I was talking with my GF tonight, and was wondering how to spend my 1-week vacation this year. So I hit upon the idea of taking a car trip up the east coast from Norfolk, VA towards Maine.

Now, I've lived in Philly before, and visited DC many times. We're hoping to see more the backcountry type environment, do day hikes, maybe some off-road (or unpaved road) exploration.

Problem is, it's a big area, fairly built up for most of it, and kind of poor continuity between the states on what there is to do.

Anyone have any suggestions on things to see? I'd like to avoid the battlegrounds and presidential birth places, etc. I was thinking more like Catskills, Adirondaks, that sort of thing.

This will probably happen towards next April, so not super worried about snow - just starting to get ideas together now.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts you can put forth.