! on i t a c y a tS Y N ATE
M I T L U
E D I U G
Whether you are day tripping or looking for a one-tank getaway, there are tons of options within New York State
Feel a world away in
Niagara Wine Country USA A Gust of Sun Winery (716) 731-GUST (4878) AGustofSunWinery.com
Niagara Landing Wine Cellars (716) 433-8405 NiagaraLanding.com
BlackWineryWillow Black Willow Winery (716) 439-1982 BlackWillowWinery.com
Honeymoon Trail Winery (716) 438-3255 HoneymoonTrailWinery.com
Leonard Oakes E S T A T E
W I N E R Y
Schwenk Wine Cellars (585) 682-4629 SchwenkWineCellars.com
Winery at Marjim Manor 7171 East Lake Rd, Appleton, NY
and Marjim at the Falls 28 Falls Street, Niagara Falls
Leonard Oakes Estate Winery (585) 318-4418 OakesWinery.com
(716) 778-7001 MarjimManor.com
Long Cliff Vineyard & Winery (716) 731-3316 LongCliffWinery.com
Vizcarra Vineyards at Becker Farms (716) 772-2211 BeckerFarms.com
NiagaraWineTrail.org
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
Publisher John Celestino Director of Operations Cheryl Phillips Editors Matt Winterhalter Joe LoTemplio
Hop, Skip and a Jump Away! BY CHERYL PHILLIPS
Some of my favorite memories were road trips taken in my grandfather’s Oldsmobile convertible. I would be so excited to sit in the back seat with the top down, hair blowing all over, without a care in the world and no idea where I was going. The excitement to go anywhere at 10 years old was enough. As I became a mom, I wanted to instill that same sense of excitement and adventure with my children and set out to do the same thing with spontaneous trips to the Cohocton Hot Air Balloon Festival and to Hershey Park. My schedule doesn’t afford me so much spontaneity today but if anything the last year has taught me is that we need to get back to basics, reconnect with ourselves and those closest to us. Take time to appreciate all that’s around you. As summer arrives, Covid-19 restrictions have lessened and with
that, our thoughts of summer have been altered. The Ultimate NY Staycation guide is a sliver of places within our state that offer everyone a chance to get out of the house and experience some normalcy with modification for safety. Plan a day trip or long weekend at any of our featured destinations. Whether it be an attempt to get back to nature, learn about history or just unwind and relax, there are a number of options from Niagara Falls to Lake Placid that are only hours away depending where you live. Do yourself a favor and take some time to enjoy some fresh air. Let the sun shine on your face. Take a relaxing drive or hike and explore the wonders around you. Jump in the car and take the kids. There is adventure to be found. As my grandfather would say, “It’s just a hop, skip and a jump away!”
Contributors Joe Genco James Neiss John D’Onofrio Benjamin Joe Michele Deluca Beth Genco Gabrielle Argo Allison Collins Joe LoTemplio Chris Fasolino McKenzie Delisle Ben Rowe Valerie Secor Sales Ann Fisher Bale Leann Belfield John Brundo Ricardo Luciano Ryan Oliver Andrea Trippie The Ultimate NY Staycation Guide was published in collaboration with the following CNHI LLC community newspapers; Niagara Gazette, Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, Hometown Extra, Daily Star and Press Republican. For more information call 716-282-2311, ext. 2238 or email: cheryl.phillips@gnnewspaper.com.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Ride the Rails Like Never Before........................4 See the Stars Under the Stars at Unadilla Drive-In............................................5 Wild Center Reopens..........................................6 Hungry Trails......................................................8 Western New York Dining............................... 10 Baseball Fandom in Full Swing........................ 13 Beekman Brand Brings New Life, Events to Sharon Springs................................ 14 LOCKPORT: Working canal Locks, Underground Caves and Zip Lines Await Tourists................ 17 Sampling the Niagara Wine Trail’s Offerings. 20 Max Moore Tree House offers fun for all........ 24 Walking the Trails of the Niagara Region....... 28 Chenango Valley State Park............................. 30 Plattsburgh City Beach Improvements .......... 32 Big Catch: Plenty of Places in Niagara Co....... 33 Niagara Falls State Park: A Shiny New Look... 36 Discover Niagara Shuttle................................. 39 © CNHI, LLC
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ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
Ride the Rails Like Never Before: Pedal Your Way through the Catskills
R
BY GABRIELLE ARGO
ailroad travel has been a tradition in upstate New York for more than 200 years, and now there’s a new way to enjoy the region’s scenery on the tracks. Rail Explorers offers trips though the Catskills, using pedal-powered rail vehicles ideal for couples, families and groups of friends. The Explorers, built for comfort and practicality, feature two-seaters or quads (four seats) with compartments for personal belongings. Whether you’re looking to enjoy a romantic day with your partner or gather family and friends for a group experience, the rail trail is a great way to spend a spring or summer day soaking up the beauty and stillness of abandoned railroad tracks that wind through some of the most stunning passages of the Catskill Mountains. Tracking History Several trail options offer varying tour opportunities on the historic Ulster & Delaware Railroad along Esopus Creek in Ulster County. As far back as the 1870s, when railroads were exploding as the preferred method of travel across the United States, the U&D Railroad was known by many as “the only all-rail route to the Catskill Mountains.” During its most extensive operations, the U&D stretched from Kingston Point through the Catskill Mountains to its western terminus in Oneonta, expanding hundreds of miles through Ulster, Delaware, Schoharie and Otsego counties. The service benefited passenger and freight customers, frequently traveling from New York City.
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Ulster & Delaware’s former railroad station in Phoenicia is pictured in the late 1800s.
Riders enjoy the natural beauty and peace the Catskill Mountains have to offer in this undated photo. Contributed.
In 1932, the rail line was acquired by The New York Central; passenger trains operated through the early 1950s, though far less frequently, and regular passenger service ended entirely midway through the decade. Today, the skeleton of the U&D Railroad persists throughout the region, with some portions still used for tour traffic in the Hudson Valley and freight carriage. In Otsego County, the line’s former terminus station is what is known contemporarily as The Depot Restaurant in Oneonta. All Aboard! Rail Explorers pedal tours begin at the former U&D junction hub in Phoenicia. Along with the imprints of decades and
centuries past, pedaling passengers can rediscover the landscape once considered the premiere connection of industry and tourism to upstate New York. Passengers glide along quiet, partially overgrown tracks canopied by Catskill forests and cross rail bridges that have stood the test of time. If interested in a Rail Explorers excursion, pack a lunch, anticipate a glorious disconnection from cell service and allow approximately two and a half hours for adventure. Rail Explorers is a safe activity for all ages. Book a trip by visiting railexplorers.net or call 1-877-833-8588.
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
See the Stars Under the Stars at Unadilla Drive-In BY ALLISON COLLINS
The Unadilla Drive-In, an old-timey, outdoor movie theater at 1706 state Highway 7 in Unadilla, offers visitors a uniquely pandemic-friendly movie-going experience. The theater opened its gates in May 1956 and was purchased by At the time of writing, Wilson the Wilson family, of Unadilla, in noted, the movie schedule for 2000. Spencer Wilson manages the 2021 season was still being the site. Since purchasing finalized. the drive-in, the Wilsons have renovated its screens, “With the limited amount of grounds, concessions and other new releases, we’ll get some, but equipment, including switching chances are there’ll be weekends to a digital projector in the where we’ll do older (films) and mid-2000s. themed nights,” he said. “Those Wilson extolled the site’s did really well and I think people singularity. liked some of those better than “It’s something you can’t do regular nights, so … it will be a very often,” he said. “If you mix of some new and some old. live here, you can, but it’s just And we want to do a lot more different. One of the big things (online) poll-type stuff. If we’re is the fact that it’s in Unadilla; going to show old movies, we it’s a tiny town and you wouldn’t want to know what people want expect it, it’s kind of out of noto see; we don’t want do the same where. There’s a lot more freedom things over again, but keep it involved and, even with COVID, fresh.” it’s not dangerous; it’s safe, it’s The drive-in setting, Wilson fun, you get your freedom and noted, proved especially popular better prices on everything. through the 2020 season. (Admission) is two (movies) for “Last year in particular, with one and our snack bar, if you everything being closed, there compare to other places, is way was a whole bunch of hype cheaper. I think it’s just a better because we were the only ones experience than the movies.” open,” he said. “So, we got a lot Typically, Wilson said, the of people from Binghamton and drive-in shows a double feature, even past Binghamton. It has with the first film geared toward spread quite a bit.” younger and family audiences, And customer demographics, and the second for adults. Despite the halting of movie production through the COVID-19 pandemic, Wilson • Cakes said, the drive-in • Cupcakes remained open and got creative. Last • Cookies year, the drive-in hosted themed • Fresh Bread movie nights, • Pies viewings of popular throwback films 5714 S. Transit Rd. (Behind Verizon store) Lockport, NY 14094 • (716) 438-7452 Bakery Hours: Tuesday-Friday 7am-6pm; Saturday 9am-2pm and a prerecorded concert series. For our menu and examples visit our website: www.TaterCakesWNY.com
Wilson noted, run the gamut. “What I’ve mostly seen is a lot more families, but we get all kinds – older people, dates, young people, but it does depend on the movie,” he said. “And we do get some people that like to go around and check out all the drive-ins and like the nostalgia of it. It’s been around 70-plus years, so there are people now in their 60s and 70s who went here as kids, so it’s cool to see that.” Wilson said, in addition to the inexpensive fare and old-fashioned charm, customers appreciate that the drive-in is a generational business. “One thing I think that people find unique … is it is family-owned and has been for at least the last 25 years,” he said. “It went from my parents to my older brothers, to my sister, to now me, so that’s kind of cool.”
