Suggestions for don't miss places: northeast trip

[flyingjack]

Good morning all; our Sept/Oct trip has been mostly finalized. Asking for suggestions for "don't miss" stops or sights along the way. We've never RV'd this part of the USA before. Ended up being 2 5ers and 1 MH; we'll have our ebikes.
Thank you

Sept-2nd week:CO to St. Louis & arch
Sept-3rd week: Niagrara Falls area for a week
Sept-4th week: Finger Lakes
Oct-1st week: Old Orchard Beach, ME- south of Portland, ME
Oct-1st/2nd week: Philadelphia 4 nights and then bypass NYC
Oct-2nd+ week: DC/Smithsonian-mostly
mid Oct to end Oct: Harrison Bay State Park-Chattanooga, Nashville and then Memphis. No reservations for RV parks yet on this last leg.

Thanks again for any suggestions. Private Message (PM) me is fine also.
Jack

[dutchmensport]

I lived in the Washington DC area for 5 years. 3.5 years was in the military, stationed at Fort Belvoir, VA (Near Washington DC). My wife and I used every opportunity to get away and explore Washington DC, including the Zoo, tours, you name it. After 3.5 years we stayed in the area and moved to Manassas, VA (where the Civil War battle of Bull Run happened). We were there for another 1.5 years.

In 5 years, we STILL had not seen half of the stuff we hoped we would. There is simply too much to do. You can easily spend several days at the Smithsonian (historical museum) itself. The "Smithsonian" actually consists of several building all around. You can spend a day in the aquarium alone. Because I was in the military, I got access to the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, and Fort Mead, Maryland. Mt. Vernon (home of George Washington) was just down the road from the back entrance to Fort Belvoir.

We never got to see the US Mint. I suppose if one has never been to DC before, the highlight would be the Capital Building tour, the main museum in the Smithsonian, Lincoln's statue, the Washington Monument. And if you have an opportunity, to experience the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier at the Arlington Cemetery, I highly recommend it (it's a very, very somber and serious event, but something every American should watch personally).

[flyingjack]

Thanks Dutch; so far main focus will be monuments and mostly Smithsonian. Cherry Hill RV park has a shuttle to Smithsonian. Yes, I realize we'll be hitting just a few; but, will definitely add Arlington Cemetery.
Thanks again.

[CBears]

I really enjoyed Mt. Vernon when I was there. Of course that was almost 25 years ago.

[flybouy]

The Smithsonian is a treasure, I could spend a week there. If you have any intrest in flight, then you need to check out the Smithsonian Air & Space museum out by Dullas Airport.

[jfk69]

Every time I went to DC to see my wife before we were married I spent at least 2 days at the Air and Space museum. And it still wasn’t enough!

[flyingjack]

Wife/I been flying small planes since 1981; so, we'll plan on Air & Space Museum early.
Thanks

[JRTJH]

There are two parts to the Smithsonian avaition complex. First if the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum "near the Capitol" and the other is out near Dulles IAP called they Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Both are a "must see" for anyone really interested in aviation history.

When my DW worked in DC, I'd fly up on the weekends from Louisiana. Arrive Friday evening, spend the entire weekend at one of the museums and the next weekend continue the museum until I got through both. It took 8 weekends of "all day Saturday" to get through the Udvar-Hazy Center and I spent at least 16 weekends downtown and still didn't see everything I wanted to see.

The downtown museum is crowded most of the time, so some exhibits have a line to even get close to see them. Out at Udvar-Hazy, I don't think I ever had to "share a front row spot" more than a couple times and there were never any lines, even on "open cockpit day".....

[Merlinmurph]

Niagra for a week, huh?

Maybe it's just me, but I call Niagra a one-and-done kind of place. Go to both sides as the CA side has a great view, but after a day, you're done.

If it were me, I'd take some of those Niagra days and tack them into the Finger Lakes.

The ME coast is beautiful, we hit it every year, usually more down east like Wiscasset, Camden and Acadia.

Everybody is different, depends what you want.

Enjoy your trip!

[gearhead]

We are overdue to get back to the DC area. Betty wants to see the DAR Constitution Hall. The Richmond NASCAR track is her favorite, she has ancestors at Lithicum Walk Park, and I still need to explore the Northern Neck more. Belle Isle State Park is pretty good.
There are COE parks around Nashville and just south of Memphis in north Mississippi.

[JBM3M]

The whole Smithsonian including the Dulles museum, will use up 2 full weeks if you are really into that. Just the Dulles museum is a full 2 days in my book and far less crowded.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by JBM3M

The whole Smithsonian including the Dulles museum, will use up 2 full weeks if you are really into that. Just the Dulles museum is a full 2 days in my book and far less crowded.

I agree, a few hrs just won't satisfy aviation enthusiasts. They've just about finished moving the "Silver Hill" restoration operation there at https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/102994...general-public in Dullas.

[flyingjack]

Good stuff; thanks everyone. Will be a good trip.

[flyingjack]

One of our traveling partners said resent info is many COE parks were badly damaged by flood. We're upping our search next week.

[Dmeyer7681]

We live in New York, the American side of the falls is not great, the Canadian side is better. I agree with the person who said less days at the falls and more to the finger lakes, the finger lakes wine trail is great.

[flyingjack]

Dmeyer, is the wine trail an actual trail; maybe ebikes OR a car route for checking out different vineyards? Either way is good, I'll research further. Thank you

[jasin1]

Originally Posted by flyingjack

Dmeyer, is the wine trail an actual trail; maybe ebikes OR a car route for checking out different vineyards? Either way is good, I'll research further. Thank you

If it were me I’d stay a few days maybe at Niagara …slide over to Watkins glen state park for a few days possibly a week then I’d shoot up to Alexandria Bay New York (Thousand Islands) and spend a week,rent a pontoon boat and explore the area. Wife and I got back a mont ago and love the area.

Then I’d Take a drive across New Hampshire to Mt Washington and the Cog railway for a day or so then to Bar Harbor Maine and do Acadia National Park and the Bee Hive trail
Few days there then down the coast to Camden and Rockland for a few days for a schooner charter then down to orchard beach if that’s your prerogative then either come down the coast thru Connecticut and Rhode Island on 95 to the Dc area or to beat traffic I’d go west across Maine then a little South to Brimfield Massachusetts to Brookfield winery harvest host and then south to Dc area

I wouldn’t miss Thousand Islands if it were me

[Dmeyer7681]

No it is route 414 which runs from Watkins Glen at the southern part of the Lake North, lots of Wineries, distilleries and Breweries along this route !!

[spade117]

Yeah, there are multiple wineries and such around most of the finger lakes. A vehicle to get from one to another is recommended.

Do a google image search for "Finger Lakes Wine Trail" and that will give you a good idea of the vastness of all the wineries.

[flyingjack]

Thanks, I did the search and looks like we'll be doing some wine drinking in the Finger Lakes area.
Thanks again