Northeast Summer Destinations: Close to my heart....
Regardless, though, after a beautiful drive through Carmel and Big Sur a couple of summers ago with Marian, I've often wondered why so many Americans are adamant on leaving the country, when we have so many amazingly beautiful places in our very own country. I mean, seriously- you can drive to Turkey in 3 days from Holland, but you can't even get across the United States in that amount of time. We have a LOT to explore!
This article in the NY Times caught my eye because it has several places listed in the "Top 25 Northeast Destinations" that are incredibly close to my heart. Just to name a few? Maine Beaches, New London (where I went to Connecticut College!), Buck's County, PA, the 1000 islands (holla James!), St. Michael's, Maryland (where I grew up sailing!) and the Delaware Coastline (hi Mom!).
Maybe next time people are packing their kids and their Xanax they'll look at a local road trip instead! (Oh, and yes, I may be writing this from Holland, but remember- I've BEEN to these places!! And I can't wait to explore more when I'm home!)
And anyone wonders why I live on a beach, next to the ocean? I can't imagine life without water!!!
25 Northeast Getaways
Maine’s Southern Beaches
Barely more than an hour’s drive from Boston, the Maine coast just north of New Hampshire has something for everybody’s lists of favorites. At Cape Neddick, a quintessential New England lighthouse. At Ogunquit, one of the most beautiful beaches on the Atlantic. A glimpse of the old seacoast life at York Village and York Harbor. Lobster rolls and summer theater, pounding surf and quiet coves, laid-back, family-friendly and gay-friendly — it’s all here. The discovery has been made, and you won’t lack for company. But sit for a while on a bench along the cliff walk called the Marginal Way, snag a waterfront cafe table, or stake out a patch of the wide, white sand, and the sea works all its old, relaxing charm.
25 Northeast Getaways
The Thousand Islands
In the 40-mile swath that the St. Lawrence River cuts between upstate New York and Canada from Lake Ontario downstream to Cape Vincent, N.Y., there really are 1,000 islands, of all shapes and many sizes. The area is a favorite spot for fishing and boating; rentals and outfitters are available if you lack your own gear. Classic and antique wooden boats, a signature of the river life, shine at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, N.Y. (750 Mary Street; 315-686-4104; www.abm.org; $15), which holds its annual boat show Aug. 1 to 3. Can't make it that weekend? Anytime this summer, head to the museum docks to board the 107-foot Gilded Age houseboat La Duchesse, row an elegant rented St. Lawrence skiff or feel the spray during a 45-minute ride on a triple-cockpit runabout speedboat.
25 Northeast Getaways
St. Michaels, Md
Here's how to walk around the harbor in St. Michaels, the old Chesapeake Bay town where Beltway insiders and romance-seeking couples mingle on weekends. Start at the south end with bloody marys ($10, made with clam juice) on the screened porch at the St. Michaels Harbour Inn, Marina & Spa (410-745-9001). Then walk through narrow shady streets, admiring the clapboard houses and poking in at the Talbot Street shops, to Foxy's (410-745-4340), an outdoor bar with martinis from $9 to $19 and beers starting at $2.25 to go with lunch. Next stop is the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (www.cbmm.org) a sprawling campus filled with old boats that will keep you busy until cocktail time at the Inn at Perry Cabin (410-745-2200), where the cosmopolitan is $12.50 and the Adirondack chairs on the waterfront lawn are free. Now that you're relaxed, take another day to rent a bike and ride the quiet, level roads, ogling Georgian manor houses, or drive 14 miles to Tilghman Island to go fishing or kayaking.
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