Let’s get this over with as soon as possible. It is true that you need to arrange a vacation to the Appalachian Mountains this year. According to Sandra Marra, president and CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, “millions of people from all over the world visit the Appalachian Mountains every year.” “Some of the greatest recreational opportunities and breathtaking conservation areas in the world may be found in these historic mountains, including the 2,194-mile Appalachian Trail, which we are lucky enough to manage and preserve. Throughout the area, there are hundreds of historic towns and locations that serve as entry points for tourists to experience these landscapes for a single day or for weeks at a time while also contributing to their long-term preservation.”
And, as Marra pointed out, the Appalachians are accessible for millions of tourists because many of America’s biggest towns are just a short drive away. But this region of driving directions America is more than just the well-known path that passes through it. Here are a few special places and areas in the Appalachian Mountains to visit this year.
North Carolina
Being the only state wholly contained inside the Appalachian mountain range, we’re giving the well called Mountain State a well-deserved solo section. It has every bit of elegance you’d expect from the well-known song “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver. The state is home to picturesque whistle-stops, empty parks, and picture-perfect panoramas. Visit areas like the New River Gorge National Park & Preserve, Harpers Ferry Historical National Park, and famous locations like Seneca Rocks and Dolly Sods Wilderness, both in the Monongahela National Forest, for a hike, bike ride, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, or picnic.
Make Adventures on the Gorge in the vicinity of Fayetteville your base camp for your West Virginia getaway. Accommodations at the resort range from luxurious cabins and glamping sites to basic cabins and campers. No matter where you stay, be sure to sample West Virginia’s Appalachian cuisine, where the emphasis is on fresh ingredients since the state has the greatest proportion of family-owned farms in the country.
County Allegany, Maryland
Grab your helmets, cyclists, and get ready to bike. Make Frostburg, Maryland, the “Mountain Side of Maryland,” your home base. Frostburg is in Allegany County. The Great Allegany Passage (also known as the Gap Path), a biking/hiking trail that links Cumberland, Maryland, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is easily accessible from the picturesque hamlet of 8,550 citizens.
The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad’s excursion train runs from Cumberland to Frostburg if you’d rather forgo your hiking boots or bike. We also like Tracks and Yaks’ brand-new rail bike excursion, where you take a guided trip from the Frostburg Depot to Cash Valley before returning to Frostburg by shuttle buses. These custom-made two- or four-person rail bikes are available for rent. Plan your trip around the annual Appalachian Festival, which takes place in September at Frostburg University and has a full schedule of movies, music, dance, storytelling, and other events.
Due to Allegany County’s emphasis on outdoor recreation, the summer’s warmth and longer days make it an especially pleasant season to go there. Be sure to stop through Green Ridge State Forest, which has around 80 miles of established hiking and bike trails, as you go to GAP Trail. Another fantastic way to take in the area’s splendor, including the abundance of trees and the Potomac River, is to take the Green Ridge State Forest Driving Tour. And maybe make a pit stop along the Allegany County Ice Cream Trail for a few scoops.
North Carolina’s High Country
The High Country, a region in North Carolina’s mountains, is bursting with enjoyment in the summer and autumn. Wherever you go, be sure to view Grandfather Mountain. The picture-perfect tiny communities of Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Blowing Rock, Boone, West Jefferson, and Sparta along the Blue Ridge Parkway each have their own particular charms. The Blue Ridge Parkway will be your route as you go to this stunning summit covered in unique plant varieties. If you don’t have a fear of heights, cross the Grandfather Mountain Mile High Bridge while you’re there.
Beech Mountain is around 45 minutes distant. Before spending the next day floating in a tube down the New River, one of the oldest rivers in the world, with High Mountain Expeditions, set up camp in West Jefferson at a vacation rental like Lazy Daze Cabin. Go to Roan Mountain, which is roughly 40 minutes away from Grandfather Mountain, to join the Appalachian Trail.
Kentucky’s Kentucky Wildlands
Even though it may not be well-known, The Kentucky Wildlands ought to be. Plan your route up from Cumberland Gap National Historic Park this summer. This location is well-known in American colonial history for serving as a vital route across the lower central Appalachians. Once there, stroll along the Chained Rock Trail at Pine Mountain State Resort Park.
The Country Music Highway, a section of U.S. 23 that runs from Ashland, Kentucky, to the Virginia border, is also where legends like Chris Stapleton and Loretta Lynn were born. After visiting Butcher Holler, the birthplace of Loretta Lynn, take in Kentucky’s best season: lake season. The greatest way to experience Jenny Wiley State Resort Park is in a pontoon boat that may be rented at Dewey Lake. After wasting the day away, travel 15 minutes to Prestonsburg and see the city’s downtown and Passage Rail Trail, which has a unique school bus bridge.
The history of coal mining in the region is interesting to note, even if outdoor activity predominates in these bucolic areas. Visit Portal 31 in Harlan County, Kentucky’s first exhibition coal mine, to learn more about one such coal camp that housed individuals from 38 different countries in the early 20th century. Last but not least, don’t leave without seeing some of the area’s breathtaking waterfalls, such the one along Bad Branch Trail, which is approximately 25 minutes from Portal 31.
New York’s Dutchess and Ulster Counties
The A.T. is unexpectedly accessible to New Yorkers. Ulster and Dutchess counties are among our most prized selections.
In Ulster County’s portion of the Appalachian Mountains, you may find Mohonk Preserve, Minnewaska State Park, and Sam’s Point Preserve (stay at Mohonk Mountain House and you’ll thank us later). A diverse array of events, such as the Blueberry Festival in Ellenville and the Hudson Valley RibFest in New Paltz, are often held in August.
If you’re looking for a place to stay outside, camp at the Samuel F. Pryor III Shawangunk Gateway Campground near Gardiner and then ride a bike or stroll along the 22-mile Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, which follows the route of the old Wallkill Valley Railroad. We also advise visiting Huguenot Street, a 10-acre National Historic Landmark District in New Paltz, New York, as well as the Mohonk Testimonial Gatehouse, which serves as a starting point for hiking and biking trails.
Jump into a nearby swimming hole like Split Rock Coxing Kill or Tillson Lake in Minnewaska State Park if all this exploring has you perspiring.