Changes introduced in 2020, Wilson said, will likely remain through this season. “It’s going to stay really similar,” he said. “We did have a lot more that we had to do, in terms of sanitation and even regulation. We had to cut the maximum attendance by 50%; we can technically hold up to 400 cars, but right now we have to keep it at 200 to keep people six feet apart … and we’re sticking to that 50% until we hear otherwise.” While the drive-in offered advance ticket sales online last year, Wilson noted, this year he plans to return to in-person admission only. For more information, including movie selection and dates, find “Unadilla Drive-In” on Facebook, visit drive-in.ws or call 607-369-2000.
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Wild Center reopens Wild Center guests will again have access to the award-winning Wild Walk, immersive Forest Music experience and hiking trails across the 115-acre campus. AP Photo
Nature-based science center in Tupper Lake doing outside visits once again BY JOE LOTEMPLIO
TUPPER LAKE — The Wild Center reopened this weekend with outside experiences only. “We’re going to have the outside walks and tours like we did last year, and hopefully we can get the inside opened up soon,” Tupper Lake Village Mayor and Wild Center Board of Trustees member Paul Maroun said. “But there is still a lot to see and do.” The nature-based science center, which closed for a month for spring cleaning, will maintain their enhanced operational procedures and cleaning protocols including timed ticket reservations, limited capacity and the use of face coverings, a news release said. The Wild Center will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Timed reservations, which may be made online, by phone or email prior to arrival, give guests access to the award-winning Wild Walk, immersive Forest Music experience and hiking trails across the 115-acre campus. 6
New this year, The Wild Center is partnering with two different nationally known artists who will create very different outdoor sculptures at its Tupper Lake campus. The first is a collaboration with Tupper Arts to bring the widely-collected, Adirondack-based artist, Barney Bellinger to the Center. Well known for his rustic furniture, photography, oil painting and sculptural metal work, this new outdoor exhibit will feature large sculptures made out of found materials such as salvaged steel, copper and iron. In August, stick sculpture artist Patrick Dougherty will be on-site to create largerthan-life pieces by bending, interweaving and fastening together twigs found in the Adirondacks. Volunteers will assist with the process and guests will be able to watch Dougherty’s Stickwork both in real-time and from a live-stream camera on The Wild Center’s website, in addition to viewing the final product in-person in late summer. “Our visitors are going to be so amazed
by the incredible beauty and creativity in this year’s outdoor exhibits. We are so fortunate to be partnering with Tupper Arts to bring these new creations by premier artist Barney Bellinger to our audience - they will inspire and delight,” Hillarie Logan-Dechene, deputy director of The Wild Center, said. Returning for another summer, naturalist-led canoe trips take guests through the Raquette River’s Oxbow as they explore different marsh habitats. Canoe trips will run daily from May 28 (Memorial Day weekend) to Mon., Sept. 6 (Labor Day weekend) and are available by reservation for an additional fee. Visitors may access digital maps, audio tours and self-led scavenger hunts through their Wild Center mobile app. “The Wild Center is great for the region and we hope people will come and see us,” Maroun said. For more information on guidelines and reservation information, visit The Wild Center’s Visit page: www.wildcenter.org/ visit/.
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ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
New York State Agricultural and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball tries a sample of maple cream with some pretzel sticks from Parker Family Maple Farm Operations Manager Laura Trudeau during an event at Rulfs Orchard launching six new Cuisine Trails in the North Country. The new network of trails, the North Country Trail, the Adirondack Lakes Trail, the Boquet Valley Trail, the Champlain Valley Trail, Champ’s Trail and the Ausable Valley Trail, feature 83 businesses in Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties. PR File Photo
Hungry Trails
Trail explores North Country cuisine
T
he road to success is paved with food. That was the message that Gov. Andrew Cuomo shared recently while announcing the launch of six new cuisine trails in Essex, Clinton and Franklin counties. The tourism network links 86 local operations including produce, dairy, beef and maple farms along with orchards, restaurants, breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries. “These new cuisine trails highlight some of the best food and beverage producers and providers in New York,” Cuomo said in a 8
press release. “They will help connect upstate farms and businesses with visitors and local markets, boosting the North Country’s economy and supporting growing trends in agritourism.” The trails run from south of Ticonderoga, west to Tupper Lake and north to the Town of Champlain. Trails included in the network are the North Country Trail, the Adirondack Lakes Trail, the Boquet Valley Trail, the Champlain Valley Trail, Champ’s Trail and the Ausable
Valley Trail. Businesses along the trail are marketed on the Taste NY website, trail maps and at the new Adirondack Welcome Center, where details on the trails are included as part of the new consumer kiosks. CONSUMER KIOSKS Ernest Hohmeyer, owner of Lake Clear Lodge and Retreat in Lake Clear, praised the ability of the trail to be a “great connector” and solve the issue of local agricultural destinations being spread far apart across the region.
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
“Due to our sheer geographic size coupled with the small business nature of our economy, rural regions such as ourselves need to network and forge private public partnerships,” he said. “The ability to include farms, breweries, and restaurants, which include local foods on their menus, creates a mix that lets you then create a brand, with a diverse set of partners.” FOOD EXPERIENCES Reports show that 93 percent of travelers worldwide have sought out and found notable food and beverage experiences while traveling, aside from dining at local restaurants, according to a press release. More than 12.4 million people visited the Adirondacks region last year — over 460,000 visitors more than 2016, and a nearly 20 percent increase since 2011, according to a press release. Regional tourism generates more than $1.4 billion in direct visitor spending, including $178 million in State and local taxes, and supports more than 21,300 jobs across six counties in the region. LOCAL INGENUITY The new cuisine trails were created by the Adirondack Cuisine Trail Association, which includes members of Cornell Cooperative Extension, the North Country Chamber of Commerce, Paul Smith’s College and the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism. “The official approval of these six cuisine trails is a culmination of local ingenuity, the innovation of Cornell Cooperative Extension and the dedication of the Cuomo Administration for the upstate economy,” Jay White, Adirondack Cuisine Trail Association organizer and founder, said. “Through Gov. Cuomo’s committed staff at the Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the Department of Transportation, farmers and producers have been given a better chance to tell their stories and sell their products.” LOGICAL ROUTES The Department of Transportation worked with the cuisine trail groups to develop the most convenient and logical routes for New York food and beverage enthusiasts on the trails, which is expected in turn to help spur sales for local farmers and related agribusinesses. The department will also work with the organizations to determine appropriate locations for signage, ensuring the cuisine trails are easy to follow. Individual trail organizations coordinate fabrication, installation and maintenance of cuisine trail signs under a DOT permit. AGRITOURISM The cuisine trail designation includes a combination of agricultural producers and retailers. Members are chosen by the organization that applies for cuisine trail designation and must be in relatively close proximity, sell in a cooperative manner and offer a complementary variety of unique or hard-to-find fresh farm and food products. “It is these sectors of agriculture, along with many others, that have made agritourism what it is today on the Adirondack Coast and what helps to bring those soughtafter, unique experiences to our area,” Alyssa Seneca, Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau assistant director of tourism and marketing, said in a press release. 9
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
Western New York dining Five local foods visitors must try! BY MICHELE DELUCA
Just about everyone knows that if you’re a meat-eater, you’ve absolutely got to try a chicken wing when you come to Buffalo. What they don’t know is that this region also boasts other foods just as wonderful and beloved by locals. Of course, on the list of foods visitors must try, chicken wings is at the top. But, food adventurers absolutely must sample all of the top five in the list below if they are interested in tasting the best Western New York has to offer!
1. CHICKEN WINGS
There are no wings like those made in Buffalo and the Western New York region. Nor are wings easily available in almost every restaurant and tavern, as either a snack, an entre or an antidote to late-night munchies. Most often Buffalo wings are fried to a crisp, dripping with hot sauce and butter, and dunked into ice-cold blue cheese dressing. A taste of those wings might change everything about the way a person thinks about chicken but lots of chefs have fun experimenting with different sauces, like barbecue or garlic Parmesan. Try them all if you can! Wings were invented at Frank and Teressa’s Anchor Bar in Buffalo, where late one night Teressa invented the idea when her son and his friends were hungry. There are currently 12 locations worldwide, including a branch in Niagara Falls. We like our wings so much here that we usually celebrate them at an annual Chicken Wing Festival, planned for September. Consider yourself lucky if you are able to attend, and judge for yourself which of WNY wings are the best of the best.
