How One Trip to Vermont and New York Changed My Outlook on Travel Forever

I was wrong.

Growing up in Maine, there is a certain rivalry with New York that informed my attitude toward the Empire State -- and, more broadly, the Northeast. I wrote these states off entirely, dismissing them as places I'd ever want to visit and explore.

Fast forward to today, and I'm happy to admit I have completely changed my view. By taking a trip to these states I learned a valuable lesson that changed the way I adventure forever. Now travel on the East Coast has been completely opened to me and it all started with a road trip to Vermont and New York. 

It all started when my wife discovered a place called Whiteface Mountain. I was so blown away by the picturesque scenery I was seeing online that I knew we had to go. Intrigued, I put aside my bias and agreed to travel through Vermont and into New York. I am glad I did because I have now learned how amazing each of these places is, and how much I'd been missing out on.

This became very apparent to me on one adventure while camping at the Quechee / Pine Valley KOA. Striking up a conversation with the nice owner, she happily told us about all the local secrets and great spots to explore. Intrigued, we ditched our former plans and opted instead to explore her recommendations. That was the first time I completely understood the undeniable New England charm of some of the best small towns in Vermont. 

Armed with the map she'd marked up for us, we headed to Quechee and Woodstock Vermont. We saw countless covered bridges, beautiful flowing dams, quaint downtowns, rolling hills, and so much more. We ventured down dirt backroads and saw the most postcard-perfect farms. We walked through a forest and learned how they tapped the trees for maple syrup.

I loved every second of it.

One of my favorite spots was the below farm, which happens to be the most photographed farm in all of New England. The charm of this part of the country was undeniable -- and irresistible.

Similar to my experience in Vermont, New York simply blew me away. We traveled to the Adirondacks region -- unlike New York's eponymous metropolis, this area of the state felt remote and quiet. We hiked the rocky ridgeline of Whiteface Mountain, discovered a hidden waterfall, and delighted in the many charming small towns in New York. Lake Placid looked pretty cool from the top of the mountain; later we discovered that the area is filled with many surprises. Once a Winter Olympic site, today, you can explore the old ramps and bobsled runs. My favorite part was standing on the dock on Lake Placid looking at the surrounding mountains.

I was hooked. I've now taken many trips to this region and there seems to be no end to the trails, small towns, and attractions. This initial trip changed my outlook on how I looked into travel. We loved New York so much, we decided to find the best places to visit on the East Coast for an anniversary trip; and coincidentally, that landed us right back in the Empire State.

This time, we planned to venture past the mountains and spend a long weekend doing a massive loop across the state. The goal was to see all the best waterfalls in New York, and it ended up being one of the best trips we have ever taken! The halfway point was to the mighty Niagara Falls. This was a bucket list item for us and my jaw actually dropped when we took the Maiden of the Mist and felt the full power of this amazing waterfall. Among the many other stops on this trip, we explored Watkins Glen State Park which felt like I stepped into a fairytale and I had to pinch myself to make sure it was real and not just a dream.

For me, travel on the East Coast would never be the same. I realized I was wrong to make assumptions about an area and learned to embrace the beauty found everywhere. Turns out when you open yourself up to the adventure there is no end to the amazing things you can find. This has since changed the way I take every trip as I intentionally look for unique experiences and hidden gems within every corner of the country. 

So now it's your turn: get out your road trip packing list and plan an adventure.