Summer Travel Guide 9.04 x 10.5
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Explore
Lewis County, NY
Our backyard, your adventure! Bring your dirt bike, ATV or side by side to enjoy hundreds of miles of trails and seasonal roads that offer a different terrain for every preference. Many businesses located along the trails cater to the OHV enthusiast. You can take short afternoon rides, or better yet, plan a weekend!
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U
PSTATE NEW YORK IS FULL OF POSSIBILITIES AND WONDER.
From its cascading waterfalls and
Chimney Bluffs
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roadside attractions and museums, there are endless road trips and getaways to go on this spring and summer. There’s nature
UPSTATE WINERIES
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breathtaking high peaks, to its unusual
to be explored, cities to be visited and experiences to be had — all in one region. On Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
NewYorkUpstate.com, we find the best things to do, recommend the most interesting
UPSTATE’S ICONIC RESTAURANTS
places to visit and uncover what is truly unique about Upstate NY. We’re proud to live
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in the region and say that we’ve eaten a few garbage plates in our time, visited “the Grand Canyon of the East” or toured some of the Grape Stomping
10 GREAT PLACES TO KAYAK
06 50 PLACES TO VISIT 14 SEE-WORTHY LAKES 21 WATERFALLS: WHAT A RUSH 30 FUN DRIVES 36 BLACK HISTORY 38 DAYTRIPS 44 SUNSET VIEWING SPOTS 57 EMPIRE TRAIL 58 REGIONAL ROUNDUP Note: While we still experience the Covid19 pandemic, please take proper precautions and check for any changed business hours or availability before venturing out.
best wineries and breweries. Our coverage is committed to the region and all it has to offer. As we bring our focus back to the importance of travel and tourism in the region, this special section serves as a reintroduction. Like what you see? We’re just getting started.
Ithaca Swimming Spots
Enjoy Upstate NY — we’re glad you’re here.
Allie Healy SENIOR SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER AND NEWYORKUPSTATE. COM CONTENT MANAGER
Boldt Castle
ADVENTURE TIME
Hit list
2 Walkway Over the Hudson POUGHKEEPSIE; DUTCHESS COUNTY One of Upstate’s greatest man-made wonders. Old train bridge that crosses the Hudson River now turned into the world’s longest pedestrian walkway. Hundreds of thousands walk over the river here each year.
50 Places to visit in 2021
website: https://walkway.org/
3 Farmers Museum COOPERSTOWN; OTSEGO COUNTY
BY CHUCK D’IMPERIO
A glimpse of life in Upstate New York in the 1800s. Home of the Cardiff Giant, which was once known as “America’s Greatest Hoax.”
WITH SO MUCH TO OFFER IN HISTORY, BEAUTY AND FUN,
website: https://www.farmersmuseum.org/
HERE’S A BUCKET LIST FOR ANY FIRST-TIME VISITOR OR
4 Anchor Bar
LONGTIME RESIDENT IN UPSTATE NEW YORK TO SEEK OUT.
BUFFALO; ERIE COUNTY PHOTO BY SCOTT TRIMBLE
Birthplace of the No. 1 appetizer in the country, chicken wings. The Buffalo hot wings were invented at this neighborhood bar on March 4, 1964. Since then it has become one of the city’s top destination restaurants. website: https://anchorbar.com/
5 Pratt Rock PRATTSVILLE; GREENE COUNTY A mountaintop canyon with white carvings along the stone walls. All were done by Zadock Pratt who owned the world’s largest tannery in the village named for him. It’s been called “New York’s Mount Rushmore.” website: https://www.greatnortherncatskills.com/ outdoors/pratt-rock-new-yorks-mount-rushmore
6 Corning Tower ALBANY; ALBANY COUNTY This is the tallest building in New York State outside of New York City. The glasswalled observation deck on the 42nd floor offer visitors an amazing view of the city and mountains in the distance. website: https://empirestateplaza.ny.gov/ corning-tower-observation-deck
1 Tibbetts Point Lighthouse
7 Whiteface Mountain
CAPE VINCENT; JEFFERSON COUNTY
WILMINGTON; ESSEX COUNTY
58-foot tall historic lighthouse located “where the lake and the river meet.” Point of land where the St. Lawrence River joins Lake Ontario. Built in 1854. Gorgeous sunsets.
Take a drive to the top of New York State’s fifth highest mountain. On a clear day you can even see the skyscrapers of downtown Montreal, Canada.
Website: https://www.tibbettspointlighthouse.org/
website: https://whiteface.com/
PHOTO BY SCOTT SCHILD
8 Rod Serling Carousel
11 Opus 40
14 Strong National Museum of Play
BINGHAMTON; BROOME COUNTY
SAUGERTIES; ULSTER COUNTY
ROCHESTER; MONROE COUNTY
Recreation Park has a 1925 Herschell carousel. Playwright Rod Serling, a native of Binghamton, wrote an episode of his famed “Twilight Zone” television show about this park.
Amazing outdoor sculpture park constructed in a quarry. Intricate man-made stairways, passages, and stone walls. Gorgeous bluestone setting. Popular as a wedding site.
Dedicated to the concept of play, the National Toy Hall of Fame is where spinning tops, board games and your little red wagon came to be immortalized.
website: https://www.facebook.com/
website: https://opus40.org/
binghamtonrecreationpark/
9 Moosewood Restaurant ITHACA; TOMPKINS COUNTY
12 Rondout Area KINGSTON; ULSTER COUNTY
website: https://www.museumofplay.org/
15 Andes Hotel ANDES; DELAWARE COUNTY A historic tavern, inn and motel built in 1853. The wide front porch here is a half-block long and is perfect for dinner, drinks and people watching. Website: https://www.theandeshotel.com/
Opened in 1973, this vegetarian restaurant is popular with college students, college alumni, locals and tourists and famous for its cookbooks.
Kingston was the first capital of New York State. The Rondout is the city’s historic waterfront. You’ll find many fine shops, restaurants and museums in area.
website: https://moosewoodcooks.com/
website: https://www.thekingstonwaterfront.com/
16. Lucille Ball Grave
10 Northeast Classic Car Museum
13 Jell-O Museum
JAMESTOWN; CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
NORWICH; CHENANGO COUNTY
LE ROY; GENESEE COUNTY
A dazzling auto museum with one of the largest collections of Franklin cars in the country. Over 160 vehicles with many dating from 1899 to post-World War II.
A Jell-O museum here tells the story of the beginnings of “America’s Favorite Dessert” through exhibits, audio and visual presentations and many examples of rare Jell-O ephemera.
website: https://www.classiccarmuseum.org/
website: https://www.jellogallery.org/
Hometown girl Lucille Ball is buried in Lake View Cemetery. The city is home to the National Comedy Museum and a museum dedicated to Lucy and Desi and their innovative show “I Love Lucy.” website: https://comedycenter.org/
RIVER
MOUNTAIN
VALLEY WINDHAM
JOURNEY TO
CAIRO
GREATER
Experience a better solace. GreatNorthernCatskills.com
LEEDS NORTH
Reignite wanderlust and set out in search of adventure this summer. Grab the bikes, the binoculars, the bug spray, and the beach towels and head to the Great Northern Catskills of Greene County. Explore along dirt paths, fish in wild creeks, get muddy playing in puddles, then dive into cool and clean lakes before gathering around a bonfire for s’mores. Spend quality time together and make memories you’ll cherish forever. This summer, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. Journey to Greater in the Great Northern Catskills.
CATSKILL
ULSTER COUNTY NEW YORK
Nestled in the scenic Mid-Hudson Valley, Ulster County is a four-season playground of breathtaking beauty, outdoor adventure, vibrant arts and culture, and renowned farm-to-table dining. Plan your next adventure at UlsterCountyAlive.com
&
SEEK FOR YOURSELF FIND YOUR HAPPY PLACE ulstercountyalive.com
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PHOTO BYKATHE HARRINGTON
HIT LIST, FROM 7
17 Ithaca Commons ITHACA; TOMPKINS COUNTY A groundbreaking pedestrian mall in the heart of the downtown business district is a popular gathering place for shopping, dining, festivals, concerts and has over 100 independently owned specialty stores and businesses. website: https://www.downtownithaca. com/visit-downtown/the-commons/
18 1890 House Museum CORTLAND; CORTLAND COUNTY One of Upstate’s great old Victorian mansions offering public tours was the former home of millionaire Chester Wickwire. website: http://the1890house.org/chester-f-wickwire/
19 Brooks House of Bar-B-Q ONEONTA; OTSEGO COUNTY Now in the hands of a third generation of Brooks family members, this is one of New York’s most famous family chicken restaurants. Barbecue chicken is cooked on the largest indoor charcoal fire pit east of the Mississippi (38-feet long). website: https://brooksbbq.com/restaurant/
20 USS Slater ALBANY; ALBANY COUNTY This ship, docked in the Hudson River in Albany, is a floating military museum. Of the 563 Destroyer Escorts that were built and employed during World War II, the Slater is the last surviving one still afloat. website: https://ussslater.org/
23 Oldest Miniature Golf Course in U.S.A. IRONDEQUOIT; MONROE COUNTY Opened in 1930, the Parkside Whispering Pines Mini-Golf is dotted with lighthouses, lobster traps, colorful buoys, and carved pelicans and American flags. A 1950s-style diner adjoins the course. website: https://parksidediner.com/
21 Canandaigua City Pier CANANDAIGUA; ONTARIO COUNTY This long pier allows visitors to walk far out over the water. Near the end of the pier is a famous cluster of gaily colored small boat houses that have become a charming icon of the city. website: https://www.visitfingerlakes.com/ listings/canandaigua-city-pier/566/
22 John Boyd Thacher State Park VOORHEESVILLE; ALBANY COUNTY In the distance you can see the foothills of the Adirondacks, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the skyscrapers of Albany’s Empire Plaza. The famed Indian Ladder Trail allows visitors to descend a 60-foot metal ladder and walk along a narrow path that clings to the face of a cliff. website: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/128/details.aspx
24 Olana HUDSON; COLUMBIA COUNTY Tour this magnificent estate of artist Frederick E. Church and its 250-acre grounds. Ask your tour guide for the story of the four teapots on the roof! website: https://www.olana.org/
25 The Wild Center TUPPER LAKE; FRANKLIN COUNTY The Wild Center highlight is the Wild Walk that follows suspension bridges, pathways and platforms where visitor can gradually walk up and over the canopy of forests far below, getting a literal bird’s eye view of the scenery. website: https://www.wildcenter.org/visit/wild-walk/
26 Seneca Falls SENECA COUNTY Known as “The Birthplace of the Women’s Rights Movement,” Seneca Falls has museums, historical markers, famous homes and impressive statues throughout the village. Also check out the village’s connection to the famous movie classic “It’s A Wonderful Life.” website: https://www.senecafalls.com/ visit-seneca-falls.php
27 Erie Canal Museum SYRACUSE; ONONDAGA COUNTY The Erie Canal Museum tells of “the greatest engineering marvel of its day” and makes its home in the Weighlock Buildng, the last of several giant buildings that weighed canal boats as they passed. website: https://eriecanalmuseum.org/
28 The TePee CHERRY VALLEY; OTSEGO COUNTY Built in 1950 and still in business today. A fifty-foot-tall metal tepee is a store that sells New York State products, Native American gifts and jewelry, clothing and folk art. website: http://thetepee.biz/
PHOTO BY CHARLIE DE BIASE JR.