2. BEEF ON WECK
It’s a surprise to many locals, when they are traveling elsewhere, that people don’t know what “weck” is. Throughout the rest 10
Left top: A basket of chicken wings is just about ready at a Niagara Falls eatery. Left bottom: Beef on Weck at the Third Street Retreat restaurant in Niagara Falls. Above: DiCamillo’s Bakery warms to a crispy brown at the Niagara Falls bakery. They have many locations throughout Western New York where you can find an array of pastries and baked goods. James Neiss Right: Skip DiCamillo holds up two loaves of Niagara Falls favorite bread as finishing touches are being made at the newly redesigned DiCamillo Bakery store.James Neiss
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ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
of the country, folks don’t eat their tender sliced roast beef on “kummelweck,” a Kaiser roll flecked with caraway seeds and coarse salt. However, here in Western New York, most people will be aghast if roast beef isn’t served on “weck,” and many also serve it with a tablespoon full of fresh, coarsely grated horseradish. Clears the sinuses every time. The flavor from a roll dipped in au jus with rare beef sliced paper-thin, embraced in a fresh “Weck” roll, is unforgettable.
3. MEATBALLS
Every city has a love affair with its Italian restaurants and Western New York is no different. There are a plethora of wonderful Italian restaurants in the region, and you just have to check the online reviews to pick what appeals most. But, Mama mia, if you really want a treat, order the meatballs. The meatballs in this part of the world are delicioso! Because of that, the owner of Osteria Restaurant in Buffalo created a meatball competition held over the last few years to determine who makes the finest combination of ground meat and assorted additions. The annual Meatball Street Brawl has been postponed lately due to COVID, but consider that just about any restaurant has its own special offerings of ground meat et all, and you can’t lose if you check the contenders on the Meatball Street Brawl website, www.meatballstreetbrawl. com
Meatballs come in all shapes and sizes in Western New York, including the Meatball Puff at the restaurant Somewhere in Youngstown. James Neiss
4. BREAD
Bread is a revelation in Western New York. Some local Italian breads especially, are sent around the world to those who left these parts and long for the bread of their childhood, pillowy, aromatic with the scent of yeast and a hint of salt, and any other accouterments the baker feels a need to add. Almost any bakery will do, but DiCamillo Italian bread is legendary in these parts, and available at shops throughout the region. Don’t go home without buying a loaf. Later, if you need more, you can order it online at www.dicamillobakery.com.
5. FISH FRIES
Fish fries are available in every part of the USA, especially those with heavy German populations, but in Western New York, fish fries are not so much cultural as they are a spiritual experience. During the Lenten season, people of all faiths head like salmon upstream to the restaurants that serve fish fries. You can almost imagine the look of delighted awe on their faces when they bite into a crispy, hot fresh slice of haddock, served up with coleslaw, lemon, potato salad and if you are lucky, French fries. Of course, everyone has their favorite spots so it’s important to search the web for reviews before deciding. But, in the long run, it’s really hard to get it wrong in these parts, where fish fries are beloved all year long. 12
A fish fry at Gadawski’s on Falls Street in Niagara Falls. James Neiss
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
Baseball Fandom in Full Swing at Cooperstown Hall of Fame
BY ALLISON COLLINS
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum promises Otsego County tourists a homerun visit this summer. Jon Shestakofsky, Vice President of Communications and Education with the museum, said, after implementing a comprehensive, pandemic-friendly visitation plan in June 2020, the 25 Main St. site is ready for the return of fans and families. The museum was closed, he noted, from March 15 through June 26, 2020. Its reopening coincided with the June 24, 2020 start of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Phase IV. “As it stands, we are looking forward to continuing to welcome baseball fans into our museum,” Shestakofsky said in late April. “We’ve been open since late June and have been able to do what we do – share the game’s history and allow people to revel in their love of the game. Hopefully, it’ll be a solid number of fans this year.” Part of the reopening plan, Shestakofsky noted, included reducing capacity to 25%, or roughly 200 to 400 visitors in the museum at a time. In non-pandemic years, he said, the museum sees approximately 2,000 visitors daily, or 300,000 annually. “Last year, obviously with the three-plus months we were closed … there was a significant decline in visitation,” he said. “But there were certainly times throughout the year that we were busier, and we were bumping up against capacity, and that was a good thing.” Shestakofsky said changes, all baseball-themed, included introducing heightened safety measures as well as increased interactivity. The museum also moved to ticketed, timed admissions. “All staff and all visitors wear masks,” he said, “and we’ve installed clear plexiglass shields at any points of contact. Other things we based on the flow of traffic, but the big thing is our capacity limit, at 25%. Because of that, we’ve moved to a timed admission ticket and that helps in a few ways: it alleviates lines forming … and provides a more staggered flow into the museum to help groups stay distanced. “We take a baseball approach to this, so we have a ‘lineup’ of the rules and an
‘on-deck circle’ that keeps groups socially distanced,” Shestakofsky continued. “What’s great is that our exhibit spaces are almost entirely functional. We have three floors of exhibit space and … every guest receives a stylus pen that they can use to interact with any of the touchscreens or buttons throughout the museum. It’s a neat solution and having that stylus reminds people not to use their hands.” Shestakofsky said visitors’ responses to all the museum offers have been heartening. “The museum experience was very well received when we reopened last year, along with all the safety measures – whether social distancing or signs or plexiglass at the ticket booth, all the way down to the stylus pens we’re handing out,” he said. “The museum experience has remained what it should be and … everyone that wanted to come up and see us was able to. Into the future, we’re planning to continue most if not all of those operations.” At the time of writing, the museum’s two theaters and all in-person programming remained suspended, though Shestakofsky said the Starting Nine Experience, launched at the time of reopening, has been extended. “(It’s) a great new self-guided tour,” he said. “When you go in, you can ask for your team’s nine must-see artifacts … and find the pieces that most resonate with you and your particular team, all the way from the start of baseball to contemporary baseball. “We’ve extended the Starting Nine into the 2021 year, because it’s a special opportunity for fans to come, or come back to, the hall of fame and have a self-guided tour through their favorite team’s artifacts,” Shestakofsky continued. “It was very well received last year, so we’re continuing that,
so as many folks as possible can enjoy it.” According to a press release, each Major League team is represented in the experience. Shestakofsky noted that, in late July, the museum will debut exhibits featuring members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2020 inductees. “This summer there will be exhibit cases highlighting each of our four members of the Class of 2020 – Derek Jeter, Marvin Miller, Ted Simmons and Larry Walker,” he said. “So, there’s an exhibit about our new inductees and, beginning July 26, their plaques will be up on the wall and we know a lot of folks want to be among the first to see those.” Shestakofsky said the village of Cooperstown reflects the old-timey charm found in the museum, making both worthy destinations. “Cooperstown is a slice of Americana and it’s a very special place to come visit, not only for the hall of fame, but for so many other, really interesting cultural attractions, indoor and outdoor,” he said. “There are a lot of reasons to come to Cooperstown, and obviously the baseball aspect is a huge part of it, but there’s a lot beyond that to do and explore here. “On the baseball side, this is the home and heart of our national pastime and where the legends live on forever,” Shestakofsky continued. “This is where we see families come together and share some really incredible moments based on a mutual love of the game.” And, Shestakofsky said, despite pandemic-related uncertainties, the museum is ready to play ball. “I think we’re all kind of playing that game of trying to estimate what the future holds, but there are so many variables that it’s difficult to have a solid idea,” he said. “We’re certainly hopeful that things will continue to improve, and folks will be interested in coming to have a very safe and enjoyable family experience here in Cooperstown – that’s something we know we can deliver.” For more information, visit baseballhall. org. 13
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
Beekman Brand Brings New Life, Events to
Sharon Springs BY ALLISON COLLINS
