Hi all,

I'm looking to schedule a day-long,
NON-whitewater (family & friends with kids along) kayaking trip
in the central/SW Pennsylvania or nearby West Virginia/MD area.

Basically a "canoe trip", using kayaks. Downstream.

I have an Amtrak-related question about whether we can take
the train back to DC at the end of our trip (see below).

We can camp at beginning and/or end, so more than a day trip,
but probably not more than 40 or so miles from start camp to
end camp, I'm guessing.

Looking for a one day trip (one to two nights camping, with
primarily a day's worth of kayaking imbetween) with good views
of the mountains, and nearby sights to see (presumably via car)
in the vicinity of the start or end point.

I have been to the area before but I don't know where the
preferred spots are for safe non-whitewater canoeing and kayaking.

What are the best spots for this?

I am thinking of the following ideas:

1. If we do a kayaking trip in either SW PA -or- the upper Potomac,
is it possible t o take the train back to Washington DC, where
folks will be staying? Where does the Capitol Limited stop,
and what's the schedule like? Would the cost of a short-hop
be impractical if we booked now in advance? This would be
mid-Labor Day weekend (like Sunday). I figure MARC is not an option.

Maybe this option is impractical unless our trip ends in Harpers
Ferry, or unless we get a ride from the boat rental at the end of
our trip?

2. Is the Monongahela river anywhere between Morgantown (?) WV into
southwestern Pennsylvania a good spot for a NON-whitewater trip?
What about the Casselman River? Any other options nearby?

This would allow us to visit Ohiopyle as a dry-land destination
towards the end of our trip (view the rapids from the trail, see
Fallingwater and the gorge, etc.)

Which I'd really love to do,
having been there before (and having run the rapids, which I
can't do this time, since we'll have friends & their grand kids
who have n ot been to the area),

but it would probably be dependent on available NON-whitewater
in the area. Any other good bets for canoeing or sightseeing
in the Monongahela area?

3. Is the Potomac north of Harpers Ferry a good bet? This would
allow sight seeing in Harpers Ferry. I know that canoeing FROM
Harpers Ferry as far south as Monocacy is an excellent trip,
since I did it in the scouts once. Although I think that is
almost an overnight trip for a family outing... How rough is
the Potomac above Harpers? Perhaps we could put in around
the Shepherdstown area and head south to Harpers Ferry?

4. What about the Susquehanna river valley in the vicinity of
Jamestown or Wilkes-Barre or (whatever the heck is up there)?

I h ave been there once, on a spelunking trip to visit Jamestown
which has a cool pair of museums but probably not too exciting
to someone's grandkid. How is the canoeing/kayaking on the
Susquehanna there? Anything else to see?

I heard there was major flooding in the Delaware Water Gap area
which struck that off the list because available campgrounds were
knocked out. Did this affect the Susquehanna, et al?

Keep in mind I'm looking to schedule an itinerary with what works
out to be a bout a day's worth of downstream kayaking -- nothing too
energetic since it'll basically be a family outing. Looking for
scenery and proximity to sites for a day-trip outing at the beginning
or end of the trip, like Harpers Ferry, or Ohiopyle.

Thanks for any advice you can give.

-- Brian