Finger Lakes, NY

[frugal-one]

Just got back from a trip to the Finger Lakes region of NY. It was fantastic. The leaves were just starting to turn so there were not mobs of people to deal with. It was great for hiking and seeing a multitude of waterfalls. Went to Ithaca where their slogan "Ithaca is gorges". There was so much to do and such beautiful scenery. Went to many state parks. Spent 6 days and still did not see it all. Would definitely recommend.

[Teacher Terry]

I lived near Ithaca 40 years ago. Extremely beautiful. Letchworth State Park is considered the Grand Canyon of the East. Also loved Niagara Falls. Lots to love in New York State.

[Yppej]

It is a nice area. I went in the summer years ago and enjoyed Roseland Water Park and also Farm Sanctuary.

[rosarugosa]

We spent last week in Niagara Falls and it was wonderful. We drove by the Finger Lakes region on I-90, so it's nice to know it is worth checking out for the future. NF was a really long drive, so next time we will do at least one interim overnight in each direction.
I think the falls are absolutely enchanting.

[herbgeek]

We've done a number of wine events in the Finger Lakes. The wine has greatly improved inn the last 20 years.

[Tybee]

We used to live 45 minutes from Hammondsport. My son went to Letchworth all the time, although technically, that is not in the Finger Lakes--it is in the Southern Tier, though, and they sure run together.

This is the most beautiful time of the year in the Southern Tier/Finger Lakes area--well, except the summer, also absolutely gorgeous. One of my friends flipped her car on black ice going to Letchworth but she was okay, just broke her wrist. Absolutely scary driving that road in the winter.

I used to love going to Keuka and Seneca lakes. Real estate is very reasonable there. RE taxes are horrible. Social services are reputedly good for older folks.

Our little terrier came from an Amish farm near Penn Yann. She was pretty great, too.

[frugal-one]

[QUOTE=Teacher Terry;334104]I lived near Ithaca 40 years ago. Extremely beautiful. Letchworth State Park is considered the Grand Canyon of the East. Also loved Niagara Falls. Lots to love in New York State.[/QUOTE

We went to Niagra Falls because DH had never been there. It was so commercial, it was not even fun. We did not even bother going on the Canadian side. I wanted to do a helicopter ride over the falls but the weather was rainy so it was cancelled. Letchworth State Park was better than Niagra Falls in our opinion (and much cheaper!).

We also went to Moosewood Restaurant (of cookbook fame). We each had a piece of cake and coffee.... with tip it was $22. Went to Cornell University and they were having a birding expo... it was really fun.

I agree there is lots to love in NY state. We went to the city last year and did the 5 boroughs (spell?). I still want to do the Adirondack region.

[rosarugosa]

We stayed in an inn along the upper rapids, and every morning we went for about a 3-mile walk around Goat Island. We were right across the street from the state park and that is where we focused our attention. We had done the boat ride and such many years ago, so the only falls attraction we did this time was the $1.25 observation platform and elevator down to the walkways beside the falls. We went to Canada to see the botanical gardens and drove along the river down to a park on lake Ontario. We also visited the Dufferin Islands - a little park where we had the only car without Ontario plates. We also drove along the river in NY to lake Ontario and toured Old Fort Niagara.
We did hit some stores and a couple of casinos (and won!) but we really went to enjoy the magnificence of the falls and that is what we did. I think it is possible to work around the crappy commercial stuff. Clifton Hill in Canada got no love from us!

[Teacher Terry]

I saw Niagara Falls in 2002. Letchworth used to have a really nice restaurant on the grounds. People would get dressed up to go but they also welcomed hikers in hiking clothes.

[rosarugosa]

I looked up Letchworth and it definitely looks worth visiting!