia Creeper Trail is very popular for bike riding

JJJ
02-28-2010, 22:03
5-6 weeks to Damascus, Damascus has The VA Creeper trail an easy and very popular bicycle rail-trail through National Forest. People come from all over to ride it.
Grayson Highlands SP is only about an hour away.
And of course Trail Days in mid May.
Abingdon is close by and has a colonial period history orientation
- a very nice Inn and spa, live theatre, good food, art galleries, and such.

Shenandoah NP has the AT and the Skyline Drive.
Skyline is like the AT for cars, paved of course but no commercial traffic. I biked it last year.
The hiking in the park is relatively tame, as are the deer and black bear.
There are vistas practically every 2-4 miles for traffic. Big Meadows has nice facilities for small conventions, good enough bed and food for most people. Commercialism is kept to a minimum as its a National Park.
It's about 250 miles closer than Damascus. Get on it at Front Royal, VA near I-66 and I-81.
About 3+ weeks further up the AT by shoe.

modiyooch
02-28-2010, 22:22
damascus is good.

Chaco Taco
03-01-2010, 00:55
asheville, NC

2 hostels now

Chaco Taco
03-01-2010, 00:55
I do not recommend Duncannon, at all.
Harper Ferry? Do they like historical places?

Why not Duncannon?

fiddlehead
03-01-2010, 01:12
Hiawaseee, NOC (not a town but interesting place with things to do), Gatlinburg, Hot Springs, Erwin, Damascus, Pearisburg, Waynesboro VA, Harper's Ferry, Gettysburg, Duncannon, Delaware Water Gap, Bennington, Manchester Center, Rutland, Hanover, Gorham, Rangely, East Millinocket would be my choices.
Some are better than others but I doubt you'll be walking around these places to sightsee. More likely you'll be trying out every restaurant in town and enjoying the bars.

You can easily look up the distances in the data book which you should carry and become familiar with. It's your new bible if you've never hiked the AT before.

modiyooch
03-01-2010, 10:42
Why not Duncannon?Better question, why Duncannon?

modiyooch
03-01-2010, 10:45
2 hostels nowI mentioned Asheville not for the hostels but because it's rated one ot the top travel destinations at the moment according to US Air(or Airtran) flight magazine. A bit more diversed than Duncannon.

Chaco Taco
03-01-2010, 11:48
I mentioned Asheville not for the hostels but because it's rated one ot the top travel destinations at the moment according to US Air(or Airtran) flight magazine. A bit more diversed than Duncannon.

Its expensive as hell to get here by air. Fly into tri cities and you have access to so much more of the trail. Just know that coming to Asheville during the season will be met with heavy heavy traffic crowded restaurants, mine included, Booked hotels. But you get great music, great food, amazing beer, cool festivals.

In defense of Duncannon, we had an awesome time in Duncannon. Stayed for 4 days. Its a small town but the people are amazing

dmax
03-01-2010, 11:54
Flying into the Tri cities is good for access to the trail. But don't assume its always cheaper. My son flies in a couple of times a year to visit me, on my dime. And usually Asheville is cheaper to fly into. Even when I take into account the gas I use in my 3/4 ton truck driving over Sams Gap. Just hunt the net and good prices can be found.

modiyooch
03-01-2010, 12:19
I fly to the NE from Charlotte, NC on Airtran or US air and cannot complain about the fare.

G-WALK
03-01-2010, 12:30
Hot Springs???

Datto
03-01-2010, 19:42
These are organized going north:

Damascus, VA would be best. On my Year 2000 AT thru-hike I started at Springer April 10, 2000 and arrived in Damascus, VA on May 21st. If you planned to hit Damascus at Trail Days it could be fun for your visitors. Trail Days is usually the weekend after Mother's Day.

Harper's Ferry, WV -- On my thru-hike I arrived here July 7th. You could hang out in Harper's Ferry or take a train into Washington, DC and see the Capitol, White House, Smithsonian, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Fords Theater, National Archives and then take the train back to the AT.

