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View Full Version : What is there to see and do on your thru hike off the trail?



Libertyguy
02-01-2013, 21:58
Hey yall! Im gonna be attempting my thru this year 13'. I'm a fairly young adult and can hardly contain the excitement in these last few months before I leave. I know it's gonna be a blast and I don't wanna miss out on the great stuff that's out there. Please share with me your knowledge, the places you have found, and the things that are not worth missing along the trail during a thru.

What are the best towns to check out?
Best bars, clubs, and venues to go to?
What music or art festivals are going on that a thru hiker can catch?
Museums, stores, landmarks, attractions????
Please share!



P.S. I do actually plan on hiking 99% of the time.

Mountain Maiden
02-01-2013, 22:21
http://www.hawkmountain.org/ (http://www.hawkmountain.org/) Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pa was pretty cool. Interesting and worth the time spent.

Papa D
02-01-2013, 22:24
The best fun you will have will be unexpected - a zero day at a random shelter with people that you thought you would never meet. Open your mind to whatever happens and enjoy. The clubs in LA and NYC will always blow away the little pizza and beer joints on the AT - best time to be had is in the woods

Odd Man Out
02-01-2013, 23:16
If you get to Harper's Ferry and are ready for a break and never been to Washington DC, take a zero there.

Koozy
02-01-2013, 23:53
Lime Rock Park in Salisbury, CT has some pretty sweet car shows and races. The AT passes right by it and there's a limited viewpoint from the trail of the track. It's a 1.5 mile racetrack without grandstands set down in a valley and people sit on the hillsides surrounding it to watch. They have races every few days and if you catch one of the good weekend shows they have a bunch of country fair type food vendors (funny i mention the food and not the sick car shows). I think it was $20 to get in through.

My favorite spot is a mile down the trail at Great Falls waterfall on the Housatonic River in Falls Village. If you get a hot day with low water flow its a great spot to go swimming, cliff jumping (up to 65 feet), or climbing through a HUGE waterfall. When its really flowing it's definitely something to see but not something to mess with; there's been a couple fatalities there in the past few years.

SCRUB HIKER
02-02-2013, 00:18
It used to be that All Good in West Virginia (early-mid July, music festival) was in spitting distance of the trail, but they've started moving it around. You can still probably hitch to it, wherever it is this year. Same with Bonnaroo (Manchester, TN, mid-June), because of the sheer number of people driving there from all directions.

The Cabin in Duncannon is, to my knowledge, the only strip club directly on the AT for what it's worth.

I went into DC from Harpers Ferry on the commuter rail and had a blast visiting friends. I'd been there a dozen times before (grew up in the area), but if you've never been, it's totally worth it.

Ditto on the Housatonic swimming and cliff-jumping at Falls Village. One of my best mornings on the trail.

Bethel, Maine was the most off-the-beaten-path town I stopped in. Stayed at the Chapman Inn, which I loved. It was $35/night/person for a bunk, which is up there, but that did include the most fantastic breakfast on the whole trail--fresh, made-to-order everything, the maple syrup flowing free. It's a sweet old Maine small town that doesn't have the feeling of being overrun by tourists or hikers (at least not while I was there, which was when Hurricane Irene had just come through, so it might have been misrepresented).

Hope this helps. I agree with you that hiking's the name of the game 99% of the time, but you'd be remiss if you forgot about all the great town culture along the way, and just off the way.

Dogwood
02-02-2013, 01:12
I'm SOOO GLAD you brought this topic up. IMHO, this topic should arise more often, especially here on WB. It's so refreshing to explore this topic compared to the typical gear, when are you starting?, when did you finish?, AT shelter, mail or buy supplies along the way?, miles per day, what if I see a bear?, how much to thru-hike the AT?, etc type topics that have LARGELY BEEN BEATEN TO DEATH here on WB. If someone hasn't already done it someone should write a book, maybe you or me!, that details a comprehensive list of places of possible interest to a AT thru-hiker or section hiker. I think there is some off trail info in the AT Thru-Hikers Hand Book you might want to examine as well. The entire AT has oodles of interest both on and slightly of route. I never did get it when prospective AT thru-hikers said they quit because they got bored. The only way you could get bored on the AT is TO LET YOURSELF get bored.

Music Festival - Bonaroo 2013, TN, second wk of June, looks like a good line up this yr. You should be in VA near TN in June as a AT thru-hiker.

