[at-l] Minor trip report--Not on the AT

[bluetrail at aol.com]

Finished a trip to northern & western NY and Toronto about two weeks ago.? I can highly recommend the following:

NY state parks were wonderful, particularly the ones that get less use.? Reasonable prices for a tent, and most had little day hikes or nature hikes.

Watkins Glen State Park hike.? Only 1.5 miles and VERY touristic (it's a paved path with 832 steps), but it's worth it for the sixteen waterfalls along the way.? It was busy not overcrowded on the day we went.? http://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/watkins.shtml

Little short hike to drumlins at?Chimney Bluffs State Park.? Reminded me a little bit of the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon.?? http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=168

Letchworth State Park.? Hiking along the "Grand Canyon of the East."
http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=12

Top three museums:

1.? Adirondack Museum at Blue Lake.? Absolutely fabulous--even has a little section on backpacking in the 'dacks.? It could easily take a full day to visit here, and you still wouldn't see everything.

2.? Hate to admit it as I'm not a baseball fan, but the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

3.? Corning Glass Museum.

Best animal sighting--a fox at Letchworth State Park.

Best views while dining:? the Glen Iris Inn at Letchworth State Park-- and overlooking Horseshoe Falls from the Canadian side at night with colored lights playing over the waterfalls.

Most surprising thing:? Got into the Fasig-Tipton sales arena in Saratoga to see the induction ceremony for the Horse Racing Hall of Fame.? Barbaro's vet was the keynote speaker, and he was wonderful.? To?make it AT related, he started school at Dartmouth (site of several ALDHA Gatherings) as a theater major!

We drove?a long way?along Lake Ontario, and I was surprised at all the little farms that had honor stores along the way.? We bought wonderful peaches, blueberries, sweet corn, cucumbers, homegrown tomatoes, peppers, raspberries and blackberries.???

Best tasting treat?of the trip:? maple cotton (cotton candy made from maple syrup) at the Erie County Fair.???

Joan
bluetrail at aol.com

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