Reccomendations around plant trip

[ShowGal]

So my boyfriend and I are on the list for the plant trip in May, and will be driving over from Chicago. I'm thinking I'd like to make this trip more of vacation than just a weekend trip. Does anyone have suggestions for nice scenic drives, areas, or things to do? I've been to DC/Baltimore/Philly/NYC. I'm looking for something a little more "back to nature" rather than the big city. I was thinking about heading up to Maine. Never been there before and would like to see it, but I think it might just a a tad too far.

[marlboromike]

The last time we met at the Wilmington Plant, we drove thru Delaware...this was the first time for me and I was fascinated with Delaware, how scenic...the person who u should contact is SPAG...but I believe he is under water at this time...wait until he comes up for air...tell him I recommended YOU.

[dengel]

If you're looking for quaint and scenic, Cape May, NJ is very nice. Lots of Victorian bed and breakfasts, antique shops, etc. Mid-may would be right before the official "summer season" starts, but still warm enough to enjoy the shore.

If you don't mind several hours of driving (5 to 6 hours would be my guess), the Finger Lakes in NY are a great place to visit too. There are lakes, of course and beautiful countryside, local wineries for wine tastings, some nice parks for hiking, biking, etc. Antique shops and local artists/craftsmen. Again lodging is more along the lines of bed-and-breakfast places rather than large chain hotels. And if you map out your drive well, you could drive some great roads heading north through PA to get to NY.

[marlboromike]

Diane...U Know-it-ALL ... see u tomorrow

[SKYJACK]

If You Happen To Head South And Want To Get Back To Nature. Go To Front Royal Virginia And Get On Skyline Drive. It Starts There And Runs All The Way Down Into North Carolina. I Can't Tell You How Far It Realy Goe's But I'm Sure There Are A Lot Of Our Sky Family Along The Way That Would Love To Join You. It Would Be Like Having A Guided Tour.
Enjoy And Maybe We Will See You Soon
Bow4buck ( Jack And Pauline )

[ShowGal]

Thanks Diane for the ideas. I'll have to check those two areas out.

Bow4Buck - I've done the Skyline Drive before. It is gorgeous, but not the direction I want to take this time. I'll wait until fall for that. That would definitely be a fun drive in the Sky as long as you don't get stuck behind an RV!

Has anyone been to or heard of the Mohonk Mountain House? I saw that mentioned on another board I read as a pretty place to go.

[Spag]

Honestly, there is a lot to do right here in DE, but it depends on what you are looking for.

The Northern DE "area" is also know as the "Chateau Country", where you can spend days touring the estates like Longwood, Winterthur, The Hagley, Nemours, or many other sites right in the Wilmington area. The cool twisty roads I like to drive are the backroads connecting the estates. I say "area" since it bleeds into PA and MD - Northern DE is TINY!!!

By the way - if you are into mountain biking or equestrian sports - Fair Hill is absolutely AMAZING, people come in from all over the country to ride there.

If you head to Southern DE (a canal splits the state), there are many other really great places to see. You could go to the classical Rehoboth Beach, or the other extreme (in my mind) and spend time relaxing and in the beach-front historic "First Town" of the "First State", Lewes. I actually went to Lewes for a very relaxing vacation myself a couple years ago, even though it is sooooo close (I stayed at The Inn)...

For a small state, I'm impressed with the variety here.

Check this link out for LOTS of info and to see about things completely different from what I listed.

[Ahnuld]

Combining two suggestions...

Head to Cape May (through NJ), and then take the ferry http://www.capemaylewesferry.com/ to Delware and continue to Rehobeth.

A shorter cruise would be to Atlantic City.

Amusment park fan? How about heading into Pennsy to see Hershey, amd hershey park... yes the streetlights really are shaped like hershey kisses!

[ctyankee]

Yeah! Cape May is great! I highly recommend it. You can stay at QV Doug's bed and breakfast www.queenvictoria.com. He has a Solstice and posts over on their forum.