33 Our Lady of Victory Shrine & Basilica LACKAWANNA; ERIE COUNTY This enormous cathedral was the inspiration of Father Nelson Baker, known locally as “The Padre of the Poor.” The interior of the basilica is a wonder with stainedglass windows, elaborate altars, Italian marble columns and remote sanctuaries. website: https://www.olvbasilica.org/
34 United States Military Academy WEST POINT; ORANGE COUNTY This historic training ground for the U.S. Army offers public tours. The West Point Cadet Chapel houses the world’s largest chapel organ and the West Point Cemetery features the graves of some of America’s most storied soldiers, including, General Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. and others. website: https://www.westpoint.edu/
35 Hanford Mills Museum EAST MEREDITH; DELAWARE COUNTY
29 National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum COOPERSTOWN; OTSEGO COUNTY The Hall is a mecca for generations of baseball lovers. The Hall of Plaques, where only the best are honored, is a place of quiet reflection and reminiscence. website: https://baseballhall.org/
30 Medina Toy Train Museum MEDIAN; ORLEANS COUNTY This museum has the largest toy train layout in the East and features vintage trains making their way through miniature settings of cities, farms, wilderness and small towns. website: https://www. medinarailroad museum.org/
31 Corning Museum of Glass CORNING; STEUBEN COUNTY Home of Corning Glass, the Corning Museum of Glass tells the story of the company in audio and visual exhibits and examples of some of the glass artisan’s most impressive works. Don’t miss the glass-blowing demonstration in the amphitheater. website: https://home.cmog.org/
32 Animal Adventure Park HARPURSVILLE; BROOME COUNTY Featuring more than 300 varieties of animals on site, the park gained international fame when it live-streamed the birth of a giraffe, Tajiri, in 2017. website: https://theanimaladventurepark. com/Page/home
Built in 1820, the mill still retains the patina of old-fashioned ingenuity and craftsmanship. Tour several of the mills’ working buildings and see a giant 1926 Fitz overshot waterwheel come to action and power the entire grounds. website: https://www.hanfordmills.org/
36 Howe Caverns HOWE CAVE; SCHOHARIE COUNTY An elevator takes you 156-feet below the ground, where the temperature is always 56 -degrees. See rock formations back-lit for dramatic purposes and visit a red heartshaped piece of calcite known as Bridal Chapel where more than 600 couples have said “I Do.” Top off your visit with a boat ride on the underground river. website: https://howecaverns.com/
37 Franklin D. Roosevelt Home and Grave HYDE PARK; DUTCHESS COUNTY The magnificent home of our nation’s 32nd president has long been a popular destination in the Hudson Valley. Roosevelt was born at this Hyde Park mansion on January 30, 1892 and was buried here after his death in 1945. Public tours available. Website: https://www.nps.gov/hofr/index.htm
Want more? visit PHOTO BY CHELSEA DURAND
HIT LIST, FROM 11
38 Stamford Fire Tower STAMFORD; DELAWARE COUNTY There are a few Adirondack and Catskill Mountain fire towers that have been in use for decades. In the Catskills, there is only one tower accessible by vehicle. Mount Utsayantha, which rises 3,214 feet above the village of Stamford, has a tower for visitors and small public park at the summit. website: https://www.cnyhiking.com/MountUtsayantha.htm
39 Hyde Hall COOPERSTOWN; OTSEGO COUNTY This mansion was built between 1817 and 1834 for George Clarke, whose grandfather was the governor of colonial New York. Located at the northern tip of Otsego Lake, the neoclassical home is open for tours. website: https://hydehall.org/
40 Mark Twain Country ELMIRA; CHEMUNG COUNTY Famed writer and riverboater Mark Twain had a close personal relationship with Elmira where he spent nearly two dozen summers. Today, a small writing gazebo that he wrote in is on the campus of Elmira College. Twain is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, section G. website: https://www.friendsofwoodlawnelmira.org/
41 Arkville Train ARKVILLE; DELAWARE COUNTY Take a ride on the Delaware and Ulster Railroad in southern Delaware County. You can ride in the vintage rail cars and enjoy some of Upstate’s most beautiful scenery. Be sure to ask about the “train robbery” excursions. website: https://durr.org/
42 Vidler’s 5&10 EAST AURORA; ERIE COUNTY
44 Saratoga Race Course
48 Woodstock Concert Site
SARATOGA SPRINGS; SARATOGA COUNTY
BETHEL; SULLIVAN COUNTY
Known as “The August Place to Be” the track is a major tourist destination where you can walk the grounds, the rails, the clubhouse, the horse paddocks and the vending area under the trees. website: https://www.saratogaracetrack.com/
45 Point Lookout EAST WINDHAM; GREENE COUNTY From here you can see (on a clear day) the forests and rivers of New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts and the White Mountains of New Hampshire website: https://www.greatnortherncatskills.
It’s been called the “most famous five and dime store in America” and the largest, covering almost an entire block in this historic village. Tens of thousands of nostalgic items pack the shelves.
com/attractions/five-state-lookout
website: https://www.vidlers5and10.com/
OSWEGO; OSWEGO COUNTY
47 Safe Haven Museum
Taughannock Falls is the centerpiece of this 750-acre park and features a dramatic plunge that plummets 215-feet — higher than the mighty Niagara Falls (the Horseshoe Falls at Niagara drops 167 feet).
Near the grounds of historic Fort Ontario, the Safe Haven Museum is the last standing building of what was America’s only Jewish refugee center during World War II. It is the story of how 982 Jews from war ravaged Italy came to Oswego in 1944 where they were housed in a camp as “personal guests of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.” This was the only place in the country where refugees were accepted.
website: https://parks.ny.gov/parks/taughannockfalls
website: https://www.safehavenmuseum.com/
43 Taughannock Falls State Park TRUMANSBURG; TOMPKINS COUNTY
Now known officially as the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, this is perhaps the most famous concert site in the world. Nearly a half-million young people converged on the hallowed field here for the 1969 rock concert that will live for eternity. The concert field, then a dirty mud field, is now a beautifully landscaped rolling lawn. There is a Woodstock monument and a great museum near the top of the hill. Concerts are still held here. website: https://www.bethelwoodscenter.org/
49 Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome RHINEBECK; DUTCHESS COUNTY This is a living museum that offers many old-time airshows using authentic vintage planes. Check out the 1909 Bieriot, the oldest flying airplane in the Western Hemisphere, or any of the several vintage biplanes. website: https://oldrhinebeck.org/
50 Susan B. Anthony Grave ROCHESTER; MONROE COUNTY Ms. Anthony’s grave is the most visited in this expansive historic cemetery in Rochester. Mt. Hope is the final resting place of 350,000 thousand people, many of them famous. Anthony, the towering figure of the Women’s Rights Movement, is buried in Section C, Lot 93 of the cemetery. website: https://freethought-trail.org/trail-map/ location:susan-b-anthony-gravesite/
GENEVA ON THE LAKE GENEVA ON THE LAKE
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Wine Country Villa & Resort
Boutique Resort Hotel, Restaurant & Historic Gar ens in the Finger Lakes Wine Region of New York
1001 Lochlan Roa , Geneva, NY | 315-789-7190 | www.genevaonthelake.com
The Crown Jewel of Wine Country
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Experience unmatche hospitality an tranquility on this 10-acre bluff overlooking beautiful Seneca Lake, in historic Geneva, New York.
For casual elegance and romantic charm
PL AN YO U R VI SI TO DAT Y!
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NATUR A L BE AUT Y
Lake George
The lake and the village of Lake George have been a summer destination for generations. Known as “The Queen of American Lakes,” Lake George’s history and the area predate the American Revolution. Hundreds of waterfront homes, retreats and summer camps line its shores, while a variety of boats ply the waters. Look for pleasure crafts and fishing boats along with famed paddlewheel boat the Minne-Ha-Ha and the steamship, Lac du Saint Sacrement — both more than 50 years old. Lake George is 30 miles long and about two miles wide.
Shore things 12 lakes less famous than the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York – give ‘em a hand BY CHUCK D’IMPERIO
UPSTATE NEW YORK HAS MORE THAN 100 LAKES TO LOVE IN ALL THEIR NATURAL BEAUTY. HERE’S A LIST OF SOME OF THE BEAUTIES WORTH A DAY OF FUN, A NIGHT OF CAMPING OR A WEEKEND OF MAKING MEMORIES. (NOTE: WE DID NOT INCLUDE ANY OF THE FAMOUS FINGER LAKES BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW FABULOUS THEY ARE!)
IT’S TIME
You’ve had months to imagine your next trip and now’s the time to gift yourself that much deserved escape. Ontario County in the heart of the Finger Lakes is ready to welcome you. Start your trip at Finger Lakes Welcome Center in Geneva to provide inspiration and guidance for your FLX Getaway. Any day in the Finger Lakes is a great day to be outdoors. Take a dip in the lake, feel the fresh lakes breezes, enjoy carefree days in wide open spaces. Biking, kayaking, hiking, paddle- boarding, and just plain relaxing are all part of our diverse outdoor playground. Want to see beautiful
Advertorial
landscapes? Head to Naples, NY. Taste your way through the FLX; try a cooking class at NY Kitchen and follow the Canandaigua Lake Wine or the Rochester/Finger Lakes Craft Beverage Trails to experience the booming craft beverage culture. Shopping is an essential – Victor has some of the best! Include a food experience at an eclectic restaurant or new rooftop bars above KiX on Main or Nick’s Chophouse. It’s new - the luxury Lake House on Canandaigua has been recognized as one of the best hotels in the world. IT’S TIME to take a getaway, not faraway.
Your Getaway ~ Not Far Away
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Make Long Weekends Last Even Longer Make memories here for the rest of your life S9936368-01
It’s Time...
To take that first dip in a sparkling lake To feel warm lake breezes against your skin To savor a glass of hand-crafted wine or beer To let someone else do the cooking To enjoy carefree days in open spaces To get back to what really matters It’s time to visit the Finger Lakes.
YOUR GETAWAY - NOT FARAWAY
Canandaigua Lake, Finger Lakes, NY
Call us (or email) for your free laidback luxury getaway packet. (585) 394-3915 Info@VisitFingerLakes.com
1 hour from Syracuse 30 minutes from Rochester 1.5 hours from Buffalo S9942052-01
LAKES, FROM 15
Lake Champlain
(Clinton/Essex Counties) One of the country’s longest lakes at 107 miles long, Lake Champlain forms a watery border between New York and Vermont. Plattsburgh’s City Beach is one of the largest freshwater beaches in America and offers a dog park, concession stand, picnic tables, outdoor showers and more. The sandy beach is one of the best in the state and runs over a mile long. The views of the Vermont and New York mountain ranges are photo-op worthy.
North-South Lake (Haines Falls)
Long Lake (Long Lake)
Deep in the Catskill Mountains, North-South Lake is one of the largest and best family campgrounds in the region and a mecca for swimmers, campers, hikers, boaters and outdoor lovers. A sandy beach opens from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
This beautiful, small lake serves the Adirondack community of about 750 residents. At 14 miles long, it’s a major summertime destination for campers and vacationers. Two must-sees include Hoss’s Country Store and Custard’s Last Stand. Hoss’ offers camping items, food stuff, beer, ice, firewood, souvenirs, clothing, fishing gear and more, but its standout feature is a tree that grows through the building and out the roof. Custard’s Last Stand in the village has been serving for more than six decades.
Saratoga Lake (Saratoga County) Near the city of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga is ringed with vacation homes around its 25 miles of shoreline. Brown’s Beach is a popular place for family play. Choose from several nearby places to eat and enjoy beautiful lake views including Nostalgia Ale House and Doc Brown’s Lakeside Tavern.
Cranberry Lake (St. Lawrence County) Gilbert Lake (Laurens) In the town of Clifton, this gorgeous lake was named for the massive cranberry bogs that used to cover its parts. As the third largest lake in the Adirondacks, this peaceful, reflective spot offers a lush landscape of mountains, trees and blue water. Fishing for smallmouth bass, brookies, sunfish and yellow perch is excellent. Camping facilities are available.
One of the prettiest lakes in Central New York, Gilbert Lake offers crystal clear water, a cordoned off swimming area, canoe rentals, picnic tables, a sandy beach, restrooms and shower facilities, overnight cabins in the woods and much more. A stroll around the lake in any season is a relaxing experience. This is one of the oldest state parks in New York.
