When I'm in the US, I spend a lot of time in North Carolina, so it's become one of my favorite places to hike. One of the best places for awesome hiking trails is on the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. It has a bit of a dry name but the trail is unbelievably beautiful and stretches almost 2,200 miles long from Maine down to Georgia. I've probably hiked about half of it at one time or another and, let me tell you, it's never a disappointment.

The last time I hiked part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail I started in Asheville, North Carolina and walked two one day hikes from here that were stunning. The trails were in true wilderness in parts with no one around but, on both trails, the wonderful thing too were the other hikers that I did meet - many of them - all friendly, all helpful and all loving it. I even met a couple of thru-hikers, people who were planning to walk the entire length of the trail in one season.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail does have disadvantages to completely comfortable and easy hiking. There are black bears that are seen now and again and a few different types of poisonous snake that you should steer clear of. The bugs though are the most annoying part, especially in the northern regions (I hiked part of the trail in New York State one year and was almost eaten alive with mosquitos), so make sure you have your bug repellent with you and long hiking pants. But, the positives so far outweigh the negatives that, after a while, you don't even really notice the bugs or worry about the scary snakes. The views are spectacular (come on, it's the Appalachians, of course they're gonna be) and breathing the air in the higher regions feels like breathing pure oxygen it's so clean. There are also some really cool towns that the trail passes by. I recommend Harpers Ferry, West Virginia or Hot Springs, North Carolina as two pretty towns with nice people and only a stone's throw from some awesome hiking.

My next goal is to hike part of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Pennsylvania because there are some ghost mining towns the trail runs through. Now, how cool is that?

If you and your family prefer the smell of freshly cut grass to the scent of room-service breakfast in the morning, fancy hotels just might not cut it for your vacations. Outdoorsy types would rather hike, bike and climb than visit museums and other tourist attractions, and thankfully, the U.S. is chocked full of great vacations for those who prefer the great outdoors.

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, for example, is one of the most popular destinations. Conceived and built in the '20s and '30s, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail winds sinuously from Maine to Georgia over 2,175 miles of beautiful scenery. Mile markers posted along the footpath tell hikers how far they've come and how far they have to go, and many families choose to visit a new leg of the trail every year until they've covered it all.

This incredible path was designed and cleared by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, which is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to maintaining the hiking trails in the U.S. According to the National Park Service, more than 4 million people visit the Appalachian National Scenic Trail each year, and more than two thirds of the U.S. population are within a day's drive of a portion of the trail.

If you're looking into prime outdoor vacations, this is definitely one of the first spots you should consider, particularly because it can be enjoyed by adults and children alike. Most of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail is not difficult to traverse-there are very few steep hills-and the path is dutifully maintained by the ATC. Furthermore, you can punctuate your vacation with pauses in various cities and towns along your hike, exploring historical areas and learning what this country has to offer.

The best time to plan vacations at the Appalachian National Scenic Trail is during the late spring, when all of the state parks through which the trail cuts are in bloom and none are closed. Camping parks are available for outdoorsy types who want to pause for the night and sleep under the stars, though there are also hotels and hostels if you don't feel like roughing it overnight.

Families with children should start their vacations in the southernmost tip of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, because this is the easiest leg of the path. Low hills and gentle valleys keep the hike interesting, but there aren't any major elevation changes that might wear out little legs or cause difficulty breathing. Plus, hikers have the opportunity to see Springer Mountain, Neels Gap and Vogel State Park, all of which offer breathtaking views.

However, outdoorsy types who like a challenge on their vacations might prefer the Pennsylvania leg of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. This section is punctuated by tall, rocky ridges and treacherous gaps that make hiking more invigorating for the experienced hiker. Historical sites abound in this area, which provides relief from the monotony of hiking, and there are plenty of cool streams in which to dip your feet before you carry on.

All in all, the Appalachian National Scenic Trail is one of the most beautiful footpaths in the country, and it certainly gets points for length. Although you won't be able to see all-or even half-on one vacation, the outdoorsy type will think he has died and gone to heaven.