Your Mid Eastern Seaboard "Oh Wow" moments???

[SinkorSwim]

Hi all, just fishing for suggestions on places-to-stay and things-to-do from folks all-time-favorites lists on the mid-eastern seaboard over the next few months. We are slowly working our way down the eastern seaboard and have a few things we already know we want to do but are looking for favorites from people who have already gone before us.

So far we have done a couple weeks biking and hiking at Acadia National park in Maine, are in the middle of a couple weeks exploring the Portland/Old Orchard Beach area, and have a week booked at Hampton Beach to take in the July 4th fireworks and explore that area.

Already in the plan is a week to explore Boston, two weeks for New York City and a week or two at Washington as we know we want to go back to the Smithsonian for quite a few days.

Some of our favorite activities are biking, hiking, rollerblading, beaching, snorkelling, geocaching and salt water fishing. (Why do I feel like I’m signing us up for a couples dating site.....)

In Massachusetts we are going to skip Cape Cod this time as we have already been there and figure it will be a zoo in July. We have not really seen anything In Connecticut yet that called out to us but are open to suggestions. The New Jersey coast looks really interesting but we know nothing about it. In Virginia we were wondering if going inland to West Virginia might be more interesting from a biking/hiking perspective thing than going down the coast.

We are probably less interested in places to stay than any input folks have on must-sees from a geography, biking, hiking, beaches, mountains etc aspect.

I know this is a REALLY broad question but looking for folks “Oh wow” moments from their travels down this coast.

[Trevor43]

Spy Rock in Va. It is in the George Washington National Forrest.........good hike.....awsome 360 view. Plenty of places to camp around........amazing in October. Crabtree Falls is another.......same area.

[MtnGuy]

Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive.

[cstover]

Fall Creek Falls in TN. Cloudland Canyon in GA. And Helen, GA.

[Fire Instructor]

It doesn't get more "WOW" than your first trip to Assateague Island, MD. Wild ponies on he beach! Lots of wildlife, great swimming, kayaking, clamming, crabbing, exploring, etc. Then, if you want some "city life", the Ocen City, MD Boardwalk is less than 20 minutes away.

[grayfox]

Gettysburg Battlefield in Gettysburg PA to Shenandoah National Park. Try Big Meadows Campground in Shenandoah NP., make reservations well in advance then from there to Wash. DC to Williams Burg VA and points South.

[Fire Instructor]

Another good day for you, as you make your way down the coast, would be a day in Mystic, CT. There's the Mystic Seaport, which is a lareg indoor/outdoor living museum od all-things sailing. Then a pizza at Mystic Pizza, of movie fame. Top it off with an ice cream cone from Drawbridge Ice Cream, next to the Mystic Drawbridge.

It's a great town to spend a day or two in.

[F and E Damp]

We lived in Tidewater Virginia for a couple of years in the early 1970s. Our favorites around there were Jamestown & Yorktown. Williamsburg is worth a visit if you've never been before, we didn't go regularly like we did to the other two places.

Back then, Hampton's July 4th bash was at Fort Monroe, HQ of the Continental Army and the "cannons" in the 1812 Overture were Army 105mm howitzers.

The thing I didn't care for was the combination of temperature and humidity in the summer. My first day at NASA, just after Memorial Day, conditions at 07:00 were 82F, dense fog and a thunderstorm. To an ex-pat Brit whose only experience of the US was the Seattle area, that combination at that time of day did not compute!

[KS_Carty]

for NJ the southern shore area is nice. Lots of beaches for lounging and lots of waters to fish! Ocean City is my personal favourite. Very laid back and extremely family friendly. There is a state forest for dry camping about 20 minutes away for $20/nite that is wonderful -Belleplain State Forest. Even Belleplain has lots to do if you enjoy hiking and biking. There are canoe rentals and a swimming area. Cape May is always worth the trip if you enjoy lighthouses and Victorian architecture! not sure if you have kids but you get kids early teens and younger will enjoy the rides in Ocean City. If you have older teens, then Wildwood,NJ is totally worth the trip. The boardwalk is seething they'll quite enjoy with its midway games...and roller coasters!

[punkaccountant]

Originally Posted by Fire Instructor

It doesn't get more "WOW" than your first trip to Assateague Island, MD. Wild ponies on he beach! Lots of wildlife, great swimming, kayaking, clamming, crabbing, exploring, etc. Then, if you want some "city life", the Ocen City, MD Boardwalk is less than 20 minutes away.

I haven't been everywhere on the Eastern Seaboard but Assateague has always been a favorite of ours. Plus, the beach never seems to be that crowded. Just watch out for the horse ...