National Park trip maybe somewhere else. Ideas needed

330xtrai · 06-30-2016, 02:53 AM

Hey guys!!
I have my last day of masters classes today finished undergrad in 3 years masters in one and will be starting dental school in less than a month. the passed 4 years have been full of classes etc and wanna take a trip before starting Dental school aka 4 year hell you pay a fortune for it pays off in the end though and I'm pursuing what I love. Wanna plan a trip with a few of my friends. I plan on going to one of the closest national parks to me I live in NJ. Either Cuyahoga Valley, Shenandoah(closest to me) or Acadia, or one of the 3 in Florida or somewhere else if you guys have suggestions.
Wanna know if anyone has been to these and which is the best or specific sites in each that are must go to. I will be taking photos so scenery is a major part. I'll probably be camping or stopping half way or almost there(stopping in boston at my new apartment or in cleveland by some family or delaware at a friends apartment(depending what park I go to).
If you guys have suggestion for other places to go to instead I'm all ears. want something fun and exciting.

Mr Tonka · 06-30-2016, 07:41 AM

Acadia is pretty awesome. All the amenities of a coastal destination (food, lodging, etc...) with a fantastic park with great hiking, biking, sights, tours, drives, etc...

Mt. Desert Island is unique because when you're hiking you have a sense of ascending granite peaks of Colorado, but the trail heads are only a 7 min drive from (Bar Harbor) your hotel, 17 good restaurants and the coast. Very cool place.

Flying Ace · 06-30-2016, 12:21 PM

Cuyahoga Valley is relatively new park, I've never been there before, even living in Ohio.

I use to live in VA and I often visited Shenandoah. If you go there, you should enjoy skyline drive.

Out of all the ones you brought up though, Arcadia is the truly legit one based on pictures I've seen.

Mr Tonka · 06-30-2016, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

Cuyahoga Valley is relatively new park, I've never been there before, even living in Ohio.

I use to live in VA and I often visited Shenandoah. If you go there, you should enjoy skyline drive.

Out of all the ones you brought up though, Arcadia is the truly legit one based on pictures I've seen.

Looking down on Bar Harbor from Cadillac Mountain.

The channel running up the center of Mt. Desert Island.

Kayaking in the harbor.

Balanced Rock

Tide pools...

Light Houses...

Sunsets...

Lakes...

Love showing the scale of balanced rock. lol

We were there for 5 days and didn't get to do 1/3 of the things we would have liked to. There is a lot to do there!

RickFLM4 · 06-30-2016, 12:45 PM

Nowhere near the locations you mentioned, but I really liked Yosemite. We've also been to the Grand Canyon but I thought Yosemite was more fun mainly because I thought there was a better variety of things to see and the climate was better for hiking.

330xtrai · 06-30-2016, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Tonka

Acadia is pretty awesome. All the amenities of a coastal destination (food, lodging, etc...) with a fantastic park with great hiking, biking, sights, tours, drives, etc...

Mt. Desert Island is unique because when you're hiking you have a sense of ascending granite peaks of Colorado, but the trail heads are only a 7 min drive from (Bar Harbor) your hotel, 17 good restaurants and the coast. Very cool place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying Ace

Cuyahoga Valley is relatively new park, I've never been there before, even living in Ohio.

I use to live in VA and I often visited Shenandoah. If you go there, you should enjoy skyline drive.

Out of all the ones you brought up though, Arcadia is the truly legit one based on pictures I've seen.

oh ok Yeah Its hard to decide since they all seem nice. but I'm kinda leaning toward acadia now

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Tonka

Looking down on Bar Harbor from Cadillac Mountain.

The channel running up the center of Mt. Desert Island.

Kayaking in the harbor.

Balanced Rock

Tide pools...

Light Houses...

Sunsets...

Lakes...

Love showing the scale of balanced rock. lol

We were there for 5 days and didn't get to do 1/3 of the things we would have liked to. There is a lot to do there!

Oh nice definitely seems interesting. The pictures are awesome making me want to go to Acadia even more now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Nowhere near the locations you mentioned, but I really liked Yosemite. We've also been to the Grand Canyon but I thought Yosemite was more fun mainly because I thought there was a better variety of things to see and the climate was better for hiking.

