Amy and me have been talking about a cycle-related vacation this summer. With all the bread we are saving due to the New Way/New Day Campaign we will easily be able to swing some type of week long trip somewhere.
In an effort to avoid the traditional & overdone vacation of "drive somewhere, pay a boatload of dough to stay in a hotel, eat every meal out, do some touristy stuff-come home rested perhaps... wallet emptied definitely", we were thinking about doing it all on our cycles instead.
Something like... stay in a tent in a couple sleeping bags, eat one (or maybe two) pot meals over a campfire or Dragonfly stove and cycle around looking at things, taking photos... relaxing.
Anyone out there have any suggestions on a great area in the east to do this? Couple requirements...
1. Can't be too far away from the NYC area for reasons of transportation otherwise the whole deal gets defeated due to the expense of "getting there" (especially with 2 cycles, 1 tag-a-long, 8 panniers full of gear and the three of us).
2. An abundant amount of camping areas so that we aren't very far away from our "tucking in area" each night... very important when at the mercy, whim & mood of a 5 year old.
3. Not too hilly... this would be a new experience for us and I can see where the whole deal would quickly turn into a nightmare if we are so loaded down that we basically spend everyday walking our cycles/gear everywhere.
Opinions-thoughts, gladly welcomed...
Definately do it - I can't help with destinations, but I can tell you that it's worth it. Have a look at my page for the cyclecamping trip I took with my 2.5 year old last summer -- no frills, just a retrogrouch lugged steel bike, a trailer and random non-lightweight camping stuff. You'll love it. This weekend, I did training rides with both kids - one on a trailabike and the other in the trailer - 17km with no problems - doesn't sound like much, but heck, she's 3.5!
Posted by: Myrcurial | April 18, 2005 at 08:03 AM
What about the Amish countryside around Lancaster, PA?
You could catch the Amtrack from NYC to Lancaster.
http://www.padutch.com/mem-tour.shtml
I only live about an hour from Lancaster (by car), so I can ride out and say hello. :-)
There's even a small amusement park for the litte one
http://www.dutchwonderland.com/
With a campground!
http://www.oldmillstreamcampground.com/
Posted by: Bone | April 18, 2005 at 11:46 AM
Never having done such a thing, especially with a child, I'm no expert, but one thing does come to mind: Why not pick a base camp and then do day tours. For example, load the Volvo up, drive down to the Shenandoah Valley and spend the week cycling the Virginia backroads while camping in the National Park or a state park. Or, if you don't want to drive, catch the train to Burlington, VT, camp at a state park and tour around there:
http://champlainbikeways.org/
Anyway, seems like a great vacation idea. Good luck!
Posted by: Everett Volk | April 18, 2005 at 01:24 PM
Some great ideas above.
How about Shelter Island at the tip of Long Island? It's not far, easily accessible by train, lots of beaches etc, for the little one. Beachcombing one day, a ride to the Hamptons or Montauk the next. I've done it numerous times and it's fun. Oh yeah, and relatively flat.
Posted by: Greg Pitman | April 18, 2005 at 01:49 PM
Are there places to ride in the Hudson River Valley? We took the Amtrak along the river out of NYC one time, and the area looked very beautiful.
Posted by: Paul Cooley | April 18, 2005 at 03:07 PM
When I lived in NYC in the 70's, a frind and I would ride up to Bear Mountain and back. We'd go up on the NY side and back on the NJ side, crossing the GWB on the way in. I remember it as a pretty ride. My friend rode a top of the line Lejeune with a 25" frame. He was tall and a strong rider and liked to push a high gear. I'd trail him all the way up, and he'd trail me all the way back.
Good times.
Posted by: Greg Pitman | April 18, 2005 at 06:08 PM
Hey, if you decide to come to Lancaster-lemme know, I'd love to meet up with you and your family.
Posted by: George | April 19, 2005 at 02:56 AM