Mirror Lake (Lake Placid) With its crystal blue waters, the Olympic Village on one side and the majestic Adirondacks towering around the horizon, Mirror Lake is the centerpiece of the region. In summer and winter, the lake is the heartbeat of sports activities dating back to long before the Winter Olympics first came here in 1932 and in 1980. Millionaires have constructed fabled log mansions around all the lakes here, and equally stupendous boathouses. Many of the fine restaurants along the village’s Main Street have outside back decks to maximize your dining experience with unforgettable views.
Great Sacandaga Lake (Northville)
A man-made reservoir in the Adirondacks, this lake is 30 miles long. The dam was created as a flood mitigation project in 1930, but today it is known for a wide variety of recreation activities. There are numerous summer camps along the lake shore. Be sure and stop at the historic I-Go-Inn restaurant and bar in Edinburg, the oldest restaurant in the Sacandaga region.
Oneida Lake (Sylvan Beach)
Oneida is the largest lake found wholly inside New York state. The village of Sylvan Beach is a top summer destination featuring many fine bars and restaurants and a lively beach, historic amusement park and a variety of small shops.
Chautauqua Lake (Chautauqua County)
This gem in Western New York stretches 17 miles long and is only two miles across at its widest part. The area is also home of the historic Chautauqua Institution. Historically, this was a venerable location for recreation, casinos, vacationers, lake cruises, big band concerts and amusement parks. Lucille Ball was born outside Jamestown in the village of Celoron, at the southern end of the lake.
OUTDOOR FUN
A total rush 17 must-see waterfalls in Upstate NY BY SUNNY HERNANDEZ
WHETHER IT’S THE SOUND OF THE RUSHING WATER, THE MIST RISING FROM THE PLUNGING CASCADES, OR THEIR AWE-INSPIRING HEIGHTS, THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT A WATERFALL THAT MANY FIND MESMERIZING. HERE ARE 17 BREATHTAKING WATERFALLS TO ADD TO YOUR MUST-SEE BUCKET LIST. SEE WATERFALLS, 22
Niagara Falls One of the natural wonders of the world, Niagara Falls offers many ways to enjoy the “American side.” Whether it’s by the Maid of the Mist boat ride, Cave of the Winds, or even helicopter, seeing Niagara Falls will make for an unforgettable experience. Address: Niagara Falls State Park Visitor Center, 332 Prospect St., Niagara Falls, NY 14303
Eternal Flame Falls What this waterfall may lack in size, it certainly makes up for in mystery and magic. The Eternal Flame Falls will fill you with awe when you see its flickering flame lit by a natural gas grotto. The falls are in the Shale Creek Preserve in Western New York and will require some walking and hunting to find it. Address: 6718 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Orchard Park, NY 14127 (Chestnut Ridge Park parking lot)
Middle Falls, Letchworth State Park Letchworth State Park, nicknamed the “Grand Canyon of the East,” boasts three major waterfalls on the Genesee River. While each set of waterfalls is one to admire, the star of the show is the Middle Falls. Head to Inspiration Point for the best view. From here you can take in the massive canyon and the mighty waterfalls for a scene that can’t be beat. Address: 1 Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY 14427
Rainbow Falls Watkins Glen State Park is arguably one of the most famous hikes in the Finger Lakes with two miles of spellbinding cliffs, gorges and 19 waterfalls of all sizes. The most picturesque of these waterfalls is Rainbow Falls. You’ll have to cross the Sentry Bridge, bypass Lover’s Lane and navigate The Narrows to find it just past the Glen Cathedral. Once there, visitors can walk behind these falls as they make their way to Mile Point Bridge. Address: 1009 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Taughannock Falls This 750-acre state park in the Southern Tier is home to the highest single-drop waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains. Taughannock Falls is a 215-foot waterfall that towers nearly 400 feet above the gorge and is three stories taller than Niagara Falls. Get a view from the top with the Falls Overlook or hike the 3/4mile Gorge Trail to stand at the bottom of this behemoth. The park is located just a short drive from Ithaca and makes for a great day trip. Address: 1740 Taughannock Blvd,
PHOTO BY BENJAMIN CLAPP/SHUTTERSTOCK
WATERFALLS, FROM 21
Lower Falls At Lower Falls at Robert H. Treman State Park in the Ithaca area, you can sit on a rock and let the falls rush over you or fly high from the diving board as you make a splash into the pool below. If you want to work up a sweat before taking the plunge, hike to see the park’s 115foot Lucifer Falls. Address: 105 Enfield Falls Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850
SEE WATERFALLS, XX
Buttermilk Falls, above
WATERFALLS, FROM 22
Chittenango Falls
Ausable Chasm
A 167-foot waterfall serves as the picturesque centerpiece of Chittenango Falls State Park — one of the best parks in Central New York. Views from the top are just a short walk from the main parking lot, but many visitors will find the best view is at the bottom. The short, but steep gorge trail brings you to a footbridge along the creek.
Not far from the High Falls Gorge is Ausable Chasm, otherwise known as the “Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks.” The property is even larger than High Falls Gorge and boasts even more waterfalls, including the picturesque Rainbow Falls. Take the riverwalk down into the chasm to get the best view of the falls as you gaze up the 150foot rocky walls of the abyss. This property also features walking trails, tubing, rafting, rappelling and more.
Address: 2300 Rathbun Rd., Cazenovia, NY 13035
Address: 2144 Route 9 Ausable Chasm, NY 12911
High Falls, Rochester
OK Slip Falls
Address: 106 E
Surrounded by history in downtown Rochester, High Falls is just one of three waterfalls along the Genesee River. Nestled into the High Falls District, there are plenty of places to eat and things to do in the area. The Genesee Riverway Trail is an off-road way to walk, run, or bike to follow the river and see Rochester’s scenic gorge, three waterfalls and 11 parks. Take this trail to the Pont de Rennes bridge where you’ll get the best view.
OK Slip Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in the Adirondack Park standing at 250-feet tall. This natural wonder became accessible to the public in 2014 and has already become one of the more popular sights to see. The three-mile hike to the falls is best to take in the morning before the crowds arrive. This lookout area is a great place to have a picnic and take in spectacular views.
Buttermilk Falls Rd,
Address: High Falls Parking Garage, 240
Address: OK Slip Falls Trailhead, NY-28, Indian Lake, NY 12842
Ithaca, NY 14850
State St., Rochester, NY 14614
They say Ithaca is gorges, but it is also the home of many beautiful waterfalls. Buttermilk Falls State Park is also in the Ithaca area and its namesake attraction is a gem of an Upstate NY waterfall. The foaming cascade gave the falls its name and a natural pool at the base of the falls makes it one of Ithaca’s popular swimming holes.
Kaaterskill Falls
High Falls, Chateaugay
This giant, double cascade waterfall in the Catskills is one of the tallest in the state. At a height of more than a combined 260 feet, this two-tiered waterfall is the park’s crown jewel and a must-see during your adventures to the Catskill Mountains. The view from the upper platform is a short walk and is handicap accessible.
At the edge of the Adirondack Park, not far from the Canadian border, lies a hidden treasure that comes in the form of a spectacular 120-foot waterfall in High Falls Park. The narrow chasm, located on the Chateaugay River can be seen from the High Falls Park Campground. There is a nominal fee to hike their nature trails, but the views can’t be beat. Chateaugay is also home to one of the state’s many massive wind farms.
Address: Rt. 23A, Haines Falls, NY 12436
Address: 34 Cemetery Rd, Chateaugay, NY 12920
PHOTO BY CITY OF COHOES
PHOTO BY DAVID LASSMAN
Cohoes Falls, Above Located on the Mohawk River, Cohoes Falls is a favorite of Capital Region residents. Cohoes is the second largest waterfall in New York state after Niagara Falls, measuring roughly 1,000 feet across. There’s a viewing area near Harmony Mills that is open year-round as well as a falls-view park that’s perfect for picnicking. Address: Overlook Park, School St., Cohoes, NY 12047
Split Rock Falls Split Rock Falls, located in Elizabethtown, is one of the most popular swimming spots in the Adirondacks. Multiple waterfalls pour into a plunge pool in the middle and fall again into a large, deep swimming basin. This makes Split Rock Falls not only beautiful, but also a refreshing spot on a hot summer day. More adventurous visitors have also been known to cliff jump into the natural pool. Find a third drop just downstream of the main waterfall along the Bouquet River. Address: US 9, Elizabethtown, NY 12964 between the intersection of NY 73 and the hamlet of New Russia
High Falls Gorge
Salmon River Falls, above
Located in the Adirondacks, this 22-acre park features four breathtaking waterfalls. The half-mile trail is familyfriendly (the self-guided hike takes about 45 minutes). Enjoy the scenic vantage points of the Main Falls, one of the most photographed waterfalls within the park.
The beauty of the 112-acre Salmon River Falls Unique Area is a true escape from everyday life with its scenic gorge and 110-foot waterfall. The 600-foot Gorge Trail leads from the Falls Trail to the bottom of the gorge and can be steep and demanding. A wheelchair accessible trail offers an enjoyable hiking experience in beautiful scenery.
Address: 4761 NYS Route 86, Wilmington, NY 12997
Address: 134 Falls Rd, Richland, NY 13144
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FOOD & DRINK
PHOTO BY CHARLES WAINWRIGHT
Flavor faves
Iconic restaurants in Upstate New York BY WILLIAM M. DOWD
13
OF UPSTATE’S MOST ICONIC DINING SPOTS, EACH OFFERING A UNIQUE AMBIENCE, DISTINCT VIBE, A DASH
OF HISTORY AND MENUS THAT VARY FROM GARBAGE PLATES TO BEEF ON ‘WECK.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
(Syracuse, Rochester, Troy, Buffalo) THIS uber-casual independently owned barbecue joint makes the list for its four popular Upstate locations (it has others in New York City and New Jersey) that grew from founder John Stage’s original mobile operation and his Syracuse biker bar bricks-and-mortar venue. While the menu has been slightly downsized in a nod to pandemic stresses, there still is a healthy line of Southern barbecue dishes — including the famous “Big Ass Pork Plate” — of ribs, pulled pork, jerked chicken, scrumptious fried green tomatoes that are good year-round because the Dinosaur contracts with a reliable supplier, brisket cheesesteaks and a large array of draft beers and a large spirits menu.
SCROD CHRISTOPHER FROM THE SHERWOOD INN COOKBOOK
Sherwood Inn (Skaneateles)
Hill Top Inn (Elmira)
ONE of Upstate’s older hostelries, this one has been an operating inn since 1807 when Isaac Sherwood constructed it as a stagecoach stop and tavern. Over its lifespan it has been known as Lamb’s Hotel, Packwood House, Berlin House, Kan-Ya-To Inn and back to the original Sherwood Inn in 1945.
THIS scenic spot just outside the city limits
Today, it remains a 25-room inn, many of them overlooking scenic Skaneateles Lake, with a dining room popular with non-guests as well for lunch and dinner. The stone and brick façade adds to the historic feel of the venue, and the variety of dining spaces overlooking the main street and lake is a major attraction. The menu is as varied as the tales of its history, with poutine, chicken wings, crab cakes and calamari appetizers and Yankee pot roast, penne pasta with chicken and andouille sausage and cracker crumb-coated scrod entrees.
overlooking the Chemung Valley has been a special occasion go-to spot since 1933 for weddings and other celebratory events as well as fine dining. It began as a private residence called the Joy-Jack Lodge after the Wyckoff family that had it built as a getaway. Apropos that view, it has a Mark Twain connection in that the American literary icon spent 22 summers in Elmira and wrote many of his works from this same East Hill. Thus, it often is referred to as “The View that Inspired Mark Twain.” Despite the pandemic, the Hill Top has been able to maintain its food service, bolstered by a very popular brunch offering such items as eggs Benedict, breakfast skillets, hash, pancakes, cinnamon-bread French toast, and “bottomless” mimosas in three flavors.