[wt2ga]

Originally Posted by ctyankee

Yeah! Cape May is great! .

. .

[marlboromike]

You have done it again Bill.

[wt2ga]

Originally Posted by marlboromike

You have done it again Bill.

The wife and I went there for our son's graduation 12 years ago....
Had a great time ..


very nice place to visit

[ShowGal]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! Here's my first draft. Any recommendations for areas to get off the main drag?

I haven't done too much searching yet. You know...something called work keeps interfering!

[SKYtime]

That's a helluva roadtrip!

[ctyankee]

Looks like a great trip. It really is too bad that to get anywhere in this country in the shortest amount of time, you have to travel on the god-foresaken interstates. I am sure you will find plenty of little side trips to keep you busy.

[Antonio]

if you're visiting eastern NJ, i'd also suggest taking a short trip into Manhattan. It's not exactly a scenic area, but there's only 1 New York City in the world. Chicago is like the little brother to NY, so you'll feel at home I believe. There is the empire state building, time square, central park, museum of modern art, and many other points of interest for you to visit.

[SKYtime]

Originally Posted by Antonio

if you're visiting eastern NJ, i'd also suggest taking a short trip into Manhattan. It's not exactly a scenic area, but there's only 1 New York City in the world. Chicago is like the little brother to NY, so you'll feel at home I believe. There is the empire state building, time square, central park, museum of modern art, and many other points of interest for you to visit.

Just watch out for those taxi drivers!

[R1chy]

Originally Posted by ShowGal

Has anyone been to or heard of the Mohonk Mountain House? I saw that mentioned on another board I read as a pretty place to go.

I have been there often and LOVE it. Has a real alpine atmosphere.

You will not be disappointed. If you like to hike they have some nice trails - for the more adventurous take the rock scramble up to the top of the mountain. Make sure you take a camera; nice shot is across from the lodge, in one of the rock pavilions overhanging the mountain top lake. Nearby is some serious east coast rock climbing if you’re into that and if not is interesting to watch.

You may want to get reservations soon if you are even thinking about it and cancel if needed (check on policy).

Enjoy if you go, but keep it a secret - don't want too many tourists to find it.

Here is a link for you --> http://www.mohonk.com/

R1chy

[ShowGal]

Thanks R1chy! It looks gorgeous by the website, so it's back on the list.

Antonio, I've spent plenty of time in NYC like most major cities (I'm an IT consultant), so we probably won't make a stop in there. It'd probably freak me out driving the Sky into the city anyway.

Have any of you been on any of these roads (the three greens ones - considered to be scenic), to the east of Scranton? I'm wondering which would be the most entertaining. I read Hwy 97 (far right) is used for a lot of car commercials.

[dengel]

Originally Posted by ShowGal

Thanks R1chy! It looks gorgeous by the website, so it's back on the list.

Antonio, I've spent plenty of time in NYC like most major cities (I'm an IT consultant), so we probably won't make a stop in there. It'd probably freak me out driving the Sky into the city anyway.

Have any of you been on any of these roads (the three greens ones - considered to be scenic), to the east of Scranton? I'm wondering which would be the most entertaining. I read Hwy 97 (far right) is used for a lot of car commercials.

Well, I've never been on any of them, but just by how twisty the lines on the map look, I would say that 97 looks like the most fun. I'm busy the next couple of weekends, but the first nice weekend in April, maybe I do a loop out that way for a drive and let you know what the road are like. I don't live all that far from there.

I can tell you that Interstate 80 will probably be the least scenic. Typical interstate, with most of it only two lanes each way, and clogged up with a lot of tractor trailers. No fun driving along behind a bunch a tractor trailers trying to pass each other at low speeds on every hill.

[ShowGal]

Now that the plant trip is confirmed, I'm back to planning. Anyone know which drive from Niagara to Buffalo is better? I know the falls is better to look at from the Canadian side, but for getting out of town should we take Niagara Pkwy (Canada) or Niagara St (US)?