Get Out, Get Away

Hike, bike, swim, sail. From cheap thrills to lavish escapes, 35 ways to brighten your summer.

May 18, 2008

$25 AND UNDER

High Spirits

For bridge geeks who want to get away from - and above - it all, Maine's new Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory offers a bird's-eye view for a song. Located off tourist-trafficked Route 1, the cable-stayed bridge spanning Prospect and Verona Island, about 22 miles south of Bangor, is believed to be the tallest public bridge-observatory on the planet (42 stories). On a clear day, you can see at least 30 miles in all directions. The observatory is located on the Fort Knox State Historic Site in Prospect, a park with a Pentagon-like military fort garrisoned to protect the river valley during the Civil War and Spanish-American War, although it never saw combat. History buffs will admire the military architecture, while kids explore the authentic Rodman cannons and labyrinth of underground alleys. Admission to the observatory includes entry to the park ($5, ages 12 and older; $3, ages 5 to 11). 207-469-6553, maine.gov/observatory - Stacey Chase

WILD WEST

At 16,500 acres, October Mountain State Forest in the Berkshires is one of the largest green spaces in Massachusetts. Escape the crowds (and maybe take a break from nearby Tanglewood) with a canoe trip on the Buckley Dunton Reservoir, a small body of water hidden amid the hardwoods and stocked with bass and pickerel. For a longer paddle, follow the blue herons down the Housatonic River, which snakes along October's rim all the way into Connecticut. Hikers can savor a 9-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail, ideal for families. Admission is free; there are also 46 campsites ($12-$14 a night). 413-243-1778, mass.gov/dcr/parks/ western/octm.htm - Stephen Jermanok

Happily Ever After

When Story Land opened in 1954 in Glen, New Hampshire, owners Bob and Ruth Morrell wanted a theme park where storybook characters could come to life. The cost to open their new venture: $5,000. One year later, a man named Walt Disney would spend some $17 million to open his amusement park in California. Like Disneyland, the Morrells have added new rides through the years (for a total of 21), but they also maintain a sense of history inherent in structures like Cinderella's castle, which has been on the premises since 1957. This sense of familiarity woos parents back to the same nurturing environment they visited as children, to ride once again in antique cars, pirate ships, and pumpkin coaches ($24; ages 2 and younger free). 603-383-4186, storylandnh.com - S.J.

Hearty and Homey

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