Your Guide to Adventure in Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York
MAINE
KOA camping in Maine
Bar Harbor
The magic of Bar Harbor...romance, adventure, the rock-bound coast and soaring granite cliffs. From the stonewall-lined and tree-covered road leading you into our village, to the sweeping vistas from atop Cadillac Mountain, there is a special mystique to Bar Harbor. Nestled on the east side of Mt. Desert Island, surrounded by Acadia National Park. Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park have a wide variety of offerings for visitors. There truly is something for everyone.
Bar Harbor offers a wide array of activities from the most relaxed to the most rigorous, dining for all tastes and budgets and shopping in our unique shops and galleries. Be sure to plan enough time to enjoy our area and consider using us as a base of operations to see all of Downeast Maine. We are only a short distance to other famous attractions such as Campobello Island, Franklin Roosevelt's summer home, the Schoodic Peninsula, the mainland part of Acadia National Park, and other islands, coastal attractions and nature based attractions. Once the summer playground of wealthy and famous Americans, Bar Harbor was celebrated throughout the world as a quiet, beautiful resort village, worlds away from the hustle and bustle of New York, Boston, and Paris. Today, the "summer people" still come to our island paradise, but many visitors also arrive for the brilliant fall foliage.
Saco/Portland
Why are New England's hottest chefs heading to Portland? Maybe it's that dash of big-city chic combined with the classic allure of coastal Maine. Check out the retro amusements at Old Orchard Beach, known as the "Coney Island of Maine." For great photo ops, head north to Cape Elizabeth to see Portland Head Light, Maine's oldest lighthouse. Poke around Portland's unique shops and eateries, housed in renovated warehouse spaces. And who can resist a boat cruise (perhaps with an island clambake) offered by captains along Commercial Street in Portland's Old Port district?
Augusta
Maine's gold-domed state capitol building is the elegant centerpiece here, made of native granite and designed by noted architect Charles Bulfinch. Tour the flag-bedecked rotunda and drop by the Maine State Museum for a peek at the Pine Tree State's past and present. A short drive south, to Freeport, will get you to another Maine institution, L.L. Bean's flagship store.
MASSACHUSETTS
KOA camping in Massachusetts
Concord
Literary lovers always find their way to Author's Ridge at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, gravesite of Thoreau, Emerson, Hawthorne, and the Alcotts. Tour Minuteman National Historical Park-spanning Lexington, Concord, and Lincoln-to soak up some 1775 spirit. Stand on North Bridge, listen closely, and you may hear echoes of the "shot heard 'round the world."
Middleboro/Plymouth
Set your time machine for "Plymouth Colony, 17th century," and enter the world of Plimoth Plantation, where costumed interpreters take on the character of actual Pilgrims and perform the chores of everyday life in 1627. (They're happy to chat, and will look at you with bemusement if you mention, say, the Internet or MTV!) Also on the grounds is the Wampanoag Homesite, providing a glimpse into another fascinating culture. See the famous rock (mostly buried underground now), tour the Mayflower II, a replica of the famous ship, and take a whale watch cruise out of Plymouth Harbor.
Webster/Sturbridge
Parades, musket shoots, children's games on the green-these are among the scenes awaiting guests at Old Sturbridge Village, a living history museum that recreates life in a rural New England town, circa the 1830s. Daily activities change with the seasons: spring brings sheep-shearing, autumn means a turkey shoot.
NEW YORK
KOA camping in New York
Ausable Chasm
A walk along the chasm's rim inspires "oohs" and "ahhs." Chasm visitors can also opt for a (fairly tame) raft ride in the Ausable River. Cruise the Lake Champlain ferry to bustling Burlington, Vermont.
Cooperstown
Of course, the National Baseball Hall of Fame is a major-league draw, but this central New York village steals the hearts of visitors with its small-town appeal. Visit the folk-art filled Fenimore Museum and the Farmers' Museum (antique tools) when you've had enough baseball.
Lake Placid
Outdoor adventure starts here, at the gateway of the Adirondacks. Ride the chair lift to the summit of Whiteface Mountain and hike down, fish for trout, paddle a kayak or canoe, and watch young athletes polish their skills at the Olympic training venue.
VIRGINIA
KOA camping in Virginia
Front Royal/Washington, D.C.
Don't miss Skyline Drive, one of the most scenic driving routes in America. Shenandoah National Park is rich with wildlife and great hiking trails (Limberlost Trail is great for families). Few can resist a tour of Luray Caverns, home of an underground organ and the site of many unique weddings.
Virginia Beach
This classic beach town offers more than sun, sand, and seafood. Virginia Beach is also home to a state-of-the-art marine museum, the Virginia Marine Science Museum. Home to sharks, otters, and an 800,000-gallon aquarium, the science museum also features an IMAX theater. More fun beyond the beach: take a guided kayak or canoe trip and explore secluded nooks and crannies along the coastline.
Williamsburg
This is one of those great places where you can pack in lots of sightseeing with very little drivetime. Colonial Williamsburg should be on everyone's must-see list. Plus, Jamestown and Yorktown historic sites are nearby. Less educational, but plenty of fun, are kiddie favorites Busch Gardens and Water Country.
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