Was considering it but on such short notice plane tickets are probably going to be a lot. Maybe the next trip I go. It seems awesome had a couple of friends that went there.
Thanks guys

Josh (PA) · 06-30-2016, 02:14 PM

This time of year, I'd say:
1. Acadia
2. Shenandoah/Blue Ridge down to Smoky Mountains if you can make it that far
3. Florida
99. Cuyahoga Valley

If you're not set on a National Park, the Ny Finger Lakes region combines a lot of nice vacation options (lake activities, wine tasting, the Glen Hiking through waterfall gorges, etc)

06-30-2016, 02:53 AM	#1
330xtrai Do you even post BRO? 221 Rep 2,936 Posts Drives: 330xi Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 BMW 330xi [0.00]	National Park trip maybe somewhere else. Ideas needed Hey guys!! I have my last day of masters classes today finished undergrad in 3 years masters in one and will be starting dental school in less than a month. the passed 4 years have been full of classes etc and wanna take a trip before starting Dental school aka 4 year hell you pay a fortune for it pays off in the end though and I'm pursuing what I love. Wanna plan a trip with a few of my friends. I plan on going to one of the closest national parks to me I live in NJ. Either Cuyahoga Valley, Shenandoah(closest to me) or Acadia, or one of the 3 in Florida or somewhere else if you guys have suggestions. Wanna know if anyone has been to these and which is the best or specific sites in each that are must go to. I will be taking photos so scenery is a major part. I'll probably be camping or stopping half way or almost there(stopping in boston at my new apartment or in cleveland by some family or delaware at a friends apartment(depending what park I go to). If you guys have suggestion for other places to go to instead I'm all ears. want something fun and exciting. __________________ E90\|330xi\|SGM\|Terra Cotta interior\|Forged1 Wheels(one side red the other city lights)\|M3 Rep Front Bumper\|Msport Rear Bumper\|KW V1 Coilovers\|K&N Air Filter\|OEM Black Grille\|Red Cyba Air scoops\|DIY Gloss Black Side Splitters\|Tee rear splitters\|Monkey Air Freshener\| DSC_0395-2
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06-30-2016, 07:41 AM	#2
Mr Tonka is probably out riding. 6059 Rep 2,292 Posts Drives: Something Italian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sweatypeninsula iTrader: (0)	Acadia is pretty awesome. All the amenities of a coastal destination (food, lodging, etc...) with a fantastic park with great hiking, biking, sights, tours, drives, etc... Mt. Desert Island is unique because when you're hiking you have a sense of ascending granite peaks of Colorado, but the trail heads are only a 7 min drive from (Bar Harbor) your hotel, 17 good restaurants and the coast. Very cool place. __________________ "There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice. -Charles de Secondat"
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06-30-2016, 12:21 PM	#3
Flying Ace Lieutenant General 5043 Rep 11,896 Posts Drives: G05 45e, 997.1 & 991.1 GT3s Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: SF, CA iTrader: (5)	Cuyahoga Valley is relatively new park, I've never been there before, even living in Ohio. I use to live in VA and I often visited Shenandoah. If you go there, you should enjoy skyline drive. Out of all the ones you brought up though, Arcadia is the truly legit one based on pictures I've seen. __________________ 22 Phytonic/Coffee X5 45e (CoVID-free) 08 Speed Yellow 911 GT3 Sharkwerks 12 AW/Cinnamon X5d Sports Pkg (retired) 14 AW/Beige M6GC ZCP, MPE, V2 steering wheel, vorsteiner (retired) 08 SSII/Black E90 M3 (retired)
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06-30-2016, 12:45 PM	#5
RickFLM4 Brigadier General 11826 Rep 4,872 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: PB County, FL iTrader: (0)	Nowhere near the locations you mentioned, but I really liked Yosemite. We've also been to the Grand Canyon but I thought Yosemite was more fun mainly because I thought there was a better variety of things to see and the climate was better for hiking. __________________ Current: 2018 SO/SS F83 ZCP Gone: 2015 SO/SO F82
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06-30-2016, 02:14 PM	#7
Josh (PA) Banned 230 Rep 265 Posts Drives: '11 135 vert, '13 x5, '03 e46 Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Downingtown, PA iTrader: (0)	This time of year, I'd say: 1. Acadia 2. Shenandoah/Blue Ridge down to Smoky Mountains if you can make it that far 3. Florida 99. Cuyahoga Valley If you're not set on a National Park, the Ny Finger Lakes region combines a lot of nice vacation options (lake activities, wine tasting, the Glen Hiking through waterfall gorges, etc)
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