Speak with AMC experts for the "411" on hiking, paddling, biking and outdoor safety. Plan a multi-activity itinerary at an AMC lodge or mountain hut in northern New England and the Mid-Atlantic.
Check out the following story ideas for inspiration or read AMC's summer press releases:
- Get your hands dirty: family-friendly volunteer vacations with scenic backdrops
- Lodge-to-hut hiking: redefining the multi-day backcountry trip
- Summer camp for the whole family: multi-generation outdoor adventures
- Not just for kids, not just for families: summer camp for adults 50+
- Get "found" in the Maine Woods: discovering off-the-beaten-path fishing, hiking, and paddling
- Tap into 130 years of outdoor experience: adventure vacations for all ages with a mix of environmental learning and outdoor skills
- Not just a buzzword: "eco-tourism" built from the ground up at AMC's Highland Lodge
- Hiking with the kids: tips for getting outdoors this summer with the family
- Only have time for a day trip or weekend getaway?
1. Get your hands dirty: family-friendly volunteer vacations with scenic backdrops
Make a meaningful contribution as a family this summer and learn new skills in scenic mountain settings as part of a volunteer trail weekend. Parents work cooperatively with their children and other volunteers on trail crews clearing new growth and fallen trees, cleaning drains, and helping with other maintenance tasks on the trails near AMC's Cardigan Lodge in New Hampshire's Lakes Region and Mohican Outdoor Center in the Delaware Water Gap of New Jersey. Each year, the AMC depends on more than 2,500 trail volunteers who contribute their time, energy, and enthusiasm through participation in trail programs.
AMC's Mountain Watch "citizen-scientist" program offers another opportunity to volunteer as a family while enjoying a summer hike in New Hampshire's White Mountains. Visitors to AMC’s Highland Lodge at Crawford Notch, Joe Dodge Lodge at Pinkham Notch, and select White Mountain huts can participate in easy to moderate hikes and contribute to long-term research by recording the effects of haze on mountain views.
AMC's summer
multi-activity itineraries offer a sampling of hiking, biking, and paddling adventures for families to take full advantage of down time.
2. Lodge-to-hut hiking: redefining the multi-day backcountry trip
Outdoor industry statistics point to declining numbers of people taking multi-day backpacking trips, but hiking continues to rank among the most popular outdoor activities.
A recent increase in overnight guests at AMC's full-service mountain huts in New Hampshire's White Mountains is one indication that hikers are gravitating toward an option offering the best of both worlds - the ability to take a multi-day hike, while still traveling relatively light. Bunks and meals at AMC huts eliminate the need to carry tents, cooking stoves, and food -- plus, the hut crews provide a unique mix of mountain hospitality, educational programs, trip planning, trail information, and weather reports. All this combines to make the huts an appealing option for all ages and experience levels, from young families to experienced hikers.
3. Summer camp for the whole family: multi-generation outdoor adventures
New for this summer, AMC is further expanding its Family Adventure Camps with the addition of a teen program and activities that include a lodge-to-hut hiking overnight trip and river rafting. Offered during July and August, AMC's family camps are weeklong programs at AMC's five lodges in the White Mountains and Lakes regions of New Hampshire, as well as in the Maine Woods. Ages for the family camps vary and include kids 5-16. Guided hikes and naturalist programs are core parts of every family camp experience -- along with downtime -- and activities such as fly-fishing, canoeing/kayaking, backcountry hut overnights, river rafting, and advanced outdoor skills are tailored for each camp location.
4. Not just for kids, not just for families: summer camp for adults 50+ Change is a trademark of the baby boomer generation, and slowing down is one thing this generation is not doing. AMC is breaking the traditional kids-only summer camp mold and expanding its programming this summer and fall to introduce camp exclusively for adults 50+.
This June and September, AMC is expanding its 50+ Adventure Camp based at AMC’s Highland Lodge in New Hampshire’s White Mountains to include a week in June and two weeks in September. The program is tailor-made for adventure-minded travelers ages 50+ interested in a mix of nature walks, half-day and full-day hikes, local and natural history, and the chance to meet new friends against a spectacular mountain backdrop. Highland Lodge combines doorstep access to many miles of scenic White Mountain trails with the comforts of lodge amenities off the trail, including private rooms/private bathrooms, freshly prepared meals, and a selection of day and evening programs to choose from. Highland Lodge also provides an award-winning "green-friendly" experience reflected in every detail, from the design of the lodge to daily activities with expert naturalists. A sampling of planned activities includes:
- Hike to Zealand Hut: Take an easy hike to AMC’s Zealand Hut, part of the only and oldest mountain hut chain in New England
- Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge Hike: This National Natural Landmark is considered one of the top birding locations in the Northeast
- Summit a 4,000 footer: Expert-led, moderate to difficult hike to a nearby New Hampshire 4,000-foot peak
- Grand Hotels of the White Mountains: History of the grand hotels in the White Mountains area
- Aprés Adventure Social: Downtime before dinner to talk and socialize off the trail with new friends
5. Get "found" in the Maine Woods: discovering off-the-beaten path fishing, hiking, and paddling
So many possibilities for hiking, fishing, and paddling. Peaceful wilderness experience. More connected to the outdoors and wildlife. Off the beaten path. Mind-blowing number of ponds. Secluded vistas.
