Since it's the NE forum

S/O and I are thinking about a nice vacation through the northeast either next spring or fall. I'm thinking about 2 weeks to drive from Nj to Maine and back. I'd like to include the Finger Lakes and /or Lake George region of NY and Acadia (do I have that park's name correct?) in Maine. We would prefer cabins to hotels especially since we would like to take our dogs. Looking for a nature trip to include lots of hiking and if anyone is interested in showing off their gardens I would love to visit. I know I can go on bunches of web sites to plot and plan but I'm looking for personal experiences and recommendations from the people here before I do that. I'm leaning towards spring. He's leaning towards whatever I want. I would love everyone's input!!

Sounds wonderful Weeze. I loved the Finger Lakes area and really loved Acadia. I stayed in hotels - hopefully others can help with the cabin stuff. Lake George area is also nice but I was more impressed with the Finger Lakes region. Many great wineries there if you're into that. I would not scrimp on Acadia. Spend at least a few days there. Bar Harbor is very nice. Have fun planning and even more fun going!

That sounds fantastic Venu. Wish I could come. Have you heard of travel websites that seek pet friendly hotels and such? I had them saved to my favorites, but lost them. Good luck. My garden is not worth a visit, but we have a nice arboretum if you come by my way.

Yes Victor, I love the wineries. I did a vacation in Napa and Sonoma that are on my top 3 all time greatest vacations. The other 2 being Chile and Alaska. But if we visit the wineries I will be leaving some long acting marrow bones for the dogs to chew on because it will be see ya later my perros.

Haper, I have a bunch saved, but they're mostly pet friendly hotels. I'm looking for cabins in parks or privately owned. And I would love to see your arboretum. Everyting is a learning experience in my book! And I hope your birthday celebrations are great!!

I absolutely loved Napa too, Weeze.

Venu:
We loved Acadia. Be sure to take the nature trails and climb the "mountain" at sunrise. There are dozens of oceanside inns in Maine (we stayed at Pemaquid Point for several days) to use as a base for exploring lobster eateries, tourist traps and used book stores.
Liked Lake George, but since we didn't parasail or loll on the beach, exhausted most of its amenities in two days. Liked the dinner cruise on the big boat, and the humorous guides at the fort. Be sure to visit Ft. Ticonderoga. Thinking of trying Lake Champlain next year.

The Ithaca area of the Finger Lakes has 2 state parks with cabins: Buttermilk Falls and Treman. Both have spectacular gorge trails. Also Ithaca has Cornell which has The Plantations http://www.plantations.cornell.edu/ and the Ornithology Department including Sapsucker Woods and the Ornithology Lab http://www.birds.cornell.edu/About/BuildingAndSanctuary/SapsuckerWoodsSanctuary.html

Also B&B's and Moosewood.

Moosewood is outstanding!
And any of the state parks there.I have camped there, but not in the cabins.
Also love the fingerlakes, but don't know about cabins nearby.

Come here (to Acadia) in the fall. Columus Day or immediately thereafter. Very few tourists and SPECTACULAR fall color. Plus, it's a lot less expensive. Spring is awful here. Wet, cold, cold, and dark. Makes the pink granite cliffs look more like lover's leaps than spell binding scenery.

Catskills and Rhineback and Leeds areas are all really pretty parts of NY state. I thought "upstate" was accessible only by backpack - not so! It's everything except NYC. So I'm in favor. If you come to Boston, do check out either the Arnold Arboretum OR Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge OR Forest Hills Cemetery - all designed by Olmstead, whose tiny cramped little house is near by in Brookline. (Skip the house.)

I guess Acadia is pretty stunning - never been there. But if you know anyone who has a house or know of anywhere on an island in Maine, try that too. Remember, it's colder North sooner than where you are. That seems obvious but I thought I'd say it anyway. I've spent some gorgeous wintertime in Maine - look a Pixie's photos!

x, Carrie

xx, Carrie

Thanks Carrie! I am biased though, Maine is beautiful all 4 seasons. (Shame on you watersedge!!)

Venu, here a few of my favorite places.
Greenville/Rockwood area - surrounds Moosehead Lake
Rangely - beautiful mountain area w/great views.http://www.rangeleymaine.com/
http://www.etravelmaine.com/rangeley/

Phillips/Strong area - Small Falls is a must see!
Bar Harbor/ Mt. Desert Island - Surrounds Acadia National Park
http://www.acadia.national-park.com/
Popham Beach State Park - my favorite beach, beautiful white sand, sand dollars, and walk out to the Island at low tide.
http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=22
Belgrade Lakes area - Surrounded by 7 (?) Lakes. Great Pond, McGrath Pond, East Pond, North Pond, Snow Pond, Salmon Lake, and Messalonskee Lake. You can check it out here: http://www.belgrademaine.com/community/info-ctr/info-center.html
If you have any questions feel free to ask , d-mail me if you would like.

Wow, thanks to all of you for the suggestions. Watersedge, you surprised me with your info. I would have thought that fall would have been a higher volume of tourists for the color. Now I'm leaning towards fall :~)

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/777812/#new
Check this thread, venu - maybe Joyce has some ideas. Fall is really trafficky in some areas, but other places are deserted. I don't know which are which! But, say, the White Mountains (NH) the main drag there is very clotted with cars. On the news every day they say "the leaves are 74.2% peak today" - do they count the leaves or something?

x, C

Venu - I'd definitely stop for a few days on Cape Cod - only the Outer Cape, as in Orleans and northward to P'Town. Spring is a beautiful time on the cape - so beautiful and so relaxing.

Just to add my two cents on Maine. If you are coming next spring, keep an eye on our weather here. If we have a lot of snow, it may not disappear until May. ;) And a lot of Bar Harbor will not open until it it warmer, but you can check that out on their particular web sites. I would be happy to give feedback on the places you are exploring as options if I know them well. Lots of places, so little time....

I think fall would be a great time to visit Maine. I was just there this weekend. I only went as far north as Skowhegan. It was absolutely gorgeous. The trees, fields and gardens were all so colorful.

Venu, I meant to give you this link too so you can fine rentals. You can go to the home page and pick a state and go from there. Most places will ask if you have pets or smoke, so you should have no problem finding a place to rent. Some charge an extra fee if you have pets.......some don't. Good Luck!!
http://www.cyberrentals.com/USA/Maine/r1125.htm

Also, actually, you could try craigslist - we found a lovely cheap casita in Puerto Rico there!