Northeast weekends worth the drive — what’s open, what’s closed, what to pack.
When the lots fill: Franconia Notch this weekend
A foliage weekend for Franconia Notch, with Crawford Notch held in reserve and the useful details kept where they belong.
Stories from the field
Destinations, weekend decisions, and the useful details kept in their proper place.
The bag by the door — an autumn day-trip packing list
A practical checklist for short autumn walks and picnic afternoons, with room for the good sandwich and very little you need to buy.
Lunch with a lake attached — a Nockamixon day trip
You do not need a boat to have a lake day. Start at the marina, take an unhurried paved walk, and leave room for lunch.
The one-mile escape — a Ridley Creek afternoon
A paved one-mile garden loop, a longer creekside alternative, and a picnic plan for the Saturday you nearly gave away.
Six Saturdays Before Winter
Six autumn outings near Philadelphia: creek walks, garden paths, lakeside picnics, official maps, and a sensible packing list. Keep a Saturday for yourself.
The creek below the city — Wissahickon & Valley Forge
A Philadelphia creek, a Valley Forge fallback, and the practical arrangements for September 19–20, 2026.
Forbidden Drive, where Philadelphia keeps its distance
A creekside day in Wissahickon Valley Park, with Valley Forge waiting nearby when the first arrangement is full.
When the cars stop: Forbidden Drive this weekend
A weekend recommendation for Wissahickon, with Valley Forge held in reserve and the useful details kept where they belong.
The gorge that keeps the appointment — Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen, its seasonal gorge walk, a sensible rainy-day arrangement, and the details worth knowing before the drive.
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The Equipment Room
Useful things for wet trailheads, spare nights, and the long walk back. We say what we tested — and what we did not.
A warmer square of ground — NEMO Tensor All-Season
A little room for Sunday — Hyperlite Unbound 40
The sensible bag for Forbidden Drive