The Schoharie County village of Sharon Springs has distinguished itself as a real-life Schitt’s Creek, with a beauty brand and steadily reviving Main Street to match. Beekman 1802 launched its Schitt’s Creek-inspired product line last year, along with a pop-up Rose Apothecary façade at its 187 Main St. storefront, and is also behind many of the village’s popular festivals and events. Alan Edstrom, events manager with Beekman 1802, said fans of the show will continue to find products at Beekman 1802 Mercantile and fans of the brand can expect a late spring and summer stacked with nature-loving, farm-paced events. “The Rose Apothecary façade ended last February, but we have been selling and premiering many Rose Apothecary products and will continue throughout the summer,” he said. “We’ve just added gift boxes and Rose perfume.” The brand began, Edstrom said, after Josh Kilmer-Purcell and Dr. Brent Ridge, stars of The Fabulous Beekman Boys and winners of the Amazing Race, Season 12, discovered Sharon Springs and a goat farmer in need. “Josh and Brent are two gay men who were married recently, but Josh was a marketing executive in New York City and Brent was one of the youngest doctors to run a unit at Mount Sinai. In 2007, they came to upstate New York, as a lot of city people do, and said, ‘Let’s go apple picking.’ They bought this mansion and said, ‘We’ll come up and renovate it to run away from the city.’ “Then 2008 happened, and they both lost their jobs,” Edstrom continued. “A neighbor in Sharon Springs was closing his farm and had 100 goats. They started googling, ‘What can you do with goat milk?’ and another neighbor in Sharon Springs taught them how to make goat’s milk soap. They sent that to Martha Stewart as a Christmas gift – Brent was (her) go-to person for medical things – and she said, ‘You know, you’ve got a product here.’” Their soap-making efforts expanded rapidly, Edstrom said, thanks to a 10,00014
unit order from Anthropologie in the business’ early days and help from hundreds of neighbors. That inclusion of and reliance upon their adopted upstate community, he noted, has become an integral part the Beekman brand. That same community has spurred several Beekman events, Edstrom said, even through the COVID-19 pandemic. “One thing we always had, up to 2019, was the Harvest Fest,” he said. “Twenty thousand people would come to the village and 150 different artists and artisans. Then we would have people at the farm, to go visit the baby goats, but what we did with COVID is say, ‘let’s lean in to the restrictions.’ One of our neighbors has a lavender farm, so we invited people to come and experience the lavender fields and harvest and go away with an armful of lavender.” Lavender Weekend, a ticketed event, Edstrom noted, will return on July 10 and 11. “Then on June 5, we’re doing garden tours,” Edstrom continued. “We’re working with Proven Winners and inviting 40 people at a time, a few times a day, to come tour the farm and have a lunch. They can spread a blanket on the lawn and see all the flowers blooming and see the baby goats.” Other season highlights, he said, include a recurring ‘Capture the Beauty’ nature photography tutorial series with B&H Photos, of New York City; baby goat tours; hops harvesting events on Aug. 28 and 29; and ongoing kindness workshops to, according to beekman1802.com, “explore, discuss, practice and reflect on your ability to cultivate and share kindness.” Workshop tickets include a farm tour, lunch and a kindness kit, featuring exclusive merchandise. Edstrom said Beekman 1802’s effect on Sharon Springs and area tourism has been reciprocal. “Josh and Brent came up here as New York City guys and they embraced the community, so it’s impacted people, knowing who we are and the fact that, within 10 years of them coming, they went from having a harvest festival of a couple hundred people to 20,000 and the Home Shopping Network
coming there to broadcast from the fest,” he said. “We always work with all the people on Main Street in Sharon Springs to do things; Josh and Brent are a part of that community and it’s impacted them in lots of ways, but they’ve impacted it in ways,” Edstrom continued. “One thing Beekman 1802 has done is grease the wheels of what it means to truly be a community, and we do it authentically. We’re working with Schoharie County Tourism and I Love NY to highlight (Sharon Springs), so it’s the rising tide for all boats thing; we all can help each other. The way we’ll all survive is by collaborating.” Sharon Springs Mayor Doug Plummer said he’s witnessed, and furthered, the village’s turnaround. Together with his husband, Plummer owns the American Hotel. “One thing I’ve always known about Sharon Springs … is that it just screams possibility,” he said. “I told my board when I got elected mayor … if we can dream it, we can absolutely achieve it; that’s the beauty of small-town American and that’s been Sharon Springs all along. “Coming in being 30-year-olds, we came in and were like, ‘Let’s do stuff,’” Plummer continued, noting that he relocated to Sharon Springs in the ‘90s. “At the time we got here, a whole bunch of other new people got here and that was kind of the first wave of the renaissance.” Plummer, too, said the brand aligned itself immediately with its community. “Their whole thing is, ‘Hi, neighbor’ and they really did utilize everybody – local people to create and promote their product,” he said. “They were doing well, so all the people they were utilizing were doing well. “Josh and Brent couldn’t possibly think too big,” Plummer continued. “It was a great fit … and a wonderful boon for the village. And you can do all the marketing and hype you want, but at the end of the day, if your product isn’t good, it’s going to be short-lived. But with them, the product is wonderful.” For more information or a list of ticketed events, visit beekman1802.com.
© Warren Harding
Post your challenge pics on social media:
#RoamTheEmpire • #CheckOutOrleansNY
The Lockport Locks open for the Lockport Locks & Erie Canal Cruises boats taking tourists on a tour.
16
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
Looking for something different? Stop by Lockport
Working canal locks, underground caves and zip lines await tourists
L
BY JOHN D’ONOFRIO
ockport lock tenders of a century ago couldn’t have imagined the area around Lockport’s historic Locks 34 and 35 today. Whether it’s taking a canal and locks tour through the heart of the city, watching demonstrations on how Lockport’s original Flight of Five locks worked, watching boats pass through today’s mammoth two lock gates, touring Lockport’s underground caves and tunnels or witnessing screaming zip-liners soar across the canal, downtown Lockport’s premier attractions remain one of the hottest tourism destinations in all of Niagara County. And that’s a lot to brag about when you’re competing against the “seventh wonder of the world” just 20 miles to the west. During construction of the Erie Canal (1817-25) a double set of five locks were built in Lockport to allow boats to climb or descend the drop of the 60-feet height of the Niagara Escarpment. During the last enlargement of the canal (1909-18), the southern set of five locks were replaced with state Locks 34 and 35. The entire locks area is accessible by foot and nearby attractions and all are within walking distance of the downtown canal corridor. Here’s a few of the places you should
Volunteer lock tenders demonstrate how the historic Lockport Locks operated Contributed photo.
visit if you ever pass through this AllAmerican, Niagara County city of just over 20,000 people: • LOCKPORT LOCKS & ERIE CANAL CRUISES: Owners Mike and Sharon Murphy started this popular business with two pontoon boats and a dream. Today, it’s blossomed into one of this area’s most popular tourist attractions at 210 Market St. It also boast having Western New York’s unique banquet and meeting facility. The tour not only takes residents on an
informative trip down the Erie Canal, it passes through both lock gates. Call 716433-6155 or 800-378-0352, or visit info@ lockportlocks.com. • LOCKPORT CAVES: Located at 5 Gooding St., Lockport Cave and Underground Boat Ride takes people down beneath the city where caves were formed naturally in the underlying dolomite and limestone bedrocks. One of the caves was once used as a hydraulic raceway for 17
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
The Canandaigua, a Lockmaster 42 canal boat, exits Lockport Lock 35 while cruising the Erie Canal with passengers from Point Pleasant, NJ. James Neiss
the canal, constructed in the nineteenth century. Call 716-438-0174 for a tour you’ll never forget. • NIAGARA ZIPPER: A professional, well trained staff will make this experience of soaring across the Erie Canal another unforgettable one in the Lock City. Call 438-0174 and enjoy the ride. And don’t forget to bring the kids. • LOCKPORT LOCKS DISTRICT: One of the Erie Canal’s most iconic features and engineering feats still remain.City planners, working with citizen’s groups and canal champions are restoring the Flight of Five. Originally completed in 1849, visitors can see the locks’ massive wooden gates, operated by hand, next to today’s more modern Locks 34 and 35, which enable today’s canal traffic to climb the Niagara Escarpment. • FARMER’S MARKET: Located on Canal Street, a downtown pedestrian and bicycle-only street overlooking the locks, the market, featuring fresh fruits and vegetables harvested locally, is open
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A couple enjoys their zip-lining experience across the canal at the Niagara Zipper on Gooding Street. Contributed photo.
Wednesdays and Saturdays. • ERIE CANAL DISCOVERY CENTER: Located at 24 Church St., the Erie Canal Discovery Center is the place for everyone visiting Lockport to visit if you’re interested in the history of this city
and the Erie Canal. The museum featuring art & information on the history of the Erie Canal also houses a gift shop. Call 716-439-0431.
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
Youngstown sculptor Susan Geissler and Linda Roth, board member Lockport Locks Heritage District Corporation, unveil three locktender statues. The three statues are the first of 14 total locktenders being sculpted that are fashioned after a photo taken of them posing in this exact location in 1897 at the Lockport Locks.James Neiss
O L D F O RT N I A G A R A Yo u n g s t o w n , N . Y.
Open Daily through
Labor Day
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SPECIAL EVENTS
The Past is Present
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NIAGARA FALLS TOURIST HOME ASSOCIATION, INC. The Niagara Falls Tourist Home Association, Inc. is organized to promote the responsible and legal use of single and two-family residential homes as Short Term Rentals for visiting tourists. If you have a Short Term Rental, join us at nftha.org/application Look for the NFTHA sticker on recommended local businesses and vacation rentals to know you are getting great quality. Visiting Niagara Falls? Do you need a place for friends/family to stay while they are visiting you? Reserve one of our member homes.
nftha.org/rentals 19
Sampling the Niagara Wine Trail’s offerings NIAGARA COUNTY: Evolving trail filled with improving wineries.