Gettysburg, PA -- On my thru-hike I arrived here July 11th. Fantastic place to visit if you're interested in American History and haven't been here before. It's about 15 miles east of the AT at US Route 30 in southern Pennsylvania.

Datto

toenail
03-01-2010, 21:10
Is there a train station in harpers ferry?

LIhikers
03-01-2010, 21:17
If it's a spouce, or someone special, I can recommend the Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs,PA. Not cheap, but very nice. They have an all you can eat dinner buffet that's to die for, very nice lodging choices, a swimming pool, hot tub, on grounds play house where you can see a show after dinner. If you're into fly fishing the Yellow Britches stream is at the back of the property, and there might be tennis courts, I don't remember for sure. And it's just down the road from the trail, you can walk there.
My wife and I had a very nice few days relaxing there.

LIhikers
03-01-2010, 21:19
I forgot to say that you can check out the Allenberry at http://www.allenberry.com/

climber2377
03-02-2010, 13:23
thank you all for your suggestions. i am enjoying the responses and am planning several meet-ups along the way.
i have friend in carolina who is meeting me in ashville area. then my brother is planning to meet me somewhere along the trail from damascus to waynesboro but will probably fly into roanoke va. then i ll have several visits from my girl along the way probably beginning in shenandoah area and ending when i reach VT as i see that to be the limit of driving range in a day. i ll stop over at home for a few days in NY and i have a friend in ME who i am hopeful will join me for Tuckermans Ravine area. this is shaping up well. i am looking forward to a possible Delaware Water Gap visit, and Gettysburg PA as well.

Lemni Skate
03-02-2010, 14:10
I think Harper's Ferry is great. Lot's to do if you like history or hiking or biking or rafting. Not a bad ride to DC or Baltimore (take in a baseball game or the aquarium). There's a horse race track not far at all.

Damascus is a great piece of Americana. Cool town with lots of outdoors things. Not far from several state parks.

Ashville, NC is definitely worth throwing in near Smokey's, but if family is more into touristy places, then Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge will entertain them.

Helen, GA is a good base of operations for things very far south on the trail, but I wouldn't recommend it as highly as the other three.

JustaTouron
03-02-2010, 14:17
thank you all for your suggestions. i am enjoying the responses and am planning several meet-ups along the way.
i have friend in carolina who is meeting me in ashville area. then my brother is planning to meet me somewhere along the trail from damascus to waynesboro but will probably fly into roanoke va. then i ll have several visits from my girl along the way probably beginning in shenandoah area and ending when i reach VT as i see that to be the limit of driving range in a day. i ll stop over at home for a few days in NY and i have a friend in ME who i am hopeful will join me for Tuckermans Ravine area. this is shaping up well. i am looking forward to a possible Delaware Water Gap visit, and Gettysburg PA as well.

Obviously they will be providing you with the needed drives to grocery stores.....but also consider giving them your maps and sections of your guide book in advance to avoid needing to mail drop that stuff to yourself. Also you might want to figure out what get togethers would be convienent to swap out cold weather gear for warm weather and vice versa. Also if you are not carrying town clothes you might want to have them bring you some of those as well and then bring them home.

climber2377
03-02-2010, 14:48
good ideas about the clothing and such. it might be good to get out of my comfy hiking clothes once in a while. they have the guidbook already, and i ve directed several to the online companion as well. i was originally intending on mailing my future self my cold weather clothes, but why spend the $ if i dont have to. thanks for the ideas.

Marta
03-03-2010, 08:40
Arranging to meet family and friends is fairly tricky. If the person you're meeting has a fixed vacation schedule (i.e., they're going to take a week off work over July 4th), then you just need to keep in touch with them and let them know where you're going to be at that time. It will really, really mess with your hike to try to predict now exactly where you are going to be then.

In fact, I recommend not making any fixed plans until a couple of weeks before the date. If, for example, you book huts in the Whites with family members, you will have to base your whole schedule for three or four months leading up to that to make sure you arrive in Glencliffe on the appointed date. It takes away a lot of the freedom you would otherwise have during your hike.