Warfield’s Restaurant, Lounge and Bakery (Clifton Springs)
THIS Ontario County village retains a turn-ofthe-century ambiance and its famous Warfield Block is home to the restaurant. The interior space has period-appropriate brick and oak walls and ornate tin ceilings. An English garden offers a nice spot for cocktails outdoors, and the bar lounge is a study in ornate woodwork. The seasonal menu, with its Asian and European touches, makes for an interesting culinary experience that offers most of the basics with a few witty touches on the current menu (apple/fig/ almond and roasted beet/goat cheese among the salads; chipotle chicken skewers and chocolate coffee crusted hanger steak among the small plates; shrimp tagliatelle and duck breast with mushroom risotto among the entrees). SEE FLAVOR, 28
FLAVOR, FROM 27 SCOTCH ’N SIRLOIN PHOTO BY PARKER LANE PRODUCTIONS, LLC
Scotch ’N Sirloin (DeWitt, Amherst) THE name Scotch ‘N Sirloin conjures up different images and memories depending on one’s age and place of residence over the years. Founded in 1962 by a group of brothers who had studied at Cornell University – Brad, Tom and Dardenne Tiffany, the name was appended to a string of trailblazing steakhouse restaurants ranging from the original in the Binghamton suburb of Vestal to the Syracuse suburb of DeWitt to the Buffalo suburb of Amherst, and so on around New York State, Pennsylvania, and even Puerto Rico. The mini-chain eventually broke up with operators going their own ways, and the DeWitt location that opened in April 1967 now is the only one still owned by the founding Tiffany family. The first menus were hand-lettered on empty Lancer’s Wine pottery bottles, a brand that passed for “in” vino in those days. A glass of wine, a piece of beef, a baked potato, a trip to the salad bar, and a slice of cheesecake constituted the ultimate experience then. Today’s menu includes 50+ bourbons, 30+ single malt and blended scotches, and all sorts of beef entrees as well as seafoods and a line of house-made desserts. The DeWitt venue (there still is a Scotch ‘N Sirloin in Amherst, just east of Niagara Falls) retains the original atmosphere in its wood-clad walls, atmospheric lighting, and high-backed leather banquette seating.
Jack’s Oyster House (Albany) THIS is one of those increasingly rare places where the waitstaff is tuxedo-clad, an elegant touch that endures nicely and helps make most visits feel like a special occasion. It has never closed its doors since onetime oyster shucker Jack Rosenstein founded the place several blocks from its current location the same year Richard Nixon, Jimmy Hoffa, and Mark Felt (Watergate’s “Deep Throat”) were born. However, Jack’s recently transitioned to temporary takeout-only status, an acquiescence to the strains of the pandemic. The changes have resulted in an extensive revamping of a menu that includes Southshire rabbit croquette (coq au vin, cherrywood lardons, roasted shiitake, cipollini), Cornish hen Bourguignon (house-made spaghetti cacio e pepe, baby portobello and truffle asparagus, crispy leeks, Madeira demi), and Icelandic lamb loin (beluga lentils, rabbit croquette, white bean Parmesan puree, cipollini poivrade).
Hoffman House Restaurant and Tavern (Kingston) THE Hoffman House was built in 1679 and, with few exceptions, the original stone-clad structure is intact. The first recorded owner of the property was Edward Whittaker, an English solider in the employ of the Duke of York — a hereditary title that lives on locally in the name of the city, state, and state capital. The current “lord of the manor” is its longtime executive chef Francisco Diaz, who in November expanded his role to become general manager as well. Diaz’s lunch and dinner menus largely concentrate on classic American and Continental cuisine in deference to the history of the building. However, in a nod to today’s sensibilities, the steaks, chops, and pastas are augmented by a range of items from other ethnic palates — quesadilla du jour, chicken satay over Asian noodles with peanut sauce, walnut-crusted chicken breast with gorgonzola sauce, and pulled pork or chicken barbecue, for example.
The Wishing Well (Ganesvoort) THIS cozy Saratoga County restaurant opened in 1936, but the historic structure has been on the site since it was built as a farmhouse in 1823 by Perry Stiles, one of the Town of Wilton’s founding families. Current proprietors Bob and Mary Alice Lee keep the restaurant seriously entrenched in the 1950s. Not stuck, mind you. Entrenched. In a good way. Four wood-walled dining rooms with fieldstone fireplaces echo the history of the building. During non-pandemic times the ambiance frequently is enhanced by live music in the fireside piano bar and friendly bartenders who make old school cocktails. The dining rooms give the impression you’re seated in someone’s well-maintained period home. The menu ranges from a three-course select-your-own prix fixe dinner for $35 to a “middle American” range of entrees that have endures over the generations – steaks, chops, salmon, chicken parm and more.
PHOTO BY JOED VIERA
Schwabl’s (Buffalo) SCHWABL’S, founded in 1837 by German immigrant and saloonkeeper Sebastian Schwabl, operated in several locations before Sebastian’s offspring moved it to the nearby suburbs and, eventually to its current home in 1942. Today, it is owned and operated by Cheryl and Gene Staychock. Dozens of places offer the Western New York staple of beef on ‘weck — thinly sliced rare roast beef on a caraway seed- and salt-studded German kümmelweck roll with horseradish, but Schwabl’s is atop lists of the most popular. Local lore says the sandwich was created as something hearty enough to help sop up alcohol at the taverns while at the same time making the patrons thirsty. Schwabl’s boldly calls itself “The Home of Buffalo’s Original Roast Beef on Kümmelweck.” For those interested in other fare, the menu also offers such other comfort foods as Hungarian goulash, fish fries, hot ham sandwiches, a version of surf-and-turf as a sandwich, poutine and soups from a rotating list of 100 different recipes.
Cortese Restaurant (Binghamton) THIS Eastside gem was founded in 1947 by Angelina Cortese and two of her sons, James and Nathan. Husband Corrado and sister Rita joined them in what to this day remains a family effort, with third-generation owner Chris Cortese now the proprietor. The atmosphere exudes a classic Italian American dining vibe that could just as well be from the 1960s as being au courant — soft lighting, dark wood trim, tin ceilings, tables with white tablecloths topped with glass, and Italianate red-white-and-green signage.
Roscoe Diner (Roscoe)
Swoon Kitchen Bar (Hudson)
DIFFERENT customers have different views of this rustic Sullivan County eatery that opened in the early ’60s. Some regard the hamlet as a halfway point between New York City and the Finger Lakes, some as the gateway to Upstate’s dozens of colleges and universities (the walls are festooned with dozens and dozens of college pennants) and still others as the place to chow down while on a fishing trip. The latter may be most prevalent since Roscoe is, after all, widely known as “Trout Town U.S.A.”
THE 16-year-old Swoon is one of the area’s more enduring establishments on an everevolving dining scene, especially on the Warren Street “restaurant row” that shares the spotlight with a slew of antique shops. A locally inspired, French-style menu, enabled by the nuances of a wood-fired oven, and the largely French wine list and house-made kombuchas and shrubs complement each other well. Swoon’s home is a two-story building, the bakery component housed in an adjacent structure. Its menu is divided into a Crab Shack Menu (Rhode Island oysters, cod tempura sandwich, Maryland crab soup), a main menu (pate, chicken liver mousse, beet or corn salad, seared duck breast, roasted swordfish, roasted salmon,
The extensive menu is typical of most diners’ offerings, from 30 different entrees, 50 different sandwiches, 10 different burger varieties, 10 different wraps, to its all-day breakfasts (think Belgian waffles, numerous French toast concoctions, three-egg omelettes, panini, etc.).
spicerubbed skirt steak), and burger specials.
Many of the dishes on today’s menu stem from the family’s ancestral Italian provinces of Abruzzi and Naples, and many of the recipes have been used here for the past 73 plus years.
Nick Tahou Hots (Rochester) GREEK immigrant Alex Tahou founded this casual dining institution, named for his son, during World War I and ran it for more than a half-century until his death in 1997. A third generation of his family is operating it as it heads into its 103rd year. The menu offers all the usual greasy spoon sandwiches – burgers, fried ham, hot dogs, chicken, etc. – but its regionally famous dish is the unappetizingly named but perennially popular Garbage Plate. It is what has been described as a “creatively disorganized plate” of two meats and two starches such as hot dogs, burgers or chicken, potato salad, maybe ham or sausages, and hot sauce, onions, and mustard. Or whatever.
HISTORIC SITES
Car hearts BY CHUCK D’ IMPERIO
The two anchor towns of this 13-mile
DAZZLING DRIVES THAT ARE SURE TO MAKE YOU FALL
drive are Albion and Medina. See the
IN LOVE WITH THE BEAUTY OF RURAL UPSTATE.
the “Church in the Middle of the Street,”
FENIMORE ART MUSEUM IN COOPERSTOWN, NY.
16
Albion to Medina
cobblestone houses of Albion and stop by the “World’s Largest Toy Train Museum,” or drive under the Erie Canal in Medina.
Rt 97 Callicoon to Narrowsburg The fact that the Delaware River forms a border between New York and Pennsylvania has not been lost on tourists, tubers and anglers along this 15-mile section of NY Rt. 97. The road winds ever so close to the river and the view is reminiscient of the Northwest United States. The clear cold water rushes by creating little white caps, and the mountains crowd the river valley creating a pair of deeply forested and rocky book ends to the panorama. Your starting point, Callicoon, has an air of a Rocky Mountain mining community. Situated right on the river, the 19th-century architecture evokes memories of when this was a major lumber and transportation center with a large station of the Erie Railroad located here. The ornate 1852 Western Hotel is a landmark. Go 50 miles south to Narrowsburg, a tiny hamlet that has shops, restaurants and the popular Callicoon Brewing Company pub.
Around Otsego Lake Thousands of people visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown every year. Also worth a trip is to drive around the lake that James Fenimore Cooper referred to as “Glimmerglass.” See extravagant mansions, summer cottages, colorful boating activity, Glimmerglass State Park, the famed Glimmerglass Opera, the Farmers Museum, the Fenimore Art Museum and more.
Rt 10, Walton to Stamford This route cuts right through the heart of Delaware County on Rt. 10. Along the way you will pass through pretty little hamlets, towns and even a college community, to see covered bridges, farm markets and beautiful mountains. In Stamford, once known as the “Queen of the Catskills,” drive to the top of Mt. Utsayantha for stunning views.
CHIMNEY BLUFFS ON LAKE ONTARIO, PHOTOS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS
Rt 28 Andes to Phoenicia This drive is about 30 miles. Andes sits high up in the Catskills and on weekends is abuzz with visitors. The small boutique shops are open then. There is a small museum that tells of the little-known AntiRent War that took place here and a lunch on the Catskill’s favorite front porch at the Andes Hotel is always a treat. As you drive down the mountain you will pass campgrounds, hamlets, historic villages like Margaretville and Fleischmanns (yes, named for the “Yeast King”) and eventually pull into Phoenicia. This hamlet has been featured in The New York Times for its chic woodsy charm, outdoor fun and excellent places to eat.
Lake Ontario State Parkway Up and out of Irondequoit just north of Rochester, this route hugs the shoreline of Lake Ontario. Beautiful wide-open stretches exhibit the deep blue water of the lake, as well as areas that will let you peek in at several beautiful lakeside homes. Although officially designated as NYS Rt. 947 A, it is referred to on maps and by locals as the Lake Ontario Parkway. It runs 35 miles along the lake.
Windham to Cairo NY Rt. 23 winds its way through the Alpine-like ski village of Windham on its
Rt 30 Schoharie County Heading south from I-88 near Cobleskill
Letchworth State Park Gorges, forests, waterfalls and
on Rt. 30, you will pass some of the most
historic sites will dot your way through
gorgeous panoramas in Upstate NY.
the park. Enter at the northern end of
The highway travels a route deep in the
the park and make your first stop at the
valley and goes through two small towns,
Mt. Morris gift shop and overlook. The
Schoharie and Middleburgh. Dozens of
view down on the massive dam and the
farmer’s markets, antique shops, quilt
Genesee River below is breathtaking.
stores and restaurants make this a major
Rt 5 Palatine Bridge to Little Falls
destination for both locals and visitors from metropolitan New York. Be sure and check out Vromans’ Nose, a unique geological phenomenon that is one of the most popular hiking places in the region.