I
BY JOE GENCO
t was part way through last summer when Jim Baker of Niagara County’s Chateau Niagara Winery began noticing a big difference. He was slammed with people coming for outdoor tastings and they were 70% new visitors. Where’d they come from? “They were new customers because they couldn’t go to Niagara-on-the-Lake,” Baker said of how his world changed. “We are selling a lot more wine to a fewer number of people.” By the time it was all over his business, located on West Creek Road in Newfane was up 30% and he realized a massive increase in his wine club. A free membership commits members to purchase 12 bottles a year but also comes with free tastings, special vintages, events and purchase discounts. One particular customer left a lasting 20
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
Patrick Vaughn of Liten Buffel pours a glass of pet nat, naturally fermented sparking wine.
impression as he increased his purchases. “This winery is too important to fail,” that customer said. The Niagara Wine Trail has more than a dozen wineries stretching along the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario. According to wine trail officials, the wine region has a unique micro-climate. Located at Latitude 43 degrees North, the cool climate region of Niagara enjoys long days during the growing season. This makes it suitable for the production of the types of fruit that are used to create its fine wines. The length of a growing season is important to both the fresh fruit and wine industry. The longer the growing season, the more the fruit builds a chemical called fruit esters. These fruit esters give the
Jim Baker of Chateau Niagara pours his steel-fermented chardonnay. the flavorful reflects the Lake Ontario microclimate and soil. It has substantial body and flavor but no oak. Many chardonnays produced in California mask poor grapes with oak barrel fermentation.
fruit the qualities of aroma and taste – the longer the growing season, the better the fruit. Baker is also working hard with the help of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation on sustainability planning. “Sustainability is having a view for a business or a life that can carry on,” he explained. While it’s not the same thing as bing “certified organic” it does mean not using herbicides even in the parking lot. Like many of his peers, Baker is an inveterate tinkerer, whether it’s adapting vineyard equipment purchased on the cheap to fit a tractor or working with fermentation. For example, he has added Kagor to his offerings. It is a little-known Russian-style wine made in the eastern
hemisphere for the Orthodox Church. It tastes rich and sweet like a port or sherry with tones of cherry and elderberry. Russian friends visiting from Toronto have told Baker it was the best they’ve ever had. Not far from Baker, Patrick Vaughn is the proprietor at Liten Buffel on Pearson Road in Middleport, specializing in wines made with the least amount of manipulation possible. That means no sulfites, yeast or sugar, just naturally fermented grapes taking full advantage of the terroir. Among his recent offerings is Pet Nat (petulant naturale) made from 65% riesling and 35% vidal blanc and bottled just before fermentation completes to create a light, crisp, bubbly wine. 21
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
Margo Sue Bittner of the Winery at Marjim Manor has had to adapt to doing business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has some other fine offerings, for example, a 2017 pinot noir from grapes grown in Cambria at Quast Vineyard, which is owned and operated by Freedom Run. At Marjim Manor on Lake Road in Appleton, Margo Sue Bittner is owner and has taken the lead for marketing for wineries on the Niagara Wine Trail. Bittner’s specialty is fruit wines. They are fantastic in their own right. Niagara as a whole, however, is only beginning to get the recognition it deserves. If we think of drivable wine regions from upstate New York, the popular choices may be Niagara-on-the-Lake with its glitzy, million-dollar tasting rooms or the Finger Lakes with equally fancy big wineries and owners often off site while employees tend shop. Niagara County has become akin to Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley in California. If you like to shop small, this trail is for you because the owners, in almost all cases, are onsite and care about ensuring your positive experience. “We are enjoying the way things are going,” she said. “Customers come in, they sit down, they get their tasting and a ghost story.” She’s still getting travelers as well. During the last week in April, she had new visitors from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maine and
22
Winery at Marjim Manor, in addition to many business in the area, have had to limit capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Connecticut. For information about visiting and upcoming events, visit www.niagarawinetrail.org
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
Where to go, what to expect Here’s a list of Niagara County Wineries with a few in Orleans County, the next county to the east. Every business listed here is small. Most proprietors have retired from another enterprise or still work a second job to support their winery dreams. Expect no pretension just excellent wine at reasonable prices. Italicized comments are the opinion of Joe Genco. • 810 Meadworks — 113 West Center Street Medina, NY 14103 • (585) 542-9810 • www.810meadworks.com Great meads. Try Bee Spit Outdoor Courtyards. Awesome food truck across the parking lot.
• The Winery at Marjim Manor — 7171 E. Lake Road Appleton, NY 14008 • (716) 778-7001 www.marjimmanor.com Great fruit wines with a side of storytelling. • Victorianbourg Wine Estate — 4402 East Lake Road Wilson, NY 14172 • (716) 751-6576 • www.victorianbourg.com Try their reds, full bodied with great mouth feel • Vizcarra Vineyards at Becker Farms — 3724 Quaker Road Gasport, NY 14067 • (716) 772-2211 www.beckerfarms.com An agritourism destination with a brewery best visited in the fall and a winery filled with drinkable product. Good restaurant and among the largest businesses on the trail.
• A Gust of Sun Winery — 4515 Baer Road Ransomville, NY 14131 • (716) 731-GUST (4878) • www.agustofsunwinery.com Small Winery. Try their 2018 Noiret or their 2017 dry riesling which has nice citrus undertones. • Bella Rose Vineyard & Winery — 1243 Ridge Rd, Lewiston, NY 14092 • (716) 405-7355 • www.bellarosewinery.com Have yet to visit. Opened as Covid hit • Blackbird Cider Works — 8503 Lower Lake Road, Barker NY 14102 (716) 795-3580 Dry oak aged cider is the best I’ve ever had from there. A great place to soak in the Lake Ontario breeze and chill on the back patio with. • Black Willow Winery — 5565 W Lake Rd Burt, NY 14028 • (716) 439-1982 • www.blackwillowwinery.com Great Meads. Try Freyja’s Nectar and enjoy the wine/chocolate or cheese pairing. • Chateau Niagara Winery — 2466 West Creek Road Newfane, NY 14108 • (716) 778-7888 • www.chateauniagarawinery.com Enjoy the 2016 Pinot Noir, or the unoaked chardonnay reminiscent of a Pinot Grigio • Honeymoon Trail Winery — 4120 Ridge Road Cambria, NY 14094 • (716) 438-3255 www.honeymoontrailwinery.com Try their Diamond or Spice White. Good Sweet Wines. • Lake Ontario Winery — 1593 Hamlin Parma Town Line Road Hilton, NY 14468 • (585) 392-5296 • www.lakeontariowinery.com I have never visited • Leonard Oakes Estate Winery — 10609 Ridge Road Medina, NY 14103 • (585) 318-4418 • www.oakeswinery.com Great one to hit before 810 Meadworks. Sauvignon Blanc and the 2016 Pinot Noir both were fuller bodied and more complex then anticipated • Liten Buffel — 8822 Pearson Rd., Middleport, NY 14105 (716) 352-0570 • www.litenbuffel.com Natural wines produced with only grapes and the yeast from the air. Full, earthy tones with hints of berries in the pinot noir. A must visit because it is different yet sophisticated • Long Cliff Winery & Vineyards — 3617 Lower Mountain Road Sanborn NY, 14132 • (716) 731-3316 • www.longcliffwinery.com Small. I know we have visited but don’t remember. • Niagara Landing Wine Cellars — 4434 Van Dusen Rd Lockport, NY 14094 • (716) 433-8405 www.NiagaraLanding.com Tend to be sweeter, the vignoles is very interesting and drinkable. They mess around with catawba more than I like. • Salamaca Estate Winery — 2660 Hindsburg Rd. Albion, NY 14411 Corner of Route 104 • (585) 283-4094 • www.SalamacaEstateWinery. com A bit out of the way. Try their diamond or red. • Schulze Vineyards & Winery — 2090 Coomer Road Burt, NY 14028 (716) 778-8090 • www.schulzewines.com Yet another momand-pop and it’s been there a long time. Try the Cab Franc or Cuvee Brut. • Schwenk Wine Cellars — 1456 Bills Road Kent, NY 14477 (585) 682-4629 www.schwenkwinecellars.com Dry riesling and baco noir are forces with which to be reckoned.
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confetticottage.com 23
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
People check out the nearly completed Max Moore Memorial Tree House during the 2015 grand opening in Plattsburgh. Located at the beginning of the Saranac River Trail on Pine Street near the Saranac Street Bridge, the Tree House is equipped with a ramp allowing access to those with wheelchairs and strollers. The Tree House is named after Max Moore, a Plattsburgh youth who depended on a wheelchair for mobility, who died in 2009 at 8 years of age. PR Photo.
Max Moore Tree House offers fun accessible for all — Attraction built in memory of local boy
I
BY CHRIS FASOLINO
t is almost a universal dream of childhood: to have a tree house. Soon, children who never thought they could share in that dream will be able to reach it. That is because work is beginning on the Max Moore Memorial Tree House, a universally accessible tree house near the Saranac River in Plattsburgh. Saturday’s groundbreaking ceremony marked a milestone for the project. INSPIRATION The idea came from Dr. Heidi Moore, a pediatrician, whose son Max had a physical disability. Two years into the planning of the project, Max passed away. Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Moore said: “This started with the idea of taking a little boy who was wheelchair-bound and giving him a tree house.” 24
The Max Moore Memorial Tree House will have a ramp, and it will be accessible to people of all ages and conditions. Moore was wearing a blue shirt with the word “believe” in large letters. Project Coordinator Ashley Cousens, who followed, expressed appreciation for donors large and small. While major contributors include the Plattsburgh Sunrise Rotary Club, Liquor & Wine Warehouse, Plattsburgh Mayor James Calnon, Luke Cyphers and his family, Payea & Barnett, the Plattsburgh Recreation Department, the Treehouse Guys, Garry Douglas, Sherb and Amy House and Fujitsu, many small donations have also been received. “Every dollar we’ve received has made a difference,” Cousens continued. “This is a project that speaks to people.” Cousens said that all the materials for the tree house will be arriving within three
to four weeks, and that the project will be completed this summer. “We’re kind of shooting for July.” In fact, Cousens concluded her remarks at the groundbreaking with the encouraging words: “Hopefully, we’ll see you in a couple of months for the grand opening.” GROUNDBREAKING At the edge of the Saranac River, where the tree house will soon be built, a tent had been set up for Saturday’s groundbreaking ceremony. Speakers stood behind a podium emblazoned with the Plattsburgh City Seal, which is marked by a heraldic lion and by the Latin motto Ipsi Sibi Praemium Virtus (“virtue is its own reward.”) In addition to Moore and Cousens, Calnon also spoke briefly, calling the project “a great idea that caught on and became such a passionate idea that so many people shared in, that it got us to today.”
