Help Me Find Destination - Scenic Outdoorsy Attractions

amother

Sun, Jul 12 2020, 12:30 am

Within 3-5 hours drive from tristate area. Something like Acadia National Park but closer Wink

. We'll be going with an RV taking along food and bikes so we're mostly set, but I want to have nice places to visit during the day, hikes that are easy for young kids, waterfalls, beach or anything like that which will be covid friendly.

sky

Sun, Jul 12 2020, 12:40 am

Rickets glen National Park.
We had the Most amazing experience on the waterfall hike. THere is also a Lake with canoeing.
THe hike is hard. My 5 yr old did it and we took a baby in ababy carrier. But it is nerve racking in places.
Many other nice parks nearby
Also Stop at the boulder field in hickory run state park.

amother

Sun, Jul 12 2020, 9:32 am

sky wrote:

What else did you do there?

sky

Sun, Jul 12 2020, 9:39 am

WE only went 3 days. Wish it was longer.
Basically the boulder field, waterfall hike, time on lake/beach, canoeing, visited the local camping supply store. Drove out to knoebels one day. (It’s our favorite amusement park. )
Late mornings and early evenings cooking food over campfire.
Had we stayed longer I would’ve looked into worlds end state park nearby.
THere were other hikes in Ricketts Glen. If you have bikes you can explore those also.

sky

Sun, Jul 12 2020, 11:47 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

What did you do there? Other than hike through the gorge?

Right there not much. For us it was a full day. It is scary with younger kids (I had 3 and 4 yr old walking and one in the baby carrier).
We did the hike and tubing. I think they have other water sports for older kids iirc. But we didn’t look into it.
IT looks like boats and tubing is closed due to covid.
You can drive down to lake George. There was also a different cave tour nearby - but don’t remember the name.
Ausable chasm is really memorable.

Before I mentioned knoebels in passing. It really is an experience. We fit it into almost every vacation somehow. And they have campgrounds so you can park your rv and go back for lunch.
Near there you can do lake Tobias - but it is better for younger kids. Teens would prob be bored.

If you have bikes you don’t need full days. You just need to find nearby bike trails.

My kids dream of such a vacation...