Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel

The 2002 Ford E-150 Presents:

H2O ON THE GO IN

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

(3RD IN A SERIES)

There’s nothing better than springtime for a driving trip, camping, and watersports. For this issue, our two picks include: the inland water world of West Virginia, where springtime river flows mean whitewater fun and more on the New River, and a quiet coastal getaway in Georgia, with island and mainland pleasures in and out of the water.

WEST VIRGINIA'S NEW RIVER:

WHITEWATER AND MORE

Come springtime, surf’s up in West Virginia! We’re not talking about the waves that made the Beach Boys and other Californians burst out in song, but whitewater river waves that hold their own with the fun and sun set from any state. Every spring, outdoor enthusiasts hit the road for great country road driving, camping, and watersports in the New River area of the Mountain State.

The destination for most of these drivers is the New River Gorge National River (304/465-0508, www.nps.gov/neri/home.htm). Established in 1978 as a unit of the National Park System, the New River Gorge National River conserves and protects 53 miles of the New River as a free-flowing waterway. It encompasses more than 70,000 acres of land along the New River between the towns of historic Hinton and the hip little outdoors haven of Fayetteville. The park and surrounding area are rich in cultural and natural history, with an abundance of scenic and recreational opportunities that includes great watersports.

The New River is probably (and ironically) the second oldest river in the world (behind the Nile). The New begins high in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and makes its way north through Virginia and West Virginia to join the Gauley River (yet another popular West Virginia river that offers one of the world’s great whitewater trips during fall dam runoffs). The gorge plunges more than 1,000 feet in depth, making for wonderful views from atop the mountains or down on the river.

"If you like water and the great outdoors, you’ll love everything about the New River," says Dave Arnold, a managing director of Class VI River Runners (800/252-7784, www.800classvi.com). “Visitors will find famed whitewater rafting and milder pursuits in a variety of boats, fishing, camping, great driving, and much more.”

Class VI was (and is) a pioneer in welcoming outdoor enthusiasts to the New River. Like many of more than 30 outfitters, they offer a wide range of recreation possibilities, including an incredibly large variety of one-day trips all along the New; many unique multi-day trips; late-afternoon/early-evening dinner trips on the river; fishing; camping; and dozens of possibilities that combine New River adventures with other area outdoor activities.

The Canyon Rim Visitors Center, located atop the New River Gorge, is an ideal first stop. The visitors center features a slide show, changing exhibits about the New River, picnic tables, floor-to-ceiling windows to view the gorge, and a boardwalk that leads to a spectacular view of the gorge and the famed New River Gorge Bridge, which is the world's longest single-arch steel span bridge (it's 3,030 feet long and 876 feet high). Several other visitors centers in the region can also help.

The Upper New has become a particularly popular spot for an introduction to what the river has to offer. Many outfitters offer varied trips down the Upper New, depending on the ages and goals of visitors. Some of the possibilities include: mild whitewater rafting; duckies (one- or two-person inflatable kayaks); canoeing; camping on the banks of the river; picnics during a trip down the river; swimming; riverside history, geology, and exploration; and much more. This portion of the river mixes mild rapids with calm pools that are ideal for swimming and relaxing. There are different age limits for trips and outfitters, but they generally start at age six or seven.

The Lower New features larger and more legendary whitewater. The whitewater can range up to Class V (Class VI is the toughest), with huge waves and inevitably wet rafters. Trips are also available to families, but the age limits are generally raised to the mid-teens level.

A raft trip down the New is just the beginning, however. Other water-oriented possibilities include canoe trips; kayaking lessons and trips; fishing on the river; and many other ways to get wet. Whichever New River adventure chosen, it’s definitely best to go with an experienced outfitter.

After this introduction to the wild and wet New River, it's time for further adventures in and around the New River Gorge. The area is ideal for a wide array of other outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, horseback riding, llama trekking, and rock climbing and rappelling.

Other outdoor-oriented adventures in the New River area include: jetboat rides up the river from Hawk's Nest State Park; several train rides in and around the New River Gorge; scuba diving up at Summersville Lake; a variety of activities at numerous area state parks; and, as mentioned earlier, some of the top river rafting in the world on the Gauley River (fall dam releases are most popular, but there are also great spring and summer trips). Along with the river outfitters, there are many other adventure operators and stores in the area to help with planning, participation, and equipment.

On the camping front, there are lots of possibilities. Many outfitters offer their own camping facilities on and off the river, with great package prices that can include river trips, meals, camping, and more. There are also several other commercial campgrounds in the area, as well as excellent state park facilities (Babcock State Park is highly recommended) and primitive camping within the National River boundaries at four sites reached by gravel road.

This combination of great driving, serious river fun, and an abundance of camping make the New River an ideal place to head this spring (though there’s great whitewater through the fall). The surf is definitely up in the Mountain State!