Discussing the event afterward, Calnon commented: “This is such a natural extension of the trail, as we’re trying to celebrate our natural resources, our river. And there’s the other statement: We recognize we’re an old city, which has accessibility issues everywhere, and this sends a message that we need to think about this.” He also recalled how much he had enjoyed climbing trees as a child and how he could remember today where his favorite trees were. The tree house, he noted, will allow children with accessibility issues to share that kind of joy. “Why would you want to deny that to a child?” Saturday’s event also featured a Fun Run for children. Fourteen local children ran and toddled along a course. They were cheered on by Burghy, SUNY Plattsburgh’s colorful mascot. The young runners had the opportunity to add their handprints to a banner that will be used at the ribbon-cutting ceremony when the tree house is completed. Small handprints in bright green, blue, yellow and red adorn the banner. Local resident Jessica Law volunteered to set up a table to sell homemade baked goods — including meringue puffs, brownie bites and chocolate-chip cookies — in exchange for 50-cent or $1 donations to the tree-house project. SUPPORT Cardinal Public Relations at SUNY Plattsburgh has been assisting with the project during the past school year. Vicky Scott of Cardinal PR said that since she and her fellow public-relations students take on year-long projects, they do not always get to see the results. With the tree house, however, they were able to witness the groundbreaking ceremony. “It’s very exciting,” she said. Nicholas Dubay, who has worked with Cousens on the treehouse project, was there with his wife, Laurie, and their 8-year-old daughter, Velauriea. “We love Plattsburgh, and we love what they’re trying to do here,” Laurie said. “We’re very happy about it; we’ve followed the project from the beginning.” The riverside setting, she added, is “such a pretty spot” for the tree house. There, by the flowing waters, children of all abilities will be able to feel the wind on their faces and enjoy the experience of being up in a tree.
A M E R I C A’ S ORIGINAL
Water Park Niagara Falls State Park is a wonder in every season – especially in summer. Cool off under the thundering water of the Falls at the the thrilling Cave of the Winds tour. Enjoy a meal with a view overlooking the mighty Horseshoe at Top of the Falls Restaurant. Explore the park’s numerous hiking and biking trails. However you define it, the roar of adventure is waiting for you at Niagara Falls this summer.
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Spectacular Glass Dome Basilica overlooking acres of gardens and 150 life size bronze and marble statues. One of WNY’s largest Religious Book & Gift Stores. Open daily (call for hours). Cafeteria (call for hours). Accessible facilities. facilities.
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ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021
Iroquois Indian Museum O F
A sky dancer performs at the Iroquois Indian Museum in this undated photo. Contributed. 26
BY ALLISON COLLINS
ollowing a closure of more than a year, the Iroquois Indian Museum, 324 Caverns Road, Howes Cave, reopened April 1 with pandemic-friendly exhibits, demonstrations, performances and more. Cassandra Miller, communications manager with the museum, said visitors have responded heartily to its reopening. “We were closed since 2019 and, when we opened back up on April 1, it was snowing and cold, but we still had visitors come,” she said. “The museum is really cool, because it has archaeology exhibits and also the largest collection of contemporary Iroquois art in the world; that’s what differentiates it from (other regional museums), and the weekly events. And just being able to learn about the native culture and a culture outside of oneself is kind of special.” Though Miller said tourists represent “a significant percentage” of the museum’s visitors, adapting to the pandemic has increased and diversified patronage. “The hardest part was that, the big part of the mission of the museum is, education about culture and it’s a living culture, so there’s the importance of live demonstrations and Iroquois artists coming to the museum and that interaction,” she said. “(Losing) that direct connection to visitors at the museum was difficult, but we did a really good job of pivoting to fulfill that mission virtually. “All the demonstrations and educators that had been scheduled for last summer did a Facebook live series,” Miller continued. “They were live, doing their demos and able to talk to people. It was similar to what would’ve happened at the museum, but we were able to connect with people from all over the country. Compared to 2019, we actually have served more people this April than we had in 2019 for the entire month … but we had significantly more people coming to our virtual field trips.” Creating virtual field trips, Miller said, allowed the museum to continue catering to one of its mainstay groups – schoolchildren. Attendees of the virtual series, she noted, included a group from the Harvard Law Library and the Museum of Natural History, with the latter modeling its virtual field trips after the museum’s. “The museum has been busy, just not in the way it has been in the past,” she said. But in-person visitors, Miller said, can expect to see returning favorites alongside new attractions this season. “The museum is pretty lucky, because of having an amphitheater and being able to have outdoor space and
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Offers Culture, Art & Interactivity enough space to social distance and still be safe,” she said, noting that masks are required in the museum. “In our children’s museum, there’s normally a lot of handson exhibits … and those are temporarily closed, but instead we have activity packs for kids that they can do individually, rather than touching things, so they’re still able to be engaged. “A lot of visitors really like the Iroquois social dancers, and we have a few different groups coming for demonstrations and often they’ll invite visitors to participate in the dances,” Miller continued. “We have those throughout the summer, alternating with artist demonstrations of all different types, traditional and modern art from Iroquois artists. Highlights of the season, Miller said, will include the Aug. 6 “Roots, Rhythm and Ale” amphitheater concert and the Oct. 9 opening exhibition. “Roots, Rhythm and Ale we’re doing for a second time, and that features a local Schoharie band as well as Iroquois singer-songwriters,” she said. “It’s a fundraiser for the museum, but focuses on our connection to the area and Schoharie County. We invite local breweries and food vendors and it’s an outdoor concert, so people can enjoy the beauty of the grounds, and that’s a pretty cool thing. “Another thing that’s noteworthy is that, normally we have an opening event in May, but we pushed it back to have kind of a celebration during not Columbus Day Weekend, but Indigenous People’s Weekend,” Miller continued. “It’s a contemporary artists’ exhibit, with art from Iroquois all over the country and the theme is always relevant to that community; this year’s theme is ‘Iroquois identity.’ There’s more than a dozen Haudenosaunee artists in the show.” With a packed summer season and nearby attractions, Miller said, the Iroquois Indian Museum makes a great destination.
Social dancing demonstrations, Miller said, are a popular and important activity at the Iroquois Indian Museum. Contributed.
“Where the museum is located, you can make it a fun little day trip,” she said. “At the end of the road is Serious Brewing Company, the Iroquois Indian Museum, then Howe Caverns, so there’s this little bubble in Schoharie County that has all these tourist attractions.” For more information or a full
list of the summer’s events, visit iroquoismuseum.org, find “Iroquois Indian Museum” on Facebook or call 518-2968949. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, and noon to 4 on Sundays. 27
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Walking the trails of Niagara
EXPLORE THE RIVER: Spectacular views available away from the Falls in three short walks. BY JOE GENCO
A butterfly draws nectar and helps pollinate a native bee balm plant at Stella Niagara. Beth Genco
A meadow filed with native wildflowers is a great place for meditation at Stella Niagara. Beth Genco
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Sometimes the best places to visit are the quiet ones, off the beaten path, away from the crowded spaces. Here are three short, easy Niagara County hikes. STELLA NIAGARA This is a short, easy walk Stella Niagara Nature Preserve is located at 4214 Lower River Road, in Lewiston. The Western New York Land Conservancy purchased the 29-acre preserve which was once part of a religious retreat owned by the Sisters of St. Francis. It remains a spiritual place. The property has a wide range of fun habitat to explore. Park at the community center across the street and walk downhill on the winding paths. At the top, just to the south, is a butterfly garden filled with native plants and pollinators in their natural environments. The meadow winds down to the river through space filled with shrubs like ninebark and spicebush. Along the north side of the property are vernal pools with cattails and turtles and, on a lucky day, wood ducks. On a summer day, damsel and dragonflies will flit about. You might see yellow warblers, a phoebe or a blue green flycatchers. Down by the water is an area protected from the current as a spawning zone for smallmouth bass, yellow perch and rockbass. It’s a great place for a picnic. Be careful to the left under the willow trees because there maybe be some poison ivy. Keep an eye on the sky as well because that might be your best chance to see a bald eagle. DEVILS HOLE TO WHIRLPOOL This is a longer, tougher walk with lots of stairs, not for the weak of heart. A short drive south along the Niagara River leads to
A hike along the Niagara Gorge offers majestic view of Niagara Falls, like this one that can be had next to the old suspension bridge base next to the Whirlpool Bridge. James Neiss
another glorious place for a walk, the Niagara Gorge Trail. Many visitors, and indeed many residents, never get the chance to experience one of the most spectacular sites ever. Park at Devils Hole. Walk down the stairs. Pause at the big boulder and cave and contemplate the massacre of British soldiers here by Senecas in 1763. The real joy is to walk along the trail at the base of the stairs and feel the power of the river. Admire the cedar trees along the way. They may not look spectacular but they represent the most recent old growth forest discovered in North America. As you head south, the river widens at the whirlpool which is spectacular to see but not as special as what lies just ahead: The rapids just south of the whirlpool represent among the tallest standing waves in the world. You can stand on the shore and see them actually tower over you. Alternatively, if you’d like a slightly easier walk, park at Whirlpool State Park and take those stairs down and turn left at the bottom to see those spectacular rapids. SOUTH FROM ARTPARK This is an easier, shorter walk. In Lewiston use the Portage Road entrance to Artpark. Bear left between the two parking lots. An easy path along the river will take you under the LewistonQueenston Bridge.
