East coast summer vacation ideas
 

My best friend & I are planning a trip in June to celebrate my 50th birthday. We're in SC,& since we're limited to 5 days, we're looking primarily east coast (no cruises, no amusement parks, no 5 days at the beach - skin cancer survivor). I'd like to find a place with some beautiful scenery (amateur photog), fun things to do, and interesting tours or excursions. I'd really appreciate any suggestions!

How about Asheville?

I'd go to New England given your preferences for scenery and no beach, etc.

Are you driving or flying?

Also depends on what's meant by "scenery." Are you talking trees and hiking and parks, or historic buildings and the like? Both could be interesting to photograph.

Asheville is too close - been there a dozen times. We don't mind flying (although I haven't been on a plane in 25 years!!) We just don't want to spend a big chunk of our 5 days traveling to get there. As for scenery, I'd prefer nature - mountains, trees, lakes, beaches - any or all would be great.
Padams451 - any particular places in New England that you had in mind? That's a big area, and I don't know much about it. Thanks!

Fly to Portland, Maine and drive to Acadia National Park.

Fly to Manchester, NH and drive to Mt. Washington, take a ride on the cog railway or hike up. Check the other Presidents and then go over to Vermont for a couple of days.

Cooperstown, NY
Lake Waramaug/New Preston/Kent/Litchfield, CT
Williamstown, MA

I'm familiar with Cooperstown, but I'm not familiar with the other places. What do they have to offer? Also, what about Virginia or upstate NY? Anybody know of any good spots there?

Another vote for New England. I would say with only 5 days you would need to choose between southern New England (which has more history but still some great scenery) and northern New England (which has greater scenery but still some history). For example you could fly into Providence RI, spend a day or two in the Newport RI area, a day in Plymouth MA or Cape Cod, and round it out with a couple of days in Boston. BTW, is CBWest your initials or where you went to school?

It's my initials, which is good because my school's initials are "FU" (Furman University) :)

Fly into NYC and drive up along the Huson River...beautiful scenery and historical sites.

Or, fly into D.C. and drive into Virginia and West Virginia...Harpers Ferry for history and scenery...Berkeley Springs W.V. for a spa experience, quaint shops and again scenery.

I'd say New England - Maine Coast, New Hampshire & Vermont mountains.
For something really unique, consider Quebec City and the surrounding countryside. Almost like being in France!

CBWest, am thinking there are some very good suggestions listed here to get you started. To the New England list above, I'll add a driving trip through various parts of Vermont, or a trip to the Berkshires (Williamstown is located here, as are Tanglewood, Lenox, Stockbridge, and Pittsfield) or the Pioneer Valley area (Amherst, Northampton, Historic Deerfield, with Old Sturbridge Village a reasonable drive away).

A good next step might involve some research on this forum or in some guidebooks (Fodor's or Frommer's, or their website analogs) to see what strikes your fancy best.

An thinking we'll probably be best able to help out after you've narrowed things down a bit, maybe put up a sample itinerary or the like.

Good luck!

I'll suggest something different, although it doesn't really fit the type of scenery you mention. What about the Brandywine Valley area in Pennsylvania? It's really quite a lovely area, with river and gardens to photograph, You can visit Winterthur, Longwood Gardens, the Brandywine museum (to see the Wyeth paintings), and several other historic homes.

Fly into Manchester NH. Rent a car, drive to Portsmouth NH. Tour Strawbery Banke and take a harbor cruise. Head to NH's White Mountains esp if your June visit coincides with the lupine festival. Maine also has some beautiful stands of wild lupines in the mid-coast area but that would be too much driving. Visit Castle in the Clouds, cruise Lake Winnipesaukee, take a gondola ride up Cannon Mountain, walk the Flume.

Wow, these ideas all sound wonderful!! Makes me wish we had more time. My friend and I are getting together this weekend to discuss what we've come up with so far...hopefully, I'll have a better idea after that and can narrow it down. You guys are terrific!

You might google litchfield hills visiitors bureau
From "personal experience" I can recommend The Boulders in New Preston,CT (On Lake Waramaug) and the
West Side Grill in beautiful Litchfield, CT