Getting There

West Virginia’s New River is located in the southern part of the state. Approximate driving times to the New River area include: Washington, D.C. (5 1/2 hours); Atlanta (8 1/2 hours); Charlotte (4 hours); Cincinnati (5 hours); and Cleveland (6 hours). Driving Tip: The New River Gorge National River offers a great driving tour that starts from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center and includes the historic towns of Thurmond and Hinton, as well as spectacular views from Grandview Visitor Center and the Sandstone Falls Boardwalk. Brunswick & The Golden Isles of Georgia:

A STEW OF WATER-BASED FUN

Combine a quaint southern Georgia town steeped in culinary history with four classic coastal islands and you have a stew of water-based fun. Linked by tourism officials to make a great destination team, Brunswick & The Golden Isles of Georgia are ideally situated for a perfect spring getaway that combines some superb driving, great camping, and a wide variety of watersports.

Whether you choose Brunswick, St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, or an easy combination of a few or all of them, this is the coastal Atlantic at its finest. It all starts in the port town of Brunswick, where Brunswick stew is said to have been invented (Brunswick, Virginia also makes this claim and there’s a friendly annual cooking competition between the two towns). Located literally minutes from I-95, it’s incredibly convenient for drivers while still offering a world far from hurried traffic. Before heading into town, be sure to stop at the Golden Isles Visitor Center (912/264-0620, www.bgivb.com) for further information.

Named for the ancestral home of King George II, grantor of the Peach State’s original land charter, Brunswick is also a mecca for shrimp (often called the ‘Shrimp Capital of the World’) to go with it’s flair for Brunswick stew. Highlights: include the streets of Victorian homes in Old Towne; the vast Marshes of Glynn (stunning coastal marshes best seen by boat or at stops 7, 8, or 9 on the Brunswick/Golden Isles Driving Tour (see ‘Getting There’ below)); and a bustling waterfront area where boat rentals and charters, as well as fishing, are easily available (be sure to check out the docks in late-afternoon, when the shrimping fleet returns). The Brunswick area has many quiet campgrounds from which to choose, including Altamaha Regional Park (912/264-2342); Blythe Island Regional Park & Campground (912/261-3805); Golden Isles R&R (912/265-5794); and Golden Isles Vacation Park (912/261-1025).

The St. Simons (F.J. Torras) Causeway leads to St. Simons Island, the largest of The Golden Isles. Here, lots of small shops and restaurants welcome visitors to miles of lovely beachfront, 99 holes of golf (the one place you’ll want to avoid the water!), a paved network of bike trails, the historical remnants of bygone eras (including Ft. Frederica and the sites of several antebellum plantations), and the marshlands, rivers, and ocean for boating, fishing, waterway tours, and sea kayaking.

From St. Simons, a causeway leads to smaller Sea Island. This internationally acclaimed resort is residential in style, with island life revolving around the world-famous Cloister. For those choosing not to camp in the area, this elegant Old World resort has been a great Golden Isles base since 1928, with watersports, boating on vintage yachts, golf, and dining among the many popular choices.

Reached only by boat (scheduled departures from the north end of St. Simons), Little St. Simons Island is a secluded coastal retreat with accommodations for just 30 lucky guests. Its 10,000 acres of maritime forests and tidal creeks and miles of shell-strewn beaches remain virtually untouched, offering a rich environment for a host of outdoor recreation on or near the water, including seven miles of beaches and pristine woodlands, interpretive nature and wildlife tours, horseback trails, canoeing, beach picnics, fishing, and more.

Finally, Jekyll Island is the southernmost of The Golden Isles and perhaps the best base for camping and watersports. Reached by the Jekyll (Downing Musgrave) Causeway, Jekyll Island is home to a splendidly restored Historic District from the 1800s, when the island was the exclusive winter retreat of some of America’s wealthiest families. Today, there are ten miles of beautiful beaches, 63 holes of golf, Summer Waves Water Park, biking, fishing, and several marinas for watersports.

In addition, Jekyll Island is home to what may be the best camping base for exploring the area. Jekyll Island Campground (912/635-3021) on North Beachview Drive is on 18 wooded acres and has lots of great sites for tent camping. The beach, watersports, bike rentals, and lots of other activities are conveniently on-site or nearby.

The fishing in the area is especially renowned, with offshore sportfishing, surf and pier casting, bridges, and freshwater options bountiful. Other water-based activities include waterway tours and taxis, birding and marsh tours, parasailing, airboats, sea and river kayaking, sailing, jet skis, windsurfing, dolphin watches, snorkeling, and even offshore scuba diving. Just drive off I-95, pitch your tent, and hit the water.

Getting There

Georgia’s Golden Isles and the town of Brunswick make for an ideal springtime driving destination. Approximate driving mileages from a few cities include: Atlanta (280 miles); Jacksonville (65 miles); Miami (450 miles); Richmond (550 miles); and New York (920 miles). Driving Tip: As well as being incredibly convenient to drivers on I-95, the area also offers the fascinating Brunswick & The Golden Isles Driving Tours, with more than 25 stops outlined in a helpful brochure.