Rt. 9, Kinderhook to Hyde Park It’s about 50 miles from Kinderhook to
Route 5 follows the Mohawk River and the Erie Canal on this 20-mile trip. Palatine Bridge, your starting point, is just across the bridge from historic Canajoharie — a village once home of the hulking Beech-Nut baby food manufacturing plant. Today, it’s a gem of a museum with an extensive gallery
way east to Cairo. Windham is a picturesque
Hyde Park so set aside a long afternoon for
of world-class paintings, including 21 from
community with fine restaurants, classic
this one — an astounding ride on the east
Winslow Homer alone. Your ride west hugs
white steepled churches, a few gourmet
side of the Hudson River. From Kinderhook
the Erie Canal where you’ll find several
shops and boutiques, several 1950s and 1960s
in the north (birthplace of President
places to get off the road and view the canal.
mountain inns, as well as a very popular ski
Martin Van Buren) to Hyde Park in the
Little Falls, a city of 5,000, was once a major
resort. As you make your way east and over
south (birthplace of President Franklin D.
textile center. The Mohawk River makes a
the mountaintop, you will arrive at Point
Roosevelt) your ride takes you through the
dramatic display here as it crashes nearly
Lookout. A restaurant and inn appears to
pages of early New York state history. Pass
50 feet down through a gorge in less than
hang from the side of the mountain offering
stunning Hudson River mansions (many
a mile. Stop at historic Beardslee Castle for
one of the most famous views of the Catskills.
of them open to the public), the village of
lunch or dinner. This gorgeous Irish castle
On a clear day from the Captain’s Inn you
Rhinebeck (home of the Beekman Arms, the
was built in 1860 and today is one of the
can see five states in the distance: New York,
oldest inn in the United States), the Culinary
Mohawk Valley’s most popular restaurants.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, and
Institute of America and through quaint
even New Hampshire’s White Mountains!
small villages like Red Hook and Claremont.
SEE DRIVES, 35
S9922529-01
S9922529-01
Visit Syracuse...and smile BY VISIT SYR ACUSE
SYRACUSE, ONONDAGA COUNTY AND ALL OF CENTRAL NEW YORK CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO DISCOVER (OR REDISCOVER) THIS WARM, FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY WITH SO MUCH TO OFFER. PHOTOS COURTESY VISIT SYRACUSE
Over the last year, we’ve seen many changes, but the things that make Central New York and Syracuse special remain the same. From our ferocious loyalty to hometown sports teams and dozens of ways to enjoy outdoor activities across the region to downtown Syracuse’s Armory Square district and its eclectic mix of small businesses, restaurants, attractions and museums. We have new things to see and do in Syracuse this summer, too. Our recognizable skyline changed a bit with the renovation of the Dome, home to Syracuse University’s beloved football, basketball, and lacrosse teams. NBT Bank Stadium recently underwent a fantastic makeover, just in time for the Syracuse Mets’ 2021 minor league baseball season. Among the many fabulous upgrades, fans can expect to find new seating, lighting, and an expanded bar area. After several years of dedicated planning, the Salt City Market food hall & public market opened its doors in downtown Syracuse and features 10 food stalls serving cuisines from around the world, a grocery store, cafe/bar, event space, teaching kitchen and more. Visit Syracuse and our regional beverage partners proudly present the Official Sip On Syracuse (SOS) Beverage Trail. With 18 breweries, four wineries, two distilleries and a cidery, SOS is the place to find locally crafted beverages. New York’s largest destination of its kind, Destiny USA offers more than 250 places to shop, dine and play. The I Love New York Central New York Welcome Center, operated by Visit Syracuse, is located here and includes a
every major city in the Northeast. Syracuse’s beautifully
ABOVE: THE NEW
Taste NY Market with locally made food and gifts.
renovated Hancock International Airport is just minutes
YORK STATE BLUES
from downtown. The Regional Transportation Center
FESTIVAL IN DOWNTOWN
As special events and performing arts return, the Visit Syracuse Calendar of Events (www.VisitSyracuse.
provides bus and train service, the community’s Centro
com/events) remains an important source of all that’s
buses offer public transportation and ride-share options
happening.
Uber and Lyft are readily available.
Syracuse’s location in the geographical center of New
Everything you need to know to design your visit can
York State made it an important part of the canal route —
be found at www.VisitSyracuse.com. With a cherished
and location continues to be a major factor in its appeal.
history, activities and attractions to suit nearly any
The Greater Syracuse area is easily accessible: we’re at
interest, and a genuine warmth and friendliness, it’s
the crossroads of two major interstate highways, I-90 (the
no surprise that everyone is taking another look at the
NYS Thruway) and I-81, and within a 350-mile radius of
Greater Syracuse area.
SYRACUSE AND A VIEW OF CLINTON SQUARE
DRIVES, FROM 31 THE ANTIQUE BOAT MUSEUM IN CLAYTON, PHOTO BY GARY WALTS
THE AURORA INN IN AURORA, PHOTO BY DAVID LASSMAN
Ithaca to Aurora Cayuga Lake is the longest of the Finger Lakes and also one of the narrowest. With an average width of only 1.7 miles, you can easily see the rural life happenings on the other side of the lake. A half hour’s drive north of Ithaca will bring you to the quaint village of Aurora. The attractive campus of Wells College has been here since it was founded by Henry Wells in 1888. Yes, the Mr. Wells of Wells Fargo fame. Check out the historic Aurora Inn, a 5-star lakeside hotel which first opened in 1833.
Rt 86, Lake Placid to Saranac Lake A spectacular drive through the heart
Rt 18 Jordanville to Van Hornesville This is the shortest Sunday drive on the
by several beautiful state parks,
to give yourself a little “exploring time”
through the bustling tourist magnets
along the way. The view on either side of
of Alexandria Bay and Clayton, and
the road is of fertile fields, small farms and
end at one of the most photographed
an Amish buggy or two. In Jordanville stop
lighthouses in New York at Cape
at the incredible Holy Trinity Monastery.
Vincent, “where the lake and the
It rises from the cornfields as an Oz-like
river meet.” Be sure to visit to the
apparition. This is a jaw-dropping Russian
Antique Boat Museum in Clayton.
Orthodox Church unlike any other in these rural confines. It has several large gold “onion domes” on top, and is painted in blue, gold, brown and bright green colors. There is ornate ironwork around the property and in the rear of the church is an unusual Russian Orthodox burying ground, with rarely seen funereal iconography, burning candles and floral tributes. In Van Hornesville, look for the Owen D. Young School, named after
drive (10 miles), there are plenty of places
this hamlet’s most famous native son, a
to extend your trip. Out of Lake Placid
player in American politics for decades in
you will find thick forests and creeks
the early part of the 20th-century. He was
along your route as well as several places
a senior advisor to President Franklin D.
to pull over and enjoy the surroundings.
Roosevelt, made it to the cover of TIME
Stop at the Tail O’ the Pup in Ray Brook,
magazine, and was a founder of RCA. He
a roadside drive-in that has been here for
built this school as a legacy to his little
decades and offers legendary barbecue.
hometown, and he is buried in the small
Save dessert for the famous Mountain
cemetery across from the school.
Mist Ice Cream stand in historic Saranac with shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants.
A fantastic 50-mile drive along the Thousand Island passage. Go
list, only eight miles long, but you will want
of the High Peaks region. Although a short
Lake, a lovely, walkable Adirondack Village
Rt 12, St Lawrence River
Rt 31 Macedon to Lyons Macedon is an old Erie Canal village part of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor. There are several remnants to be seen around Lock 30. A park now overlooks the canal. Traveling east on NY. Rt. 31 you will pass several small, but important, canal towns. Palmyra is the most famous. In 1820 a local man named Joseph Smith said he was visited by God, making the village the birthplace of the Latter Day Saints movement. Next, in Newark, once the “Rose Capital of the World,” you will find the amazing Hoffman Clock Museum with clocks dating back hundreds of years. Finally, in Lyons, you will want to explore this village’s history as the “Peppermint Village.” At one time the H. G. Hotchkiss
Want more? visit
Essential Oil Company was the largest maker of peppermint oils in the world.
Historical sites, monuments and more
BY SUNNY HERNANDEZ,
BLACK HISTORY IS EXTENSIVE THROUGHOUT UPSTATE NEW YORK.
Western NY
HERE’S A LOOK AT SOME OF THE RICH PAST HIGHLIGHTING HOMES
Niagara Falls Underground Railroad Heritage Center
AND TOWNS THAT WERE A PART OF THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
The Niagara Falls Underground Railroad
& MORE. DUE TO COVID, CHECK WEBSITES FOR HOURS OF OPERATION. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NIAGARA FALLS UNDERGROUND RAILROAD HERITAGE CENTER
HISTORICAL SITES
Black history Heritage Center is near the former International Suspension Bridge, a point of crossing for many freedom seekers. Its exhibits aim to tell the stories of the Underground Railroad in Niagara Falls. The museum is open for in-person visits, but they also offer virtual tours each week. Where to go: 825 Depot Avenue West, Niagara Falls, NY 14305 or virtual tours can be found at www.niagarafallsundergroundrailroad.org
Michigan Street Baptist Church The Michigan Street Baptist Church in Buffalo was often the last stop for enslaved people traveling as fugitives on the Underground Railroad before crossing over to Canada. The church still possesses some remnants of Underground Railroad hiding places. Where to go: 511 Michigan Street, Buffalo, NY 14203 or virtual tours available at michiganstreetbuffalo.org
Historic Colored Musicians Club Located in Buffalo, the Colored Musicians Club was housed in several locations before finding its permanent home at 145 Broadway in 1934. According to their website, the Colored Musicians Club was formed to foster the principles of unity and cooperation among the colored musicians of Erie County, N.Y. This social club became a place where local musicians and nationally acclaimed artists would intersect. The Colored Musicians Club is now the only remaining African American club in the country, continuing to research and preserve the history of jazz in Buffalo. Where to go: 145 Broadway, Buffalo, NY 14203 or virtual tours available at michiganstreetbuffalo.org
Central New York Harriet Tubman Home National Historic Park
Jerry Rescue Monument
National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum
There are several sites in Upstate New York honoring the woman known as “the Moses of her people,” but at the center of it is the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. When Harriet Ross Tubman escaped slavery, she moved to Auburn, NY and was an integral part of the Underground Railroad, helping to bring more than 300 enslaved people to freedom.
In the heart of downtown Syracuse stands a statue depicting the rescue of a fugitive slave by the citizens of Syracuse. On Oct. 1, 1851, William “Jerry” Henry was arrested in Syracuse and identified as a fugitive slave. The arrest occurred on the same day an abolitionist meeting was taking place in the city and citizens mobbed a police station and rescued Jerry from being sent back down South. It was one of the first examples of resistance to the Fugitive Slave Act.
The National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum is in the same building that the inaugural meeting of the New York State Antislavery Society was held in 1835. According to its website, their mission is to honor antislavery abolitionists, their work to end slavery and the legacy of that struggle. Their programming strives to complete the second and ongoing abolition to end racism.
