Budget info - Dover, VT and West Point, NY

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I posted this first on the community board, but since we plan on vacationing the first week in August, I was hoping I could get some more responses here.

For Budget I have been using Living Social and Groupon, but would appreciate any other budget information you may have for these area's. We also need great local places to eat and fun things to do... The post's below will give more info:


DH and I are looking to do a loop vacation. (we do a big circle and stay at new places along the way)

We are looking a the West Dover Inn - West Dover, VT and The Thayer Hotel, West Point.


When we loop to circle back home we would be around Lewisburg, Pa (and or any of the Amish areas would be good).

Please tell me about the good and the bad of any of these places if you know about them. What to do, where to stay if you don't like our choices, great places to eat, and most of all any special stories.

We haven't decided if it will be an adult only or if we will bring the kids.
Thanks for any help.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Thanks for the replies. We are looking for a more laid-back type vacation with maybe a few nice long walks/hikes, some swimming holes for the kids, and then some "history - West Point", for the Nerd factor in our family. Finally I love the area around the Amish and the little stores. That part is for me.

What is really important - A comfortable bed at the end of the day, hopefully friendly people, and local restaurants/cuisine. Love the locals favorites to eat at and would also maybe like a few idea's of points of interest.

We would be two days in Vt, one in West Point, and two in PA (start closer to the east cost working across to the west end).

Now I have no real attachments to any of these place except maybe VT since we have never been. I was also thinking along lines of covered bridges, that kind of stuff (remember before I said Nerdy - yep we are that family). No need for amusement parks, but we love zoo's and all kinds of museums.

We can stop anywhere in NYS if that would help except NYC. DH does not like it even though DD and I would spend the whole vacation there and even sleep in a chair in Grand Central Station - lol!

Okay, this is a lot of information and boring at that so if you live near or in VT, West Point, and or Amish area in PA. Thanks again.

 

[bender726]

I know you mentioned this is a laid back trip and you are already checking Groupon, but I figured I would post just in case you missed this. The Thayer Hotel is gorgeous and possibly more than what you are looking for, but definitely an experience if you are visiting West Point. http://www.groupon.com/deals/ga-the-thayer-hotel-at-west-point?c=all&dl=d47388&p=19

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I know you mentioned this is a laid back trip and you are already checking Groupon, but I figured I would post just in case you missed this. The Thayer Hotel is gorgeous and possibly more than what you are looking for, but definitely an experience if you are visiting West Point. http://www.groupon.com/deals/ga-the-thayer-hotel-at-west-point?c=all&dl=d47388&p=19

I did see it and it is actually not that expensive, since they will allow the kids to stay for free. Have you been? The grounds look beautiful, but another poster said there is absolutely nothing to do or eat in the area. Do you have a different opinion. Thank you.

 

[gk90]

There's not that much to do in the town of West Point but if you're a "nerdy" family plan on at least a few hours in the Military Academy itself, looking at the museum and taking the guided tour.

There are a number of great points of interest on the way from Dover VT to West Point. If you like little shops in interesting small towns, museums and covered bridges I strongly recommend the Berkshires in western Mass. Drive down Rt 8 and then Rt 7 through North Adams, Lenox, Stockbridge and Great Barrington. If you're a Norman Rockwell fan you'll recognize Stockbridge from his pictures.

In NY, a couple of hours north of West Point, you might also want to look at Hyde Park (the Franklin Delano Roosevelt home, the Vanderbilt mansion) or Woodstock. Kingston has a historic district and a nice waterfront. There's also a walkway across the Hudson.

There are some beautiful lakes for swimming around 5-10 miles south of West Point, in Harriman State Park. I know there are swimming holes in the Berkshires as well but can't remember where.

Enjoy!

 

[burnsoc]

Around West Point you could go to Bear Mtn., Harriman State Park for swimming and hiking. Woodbury Commons Factory Outlets are a huge draw (20 min. Dr.). Near the outlets is Museum Village in Monroe for a look at early settler life. The town of Cold Spring is a 15 min. drive from West Point and has great shops and restaurants and is right on the Hudson. It's almost directly across from West Point. High Falls is the town attached directly to West Point and I don't know if it's still there (going back to the '80's), but they had a great ice cream shop.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Around West Point you could go to Bear Mtn., Harriman State Park for swimming and hiking. Woodbury Commons Factory Outlets are a huge draw (20 min. Dr.). Near the outlets is Museum Village in Monroe for a look at early settler life. The town of Cold Spring is a 15 min. drive from West Point and has great shops and restaurants and is right on the Hudson. It's almost directly across from West Point. High Falls is the town attached directly to West Point and I don't know if it's still there (going back to the '80's), but they had a great ice cream shop.

Forgot to multi-quote. Thank you for the info on West Point. We are still up in the air, but I have family close to the area that may sway us to spend the evening then visit with them. Thanks. Maybe they could join us as a few of the above places.