The entire way is filled with spectacular views of the Niagara River. At different times of the year, the shore will be filled with spawning trout from Lake Ontario. It is also a great place to view the fall colors thanks to the spectacular corridor and reflections on the water.
One of the nesting gulls that can be spotted in the Niagara Gorge. James Neiss 29
Find Family-Friendly, Outdoor Fun at
Chenango Valley State Park
The Page Brook trail at Chenango Valley State Park is seen in July 2020. Contributed. BY ALLISON COLLINS
Chenango Valley State Park, 153 State Park Road, Chenango Forks, offers 1,400 acres of fun for families, nature lovers, golfers, geology buffs and more. Park Manager Mike Boyle said the property’s offerings are diverse and distinct. “In New York State, we have such a vast variety of state parks, and some of the great characteristics that do draw people to this park are the day-use functions that we have; the general features are just great … and there’s some good stuff to do and it’s for all ages,” he said. “There’s a lot of mountain bikers in this area and a lot that come to the area for this. Our park has well over 25 miles of trails and they’re all multi-use trails. We’re kind of secluded and in a rural area, and at night, it’s beautiful here because there’s no light illumination from cities, so when you’re looking up, you’re seeing true night sky … and people really love that. 30
“The park itself has 24 cabin rentals and 185 campsites; a beautiful lake for fishing, swimming and boating, and another lake we leave completely natural and don’t allow any recreation, to allow for the ecosystem to stay natural (because) we have some rare plant and dragonfly species here that we need to protect; we also just recently had a splash pad built for the younger generation and really little kids, and that’s a huge draw,” Boyle continued. “We also improved our swimming area to include not just a diving board but a water slide, so that’s a little more fun, and for our day-use people, we have picnicking and, on top of all the cool things we have for the park side, we also have an 18-hole golf course with its own clubhouse and pro shop. It’s just like a private course, but nestled within the park boundaries.” Though the camp is open year-round, Boyle noted, overnight guests and campers are welcome “between the middle of May and Columbus Weekend.”
The park also hosts annual events, Boyle said, including outdoor hockey tournaments, open sledding, Easter egg hunts, family fishing days, an August family fun day, Halloween parties and more. And the grounds are utilized, he noted, by area sports teams. The park’s geologic features, Boyle said, further its appeal. The park’s two lakes, nicknamed Lily and Chenango, are considered kettle lakes. “Because of the last ice age, as it was receding, it dropped large chunks of ice and, for hundreds of years, those chunks melted off,” he said. “As they were melting, the weight put depressions in the ground and that’s basically where (the lakes) came from. Those depressions formed in the ground and, later in the ecological growth of things, the water runoff started filling these depressions and that’s how the lakes were formed. “Because of (that), we’re on basically on a gravel bed,” Boyle continued. “When
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Young bikers enjoy some of the 25-plus miles of multi-use trails at Chenango Valley State Park in this August 2020 photo. Contributed.
Picnicking is among the many amenities at Chenango Valley State Park. Contributed.
it rains everywhere else in New York State or Pennsylvania and everyone gets puddles all over the place, we drain so well that we don’t have those puddles and water problems, and little things like that bring people over to us.” The park’s more recent history, Boyle said, is also noteworthy. “The park was built in 1930 … and most all our buildings are stone and were
built by the CCC, or Civilian Conservation Corps,” he said. “That was brought about after the Great Depression and FDR put it together to build the nation’s economy, and this park was one of the benefits of that program. “Even before that, the Erie Canal had all these things that would connect, and one was the Chenango Canal, which used to run right down the edge of the property where the Chenango River is,” Boyle continued. “Back in the 1860s, they were using this area for the canal system to get goods to and from Binghamton and up to and from the Syracuse area and then reconnecting to the Erie Canal, so we have history in that sense, but also the natural history of it. We’ve got all kinds of history.” Park patrons, Boyle said, include a mix of locals and out-of-state visitors. “I would say it’s probably about 60 to 70% local, meaning anybody within 60 miles or an hour’s drive – from Oneonta, Syracuse, Scranton – and we do definitely get transients and plenty of people coming down from Canada,” he said, noting that RV users especially appreciate the park’s proximity to the 81 corridor and its on-site dumping station. “The other 30 to 40%
is probably from out of state, or long distances; we do get our Buffalo and New York City and Westchester County crowd, but we also get (people from) New Jersey and Pennsylvania.” The park, Boyle noted, is also largely ADA accessible, along with “some of the cabins.” The park’s campgrounds, Boyle said, also accommodate preferences. “There are three main camping areas in the park – one dedicated to all electric camping, RVs or someone who wants electric – then another we call the Old Grove, because it’s old-school, there’s privacy between campsites and no electric or water hookups, so mostly tent camping or people willing to camp without power,” he said. “The third area is actually our largest, which gives you a variety of all of the above – secluded, electric and ground spots.” For more information on Chenango Valley State Park, visit parks.ny.gov or find “Friends of Chenango Valley State Park” on Facebook. For park reservations, visit reserveamerica.com or call 1-800-4562267 31
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City Beach improvements planned for 2021 season Bathhouse, boardwalk, railing improvements expected BY MCKENZIE DELISLE
COVID-19 pushed Plattsburgh City officials to keep City Beach bums at bay last summer, but they’ve recently announced plans to turn the tide and prepare for its full reopening this coming warm-weather season. CITY BEACH The Plattsburgh City Beach is often praised for its 1.25 miles of Lake Champlain shoreline. Located off of Beach Road in the City of Plattsburgh, just behind the Crete Memorial Civic Center, it is a popular summertime spot for North Country natives and Canadian visitors alike. Last year, however, city officials elected to keep it closed due to complications related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the need for extra staff to assist in the enforcement of social distancing guidelines at a time when the city’s Recreation Department was undergoing staff cuts. While lifeguards were not on duty and its seasonal vendors did not open, residents still visited Lake Champlain there last summer, swimming and sunbathing free of charge and without supervision throughout the season. TO-DO LIST During his campaign, Plattsburgh City Mayor Christopher Rosenquest, who began his term at the start of 2021, spoke extensively about improving lake access. He recently told the Press-Republican that there were many updates planned for the City Beach this year, which were later reiterated by Department of Public Works Superintendent Mike Bessette at a recent Plattsburgh City Common Council’s Infrastructure Committee meeting. The DPW employee had listed his 32
The Plattsburgh City Beach is seen in summer 2019. The City Beach typically opens in June, pending the lake’s water levels. PR Photo
department’s City Beach to-do list, including pending improvements to the small city bathhouse at the beach’s south end. “We’re going to rehab that,” Bessette said. “Go through make sure all of the plumbing is operational, give it a paint job, do all of the cleaning, get it ready for the next season.” The boardwalk and its railings were being looked at for improvements, as was the parking lot. BLIGHTED PROPERTY The mayor said he reconnected with a group that once planned to make improvements to the site’s dog park and said he was in communication with SUNY Plattsburgh concerning the re-establishment of the beach’s nearby walking trails. A City of Plattsburgh building there, which sits about 300 feet behind the Crete Center, was also being eyed for demolition
and removal. Bessette referred to the structure as the Anderson Building, but noted that it hadn’t been used for several years. He said a tree had fallen on it, breaking its trusses and leaving it with extensive repairs. “We are looking at keeping the electric route and the concrete pad there in hopes that we can attract some events there over the summer,” Rosenquest added, noting food truck events as one possibility, “. . . so just trying to set ourselves up to have a nice beach opening and have some facilities out there that we can all use.” OPENING The City Beach typically opens in June, pending the lake’s water levels. The Plattsburgh City website does not have any further information listed on its website, but says, “Come back in 2021 for more information about the City of Plattsburgh Beach!”