Fiddlers Festival - Buena Vista VA, YEAH a Fiddlers Festival, didn't know a damn thing about fiddling or fiddlers other than seeing "Fiddler On A Hot Tin Roof" on Broadway but had a GREAT time at the Fiddlers Festival in 2006, got in free and ate and drank like a rock star.

From Harper's Ferry I took Amtrak into Washington DC for the Fourth of July, stayed at the Hostel International site, visited the Smithsonian, Native American Museum, National Botanical Gardens, played Frisbee with like 100 other people at the same time throwing around like 30 frisbees at the same time right under the Washington Memorial, and watched the fireworks with thousands of other folks of American and International persuasion while sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial w/ President Lincoln looking over my shoulder. Glorious! Even got my arse escorted from the Capitol grounds by the Secret Service while wearing my pack and looking at the marvelous specimen trees located on the grounds. LOL. Actually, they didn't think it funny AT ALL!

From White River Junction near the VT/NH border took Amtrak into NYC for two days until heading to NJ for my brother's wedding. Went through Grand Central Terminal(wonderful architecture). Also checked out the Empire State Building(view from the outside observation desk is outstanding!), Madison Sq Garden and several other noted architectural sites in NY City. Went to the Guggenheim Art museum and walked through the Central Park Gardens and ate lunch in the BIG Field in Central Pk.

The entire AT has oodles of interest both on and slightly of route. I never did get it when prospective AT hikers said they quit because they got bored. The only way you could get bored on the AT is TO LET YOURSELF get bored.

Along my AT thru I sought out every waterfall within 15 miles of the AT. I hit like 20-25 off-the-AT waterfalls on my AT thru-hike. I took in 4-5 waterfalls alone, off the AT, in Shenendoah NP after three days of heavy solid rain. GLORIUS! I did some extra short hikes to those waterfalls as well as hikes on some Nature Trails like the Joyce Kilmer Trail in GSMNP and at Hawk Mnt Sanctuary. I also sought exhibits at state and national parks along my thru-hike which were VERY educational and afforded a greater appreciation of what is still available and what MANY have worked tirelessly to conserve.

There are MANY historical sites along the way too, on or within a short distance of the AT. Cemeteries, structures, monuments, memorials, battle sites, etc. I can't remember how many historical sites that I visited on my AT thru. There are many on or near the AT in GA, NC, TN, VA, WV, and in MD. Harper's Ferry has tons of history.

Register in HF as a thru-hiker and get your pic taken at the ATC Center. My pic, as well as many of the other WB thru-hikers, are posted somewhere on the walls.

I liked visiting the small town bars just for the "flavor" and "character" of those kinds of places. Small town culture is great to expand your tolerance and vision too especially when visiting in areas where you don't live! The bar in Hot Springs, one in Vermont, and one in Maine stand out vividly. I'll even hitch into a town or interesting site/exhibit during a thru-hike just to see and experience what's there even though I may not need to resupply.

Lots of other interesting things to see too like dams, bridges, fire towers, summits, major rivers, swimming holes, hot springs, geology/rock formations, etc
The different peoples, both on and off trail, are the most interesting and broadening to me. The people at the hostels, hostel owners, trail angels, church hostels, hitchhiking rides, hikers(some of whom I considered my trail heros), trail maintainers, all sorts of colorful characters are some of what I liked best about the AT.

The entire AT has oodles of interest both on and slightly of route. I never did get it when prospective AT hikers said they quit because they got bored. The only way you could get bored on the AT is TO LET YOURSELF get bored.

Mixing it up like you propose with some off trail excursions/interests is what I do on all my thru-hikes. Basically, while I'm thru-hiking I enlarge the trail corridor to about 100 miles on either side of the trail and seek to experience all that interests me in that expanded corridor. I elect to experience the land and peoples not only on the trail or route I'm thru-hiking but near that trail and route as well; it VASTLY enriches my hiking experiences. As such, my thru-hiking experiences are my traveling experiences. PERHAPS, experiencing some off-trail events/sights, as you thru-hike, as you propose, will help you better appreciate what Matty(WB User) has said(paraphrased), which I think is deeply profound, "the AT is not a wilderness trail but a ribbon of hope that HAS TO BE PROTECTED." Like I've heard before from Sly(WB User), "thru-hiking DOES NOT just have to be about hiking!" How true on both quotes! Thru-hiking can be a vehicle to not only enjoy ALL the benefits of hiking and connecting with the wilderness but ENRICHING YOUR ENTIRE LIFE AS WELL! That's a BIG part of why I thru-hike and why I keep thru-hiking.

