ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
TRAVEL
April • 2022
ADVERTORIAL
Spring into Chenango County AUDREY ROBINSON, DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS & TOURISM AT COMMERCE CHENANGO
Simon and Garfunkel used springtime to describe the beginning of the life cycle: “Look around / Grass is high / Fields are ripe / It’s the springtime of my life.” In Chenango County, like the rest of Central New York, we all look forward to the change of each season, and after the long, cold winter, spring is an unparalleled favorite. The flowers popping up, the birds chirping, and the sun shining to bring us longer days. What makes us different? The outstanding beauty of our trails, the area lakes and streams, our small-town rural charm, the numerous parks, and most of all, the chance for relaxation. Let’s not forget the holiday that depicts the very essence of spring—Easter. Daffodils are popping up, and Peter Cottontail is hopping down the bunny trail with colored eggs, Easter baskets, and new Easter clothes. Having new clothes for Easter is deeply rooted in European customs and
led to the same practice here in America. Wearing a brand new outfit for Easter Sunday has become one of the most commonly celebrated traditions for families. In my family, my outfit always included black leather shoes and short white gloves, and boy, did I think I was something! Chenango County is known for its safe, family-friendly environment. It’s time to have an Easter Egg Hunt or picnic in one of the local parks or throw a fishing rod in one of our 235 miles of trout streams or 115 miles of warm water rivers and many ponds and lakes, perfect for floating down in a canoe or kayak. What also makes us different is our well-known festival season! First up is the DEC South Otselic Fishing Heritage Event. In its 13th year, this special oneday community-wide event is located along the scenic Otselic River. Fish hatchery tours, fishing clinics, demonstrations, antiques, food, and a tour through the iconic Gladding Braided Products that has been around since 1816. Next is the world’s longest
single-day flat-water marathon canoe race, aptly named the General Clinton Canoe Regatta. Past entrants for the 70-mile endurance race have included world-class athletes from all over the U.S. and Canada, who compete for over $25,000 in cash and prizes. Adding to the start of the festival season is the Rolling Antiquers Annual Antique Auto show and the exciting action at the Unadilla Valley Sports Center in New Berlin. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention one of our major outdoor attractions that are open all year round from dawn to dusk— Rogers Environmental Education Center. Along with the many hiking trails, other facilities include a bird cabin, a Visitor Center with interactive exhibits, and a picnic area. There is no charge, but contributions are encouraged. Whether you are here for a short visit or are considering a relocation to our area, we welcome you warmly. For ‘Everything Chenango,’ go to our website— www.visitchenango.com, or call 607-334-1400 to get your free visitors guide.
Artisans of Accessible Travel Adventures for All At 29 years old, Tarita Davenock was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and urged by her physicians to leave her job as a Social Worker due to stress. Unsure of where to go next, Davenock decided to indulge her love of travel and found joy in a role as a travel advisor, helping people arrange the adventures of their dreams. But as her MS progressed and Davenock began using a wheelchair, she realized how different the world of travel was for people with disabilities. One in four people has some form of disability—equating to a huge group of people who may experience difficulties traveling or may even avoid it altogether due to stress. A vocal advocate for
accessibility awareness, she built Travel For All around the mantra that “travel should be INCLUSIVE, not exclusive.” Traveling with a disability can cause a lot of anxiety. Between facing the unknown and being away from our regular support systems, the fear can often outweigh the fun, especially at first. “Accessible travel is not only for people in wheelchairs,” says Davenock. “Accessible travel includes seniors, young people, and people with other disabilities that some may think will limit their ability to travel.” Often, seniors and people with disabilities are pushed towards cruises or all-inclusive resorts as a default vacation option because those locales are “easier”—but why should
your travel dreams be limited to only the least challenging destinations? Travel For All is on a mission to make every corner of the globe available to people of any ability, providing clients with peace of mind so that they can travel with confidence. Making travel plans can be difficult, especially when health restrictions are changing quickly and often. Careful planning gives travelers a sense of confidence and control so that they know precisely what to expect and what to do if things go awry. From pre-planning to post-travel and at every moment in between, Travel for All makes clients feel supported and confident in managing their travel experience.
