Those placing budget restraints on vacation spending can look to the U. S. government for close to home vacation agendas with a varied flair. The U. S. Census Bureau reports that approximately 33 million people live along the Mid Atlantic seaboard.
These residents of New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and North Carolina have, within those states, dozens of sites maintained by the National Park Service. The Appalachian Trail, a 2,175-mile public footpath running between Maine and Georgia, passes through portions of New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.
The Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network is a unit of the National Park Service and a system of over 150 parks, refuges, museums, historic communities and water trails in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This 180-mile estuary stretches from southern Virginia to northern Maryland.
In addition, the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, America's first national water trail, gives boating access not only to many of the Chesapeake Bay sites, but also to recreation facilities and land and water trails in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.
Historic Battlefields
This region is home to several Revolutionary War and Civil War battlefields, some of them sites for the re-enactment of the historic battles that took place there. Dozens of them are included in National Heritage Areas.
Cheap New Jersey Vacations
New Jersey contains eight national parks which had a combined total of 5.8 million visitors in 2010. In addition, there are 1,613 listings on the National Register of Historic Places, one National Heritage Area, 11 National Natural Landmarks, and 55 National Historic Landmarks. The National Parks include:
- The Thomas Edison National Park in W. Orange; the lab complex has been recently renovated;
- The Great Egg Harbor National Park protects the 129-mile seaward course of the Great Egg River; named as one of the top 10 North American spots for birding (especially raptors);
- A 40-mile stretch of the Delaware River and Delaware Water Gap is located in New Jersey. It has been designated part of a National Scenic River and has multiple NPS recreational facilities; and
- The Ellis Island National Park, where 12 million Immigrants were processed for entry, is an NPS landmark shared by New Jersey and New York, as is Gateway Recreational Park, a multi-location area in New York Harbor and about the closest you can camp to New York City.
Bargain Delaware Holidays
Delaware is the only state that does not have a national park. The state has a park system and the Winterthur Museum is one of the best in the nation. The state also is home to several National Historic Landmarks. These include:
- The Eleutherian Mills, site of 1802 works upon which the DuPont family founded an industry and made a fortune. It includes the mills, offices and DuPont residence;
- Fort Christiana, location of the first military outpost (1638) and first Swedish settlement in North America. (Located in a State Park.);
- Old Swede’s Church, erected on the site of an old burial ground dating from 1638. It has housed Holy Trinity, an Episcopal parish, since 1791;
- Old New Castle County Court House, seat of the Delaware Colony government, dating from 1704; and
- The New Castle Historic District, a section of historic and architecturally significant buildings dating from 1651.
Inexpensive Maryland Attractions
During 2010, 3.5 million people visited Maryland’s 16 national parks. Maryland also has 71 National Historic Landmarks, plus six National Natural Landmarks and 1,496 sites on the Natural Register of Historic Places. Some of its National Parks are:
- Assateague Island National Seashore is an NPS unit with both recreational and protection/preservation functions on this barrier island off the coasts of Maryland and Virginia. It is adjacent to Assateague State Park and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge;
- Catoctin Mountain Park, Greenbelt Park and Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail are recreational parks;
- Oxon Cove Park is a good resource for environmental studies, watching wildlife and enjoying other recreational activities. It is adjacent to Oxon Cove farm, a living farm museum with 14 buildings that is also a national historic district;
- Piscataway Park was formed to protect the view from Mount Vernon, which faces it from across the Potomac;
- Parks honoring such historic figures as Capt. John Smith (early colonial explorer of the region), Francis Scott Key (author of The Star Spangled Banner), Clara Barton (Red Cross founder) and Thomas Stone (Declaration of Independence signer); and
- The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Park, preserving a 184-mile stretch of canal, tow path and associated buildings between Georgetown in D.C. and Cumberland, Maryland.
Low Cost Virginia Holidays
Virginia’s 21 National Parks, which include several battlefields, had 22.7 million visitors in 2010. In addition, the state has two National Heritage Areas, 10 National Natural Landmarks and 2,797 listings on the National Register of Historic Places. Here are some of its national parks:
- Wolftrap National Park for the Performing Arts;
- The scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive;
- National Parks honoring such historical figures as George Washington, Booker T. Washington, Robert E. Lee and Maggie L. Walker, the first woman bank president in America;
- Historic National Parks include those at the Cumberland Gap (which also encompasses parts of Kentucky and Tennessee), Harpers Ferry and one at Hampton Roads in the historically rich region of Jamestown, Williamsburg and Yorktown; and
- The Shenandoah National Park, at 199,017 acres, is the largest in the state and, like the Assateague National Seashore (shared with Maryland), it is both a recreational area and the focus of an intense effort to preserve the area’s flora and fauna. The park is headquartered at Luray, home of the famous Luray Caverns.
Budget North Carolina Vacation Spots
Just over 17 million people visited North Carolina’s 10 National Parks in 2010. The state also has two National Heritage Areas and 13 National Natural Landmarks. North Carolina has 2,742 National Register of Historic Places listings. The state also shares the Blue Ridge Parkway with Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountain National Park with Tennessee. Here are some of its other National Park Service sites:
- The Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the Cape Lookout National Seashore, located on offshore islands, combine recreational facilities with preservation efforts and historic sites;
- Located near each other in Northeastern North Carolina are the Wright Brothers National Memorial, marking where Wilbur and Orville Wright flew the first successful powered flights in 1903, and the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, which commemorates “the lost colony”;
- A Trail of Tears National Historic Trail description says it commemorates the survival of the Cherokee people despite their forced removal from their Southeastern U. S. homelands in the 1830s. It should more rightly also commemorate the thousands who died on the brutal, terribly-planned enforced march; and
- The Carl Sandburg Home, a 264-acre National Historic Site, makes a nice break if you are coming or going to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park from the east. There are gardens to explore and some hiking trails, as well as the opportunity to discover more about the “Poet of the People.”
Planning the Trip
Guidelines on weather and special events, plus directions, are helpful whether planning a day trip or a longer vacation. Most of these National Park Service locations have separate websites. Starting with the National Park Service website, select which state you plan to visit and click on sites of interest. Some are excellent day trip locations and others provide enough activities to fit a week-long vacation. Some parts of the nation have a cluster of sites in a small region.
A related article discusses low cost vacation options.
Source
- U.S. National Park Service website
Rosemary E. Bachelor - Rosemary Bachelor, a prize-winning journalist, has had a career as an editor, feature writer, magazine publisher and author. Her latest ...