This is how those "in the know," both locals and adventure travelers who have visited, describe Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness region.
This hidden jewel of land surrounds AMC's traditional Maine sporting camps, Little Lyford Pond Camps and Medawisla Wilderness Camps. For the first time this year, Medawisla is under AMC operation for the full summer season. Check out AMC's multi-activity itinerary for a glimpse of the many possibilities awaiting outdoor enthusiasts.
The sporting camp is an increasingly rare breed in Maine, with far fewer in operation and open to the public than once existed. AMC is working to keep the sporting camp tradition alive by preserving public access to the wealth of hiking, paddling, fly fishing, and mountain biking in Maine’s 100-Mile Wilderness region. This is all being done as part of AMC's Maine Woods Initiative, a broader land conservation strategy that combines outdoor recreation, resource protection, sustainable forestry, and community partnerships in this region.
6. Tap into 130 years of outdoor experience: adventure vacations for all ages with a mix of environmental learning and outdoor skills
Not strictly for veteran outdoor enthusiasts, the Appalachian Mountain Club is very focused on passing along its more than 130 years of experience to beginners of all ages. Outdoor education programs are offered at AMC's lodges and mountain huts in the White Mountains and Lakes Region of New Hampshire, Maine Woods, and Delaware Water Gap of New Jersey.
This summer, programs include Family Adventure Camps, Teen Wilderness Adventures, free Outdoor Explorations workshops and guided trips, and 50+ Adventure Weeks.
AMC lodges and huts of particular appeal to those just getting started include AMC's Highland Lodge (where guests can borrow for free L.L. Bean gear), Cardigan Lodge (where the surrounding trails are lower elevation and well-suited for beginner hikes), and Lonesome Lake Hut (one of the easier, lower elevation huts).
7. Not just a buzzword: "eco-tourism" built from the ground up at AMC's Highland Lodge
Many travel destinations are eager to jump on the "eco-tourism" bandwagon, but with loosely defined standards, it's often the case that what qualifies as eco-friendly is not only open to interpretation, but superficial at best.
Built from the ground up, the AMC's Highland Lodge in New Hampshire's White Mountains reflects a focus on eco-friendly tourism that encompasses everything--from an entryway floor mat made of recycled airplane tires to larger-scale details such as triple-glazed windows to maximize solar energy and recycled steel that serves as the structure's skeleton. A "nuts and bolts" strategy to Highland Lodge's green-friendly design also extends to its operations and is evident in naturalist-led daily programming such as bird watching, animal tracking, moose watching, a nighttime salamander hunt for kids, mountain weather, and more. In addition, guests can participate in "Behind the Scenes Green Tours" that showcase the environmentally sensitive design, materials, and energy-saving features of the Highland Lodge.
The New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association’s Sustainable Lodging Program has awarded Environmental Champion status, the highest recognition, to all of AMC’s New Hampshire lodges, including Highland Lodge and hut network along the Appalachian Trail.
8. Hiking with the kids: tips for getting outdoors this summer with the family
Introducing kids to the outdoors and severing the family's connection to cell phones, email, video games, and other modern day distractions for a few hours or more is daunting when faced with the inevitable chorus of whining. Physical and cognitive benefits of outdoors play won't impress many kids, but tips about planning a hike and other parent-tested tricks for engaging both young kids and teens will improve your chances for a fun family hike. AMC experts have a great deal of knowledge learned firsthand from experience with kids of all ages through programs like AMC's A Mountain Classroom and AMC Family Adventure Camp, plus hikes with their own families.
9. Only Have Time for a Day Trip or Weekend Getaway?
Join one of twelve regional AMC chapters stretching from Maine to Washington, D.C. for local walks, hikes, backpacking trips, canoeing and kayaking, special chapter social events, and more. Hundreds of events are organized by AMC chapters throughout the year.