“Having a physical disability or a child with special needs should not exclude anyone from traveling, but you may need to spend some extra time planning to have the trip of a lifetime,” Davenock continues. “Once a person tells me what their disability is and where they want to go, I can make sure that all the hotels are accessible, the different types of transportation they want to take are accessible, and all the events they plan to attend are accessible. If they need special equipment on their trip, we can make sure it’s available. For instance, on some trips, individuals may need lifts or hoists. When they reach their destinations, I make sure the lift or the hoists are there waiting for them.” With over 25 years of
experience, Travel For All is able to anticipate hurdles that their clients may experience and plan around them or prevent them entirely. Almost every disabled traveler has at least one story of encountering an accommodation labeled as “accessible” and arriving to find that it is not. Working with a knowledgeable advisor reduces the likelihood that travelers will face these situations during their trip. The world is taking notice of people with disabilities and becoming accessible for people who want to travel. Regardless of age or ability level, everyone deserves to enjoy their lives and experience travel on their terms. With Travel for All, adventures become barrier-free.
IMAGES COURTESY OF © TRAVEL FOR ALL
ADVERTORIAL
Oswego County: Keeping Holocaust Refugee Stories Alive Fort Ontario in Oswego, New York, provided refuge to nearly 1,000 people fleeing Europe during World War II. The Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter served as the only location in the United States to accept refugees during World War II, at a time when the nation was entangled in now-familiar debates over immigration. The stories of the 982 refugees fleeing the Holocaust, and the reception f rom the Oswego community, continue to resonate today and stand as a courageous example of tolerance and compassion.
Part of Oswego County’s rich and unique history, the Safe Haven Holocaust Refugee Shelter Museum now sits adjacent to the Fort Ontario State Historic Site and tells the stories of the predominantly Jewish refugees who came to Oswego as guests of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to escape the Holocaust. In June 1944—just days after D-Day— President Roosevelt announced the decision to bring refugees to Fort Ontario. The refugees boarded the U.S.S. Henry Gibbins in Naples, Italy, and arrived on
Aug. 5, 1944, remaining in Oswego for the duration of the war. Opened in 2002, Safe Haven is dedicated to keeping alive the unique stories of the refugees, who were largely Yugoslavian but came from 18 different countries. The museum offers an in-depth look at one of the most significant events in Oswego—and the nation’s— humanitarian history. Recent updates to the Safe Haven Museum include firstperson accounts of the refugee shelter and an expansive tracing of the lives of dozens of refugees following their release f rom
IMAGES COURTESY OF © OSWEGO COUNTY
the shelter. Visitors can listen to refugees’ stories of Nazi oppression, escaping Europe, and their time at Fort Ontario in their own words. For more information on Safe Haven, go to safehavenmuseum.com. From May to October, visitors can also explore Fort Ontario, a star-shaped fortress built in 1839 that was the site of several battles in the French and Indian War and the War of 1812. With underground stone encasements and scenic views of Lake Ontario, the fort has a rich history that includes roles in each U.S. war dating back to the 18th century. Elsewhere throughout the county, more than a dozen sites highlight the area’s role in the underground railroad, including the Starr Clark Tin Shop and Underground Railroad Museum. Come for the area’s unique history, but don’t miss out on all the outdoor fun Oswego County has to offer. Located on the southern shore of Great Lake Ontario, Oswego County offers four seasons of outdoor recreation. Sandy beaches along the eastern coast of Lake
Ontario, spectacular sunsets, and the 110-foot Salmon River Falls are some of the high points of the thousands of acres of public lands that include hiking trails, fishing access, ATV, snowmobile trails, and more. Lake Ontario, Oneida Lake, and the Oswego and Salmon rivers provide year-round, worldclass f ishing opportunities, highlighted by the world-famous Salmon Run each fall. Bass, walleye, northern pike, perch, and bullhead await anglers of all abilities, in addition to worldclass trophy fishing that includes chinook salmon, Atlantic salmon, steelhead, Coho salmon, brown trout, and lake trout. Anyone can book a charter or hire a river guide, and boaters can launch at dozens of public and private marinas across the county, or travel through the historic Oswego Canal, the easternmost connection between the Erie Canal and Great Lakes. For more information, go to www.visitoswegocounty.com.
SAFE HAVEN THE SITE OF THE ONLY WORLD WAR II REFUGEE SHELTER IN THE U.S. HISTORY AWAITS AT VISITOSWEGOCOUNTY.COM