Fishermen line up at Burt Dam in Olcott to catch salmon. James Neiss
Plenty of places in Niagara County to make the
Big Catch BY BENJAMIN JOE
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F
ishing in Niagara County is the worst kept secret in the freshwater world. Years have passed and tourists come and go, casting lines for trout, salmon and bass in holes like Burt Dam of Newfane and off boats in the Lower Niagara River in Lewiston. For many, memories have been built off the activity, parents and children taking advantage of a chilly morning to throw some bait on hooks and wait with each other for that first bite. For Frank Campbell, the story of fishing has been the story of his life. The newly appointed sportfishing coordinator for Niagara County, Campbell took over the job from Bill Hilts who said that if you want to talk fishing, Campbell is the one you should talk to. “I’ve been in the fishing industry for the past 30 years being a charter captain,” Campbell said. “I go to Lake Ontario, Lewiston, Youngstown. Sometimes into Lake Erie and pretty much everywhere in Western New York.” Campbell talked about “allowing residents to become ambassadors” for his favorite past time. He said he wanted the fishing news on the tip of everyone’s tongue. 34
“That’s one of the things I’ve been tasked with is making everyone aware of what we have as far as fishing and the economic impact,” he said. “But also for when they have relatives come into town, or family members or friends. That fishing is an alternative. They can spend their time doing something outdoors, something that’s pretty COVID friendly and a pretty good opportunity to spend some quality time with each other.” Campbell’s team calculated that $31 million a year was spent on fishing prior to the COVID-19 epidemic by visitors to the area and he’s while he doesn’t know the exact number of pole-lugging tourists that equates to, he’s confident that this year the county will be seeing at least that amount of tourism capital. “What we put into it, we get a heck of a lot out of it, when it comes to people coming out here and fishing and enjoying fishing. … There’s a lot of people who compete in a LOC (Lake Ontario Counties) derby, which is coming up,” Campbell said. “Niagara County really shines during that derby. People are very, very likely to come here and spend their time and spend their dollars fishing, trying to capture that top
prize which is $15,000 for the derby. It’s a pretty big impact if you look along the shoreline. Hotels, motels, campgrounds are chock full with fishermen come about the first week of May. “ “It’s well known that Niagara County is the place to be in the spring for spring salmon, but we also have excellent bass fishing, walleye fishing, trout fishing. It’s the mecca of freshwater sportfishing.” Campbell promotes the fishing industry in Niagara County on a national scale, talking to TV show producers and writers from fishing magazines, but before getting his own boat, he was an average teenager. “I’ve been fishing my whole life, but I started to get more involved in the fishery when I was in high school. I worked for a tackle shop called Mark’s Tackle which was in Niagara Falls,” he said. “I worked one or two days a week, part-time, and met some charter captains who were actually going on the Lake, trolling during the summer, so I took a job as a first mate for a couple years. After that I got my license. I was 21, I finished up school, got my degree, then I went fishing.” Campbell said interested parties can
ULTIMATE NY STAYCATION SUMMER 2021anglers at Olcott marina and harbor on the shore of Lake Ontario. James Neiss Blue skies greet local
check out the website at niagarafallsusa. com for more information. He estimates there are 40 charter captains listed on the online resource, and its broken into specialized areas. “If you’re a charter captain out of Olcott it will say, ‘This is the area I’m fishing,’ ” Campbell said. “It’s one stop shopping and its updated and accurate, and probably one of the easiest ways to find out information about fishing in Niagara.” Campbell also said there is cooperative community of fishers in Niagara County. If a captain is booked the week of a visitor’s trip, they’ll often find another captain on another boat who can facilitate the experience. “A lot of the times, they’ll pad you off to someone, so you’re not left hanging,” he said. “Ultimately, I think all the captains realize that it’s important to take care of people and customer service is important and the best part of customer service is letting people have a good experience. Even if you’re booked you want them to go out with somebody and have a good time.” Key places to sink a floater? “Right now, you can’t go wrong in Niagara County waters,” Campbell said.
A family fishes from a pier in Olcott Harbor at the mouth of 18 Mile Creek. James Neiss
“The biggest problem most guys have in the day is deciding what to catch. Right now we have good steelhead fishing, bass fishing, lake trout fishing in the Lower Niagara River. If you go out on the Niagara Bar the salmon are starting to come out. They’re catching lake trout, they’re catching king salmon. If you go into the creek, at 18 Mile Creek, there’s bass in the creek, there’s left over steelheads, there’s pike showing up. It’s not a matter of where you go, it’s what you want to catch. … It’s why people feel we have the best freshwater fishing in the country.” Campbell also recommends fishing enthusiasts to check out online fishing communities.
“The Lower Niagara River Fishing, to Western New York Fishing, there’s a lot of information,” he said. “Or your local tackle shop are more than willing to give you information. They want you to go out and have a successful outing, even if it’s by yourself, and come back and see them again. They’re more than happy to accommodate requests for information.” “And quite simply, you can just show up down on the river, or down on 18 Mile Creek and people will give you hints,” he said. “They’ll give you tips to make you successful.”
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New York State Parks Police Sgt. Jeffrey Eckert snaps a photo for couple Omar Ramos and Jalisa Cruz who were visiting from Rochester. The wall behind is part of the $6.2 million Niagara Falls State Park Welcome Plaza revitalization project. James Neiss
A shiny new look for
Niagara Falls State Park DEVELOPMENT: $150M revitalization project has upgraded visitors’ experience. 36
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The Big Picture - A tourist gets his shot during a visit to Goat Island at Niagara Falls State Park. The couple traveled from Detroit to see the sights. James Neiss
A
trip to Niagara Falls State Park looks a lot different today then it did 10 years
ago. It’s the result of a $150 million revitalization project undertaken by New York state. Recent work has resulted in a new welcome plaza leading into the park from Prospect Street in downtown Niagara Falls. It’s located at the corner of Prospect Street and Mayor Michael O’Laughlin Drive, near the Hard Rock Cafe downtown. Launched in 2011, the Niagara Falls State Park landscape revitalization plan was a multi-year commitment to renew the park in a manner that better reflects noted park designer Frederick Law Olmsted’s vision for the landscape.
The plan has already led to the renovation of the park’s major viewing areas with new pedestrian walkways, enhanced landscaping, new benches, light posts and railings. Those areas include: • Luna Island • Prospect Point • Lower Grove • Three Sisters Islands • North Shoreline Trail • Luna Bridge • Terrapin Point The interactive Cave of the Winds pavilion, which highlights the natural and cultural history of Niagara Falls, opened in 2017. A new $46 million visitors center is also in the works and is expected to open in a
few years. The interpretive center will serve as a gateway to not only the park but the Niagara River corridor. The new 28,000-square-foot visitor center will include an interpretive museum space including an immersive experience and exhibits highlighting a diversity of topics including natural, industrial and Indigenous American history. Even the Maid of the Mist tour boats have undergone changes. Launched late in 2020, the James V. Glynn and Nikola Tesla are all-electric, emission-free vessels, the only ones of their kind in the U.S. Two leading maritime publications, American Ship Review and Marine News, both named the new vessels “Ship of the Year” for 2021. 37
You can get around to see all there is to see at Niagara Falls State Park by riding the park trolley.
The lithium-ion batteries are recharged in seven minutes between tours while the vessels are docked. A new feature of the voyage, available only on Maid of the Mist, comes on the return trip from the Horseshoe falls when the vessel stops again in front of the American falls and completes a 360-degree revolution, a maneuver made possible through the bow thruster propulsion system. Even the boats’ docking facility offers unique views of the Niagara Gorge. A few steps away from the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center, an admission-free elevator — rebuilt from the shaft of the original Schoellkopf Power Station destroyed in an earth and rock slide in June 1956 — takes passengers 170 feet down to the base of the gorge. Aside from a storage center for the boats, the entire area affords an unmatched panorama of the lower Niagara River, the steep walls of the sprawling power plant —large sections that escaped the massive slide — the Ontario side dotted with the high-rise buildings not allowed on this side, and the mist in the distance as viewed under the graceful arch of the Rainbow Bridge. 38
The Maid of the Mist VII leaves the dock for the first trip of the 2020 season. Masks were required, and social distancing was practiced. James Neiss
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Riders get on the Discover Niagara Shuttle at one of its stops in Lewiston. James Neiss
Discover Niagara Shuttle offers free rides to local attractions
The Discover Niagara Shuttle offers free round-trips from Niagara Falls to Youngstown. The complimentary hop-on/hop-off service connects visitors and residents to over a dozen stops between “the Falls and the Fort.” Scheduled stops (some sites could still be impacted by COVID-19 closures): • Niagara Falls USA Official Visitor’s Center • Third and Old Falls streets • Third Street Entertainment District • Niagara Gorge Discovery Center
• Aquarium of Niagara • Niagara Arts and Cultural Center • Oakwood Cemetery • Niagara Falls International Train Station/Underground RR heritage center • Whirlpool State Park • Castellani Art Museum at Niagara University • New York Power Project’s Niagara Power Vista • Center Street in Lewiston • Lewiston waterfront • Village of Youngstown Center • Old Fort Niagara
Daily operations began with two vehicles servicing the route. Consistent with New York state guidelines, shuttles will operate at 50 percent capacity, require riders to wear masks and abide by social distancing standards. Hand sanitizer will be available for guests and vehicles will be sanitized frequently on the daily route. The daily hours of operation are 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. The vehicles are outfitted with bike racks and complimentary Wi-Fi. For the latest information, please visit www. discoverniagarashuttle.com. 39
Summer fun in the Slide Pool at Fort Niagara State Park.. James Neiss
