I think I need to take a walkabout
 

Anyone know any interesting walking tours in the states. I could easily see doing Tuscany, Provence or Ireland, walking from inn to inn, with baggage service. Doing 5, 10, and 20 mile days interspersed. I could see doing something with and without a group, the flexiblitiy to head out at sunrise and meet the group, or not at days end.

But, during these trying economic times, I would like to consider a US walkabout.

Does anyone have suggestions of areas of beautiful scenery and lodging in those parameters? A few years ago I did the 60mile Breast Cancer Walk, and don't have it in me to repeat the experience. But would just like a nice area to walkabout and explore.

Please feel free to also suggest out of US destinations and land logistic companies.

Thanks for any ideas.
This long hard winter has me craving a long walk.
g

Hey 'lou...
Just watch out for short piers. ;)

A nice walk down to DC along the CnO Canal from say the Great Falls?

Hi gyppielou---we are doing a short one (3 days) in April, north of San Francisco in the redwoods and to the beaches, from Golden Gate Bridge to near Pt. Reyes. I'll report back. . .

Also, there is one along the Rogue River in Oregon, from inn to inn, that you can only do in May.

There's an inn to inn trek in Colorado (Estes Park to Allenspark). It's a bit pricey (for me at least) but I don't know your budget so maybe it would work.

http://www.footpathsoftheworld.com/estes.htm

There's also the 10th Mountain Division huts in Colorado. Look at this website:
http://www.huts.org/index.html

It's geared towards backpackers in the summer. About the only way to do this with 'baggage' service is to take a guided llama trek. Click on the Guides link and there is a link to Paragon Guides - they're the only one that has llamas to carry your stuff.

Thank you so much for your ideas. They are all avenues to explore.

Remember Forrest? Well this is more like crawl gyppie crawl!!!

I am just craving the open land and our feet and a little place with plumbing at days end, a nice meal and nice people and new vistas and trails and roads tomorrow.

Kal, I never walk off a short pier without my snorkel gear!!!

Probably not what you're looking for, but what came to my mind was the High Sierra Loop in Yosemite high country.

http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accomoda...erraCamps.aspx

Bill---I thought of the High Sierra Camps too, but they aren't open until July, and you know how hard the reservations to get---first the lottery (already done), then wait to see in May what is left over to cobble together a hike.

But if you are interested in that, gyppielou, and can wait til July for your walkabout, I can explain how to go about putting it together.

Same with Tenth Mountain huts---that wouldn't be until summer, unless you want to ski. They are heavily booked up in winter, but easier to reserve in the summer. gorgeous country---we did it on mountain bikes.

I found links to the Claifornia inn to in walsk in Marin county, and posted them on th eloune thread. But here is the compnay that offers the treks:

http://www.winecountrytrekking.com/the-treks/index.php

Hi enzian,

Yeah, when doing the High Country, I prefer just getting a reservation at Tuolumne Meadows and just doing day hikes from that base camp. Getting a reservation at TM is hard enough!

<<<Getting a reservation at TM is hard enough!>>>

I'll say. We've never succeeded on that one (th eLodge), but we have scored reservations at the various camps, one way or another.

They post a list of last-minute openings on a board at TML. That has worked for us a few times---including Vogelsang, our favorite.

Unfortunately in the U.S., I think most people would think the idea of walking all day to a destination a bit crazy. They would think, "that is why we have cars!"

So I think it will be difficult to find a company to do such a thing, but if you are willing to plan your own tour, I have to recommend northern Michigan to you.

The northern end of the lower peninsula has beautiful harbor towns and wineries and unique destinations like Mackinac Island and Sleeping Bear Dunes.

The upper peninsula is more rugged, but with amazing scenery such as multiple waterfalls and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore along Lake Superior.

It is a beautiful, fairly undiscovered part of the country. I don't know if the distances would make walking too much, but perhaps you could combine your walking with a car at times. Perhaps someone would drop your car at your destination. You would definitely need a car if you flew into Chicago.

Anyway, you should spend a few minutes researching it. Northern Michigan in the summer is why we Michiganders put up with southern Michigan all winter. It is just a glorious place to see.

Plus, if you are coming from Europe, flying into Chicago would cut about 3 or 4 hours off a flight to California.

Thank you kellie

we will be travelling from Boston area,

michegan looks like something to look into!

Thanks

I think because you used the words "states" and "walkabout" I assumed you were European. I can't wait until we can have some little country flags next to our screen names. I would love gender symbols too. I tend to make so many assumptions about people!

But yes, check out Michigan. The midwest is brimming with incredibly nice helpful folk that would try to work your trip out. I forgot to add that I believe there are some lighthouse b&b's along the Lake Superior coast.

Type in the words "adventure" and "tour". I know there are many hiking guides up there and maybe they could put the walking tour together for you.