I sincerely hope this thread goes a long time with a wide variety of MANY posts explaining ALL what there is to experience both on and off near-trail on a AT thru-hike.

With what you asked at the beginning, I think you are placing yourself in the position where you can MORE deeply appreciate and experience what is meant by "ENJOY THE JOURNEY." Have a GREAT hike.

Feral Bill
02-02-2013, 01:27
It's a short bus or train ride into New York City. which is a change of pace, to say the least. There is a hostel (AYH) on the West Side that might not be ruinously expensive. I checked $55/night to start. Other than housing, New York's not really expensive.

Terry7
02-02-2013, 07:45
http://www.squidoo.com/trail-days-festival-damascus-virginia

fredmugs
02-02-2013, 10:51
If you're looking for some great beer then right off the bat you can go to Helen, GA. We had a great lunch right along the river with some awesome german beers. One of the most enjoyable beers I had was a Yuengling at The Doyle in Duncannon on a day with temps in the 90s. When you get to VT hitch to the Long Trail brewery.

I'm a metal head so I won't comment on hippie / folksy music you're most likely to encounter.

brian039
02-02-2013, 12:46
My favorite town was Dalton, Mass.
My favorite bar was the Firestation in Port Clinton because of the 50 cent Yuenglings on draft or Truant's Tavern in North Woodstock, NH.
For the 4th of July you'll likely be in PA and can get a ride to Philly. I saw the Roots play for free on my thru.

tiptoe
02-02-2013, 17:22
Harpers Ferry is a fascinating place to explore, and it's right on the trail. I really enjoyed visiting the John Brown museum in the center of town. And in Maryland, Gathland is not to be missed if you like eccentricity (and don't we all?).

Dogwood
02-02-2013, 23:48
Head into Gatlinburg and/or Pigeon Forge from Newfound Gap in GSMNP. Take in Dolly World, the tee shirt shops, lookout tower, souvenir shops, possibly a buffet, the information/sales kiosks, tourists, and the rest of the carnival like atmosphere. After this experience you may not want to leave the trail again. I have a hard time explaining this place adequately.

Coffee Rules!
02-03-2013, 01:33
If you're at all into history, specifically the War for Southern Independence, along with Harper's Ferry you'll pass right through South Mountain battlefield, within spitting distance of Sharpsburg (Antietam), and not too doggone far from Gettysburg.

tycho
02-03-2013, 03:53
It's a short bus or train ride into New York City. which is a change of pace, to say the least. There is a hostel (AYH) on the West Side that might not be ruinously expensive. I checked $55/night to start. Other than housing, New York's not really expensive.

If you haven't been to NYC I recommend making a visit. The list of places to go or sights to see there is too numerous or extensive to list here. I would advise that you make some sort of basic plan beforehand - nothing specific, but you need to have a hostel to stay if you are on the cheap. General hotel prices for the metro area are about $100/night (at least, and thats at a discount in off season at a place in NJ), so hostels are a must, but those in the Bowery or LES get filled fast. Might work best as a day trip.

The AT crosses Metro-North lines in several places that can get you access to NYC:

Port Jervis Line (also a NJTransit line, will take you to Hoboken, but you can transfer at Secaucus to go to Penn Station) - Harriman Station, on the west side of Harriman State Park.
Hudson Line - Manitou is closest but service is limited, nearby Peekskill has more frequent service but is a bit of a walk on a road with slim shoulders.
Harlem Line - Appalachian Trail Station is closest (obviously), but service is limited. More frequent service at Harlem Valley - Wingdale, a bit to the north.

Should you need to see an outfitter of some sort, we have REI and EMS. They are both in Soho. REI is at Houston and Lafayette, EMS is at Broadway and Spring.

Easiest free things to do in NYC:

The Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art) - the admission is only a suggested donation.
Staten Island Ferry - it's free, and gives you the best possible view of the city. Plus super refreshing on a hot day.

Hope this information was helpful

peakbagger
02-03-2013, 07:20
The used to be a trail guide put out by wingfoot that was very handy for getting some local flavor on the areas you were hiking by. Some hikers got on the authors case for publishing established post for "trail magic" Nevertheless the earlier editions had info about the towns and events occurring.

