small town life
 

We're looking at spending time this summer in or near a small, quaint and beautiful New England or Western town that isn't overrun with tourists. Ideally near or on water (river lake or sea). What are towns that you've been through that have captured your imagination, and why. Many thanks. Kathy

Kathy<BR>this is the Most Dumbass question I have read here in some time!<BR>Can you not even have one thought in your head about your own trip?<BR>The East or the West ?<BR>What body of water would you prefer?<BR>Is your head that completely empty????<BR>How do you manage to get out of bed in the morning?

Dear Sheesh -<BR> Wow! What a rude insulting person you are! Kathy's question hardly calls for such an obnoxious response.<BR> I hope she wasn't posting here for the first time - uncalled for comments like yours can turn people away.<BR> You must be pretty unhappy with your own life to respond in such an over reactive way.<BR> Peace.

Actually, this is an interesting question. It's hard to think of any lovely towns near the water that aren't overrun by tourists...Maybe Arch Cape south of Canon Beach, on the Oregon Coast....Anything in New England, East Coasties?

Sheesh obviously isn't 'getting any' lately and needs a little TLC. Poor soul.<BR><BR><BR>Kathy, here are some great suggestions from places I've visited:<BR><BR>Lake Tahoe (yes there are some tourists but not hordes, and you can find some very quiet lodgings and great summer hiking...scenery not too far inferior to Switzerland in some places)<BR><BR>Acadia Park on the Maine coast--some of the most beautiful unspoiled scenery in the US and again, has some tourists in summer but you can definitely hide out in local areas without being overrun. It's not Disney).<BR><BR>North coast of Lake Superior in Minnesota, Duluth to Grand Marais--very beautiful and unspoiled.<BR><BR>Orcas Islands next to Vancouver. Yes, summer is tourist season, but you can get away very nicely in the B&amp;B's/cabins, etc surrounded by beautiful waterscapes and islandscapes.<BR><BR>Galena Illinois, overlooking Mississippi River from high bluffs. Quiet, nice lodging available.<BR><BR>Problem is that summer is peak tourist season for most of the nice water-bordering sites in the US.

<BR>Sheesh is correct. What a dumb ass post.

Bob and sheesh are the same underendowed short man syndrome guys who come here to try to build their small self esteems.

Probably a teenager, I don't think an adult would act like such a degenerate.<BR><BR>Sorry Kathy, I wish I had help for you but I live on the West Coast. The only smallish town to visit on the coast I can think of is Eureka, California.

small towns with no tourists means nothing to do and no restaurants to eat in.

Warner NH. It's on a river and is only a short distance from Lake Sunapee which isn't as crowded as Lake Winnipesaukee. It's quaint with a small downtown at the base of Mt Kearsarge. The local independent bookstore offers a variety of lectures and music. A variety of artists, craftsmen and authors live in the town but there's a good mixture of all kinds of people. There's a farmer's market on Saturday mornings. The small grocery store in town closed and was replaced with a store that sells solar equipment but a large grocery was built on the outskirts of town. There's a variety of restaurants in nearby towns plus some colleges. The state capital is a short drive. You can get to the ocean in about an hour plus find superb restaurants in Portsmouth. I think the town is a good blend of intellectual and agricultural. There's an active 4-H group and you wouldn't be surprised to see kids training their oxen or riding their horses.

Hey. I think this post sounds like research, or worse, a journalist invading OUR Fodors. I apologize in advance if Kathy is a legit. reseracher. <BR><BR>There are plenty of books in the library which will help answer this question. Best of Luck<BR><BR>

Maybe Mendocino, California. Or better yet, St. Andrews-by-the-Sea in New Brunswick, Canada just over the Maine boarder.

Let me see, according to some who think that if you speak your mind, tell things the way they are , you are physically challenged in some way or unhappy, so I will contribute something to this lame and no doubt simple minded persons question to prove that I too can encorage stupidity on Fodors:<BR>New England-Maine, Connecticut, New York,all have coastal towns and lakes, even a river or two.So there you have the Northeast and a body of water.<BR>Western towns: California, Oregon and Washington all have lakes, rivers and a coast line.<BR>If one goes to most of these locations in the dead of winter, one is usually able to find less tourists.<BR>THis is the laziest question so far. There has not been one bit of homework done-Kathy thinks that if she posts this, that all will answer and direct her to the vacation of her dreams, with no work and thought of her own. Then she cannot take the blame when the plans go awry.<BR>

Sheesh...I never knew anyone should do homework before posting a question?It's good we have you to correct us all. In fact, the only useless posts on this thread are yours. I think,for you,it's an over-achievement to even name northeast and western states. I'd tell you to get a life,but that would be a waste on a person like you.

<BR>Don't you consider looking up something in a guide book or researching your own trip-homework? Most people do. <BR>I appreciate everyones concern about my sex life and body parts, they are doing quite well, thank you. <BR>This IS my life, I sit here and read posts and see how stupid people are all day. Then I see how some people answer, I especially like the ones with the really holier than thou attitudes. <BR>(and your answer to Kathy was????)<BR>Makes my day!

Where can I go?

Holier than thou attitude? Are you kidding? Your first response and all since that have exhibited just that. You after all called this a &quot;dumbass question&quot;. Lets search your name and see all the brilliant threads you post. Or are you a troll hiding behind the name &quot;sheesh&quot;?

No stupid, Sheesh is my real name.

Here's another, Kathy:<BR><BR>Little Compton, RI--get there soon because eventually it will be overrun with tourists.<BR><BR>Please the ignore the noncontructive posts on this thread.

LOL! I notice that Kathy never has anything to say.<BR>

Duluth Minnesota. Its a beautiful city on a thousand foot hill on the largest lake in the world. Its not a tourist town and it boarders a northern forest with 1000 lakes. No need to go to the east or west.

Hey Sheesh,<BR><BR> Maybe Kathy has done her homework and is now seeking opinions to see how those in the know feel about her conclusions. Maybe she did not want to influence any responses by disclosing what she already has found out.<BR><BR> Warner, NH is a good one. Close to Dartmouth College, Vermont, but a drive to the coast will take closer to 2 hours.<BR><BR>

Kathy, there are actually many lakes in New England that are not too touristy. Many have nearby inns or b&amp;b's. Here are some lakes I know of:<BR>Vermont - Lake Morey, Lake Fairlee, Caspian lake, Echo Lake, Silver Lake<BR>New Hampshire - Lake Sunapee, Newfound Lake, Goose pond, Winapasaukee (the north shore is less touristy)<BR>I'm sure there are many in Maine also.

Folks -- sorry not have responded sooner, but was away. Thank you all for your guidance. Warner, St. Andrews and oother places mentioned have all been noted. Yes, I am a first time user, and was frankly taken aback by the angry response. Why a detailed question about lodging in a particular town somehow has greater import than querying about a vanishing way of life seems peculiar to me. We've traveled a fair amaount, and more often than not those spots noted in the guidebooks are overrun with tourists. Therefore, I decided to turn to many of you out there. Frankly, the &quot;where&quot; of it is less important than the sensibility of the place. And that's why I asked the question so broadly. I appreciate your help and your support. Kathy

Two of our favorite places are The Bay View Inn in Petosky Michigan and the Castine Inn in Castine Maine. Both are near water, small towns with wonderful shopping nearby and great dining in the inns.

I think the OP probably completed her trip about 4 years ago.

Hi Kathy,

I'm sure you'll get many helpful suggestions.

Don't be concered about rude posters. This happens ever year when school get out.

Dayle, school wasn't out in January 2003 when Kathy posted this thread.

:-d