Where to go: Harriet Tubman House at 180 South St, Auburn, NY 13021 or Fort Hill Cemetery at 19 Fort St., Auburn, NY 13021
Where to go: Clinton Square, 161 W Genesee St., Syracuse, NY 13202
Where to go: 5255 Pleasant Valley Rd., Peterboro, NY 13134
Capital Region Crailo State Historic Site Crailo State Historic Site in Rensselaer, was once part of the large estate owned by Dutch settler Hendrick Van Rensselaer. It now serves as a museum of Colonial New Netherland history. In the house’s cellar, you can see where the house’s enslaved people slept and where many of them worked. The site also celebrates Pinkster, once a Dutch religious holiday. Enslaved and free African Americans in the 17th and 18th centuries transformed Pinkster into a spring festival and a celebration of African traditions. Where to go: 9 1/2 Riverside Avenue Rensselaer, NY 12144
Hudson Valley Pine Street African Burial Ground An area outside the settlement of Kingston, was identified as a burial ground for enslaved Black people after multiple human remains were found during excavations and radar surveys in the backyards of private homes. Black people who were enslaved in the time before the Civil War were denied church burial and were buried in unmarked graves. The Kingston Land Trust helped the Harambee Coalition purchase the property at 157 Pine Street in 2019. Harambee, an organization which provides cultural and educational events to the local community, is working to convert the residential backyard into a memorial site, open to the public. Where to go: 157 Pine Street, Kingston, NY 12401
GE TAWAYS
All in a day Go on an adventure and be home by bedtime with these 25 daytrips. BY CHUCK D’ IMPERIO
Boldt Castle
Dunkirk Lighthouse
ALEXANDRIA BAY; JEFFERSON COUNTY
DUNKIRK; CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY
This magnificent castle on one of the Thousand Islands was built by George Boldt, general manager of the Waldorf-Astoria, in 1900 as a love token to his wife, Louise. When she died suddenly in 1904, Boldt stopped the construction project and left it as it is today. Since Boldt’s death in 1916, more than $50 million has been spent to renovate the castle and island into the beautiful place it is today. Website: https://www.boldtcastle.com/
One of several lighthouses dotting the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in western New York, the lighthouse, first lit in 1875, is still in operation. The lens throws a two-mile beam, making it one of the strongest in the state. There is also a museum here and a tour of the light keeper’s house. Website:. https://www.dunkirklighthouse.com/
Animal Adventure Park
East Aurora EAST AURORA; ERIE COUNTY
Wonderful family fun park with all kinds of animals and birds. This park gained international fame when they live-streamed the birth of a giraffe from here. More than a million viewers tuned in to watch April the giraffe give birth to Taj on April 15, 2017. Website: https://theanimaladventurepark.com/
A historic village southeast of Buffalo. Within the downtown business district, you can visit a 1925 movie theater, tour the former home of President Millard Fillmore, visit the campus of the famous Roycroft Arts and Crafts movement, view stunning Louis Comfort Tiffany-stained glass windows and shop at America’s oldest five and dime store, Vidler’s. Website: https://www.visitbuffaloniagara. com/neighborhood/east-aurora/
Cross Island Chapel
Jell-O
ONEIDA; MADISON COUNTY
LEROY; GENESEE COUNTY
One of Upstate’s most unusual roadside oddities, this is the smallest church in the world! It sits on piers in the middle of a pond and measures just 28 square feet and seats only two people (plus the minister). Believe it or not, lots of people still get married at this tiny House of God. Website: https://www.uticaod.com/ article/20110728/NEWS/307289928
LeRoy is the birthplace of Jell-O, invented here in 1897. There’s a great museum here telling the story of the jiggly delight with hands-on exhibits and an art gallery. To get to the museum you follow the “Jell-O Brick oad,” a path of bricks created in all the Jell-O colors. Website: https://www.jellogallery.org/
HARPURSVILLE; BROOME COUNTY
SEE DAY TRIPS, 40
DAY TRIPS, FROM 39 FORT STANWIX IN ROME, N.Y. PHOTO BY SCOTT TRIMBLE
Fort Stanwix
Ithaca Commons
Lily Dale
ROME; ONEIDA COUNTY
ITHACA; TOMPKINS COUNTY
LILY DALE; CHAUTAUQUA
A colonial fort located a half hour from downtown Utica. Legend has it that the first American flag flown in battle was here on August 3, 1777 during a British siege on the fort. The story goes that using whatever materials they could find, including white shirts, shreds of red flannel petticoats, and a torn blue overcoat, soldiers flew the homemade flag in defiance of the siege. Tours are great for the whole family, and the younger ones will be fascinated by the live demonstration of colonial artillery. Website: https://www.nps.gov/fost/index.htm
Known simply as The Commons, this is a remarkable pedestrian-only Main Street in the heart of this college city. It opened in 1975. More than 100 specialty shops, cafes, bookstores, and restaurants line the Commons. This is also ground zero for most of Ithaca’s popular outdoor street festival. A fun place to visit. Website: https://www.visitithaca.com/ attractions/downtown-ithaca-commons
The home of the Lily Dale Assembly, this lakeside hamlet has been called the “most spiritual place in Upstate New York.” For decades all sorts of physics, seers, palm readers, fortune tellers, spiritual healers and tarot card readers have come to spend the summer in the little gaily colored cottages that line the narrow roads of the small community. More than 20,000 visitors come here each summer for workshops, performances, studies in the supernatural and just to satisfy their physic curiosity. Website: https://www.lilydaleassembly.org/
Grape Pie NAPLES; ONTARIO COUNTY
With vineyards and wineries all around this village, it has become the Grape Capital of New York. Each year they celebrate the grape harvest with a community-wide Grape Festival, held every September for more than 50 years. Here they serve up hundreds of slices of Naples’ famous grape pies. Several places sell these unique desserts and Monica’s Pies has been written up for its superb concoctions in the New York Times, which dubbed owner/baker Monica Schenk as the “Grape Pie Queen.” Website: http://www.monicaspies. com/monicas-grape-pie/
Kaleidoscope MOUNT TREMPER; ULSTER COUNTY
There’s a curious oddity to explore at the Emerson Resort and Spa in Mount Tremper. It looks like your average farm silo but wait until you see the inside! It’s the Guinnesscertified “World’s Largest Kaleidoscope.” It takes you on an amazing sight and sound experience, measuring nearly 60 feet tall. Enter from a door at the bottom and lean against the walls of the silo (or curl up on the floor). At showtime the silo roof dazzles with thousands of colorful mirrored prisms dancing along to music. Is it hard to explain? Yes, so just go and enjoy this one-of-a-kind Upstate attraction. Website: https://emersonresort.com/ worlds-largest-kaleidoscope/
Otsego Lake COOPERSTOWN; OTSEGO COUNTY
One of Upstate’s most beautiful and famous lakes. Author James Fenimore Cooper dubbed it “Glimmerglass.” With Cooperstown on the southern shore and the magnificent and historic Hyde Hall mansion on the northern, the lake is a marvel to enjoy. A trip around it will reveal mansions and summer homes, an opera house, three museums, a 5-star resort and golf course and a little adornment known as Kingfisher Tower. Dine at the popular Blue Mingo Grill right at the water’s edge for a lovely meal. Website: http://www.visitingcooperstown. com/otsego.html
Herkimer Diamond Mines HERKIMER; HERKIMER COUNTY
Perennial favorite for vacationers every summer. Young and old alike enjoy heading out over the rock fields with little hammers (provided) to chip away and discover the prized Herkimer Diamond Quartz Crystals that are found here (diamond-like, but certainly not a diamond). These crystals are beautiful, and everyone gets to keep anything they find. Take your treasure to their in-house facility where it can be turned into jewelry while you wait. Website: https://herkimerdiamond.com/
Mohonk Mountain House NEW PALTZ; ULSTER COUNTY
The hotel was built, renovated and enhanced over the years 1869-1910. Located high up in the Shawagunk Mountains, this resort, founded by twin brothers with the last name of Smiley, is a lavish bauble set in a rugged, woodsy environment. Surrounded by 40,000 acres of rock outcrops, pine trees, a lake and all kinds of wildlife, the hotel has all the modern amenities and then some. With 260 elegant rooms and a cavernous main dining room that serves up to 650 guests three meals a day, this has become a top venue for weddings and special occasions. Located just 90 miles from New York City, many famous people have stayed here including award-winning writers, Academy Award-winning actors, legendary sports figures, as well as five U.S. Presidents. The panoramic views of the Hudson Valley are gorgeous. Website: https://www.mohonk.com/
North Pole WILMINGTON; ESSEX COUNTY
One of the most charming and magical places in Upstate New York. Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole is considered by many to be America’s first theme park. It opened on July 1, 1949 and even pre-dates Walt Disney’s parks. It is Christmas every day here and thousands come each summer to see the holiday decorations, feed the reindeer, enjoy the kiddie rides, watch the family entertainment, visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus and to see the North Pole! It is a column of solid ice in front of Santa’s cottage — even on the hottest day in July. Generations of moms and dads and grandparents have selfies taken in front of this “pole” from over the last 70-plus years. A delightful place to bring the kiddies. Located just outside Lake Placid. Website: https://www.northpoleny.com/
TePee
Ray Brothers BBQ
CHERRY VALLEY; OTSEGO COUNTY
BOUCKVILLE; MADISON COUNTY
One of the last relics from the 1950s along oncebusy NYS Rt. 20. The building is an all metal 60-foot tall tepee with an amazing gift store that sells Native America jewelry, toys, gift items, clothing, moccasins and artwork. A lunch wagon allows you to savor a meal outside while viewing the stunning Mohawk Valley across the busy highway. This place is drenched in nostalgia and sees a steady stream of families stopping by to re-visit the “old days” when this highway was the fastest east-west route in the state. Website: http://thetepee.biz/about/
There are many places to get good, no, make that excellent barbecue in Upstate New York. From Dinosaur rib joint in Syracuse, to Smoke Signals in Lake Placid, and Brooks House of Bar-B-Q in Oneonta where they cook over the largest indoor charcoal grill in the eastern U.S. We suggest Ray Brothers BBQ In Bouckville. They slow cook everything they make including ribs, hot links, chicken and more. This is a first-come-first-serve restaurant that is so popular they routinely sell out of items on certain nights. The Food Network awarded them as the “Best Barbecue Ribs in New York State.” The town has less than 500 residents. Website: https://www.raybrothersbbq.com/
Yaddo SARATOGA SPRINGS; SARATOGA COUNTY
This famous writer’s colony is located on 400acres of land just outside the city of Saratoga Springs. Formed as a writer’s get-away in 1926, the complex has seen a steady stream of worldfamous celebrities arrive and take up a temporary residence at the center’s elegant retreat. A recent count listed over 70 Pulitzer Prize-winners who have come here including James Baldwin, Cardon McCullers, Flannery O’Connor, Philip Roth, Truman Capote and Langston Hughes. The extensive gardens at Yaddo, which include an award-winning rose garden, are open to the public and attract over 50,000 visitors each year. Website: https://www.yaddo.org/
USS Slater ALBANY; ALBANY COUNTY
This is a floating military museum at the foot of State Street in downtown Albany. The Slater, launched in 1944, is the last naval destroyer escort afloat. During World War II, 563 ships like this were built and employed to guard convoys of troops and supplies traveling from the U.S. to Europe (and other destinations). Tours available. Website: https://ussslater.org/ SEE DAY TRIPS, 42
PHOTO BY STEFANI REYNOLDS
PHOTO BY RITU MANOJ JETHANI/SHUTTERSTOCK
DAY TRIPS, FROM 41
Pratt Rock
Zoo New York
Walkway Over the Hudson
PRATTSVILLE; GREENE COUNTY
WATERTOWN; JEFFERSON COUNTY
POUGHKEEPSIE; DUTCHESS COUNTY
Zadock Pratt was a wealthy businessman, politician, soldier and banker. He also owned the largest tannery in the world here in northern Greene County. Pratt Rock is a testament to his eccentric nature. You can hike a short distance up and into a small canyon where you can view large white carvings that were chiseled by Pratt in the 1800s. One of the carvings is a tribute to his son, George, who was killed in the Civil War. Many call this stone tribute the “first Civil War memorial in the U.S.” More familiar, however, is the nickname, “New York’s Mount Rushmore.”
