Help with Summer Plans in NH, VT or Maine?

[Western]

OK, I need help from all of you from NH, VT or Maine. I need to use up an RCI timeshare in May, June or July 2006. I was thinking of taking the kids up (we live in PA) to NH, VT or Maine and using the condo as a basecamp for day hikes, bike rides, canoeing, etc. I have a couple of questions for the locals of those states that frequent this forum.
Which towns, or even better, resorts/condos would you recommend checking out? There seems to be good availability in Smugglers, Killington and Stowe - actually most of the ski areas in NH and VT - during those months. I'm looking for easy access to hiking trails, biking trails (think fire roads - not technical stuff), a river/creek/lake and a nearby town/village to stop into.
Also, please remind me when black fly season normally hits. I'm guessing it affects those areas but haven't spent much time up there in those months.
I'll have my wife, a 2 1/2 year old and 9 month old with me. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[brianW]

A co-worker has a share at Smugglers Notch in the summer and loves it. She has had it for 9 years and her two teens still love going with the family there. It sounds more like a summer camp for the family were there are kids, adults, teens anfd family activities to do. mt. biking, hiking, mt. boardig (skateboarding down ski slopes) and kayaking to name a few.

 

[skiguy]

A co-worker has a share at Smugglers Notch in the summer and loves it. She has had it for 9 years and her two teens still love going with the family there. It sounds more like a summer camp for the family were there are kids, adults, teens anfd family activities to do. mt. biking, hiking, mt. boardig (skateboarding down ski slopes) and kayaking to name a few.

I would agree with brianW. Smugglers definitely caters towards the family market. Also Stowe is close by which has alot to offer too.

 

[roadtripper]

My suggestion would be Lincoln, NH. I'm not positive if there is timeshare around Loon Mtn, but I would assume so? There is a ton of stuff to do within 20 minutes of Lincoln.

Hiking:
~ Franconia Falls
~ Mt. Pemigewasset
~ The Flume
~ Lonesome Lake
~ Greeley Ponds
~ Sabbaday Falls
~ Potash & Hedgehog Mtn's
~ Boulder Loop Trail
~ The Lost River

Swimming:
~ Franconia Falls
~ Lower Falls (on the Kang)
~ Echo Lake State Park

Other Stuff:
~ Clark's Trained Bears
~ Whale's Tail Water Park
~ Pirates Cove Mini-Golf
~ Franconia Notch Bike Path (paved bike path)
~ Cannon Tramway
~ Lafayette Dinner Train

Good Restaurants:
~ The Common Man, Lincoln (American)
~ Woodstock Inn, N. Woodstock (American)
~ Fratello's, Lincoln (Italian)

Also, for the most part, you should be OK for black flies after July 1st. This has been my experience, although you can run into a few much later on than that. They are only a large nuisance, in my opinion, during late May and throughout June.

- Greg

 

[Chip]

OK, I need help from all of you from NH, VT or Maine. I need to use up an RCI timeshare in May, June or July 2006. I was thinking of taking the kids up (we live in PA) to NH, VT or Maine and using the condo as a basecamp for day hikes, bike rides, canoeing, etc. I have a couple of questions for the locals of those states that frequent this forum.
Which towns, or even better, resorts/condos would you recommend checking out? There seems to be good availability in Smugglers, Killington and Stowe - actually most of the ski areas in NH and VT - during those months. I'm looking for easy access to hiking trails, biking trails (think fire roads - not technical stuff), a river/creek/lake and a nearby town/village to stop into.
Also, please remind me when black fly season normally hits. I'm guessing it affects those areas but haven't spent much time up there in those months.
I'll have my wife, a 2 1/2 year old and 9 month old with me. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

I realize you didn't ask about NY, but with a young family in tow there is a lot in and around Lake George. You can rent power boats, pontoon boats, canoes. There is nice hiking around the lake and you can do an excursion to Lake Placid/Adirondacks. We island camp. We have friends that have a time share and they go back and forth between island camping, the time share and Lake George Village (shops, restaurants, amusement parks).

 

[marty]

If you are looking for something a bit quieter, I would suggest the Rangeley Lakes in Western Maine. Here is a new resort that folks are raving about:
Rangeley Lake Resort. To see what is available for renting, select the Cabin Rentals link. Suggest going after July 10 to ensure black flies are gone.

The Rangeley Lakes are really special. You can rent boats, canoes and kayaks. There is excellent hiking in the Rangeley/Stratton area, as well as lots of bike trails. There are great opportunities for moose watching, too.

Regards,
Marty

 

[audrey]

Like Marty, I don't believe there's anyplace better than Rangeley. But aren't you limited to the RCI resorts?

 

[Western]

RCI it is..

Yeah, Unfortunatly I'm limited to RCI and that one appears to be an Interval resort. It's looks like what I'm after though.
So it sounds like mid to late July to avoid the black flies. How late in May could I go to avoid the start of the flies?

 

[Jim lombard]

So it sounds like mid to late July to avoid the black flies. How late in May could I go to avoid the start of the flies?

It depends on the year, last May I did several hikes without running into many at all but we had snow and cold too. The first of June was when I started to notice them last year but they weren't bad until we did Moosilauke on June 11th. We were running down the Carriage road it was so bad. Sometimes we encounter them in July but it's usually on higher wooded summits like Field and Waumbek.

 

[audrey]

The trouble with May is, if it's a wet spring, Rangeley can be wallowing in mud. Sometimes iceout doesn't come till May. If May starts out warm, you'll have blackflies by the middle of the month.

Although I'm happy to go there any time, I'm not sure I'd choose May to take the family.

The first 2 weeks of July are when I'm there, and the good news is, it almost never gets hot and steamy. In fact, now and then we turn the heat on!

 

[Mike P.]

My in-laws have a week at Interval also, March though.

Most of the places mentioned above can be reached. May until the 15th or so will likely have snow above 3000 feet so some hiking may be limited. Snow around 4000 feet can linger into June.

The colder the spring the later the black flies, the lower the snow. After 7/4 the bugs are beginning to recede, if a dry spring, won't be too bad.

Indoor/outdoor pool & I think tennis (we never play in March) tons of restaurants, StoryLand (the youngest may be too young to enoy it but the older child should have fun)

 

[Grumpy]

Of the VT choices you listed, and your list of preferred activities, I’d be partial to the Stowe and Smugglers Notch area.

There’s plenty in the way of mountain hiking available immediately at hand, both in the Green Mountain Range and the Worcester Range. Stowe has a wonderful recreational pathway for bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, etc.. The area also is within fairly short and easy drive time of extensive additional hiking, biking and boating opportunities in the northern half of the state.

You should be well out of black flies by mid July, but weather can get a bit warm (or maybe not!) in that area in mid summer.

G.