Unfortunately there are some folks who get wrapped up in finishing the trail quickly and miss all the fun of finding events and places to visit. If you stay in hostels, talk to the owners, frequnety they can fill you in on spots to visit nearby. There is also the issue of timing for special events, unless you want to take zeros waiting for a specific date it hard go the a one or two day event. These detours inevitably also cost money, if not for the event, getting a place to stay or a couple extra meals in town can really eat into a budget.

Definitely worth planning is a fourth of July spot. Many thru hikers are in the whites and there are a couple of towns that have fourth of july activities. Gorham NH has a couple of days worth with concerts and a small carnival, hokey to some but to others a throwback to the fifties.

Train Wreck
02-11-2013, 02:19
Hi Springbok and Southern Cross!
Looking forward to seeing you in April. You should start just in time to see springtime get a firm foothold and see some wildflowers start to pop up here and there.
If you're interested in whitewater rafting, we can hook you up with a trip on either the Nantahala River (North Carolina), The Ocoee (Tennessee), or the Chattooga River (north Georgia) when we meet up with you in April. (The Chattooga River is the one where the movie "Deliverance" was filmed). All 3 of them are a short and easy day trip from our location. Other things: Nice horseback riding very close to us in the Nantahala National Forest. A visit to the local winery 5 minutes from our place :) The town of Franklin and surrounding area offers a Scottish tartan museum, several rock shops and native gemstone mining (rubies & sapphires), and a scenic, winding drive that passes several large waterfalls right beside the road. In the other direction, the town of Helen, GA is like a miniature Gatlinburg, a Bavarian-themed tourist trap place, with tons of gift shops,a couple of nice restaurants, & a winery.
When you get to Fontana Lake, you might enjoy a short tour of the dam & visitor center. I'll leave suggestions for Virginia to the others, but will mention two of my favorites: Natural Bridge near Lynchburg, within reasonable reach of the AT, and Luray Caverns near Front Royal. These huge, spectacular caverns are a definite must-see!! They're located not far from the trail and you should be able to get transportation there easily.
PM me if you're interested in any of these suggestions or would like more details!

Coffee Rules!
02-11-2013, 03:03
(The Chattooga River is the one where the movie "Deliverance" was filmed)

Yeah...THERE'S a selling point. :p

Train Wreck
02-11-2013, 03:15
Yeah...THERE'S a selling point. :p

It was the same guy who told you that Iraq was a lovely vacation spot with plenty of available women! :D

Coffee Rules!
02-11-2013, 03:16
It was the same guy who told you that Iraq was a lovely vacation spot with plenty of available women! :D

Crafty bass turd, that one.

ChuckBrown
02-11-2013, 09:03
If you like casino gambling, you can go to Cherokee NC, from Newfound Gap. Atantic City is accessible from spots in PA. In ME there is now a full casino in Oxford, which is about forty mins from Gorham NH. With time you could even go to CT casinos from NYC.

Dogwood
02-11-2013, 12:56
It was the same guy who told you that Iraq was a lovely vacation spot with plenty of available women! :D

I had a biz partner and friend of Jordanian/Lebanese decent who tried to convince me of these very same things.

robertblake60
02-11-2013, 17:56
If you get to Harper's Ferry and are ready for a break and never been to Washington DC, take a zero there.

The wifey is flying in and I'll be taking 3-4 zero's there. I've never been and can't wait.

Carry-On
02-11-2013, 18:59
I only made it to the first waterfall of the Gulf Hagas loop in the Hundred Mile Wilderness in Maine, and I regret not doing the whole thing. I stopped and swam in several ponds and swimming holes in Maine, which are still some of my favorite memories. I took a zero at Upper Goose Pond and swam there, too. I recommend going the extra .6 each way to the Mt Cammerer watch tower in the Smokies (and any other fire towers you can find). In 2012 there was a Bluegrass Festival at Grayson Highland State Park http://carryonadventures.blogspot.com/2013/02/6-16-12-grayson-highlands-bluegrass.html (probably too late in the year unless you start in late April or May).

There was also a Fall Festival in Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Pennsylvania by the AT Museum/halfway point of the trail. I didn't know about a single one of these things before I got on the trail. I heard about them along the way and made the changes in schedule to get to what I could based on where I was at the time. They did slow me down, but I don't regret them at all.