This 32-acre zoo is located in Thompson Park in Watertown. It is the only zoo to specifically highlight animals native to New York State. The list of animals showcased here is extensive including bison, lynx, black bears, the rare Roosevelt elk, wolverines, turtles, as well a variety of birds, including bald eagles. Thompson Park is the smallest urban park designed by one of America’s most famous landscape architects, Frederick Law Olmstead, a co-designer of New York City’s Central Park. Website: https://www.zoonewyork.org/
Maybe the best, and most fun way to see the Hudson River. From above! The walkway is a former railroad trestle that has been transformed into “the world’s longest elevated pedestrian walkway.” As you stroll the 1.28 miles from Highlands, N.Y. to Poughkeepsie, you’ll see all the boating activity on the river below, the tall church spires and buildings in the communities on each shore. Get the full impact of the Hudson Valley as the walkway offers you unparalleled 15-mile views. Hundreds of thousands of visitors make the “walk” every year. Website: https://walkway.org/
Spiedies BINGHAMTON; BROOME COUNTY
An original “peasant food” brought to the United States by Italian immigrants, the spiedie is today the unofficial food of New York’s Southern Tier. A spiedie is simple and basic. It is a sandwich made of charcoal grilled marinated cubes of beef or chicken, lamb and veal) and placed inside a single slice of white bread or a hoagie roll. The meat is traditionally grilled using spits the word spiedie comes from the Italian “spiedo” meaning spit). Many restaurants and bars serve up these popular sandwiches, and every summer a giant SpiedieFest attracts tens of thousands to a city park. Website: https://www.spiedies.com/
Want more? visit
Vacationland UPSTATE NEW YORK
The area north of the New York State Thruway and centered around the Adirondack Park was dubbed “Vacationland” in the 1950s and 1960s for its abundance of theme parks. Places like Frontier Town, Land of Makebelieve, Ghost Town, Gaslight Village and others brought thousands to the region. Some can still be visited. North Pole in Wilmington, for example (see this list.) Enchanted Forest in Old Forge is now a part of this popular Water Safari park. Even older is Storytown U.S.A. This Mother Goose-themed park is now folded into the large Great Escape waterpark in Lake George. You can also find remnants of Frontierland and Ghost Town inside this park. Website: https://www.watersafari.com/
Quaker Hill DUTCHESS COUNTY
This is a stunning little hamlet high atop a mountain just outside of Pawling, N.Y. There are a few houses, each one more spectacular than the next. See elegant horse farms throughout the area and more than 200 miles of bridal paths for horseback riding. A tall white spired church is the centerpiece of the tiny village square. World-renown journalist Lowell Thomas, a former resident, is buried in the front yard of this church. Mr. and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale lived in one of the large homes around the square. Former New York governor Thomas E. Dewey was also a resident here.
OUTDOOR FUN
15 spots to watch a melting summer sky
PHOTO BY MICHAEL GREENLAR
Off, into the sunset
UPSTATE NEW YORK IS FULL OF PICTURESQUE LOCATIONS, FROM WATERFALLS AND CASTLES TO GORGEOUS LAKES AND IMPRESSIVE ARCHITECTURE. ALL THROUGHOUT THE STATE THERE ARE INCREDIBLE SPOTS TO VIEW COLORFUL SUNSETS, CAPTURING
B Y J E S S I C A K E L LY
THE LANDSCAPES THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHY. HERE ARE 15 OF OUR FAVORITE LOCATIONS TO GET STELLAR SUNSET PHOTOS.
Hamburg Beach/ Town Park (Erie County) Hamburg is such a quaint area with its own small beach where you can go swimming, launch boats and relax while snapping photos of their stunning sunset views over the water. The beach has volleyball, basketball courts and snack bars, among other amenities. You’ll also find charming village shops and great places to eat, like the Grange.
The High Peaks (Essex County) The high peaks in the Adirondacks near Lake Placid are stunning. Even the drive is incredible, with every turn on the mountain roads revealing another scene suitable for a postcard. For a unique way to view the peaks, check out the Skyride. Take the short gondola ride up to the ski jumps to get stunning views of the high peaks at sunset.
SEE SUNSETS, 46
SUNSETS, FROM 45
FINGER LAKES | LAKE ONTARIO
NEW YORK’S
GREAT LAKE G E TAWAY the Experiences abound in Wayne County located between Rochester and Syracuse, Wayne County is a great destination for all tastes. A TASTE OF WAYNE COUNTY
17TH ANNUAL
APPLE TASTING
TOUR
WAYNE COUNTY NEW YORK
BIRDING GUIDE
TOUR CHALLENGE TASTING WEEKEND
Come discover the many opportunities for first-class birding year-round.
WAYNECOUNTYTOURISM.COM
For Information on these brochures: 800-527-6510 • waynecountytourism.com Wine Trail Information
Lake Ontario Wine Trail Featuring wines, spirits & ciders
LakeOntariOWinetraiL.cOm
®NYSDED
www.appletastingtour.com
PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE ON
THE LAKE ONTARIO WINE TRAIL
Unique sights, award winning wines, spirits & ciders and a welcoming atmosphere await you on the Lake Ontario Wine Trail. Visit wineries, distilleries, cideries, unique shops, restaurants, farm markets and more.
For trail details and special events visit: lakeontariowinetrail.com
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NEW YORK WINERIES
Grape expectations NEW YORK WINERIES
W
Tips, advice and destinations for touring the wine region
Opposite: Cabernet Sauvignon grapes pour into a container after being sent through a destemming machine at Shaw Vineyard.
BY DON CAZENTRE
ITH MORE THAN 100 WINERIES TO CHOOSE FROM, NOT TO MENTION DOZENS OF BREWERY TAP ROOMS, RESTAURANTS, ARTISAN MARKETS AND MORE, A TRIP TO THE FINGER LAKES CAN SEEM OVERWHELMING. FOR A REGION RECENTLY NAMED AMERICA’S BEST WINE REGION, IT HELPS TO HAVE A GUIDE.
SO WE TURNED TO MICHAEL TURBACK, A VETERAN RESTAURATEUR AND FOOD AND DRINKS AUTHOR WHO HAS FOLLOWED THE REGION’S GROWING REPUTATION FOR WINE, FOOD AND MORE FOR 50 YEARS. HIS EXPERTISE DATES TO 1968, WHEN HE OPENED TURBACK’S RESTAURANT IN ITHACA. IT FEATURED LOCALLY SOURCED FOODS PAIRED WITH FINGER LAKES WINES — LONG BEFORE “LOCAVORE” AND “FARM TO TABLE”
PHOTO BY LAUREN LONG
BECAME COMMON PHRASES IN THE AREA. HE HAS SINCE WRITTEN SEVERAL BOOKS, HELPED LAUNCH TWO ONLINE RETAIL SITES, AND SERVED AS A HOSPITALITY CONSULTANT. HERE ARE SOME OF HIS RECOMMENDATIONS: SEE WINE, 50
WINE, FROM 49 PHOTO BY CHARLIE MILLER
ANYELA’S VINEYARDS (Skaneateles) - So many reasons to visit Skaneateles. Among them this lovely winery just five minutes south of the village. Don’t miss aptly-named “Final Approach,” an exceptional port-style wine for after dinner. GILDA’S (Skaneateles) - After a day of wineryhopping, check out this locally-popular bistro, serving small plate meals and choice of 10 creative flatbread pizzas, best paired with one of the region’s best beers, Ithaca “Flower Power” IPA.
Keuka Lake DR. FRANK WINES (Hammondsport) This is where Konstantin Frank introduced vinifera varieties to the region. His grandson Frederick and great-granddaughter Meaghan continue the legacy. Sign up for one of the food & wine experiences at the 1886 Reserve Tasting Room. HUNT COUNTRY VINEYARDS (Branchport) Among the region’s most respected winegrowers, the Hunt family produces consistently excellent wines. Try “Alchemy,” the winery’s Bordeaux-inspired blend. HERON HILL WINERY (Hammondsport) Among the well-made wines, taste the single vineyard Cabernet Franc grown in owner John Ingle’s personal vineyard on Canandaigua Lake. It’s aged 18 months in oak barrels. VILLAGE TAVERN (Hammondsport) Stop at this local gathering place for nonpretentious fare and browse through the encyclopedic, all Finger Lakes wine list.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. KONSTANTIN FRANK WINERY
Skaneateles Lake
PHOTO BY LAUREN LONG
Seneca Lake
Cayuga Lake
STANDING STONE VINEYARDS (Hector) - Home of some of the oldest vinifera plantings in the region, pay special attention to the extraordinary ice wines (Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Vidal Blanc).
PORTS OF NEW YORK (Ithaca) - It’s worth searching Ithaca’s west end for this eccentric winery, producing some of the region’s best dessert wines since 2003. Owner/winemaker Frederic Bouche has just introduced a Bordeaux-style red and a Sancerre-style white wine.
WAGNER VINEYARDS (Lodi) - The Wagner Estate-Grown 2017 Dry Riesling has been named “Best White Wine” in New York. LAKEWOOD VINEYARDS (Watkins Glen) - Coolclimate Cabernet Franc has become our region’s signature red wine. The Stamp family’s estate-grown Cab Franc epitomizes the prevailing Finger Lakes style. FOX RUN VINEYARDS (Penn Yan) - Planning a picnic by the lake? Take along two of winemaker Peter Bell’s most popular wines in cans, a splendid Unoaked Chardonnay (from Doyle Family Vineyards) and Semi-Dry Riesling. RED TAIL RIDGE WINERY (Penn Yan) - Husband and wife team Mike Schnelle and Nancy Irelan continue to excel with some of the more obscure varietals, including Dornfelder, Teroldego, and Blaufrankish. FLX WIENERY (Dundee) - Wine country travelers take note: BYOB to this quirky enterprise, the brainstorm of master sommelier Christopher Bates, serving a wide range of upscale diner fare. GRAFT WINE + CIDER BAR (Watkins Glen) - Orlando Rodriguez, formerly of the Glenora Winery restaurant, has taken over the kitchen at this wine country gathering place, retaining the focus on local, seasonal cuisine.
MIX KITCHEN & BAR (Ithaca) - As the name suggests, mix and match from a multi-ethnic small plate menu; the chef’s piled-high Caesar Salad with wonton croutons is a must-try. COLTIVARE (Ithaca) - Visit the centerpiece of Tompkins/Cortland Community College’s “Farm-toBistro” education program for locally-inspired dishes and for a broad selection of regional wines. SIX MILE CREEK VINEYARD (Ithaca) - Visit this off-thebeaten-path winery to taste an exceptional Cabernet Franc, winner of the Governor’s Cup as New York’s best wine of the year at the annual New York Wine Classic. FARMERS MARKET (Ithaca) - A weekend morning tradition in Ithaca. Among the local bounty of farmers and growers, sip samples of wines and ciders. Pay special attention to the handcrafted wines from Glenhaven Farm.
BEYOND WINE: Keep in mind there’s more than wine in the Finger Lakes wine region. There are breweries, distilleries and hard cider makers, too. Check out the Finger Lakes Beer Trail. Visit newyorkupstate. com/breweries/
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The Everson welcomes yo for an engaging and safe visitor experience! As Central New York’s architect ral treas re and c lt ral anchor, the Everson provides meaningf l enco nters with art thro gh programs, exhibitions, and a collection of more than 10,000 artworks. There is something for everyone!
401 Harrison Street, Syracuse, NY 13202 | (315) 474 6064 | everson.org | S9936108-01
OUTDOOR FUN
Whatever floats your boat 10 great places to go kayaking in Upstate New York
Ausable River (Clinton County)
B Y J E S S I C A K E L LY
BORDERING A GREAT LAKE, THE FINGER LAKES AND MANY OTHER BODIES OF WATER THROUGHOUT UPSTATE NEW YORK GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT ON THE WATER MORE OFTEN THAN SOME, WITH PLENTY OF LOCATIONS OFFERING KAYAK RENTALS. HERE’S A LIST:
The Adirondacks make a stunning backdrop for kayakers in the Ausable River in Adirondack Park. Plan a full day with mountain bike rentals and plenty of places to hike, too. Visit Adirondack River Rentals SEE KAYAKING, 54
Irondequoit Bay (Monroe County) Rochester offers plenty to do including the Strong Museum of Play, culture, art and restaurants. Known for its city life, the bay is perfect for kayaking. For rentals, BayCreek Paddling Center (1099 Empire Blvd, Rochester, NY 14609) has canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards.
