Being a member of AMC I received this month not only their magazine but their AMC 2009 Summer Planning Guide.

Maybe I should take a step back for those not familiar with AMC.

The Appalachian Mountain Club was formed in 1876 and promotes the protection, enjoyment and appropriate use of the mountains, rivers, and trails of the Northeast Outdoors. It is based in Boston and is one of the oldest conservation groups in the United States.

Most people have heard about the AMC through hiking activities, and the resources they publish on the trails in the mountains of New England. They are nothing short of life-saving. If you hike you’ve also seen the huts and shelters they maintain on the Appalachian Trail as it winds its way from Connecticut to its terminus in Maine at Katahdin.

However, the AMC organization also encompasses the activities of canoeing and kayaking, nature walks, bird watching, and the chance to explore the great outdoors as a family.

If that isn’t enough to get you to join, it isn’t expensive either. But I don’t work for the AMC or any marketing organization that does, so I’ll stop with the promotion. Instead I’ll discuss some of the opportunities for 2009 if you’re looking to have a summer vacation exploring the great outdoors of New England.

Teen Adventures:

If you’re still searching for a camp for your teens then check out the Teen Wilderness Adventures and Teen Volunteer vacations. Trips range from five days to four weeks and include activities of rock climbing, backpacking, and sea kayaking. One of the trips is a 7-day backpack through Maine’s 100-mile wilderness – wouldn’t mind that one myself. The volunteer vacations involve helping to maintain trails in the Berkshires and White Mountains.

Family Adventure Camps:

These camps are five days of outdoor adventure for parents and kids ages 5 and up. These are offered in New Hampshire and Maine locations. If you’ve ever wanted to sit around a real campfire in the mountains under a starry night with your kids singing traditional songs (I won’t mention Cumbia – darn it, I did!) then this is for you. Apart from hiking, other activities include canoeing, kayaking, and swimming depending on location.

High Mountain Huts:

How does this sound to you? Stay overnight near lakes, waterfalls, maybe above treeline, and wake up to invigorating mountain air and a hearty breakfast. Now spend the day in the breathtaking mountains and backpack to the next hut for dinner and your own bunk for the night. You can backpack on your own or with an AMC guide.

And after the day is over – wash, rinse, and repeat again for however many nights you want. But these high mountain huts are popular with the serious long-trek hikers so get your reservations in early because when they’re full then it don’t matter if you have a platinum MasterCard you ain’t getting a bunk for the night.

Summer Vacation Packages:

If you want even more flexibility then choose your own activities and plans in the White Mountains and Lakes Region of New Hampshire, or in the Maine Wilderness Lodges. Pick and choose your 5-day lodge stay at any of the famous AMC lodges. Activities such as biking, paddling, hiking and exploring – even swimming in the Lakes Region – are bound to create a summer to remember. In Maine this year they’ve introduced fly fishing for land-locked salmon angling. And if you’re 50+ there are adventure camps just for you.

So if you’re looking for something more than just the same Cape Cod vacation you’ve had for the last 10 years, or tired of trekking through another muggy summer day with screaming kids on a Boston vacation, then take to the mountains and lakes of this beautiful region and have a real vacation – and if you have them – treat the kids as well. They may even thank you for the quality time you’ll spend exploring this wonderful region with them.

For lots more information on these all-inclusive packages and prices check out AMC 2009 Summer Planning Guide at their web site here.

Another New England post by one of our writers is being prepared right now so be sure to visit again or just subscribe to our RSS Feed here and get notified automatically of events and news.

Yankee Traveler
Staff Writer
New England Online Magazine

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