Posted by Spencer Hines on September 05, 1998 at 07:00:38:
I always thought that one of the charms of the S&A series was the feeling
that the adventures could happen to an ordinary person. Part of that
was the setting--a lake that had wild areas to explore, some very
traditional residents & local farmers; a smallish number of more
urban families renting; not too much "official" outdoor entertainment
like motor boating or water- skiing; enough civilization to make help
nearby and to have shops available, but not enough that a group
of kids can't ignore it when they want to.
I don't think the lake district really qualifies anymore...am I wrong?
It's very nice, but seems to me to have to have passed over into a
much more active, energetic place....
Any ideas about places (anywhere in the world) that have that nice
combination? Where would YOU rent a house for the summer if you wanted
your kids to have some outdoor adventures, learn something, and be
fairly self-reliant without joining Outward Bound?
I might recommend the vicinity of Oxford, Maryland on the Chesapeake
Bay, although it's on the Bay, not a river. Gentrified and active, but
with lots of beautiful areas to sail and explore