Seneca Lake (Schuyler County) Explore Seneca Lake near Watkins Glen, kayaking through the beautiful waters before exploring the area. Seneca Lake Kayak in Watkins Glen offers rentals. While you’re there, check out the pop up, outdoor wood fire pizza place next to the Colonial Pottery & Creamery (701 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891).
Cayuga Lake (Tompkins County) After a day out on the water, explore Ithaca where you’ll find excellent food at Just A Taste (116 N Aurora St, Ithaca, NY 14850) or go glamping at Firelight Camps (1150 Danby Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850) in luxury safari tents. For rentals, check out Puddledockers Retail and Rentals (321 Taughannock Blvd, Ithaca, NY 14850).
Buffalo River (Erie County) Check out Buffalo Riverworks (359 Ganson St, Buffalo, NY 14203). Featuring places to see street art near General Mills, zip lining over a brewery, amazing food, arcade games, plenty of fantastic beer, a ropes course, rock climbing, tiki boats and so much more. There are plenty of kayak rentals that can be launched from the facility if you want to spend time on the water.
Hudson River (Saratoga County) KAYAKING, FROM 53
Fishcreek Marina (Saratoga County) The smooth waters in Saratoga County are perfect for paddling. If you need a rental, the familyowned business, Kayak Shak (251 County, Co Rd 67, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866), started with just a few kayaks and grew into a 20-yearold company. Head into town after your kayak excursions for a coffee from Saratoga Coffee Traders (447 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866) or a doughnut from Darling Doughnuts (441 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866).
Raquette River (Franklin County) Check out the Raquette River and Pond by kayak. Raquette River Outfitters (1754 NY-30, Tupper Lake, NY 12986) has been running since the 1980s and has plenty of kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddle boards for rent.
Paradox Bay (Essex County) While paddling through the water, scout out Paradox Bay. Rent one at Captain Marney’s Boat Rental (35 Victor Herbert Rd, Lake Placid, NY 12946) where you can get help with paddling techniques. After your excursion, the Lake Placid area has amazing places to eat and explore.
The Capital District is right near the beautiful Hudson River, the perfect place to cruise along via kayak. Visit Upstate Kayak Rental (First and, Front St, Waterford, NY 12188). Later explore what the region has to offer like mozzarella sticks with raspberry melba sauce!
Rondout Creek (Ulster County) Discover the beautiful water in Rondout Creek near Kingston. Bring your own or grab a rental at A Day Away Kayak Rentals (944 NY-213, Kingston, NY 12401), a family-owned kayak rental facility offering single and double kayaks. Post paddling explore the Kingston area or make it an overnight stay at the Hotel Kinsley (301 Wall St, Kingston, NY 12401).
Chenango County Tourism
Your 4-Seasons Destination
It's no secret that Chenango County is centrally located in the Southern Tier of New York, or that we are known for our beautiful rolling hills, our miles of rivers and streams, or the beautiful natural surroundings and relaxed atmosphere that our businesses, visitors and residents see as a special place. What MIGHT be a secret, are all the hidden gems that make us worthy of a destination that you should consider when planning your next trip.
www.visitchenango.com 607-334-1400 www.facebook.com/ChenangoTourism S9936475-01
Exhibitions | Workshops | Pottery | Events | Performances | Weddings | Gift Shop Notable Summer & Fall Events A Select Rustic Show • May 29-July 18 Unprecedented: Art Responds to 2020 June 12-Aug. 1 Forge Festival of Arts & Crafts • July 4-5 CADK Antique Show • July 24-25 Ice Cream Social • July 30 ADKs National Exhibition of American Watercolors Aug. 7-Sept. 26 Andrea McArdle: Confessions of a Broadway Baby Aug. 8 | Broadway’s Original Annie Watercolor Workshop Week • Aug. 9-13 Broadway Meets Opera • Aug. 19 John Lloyd Young: Broadway’s Jersey Boy Aug. 26 | Tony Award Winner (Jersey Boys) Plein Air Paint Out Auction • Sept. 4 Artisan Fall Festival • Sept. 11-12 Quilts Unlimited • Oct. 2-Dec. 4 ADK Quilt Conference • Oct. 18-21 Spring Hours (to Memorial Day) Monday - Saturday: 10am-4pm
Family Drop-in Workshops June 28 - Sept. 6 | Monday - Saturday | 12-3pm
Join us for our daily workshops that will include projects that include Tie-Dye T-Shirts, Paint on Pottery, Candle Making, Petal People, Tile Mosaics, and more!
Andrea McArdle
Visit ViewArts.org to find a list of the weekly projects.
John Lloyd Young
Prices vary per activity | Kids under 16 must be accompanied by an adult
Pottery Unprecedented
3273 State Rte. 28, Old Forge, NY 315-369-6411
See our full schedule at
ViewArts.org
Memorial Day through Columbus Day Mon - Sat: 10am-4pm Sun: 12pm-4pm
Weddings & Rentals
Watercolor Week
General Admission: $10 | Seniors & College students: 20% off Members, Children under 18 & Military (with ID): Free Admission to Galleries
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Providing Safe, Comfortable Public Tours & Charters Since 1953!
A Quality Charter & Tour Company You Can Depend On in 2021! For Upcoming Trips, go to our website or contact us with a simple phone call. Contact: (800) 451-1570 7659 N St Rd, Auburn, NY 13021 www.onondagacoach.com
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Trips include one-day and multi-day tours! For 2021: Yankees Baseball including Fenway Park, Branson Missouri, FaBoolous Ohio, Lancaster & Queen Esther, Trains, Boats & Buggies, Foxwoods, Lake George, Alex Bay, Cape Cod & Cape May... with much more to come. Pickups available in Auburn, Liverpool, Cortland and Magee.
BEER
With 9 breweries throughout Otsego County, New York, we’ve got just what you need to wet your whistle.
BASEBALL
Tour the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum for a classic Americana home run and another check on your bucket list.
THE GREAT
OUTDOORS
Pack up the RV or just pack your hiking boots - from campsites to resorts, we’ll help you find a spot to rest your head after!
Visit ThisIsCooperstown.com to start planning today!
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THE EMPIRE TRAIL
Happy trails!
New York’s Empire Trail connects miles of off road and opens as America’s longest multi-use state trail
R
BY SUNNY HERNANDEZ
EADY, GET SET. GO. NEW YORK’S EMPIRE STATE TRAIL, AMERICA’S
LONGEST MULTI-USE TRAIL, ALLOWS HIKERS, BIKERS AND RUNNERS TO GO FROM NEW YORK CITY TO BUFFALO OR CANADA.
The 750-mile project – a massive map
Check the Empire State Trail website
of state trailways that includes 75 percent
for details on parking areas, restrooms,
of off-road sections is ideal for cyclists,
amenities and attractions along and near the
hikers and runners (and in another season,
path. Craft brewery fans should check out the
cross country skiers and snowshoers).
Empire State Trail Brewery Passport, made
The recreational trail’s southernmost
available through the New York Craft Beer
gateway is in Battery Park in Manhattan
App. The passport program encourages New
and will run through the Hudson Valley
Yorkers to visit breweries within 10 miles
and Champlain Valley to the Canadian
of the Empire State Trail all along the 750-
border through Rouses Point, NY. The
mile route around the state. At each brewery
branch running east–west begins in Cohoes,
along the trail, visitors can digitally check-in
splitting off just outside Troy, NY and follows
on the app, earning stamps as they go.
the Mohawk River, and Erie Canal before ending at the Buffalo Harbor State Park.
https://empiretrail.ny.gov/
Rochester 90
Buffalo 390
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Want more? visit
Advance Local map. Sources: NYup.com, maps4news
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� Summertime is always the best of what might be.” — CHARLES BOWDEN
What dreams are made of... PHOTO BY ALINA STOBIECKA @ALINASFOTOS
SUNSET OVER PEPACTON RESERVOIR IN THE CATSK ILL MOUNTA INS.
GREATER BINGHAMTON
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY TIOGA DOWNS CASINO RESORT
2021
TWO DAYS!
We have canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and paddleboats for rent at E erson Park on Owasco Lake in Auburn, NY.
July 17-18 Featuring the
USAF Thunderbirds
Dogs are welcome!
Acrobatic aerial performance, jets, formation flights, and more. Food, static displays and activities for all ages.
Doggie life vests are available of all sizes.
Contact us for current hours and visit our website!
315.567.1437 | www.owascopaddles.com
6912 East Lake Rd C/o E erson Park, Auburn, NY 13021 S9943230-01
VISIT FLYBGM.COM FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION
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Come Walk Through History With Us … A Hidden Gem in the Heart of Central New York
SKANEATELES CUR STONE FESTIVAL July 15-17, 2021
Brockway Trucks Military Memorabilia Local History Railroad History & Model Trains Vintage Tractors and More!
43RD ANNUAL ANTIQUE AND CLASSIC OAT SHOW July 23-25, 2021 FALL FEST/DUCK DASH September 25, 2021
We Offer a Spacious and Clean, Family Friendly Facility! 4386 US Route 11 Cortland Halfway between Binghamton and Syracuse 1/2 mile off I-81, exit 12
607-299-4185 www.cnylivinghistory.org
HOURS: Tuesday - Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM
Last Admission is a 4 PM Ask about Sunday Hours We suggest calling ahead to confirm our hours
Our Friendly and Informative Staff await Three Unique Museums ~ One Price! NEW Attractions and Exhibits Bring your lunch, our Garden and Veranda will be available for you to enjoy We will be adding additional hours and events as allowed … Please visit us on Facebook and our Website for More Information Ask about our Meeting Room and Venue Rentals Handicapped Accessible
Groups Welcome Anytime with Prior Arrangements Discounted Rates and Meal Packages Available
Please check Skaneateles.com for the most up-to-date event information or call (315) 685-0552
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$1.00 off Adult Admission
Valid for up to 4 adults per coupon. May not be combined with other offers or discounts. Expires 1/31/2022. S9921796-01
Advertorial
Explore Pristine Lake Ontario Beaches — In Nearby Oswego County!
Families have flocked to Oswego County’s beaches to view spectacular sunsets for generations. You’ll also discover legendary fishing, scenic trails, fascinating museums, golf courses, iconic restaurants, camping, paddling, and many other hidden gems -less than an hour north of Syracuse! Best Beach Recommendations: - Sandy Island Beach State Park, Sandy Creek. This white sandy beach is part of the Lake Ontario dune system. Swimming, picnic area.
- Selkirk Shores State Park, Pulaski. 980-acre state park on Lake Ontario with fishing access, swimming, camp grounds, cottages, trails. - Mexico Point Park, Mexico. Near the Little Salmon River, this Lake Ontario park has its own restored medieval cottage, swimming, trails and picnic area. - Taft Bay Park, Bernhards Bay. On north shore of Oneida Lake, swimming, picnic area, ballfields. Top Sunset Spots: - Breitbeck Park, Oswego - Fort Ontario State Historic Site, Oswego - Deer Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area, Richland - Mexico Point State Park, Mexico
For all the details, go to www.visitoswegocounty. com or request an Oswego County Visitor Guide at 1-800-248-4386, tourism@oswegocounty.com.
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Named for the Iroquois word meaning “place of the pouring out,” Oswego County’s spectacular waterfront and pristine open spaces make it the perfect place to explore and enjoy the great outdoors.
LEADING THE WAY ACROSS
UPSTATE FOR YEARS!
As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, we welcome you to join us as we honor our past and look toward our future. We continue to make incredible investments in the customer experience. And the best is yet to come. Amtrak has a bold vision for the future of rail that includes investing in new equipment, reimagining our stations, modernizing vital rail infrastructure, leveraging new technolog combating climate change and expanding technology, service to enhance the mobility of more Americans. At 50, we are just getting started.
Ready to go? We’re ready to take you! S9921805-01
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