The historic Appalachian trail is the world's longest continuously-marked trail. It starts in Maine and then winds down through fourteen states, and officially ends in Georgia. Though it's meant to be walked, a hike from end to end can take between five and seven months-- and only 20% of those who set out to conquer it actually complete the journey. People prepare for months to actually hike the entire length of the trail, which has been around since the 1920s, and is a permanent part of America's hiking heritage. But, it's also pretty fun to drive the Trail, which is divided into three major sections: New England, Mid-Atlantic, and the Southern Appalachians. The New England stretch of the trail takes you from Maine to New Hampshire, though a bit of Vermont, and into Connecticut. The Mid-Atlantic states include New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. Then you'll hit the Southern Appalachians, which include Virginia and West Virginia, then over to Tennessee and down to North Carolina and Georgia.
Finish up your Appalachian Trail road trip at Tallulah Gorge State Park at Tallullah Falls. It's home to a thousand foot gorge, tons of waterfalls and a campground in a former Victorian-era resort town.
Once you reach Cherokee, NC, visit the Museum of the Cherokee Indian. Here can you learn all about the first peoples to use the area where the trail would later be established.
Down the road from Asheville is Maggie Valley's Ghost Town in The Sky. It's a kitschy roadside attraction that's a fun little stop, especially if you have kids. It's a wild west-themed amusement park that sits right on the top of a mountain.
For a more refined stop along the Appalachian Trail, there's the Biltmore Estate in Asheville to give you a taste of the finer things. The Biltmore Estate was built by George Vanderbilt in the style of a Châteauesque mansion-- with 250 rooms inside, it's America's largest house. Basically, you get to tour America's version of Downton Abbey.
The Chalet Restaurant & Switzerland Inn in Little Switzerland is a very unique lodge and restaurant. It's been in operation since 1910, and is located right on the mountain top by Asheville and Blowing Rock. The rooms are large, the mountain views are stunning and the on-site restaurant serves food all day long. It's located at milepost 334 along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
The last major scenic overlook is at Clingmans Dome, which is the perfect spot to enjoy a 360-degree view of the Smoky Mountains. The observation dome is the highest point in the park. Take the 0.5-mile trail to the tower to enjoy spectacular views.
Or you could spend the night in luxury at the Four Chimney's Inn in Bennington, VT, which is housed in a beautiful 1913 mansion, on 11 acres, and is just a few minutes walk from The Bennington Museum and the Bennington Battle Monument. Lastly, the Maple Terrace Motel in Williamstown, MA will make you feel right at home with simple rooms decorated in a charming country theme.
Once you hit Massachusetts, head to Western Gateway Heritage State Park in North Adams, to learn about the history of this part of Massachusetts. And a can't-miss museum is the Arrowhead Museum, which is the name of Herman Melville's House (he's the guy who wrote "Moby Dick").
Over in Hancock, MA is the historic Hancock Shaker Village, which was established in 1791 and has been turned into a living history museum where you can listen to interpretive talks on history, see demonstrations on how the Shakers farmed and danced, and even meet some cute baby animals. Nearby, you'll also find Bash Bish Falls State Park, home to Massachusetts' highest single-drop waterfall.
Before you leave Massachusetts, if you're hungry, there's East Side Cafe in Pittsfield, which has been a local favorite since the 1950s. Or, over in Connecticut, there's Collins Diner, a classic retro aluminum diner.
Mount Washington State Forest is one of the prettiest forests along the route, and lies in the southern part of the Taconic Mountain range. After soaking in the woodland beauty there, take a leisurely stroll across the covered bridge at Kent Falls State Park, and hike to the cascading waterfalls.
The Mid-Atlantic section of the Appalachian Trail weaves in and out of some heavily populated urban areas, but the trail retains a feeling of remoteness as it passes to the west of major cities like Philadelphia and New York City. For hikers traveling through this section, the Mid-Atlantic makes it easy to resupply considering its proximity to so many cities. Dig the beautiful scenery at New York's Bear Mountain State Park and Pennsylvania's stunning Pinnacle Overlook. Also plan to make a stop at Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, NY. It's a fun outdoor, open-air sculpture museum where you can easily spend an afternoon wandering around exhibits.
If you get hungry, head to Milford Diner for traditional, home-cooked diner food, set in a very cool colonial-themed diner.
Next you'll come to Bear Mountain State Park in Tomkins Cove. It's 5,000 acres of scenic beauty located on the Hudson River. Also, the nearby Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is one of New Jersey's best-kept secrets. It's forty lush miles of the middle Delaware River, surrounded by shady forests, rolling hills and peaceful river inlets.
If you're a hot dog connoisseur, in Belvidere, NJ there's Hot Dog Johnny's, which will make you tingle with retro road food nostalgia. Their simple menu includes no-frills hot dogs, delicious fries, and homemade birch beer (it's like root beer, but better!)
When you're ready to pull over for the night, Pennsylvania's Historic Hotel Bethlehem is a beautiful boutique hotel that's also pet-friendly, and has an onsite ice cream shop.
For a history kick, head over to the Friends of The Daniel Boone Homestead in Birdsboro, PA, where it feels like you've stepped back in time. It's a fantastic place to learn about the culture of Oley Valley during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Also nearby is the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in Elverson, where you can learn about the industrial revolution at an actual "iron plantation", and the Ephrata Cloister, in Lancaster County, PA: here, you'll find an old, 18th-century religious community that's been beautifully preserved.
For a quirkier place to sleep, there's the Red Caboose Motel & Restaurant in Ronks, PA, which is located on 10 acres in Amish Country. Here you can sleep in a historic train car and caboose-- but since this is the 21st century, they come with flat-screen TVs, and some even feature their own private deck. There's also an onsite country restaurant and petting zoo and you can even catch a buggy rides. Keep in mind, the Red Caboose Motel closes in winter.
Next along the route is the Haines Shoe House in Stonybrook. This is a great place for a photo op. The house was initially built by a shoe salesman as an advertisement for his business, and today it's a quirky, but iconic, roadside attraction.
Next up is the Appalachian Trail Museum in Gardners, PA, which has been dedicated to protecting the legends and stories of the community of hikers who work to preserve and protect the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail, since its creation in 1923. The museum is located along Pennsylvania’s Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The museum building was built over two hundred years ago, and at that time was used as a grist mill. Today it’s across from one of the most famous points of the Appalachian Trail, the Pine Grove General Store, which is traditionally the half-way mark along the hike. It's also where hikers stop to attempt the famous ritual of trying to eat half a gallon of ice cream in one sitting. Today the museum currently exhibits over 13,000 images of hikers who have passed though the area over the years, and they also have a trail shelter built by famous hiking legend Earl Shafer. In 1948, Shafer was the first person to hike the entire trail and has gone down in hiker history as one of the first great adventurers.
The best time to drive down the Appalachian Trail is in the fall. Many places are seasonal along the route, and some are closed in winter, also some roads will be closed seasonally as well. Summer can be hot and muggy, but autumn is pretty much perfect. From September through mid-November the leaves will be changing and provide a gorgeous backdrop to your journey. Spring is lovely as well, with wildflowers in bloom and mild temperatures, although you might run across the occasional April shower.
