where to go in continental US in mid-August?
July 21, 2018 3:40 PM Subscribe
My sister and I planned to go to New Foundland, but her passport just expired. We're looking to leave around Aug 10th, and we don't think she'd get it renewed in time. She maaaay just pay the fee, but we also want to consider other places. We'd like to go north [or west and north] from NYC and stay for a weekish. Any thoughts for cities and/or specific places to stay?
We're fine with flying or taking a train or bus. We'd rather not drive. We'd like to go somewhere that's nature-y but also has a town. We'd rather not camp, but could stay in a cabin/hostel/hotel/b&b. We could pay up to $150 a night. I love Pittsburgh and have been to Chicago, but they are too city. I know the northeast best, so we were thinking maybe somewhere in Maine. Not Boston, Northampton, Buffalo, Ithaca. We don't want to go as far as Washington/Oregon. Ideas please!
We're fine with flying or taking a train or bus. We'd rather not drive. We'd like to go somewhere that's nature-y but also has a town. We'd rather not camp, but could stay in a cabin/hostel/hotel/b&b. We could pay up to $150 a night. I love Pittsburgh and have been to Chicago, but they are too city. I know the northeast best, so we were thinking maybe somewhere in Maine. Not Boston, Northampton, Buffalo, Ithaca. We don't want to go as far as Washington/Oregon. Ideas please!
Sometimes there are reasonable flights to Nantucket. Then stay at the hostel there. You can rent bikes to bike around or there are shuttles that take you to all the different parts of the island. Lots of nature and the town is lively without a crowded feel. Visit the tiny observatory near town.
Take the train to Boston, then transfer to the local train system and take it to Ipswich. Ipswich town is cutesy New England and there is a cheap shuttle that goes from town to the beach, which has nature trails.
posted by BeHereNow at 5:23 PM on July 21, 2018
Take the train to Boston, then transfer to the local train system and take it to Ipswich. Ipswich town is cutesy New England and there is a cheap shuttle that goes from town to the beach, which has nature trails.
posted by BeHereNow at 5:23 PM on July 21, 2018
Well, I just got back from a week on Mount Desert Island and I feel like it ticks all your boxes (north of NYC, gorrrrrrrgeous natural setting, has a town). It looks like there is a bus service, or you could fly to Bangor and then take a shuttle in. There is a bus service that goes all around the island and stops at all the major attractions, and you could rent a bike or a scooter once you're there, or a car at Bangor if you want to have a car when you're on the island. Personally I would want to have a car so that I could set my own schedule and move around freely, but preferences vary I suppose.
There are rental options galore, although I don't know what prices would look like for your needs right now. I will say that we stayed in Southwest Harbor, which is on the other side of the island from Bar Harbor (the main town) and which is both cheaper and more relaxed (and therefore more relaxing, to me) than Bar Harbor. However the west side of the island doesn't see as much in terms of buses and shuttles compared to the east side, which is where the majority of the most popular attractions are. If you do rent a car when you're there, pretty much nothing is farther away than 40 minutes at the very most, and the driving on-island is very easy and mellow (except for parking at the major attractions).
It is an absolutely stunning place full of easy yet beautiful hiking, beaches both salt and fresh, tide pools, kayaking, good food, mountains, fjords, stone bridges, lobster boats, etc. It has a lot to offer and I wish I was there right now.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 6:38 PM on July 21, 2018
There are rental options galore, although I don't know what prices would look like for your needs right now. I will say that we stayed in Southwest Harbor, which is on the other side of the island from Bar Harbor (the main town) and which is both cheaper and more relaxed (and therefore more relaxing, to me) than Bar Harbor. However the west side of the island doesn't see as much in terms of buses and shuttles compared to the east side, which is where the majority of the most popular attractions are. If you do rent a car when you're there, pretty much nothing is farther away than 40 minutes at the very most, and the driving on-island is very easy and mellow (except for parking at the major attractions).
It is an absolutely stunning place full of easy yet beautiful hiking, beaches both salt and fresh, tide pools, kayaking, good food, mountains, fjords, stone bridges, lobster boats, etc. It has a lot to offer and I wish I was there right now.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 6:38 PM on July 21, 2018
(Oh, and it's in Maine if you were wondering. The wild blueberries are ripe for the picking everywhere you look, right now.)
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 6:41 PM on July 21, 2018
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 6:41 PM on July 21, 2018
The Vineyard is nuts around then and 150 a night is probably not realistic. Take a look at Chatham, on Cape Cod, and Narragansett in Rhode Island is groovy, I'm told. There is a hostel here on MV but I think they have a three night maximum.
New Bedford is a little grungy but rich in maritime and whaling history, and has a fast ferry to the Vineyard, so you could do a more affordable 2 or 3 day jaunt from there. Horseneck beach close to New Bedford and is a pretty good beach if I recall from 30 years ago.
posted by vrakatar at 6:42 PM on July 21, 2018
New Bedford is a little grungy but rich in maritime and whaling history, and has a fast ferry to the Vineyard, so you could do a more affordable 2 or 3 day jaunt from there. Horseneck beach close to New Bedford and is a pretty good beach if I recall from 30 years ago.
posted by vrakatar at 6:42 PM on July 21, 2018
Block Island in RI is accessible by train and then ferry and you can bike the whole island. I would skip Narragansett in August. It will be chaos.
posted by DarlingBri at 2:37 AM on July 22, 2018
posted by DarlingBri at 2:37 AM on July 22, 2018
Don't miss the chance to visit Newfoundland! It is way more beautiful and interesting than anywhere in the northeastern US and well worth the slight extra cost of expediting the passport renewal.
posted by plastic_animals at 4:30 AM on July 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by plastic_animals at 4:30 AM on July 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
Another data point suggesting that you may very well be able to get the passport in time without paying the expedited fee. I just received my renewal in the mail, and it only took 2-2.5 weeks, including the July 4 holiday. I sent it via priority mail, but that was the only thing expedited about it.
posted by oiseau at 10:45 AM on July 22, 2018
posted by oiseau at 10:45 AM on July 22, 2018
If you're in NYC you can go directly to the passport office and get it renewed, same day. It's not that hard. I did it last October. There are several useful threads here on MeFi about it. The main thing: just show up very early before opening and be prepared to wait on line.
posted by Miko at 5:33 AM on July 23, 2018
posted by Miko at 5:33 AM on July 23, 2018
Response by poster: Thank you everyone and esp hoyland- lake champlain is AMAZING
posted by the twistinside at 7:39 PM on August 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by the twistinside at 7:39 PM on August 15, 2018 [1 favorite]
« Older Hair product to help create piecey texture | There are knowns, known unknowns, and unknown... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by hoyland at 4:42 PM on July 21, 2018