Rockland Lake State Park

Through much of the 19th century, Rockland Lake was a hub for ice harvesting.  The spring-fed water was ideal for creating clean ice, and many ice houses lined the lake. Today, people enjoy the lake for other reasons. There is a 3-mile bike and jogging path that circles the lake, with multiple vantage points and benches from which to commune with nature. You can also go fishing or boating on the water. My main enjoyment came from spotting the various birds that migrate here – Canadian geese, swans, egrets, and your run-of-the-mill ducks.

 

Geese crossing

 

 

 

Beautiful birds by the Nature Center

 

 

 

The park is west of the Hudson River in Rockland County – about a 45 minute drive from Manhattan. Admission is $8 per car. Dogs are not allowed in the park during the warmer months.

Kissena Park

Out of all the parks in Queens, Kissena Park is probably my favorite. I don’t think too many people know about it, and I’m including Queens residents in this count as well. It’s also hard to get to by public transportation, so that definitely factors into the equation. The park lays claim to a huge lake with ducks and turtles aplenty taking advantage of the water. There are wide expanses of lawn for a picnic or an afternoon siesta. For the sports-minded, there are also tennis courts, basketball courts, and even a golf course next door. The park in general seems to be more carefully maintained than other Queens parks. I wonder why?  It’s a shame Flushing Meadow Park couldn’t be this nice.

The best way to get to Kissena Park is by car. It’s located in what I call “deep Flushing” – far enough away from the Main St # 7 subway station that you will need to catch the Q17 bus after you arrive by subway. The bus ride takes about 20 minutes down Kissena Boulevard. Dogs and bikes are welcome in the park. I suggest you bring a picnic blanket, grab some take-out at any number of Chinese restaurants in Main St, and have a picnic here!

The Adirondacks (Lake Placid and Lake George)

Continuing our upstate NY trip, we drove from the Finger Lakes to the Adirondacks.  This region is huge with plenty of little towns to explore, but we decided to focus our last 4 days on Lake Placid and Lake George.  By mid-October, the crowds are thinned to a minimum and there is plenty of peace and quiet in the woods.

The Brewster Peninsula Trail behind the Howard Johnsons takes you to a fine view of Lake Placid. Surprisingly, we found out the hard way that if you are not staying at a hotel or vacation home on Lake Placid, you will not have access to the lake. All roads around Lake Placid are private. This was one of the few places that let you get a glimpse. The other place we discovered that allows public access, although we didn’t have a legitimate reason for being there, was a boat docking area.

Mirror Lake, the smaller lake that sidles up against Main Street in the town of Lake Placid, is far more easily accessible and is quite stunning. We enjoyed watching this lake change color throughout the day. Aside from the outdoor spots right off of Main Street where you can view the lake, there are two hidden locations that provide amazing views, complete with comfortable seating. The library on Main Street has a sun room with rocking chairs and a large window framing the lake. This is a great perch for when it’s cold. The coffee shop in the mall on Main Street has an outdoor balcony with cafe seating. The view here is worth a panoramic shot (my photo-stitching skills are not quite there yet).

If there is only so much you can take of lakes, there is one excursion outside of Lake Placid that I highly recommend called High Falls Gorge.  The treetop walkways and bridges give you a view of the Ausible River churning angrily below.  The place has a feel of a mining operation (it actually does have a “mining for gems” feature for kids).

After a couple of days, we continued on our way to Lake George, about a 2-hour drive south. We stopped off at a taxidermy shop in between. Taxidermy seems to epitomize the Adirondacks for me.

Lake George has a different feel to it than Lake Placid. It is much more casual and we felt the off-season atmosphere more clearly here. We only spent one full day here and got busy seeing what there was to see. Here is a view of the lake and surrounding area from the top of Prospect Mountain. There is a fee to drive up this mountain.

The lake is also quite beautiful from the ground.

I can imagine the Adirondacks being beautiful in the winter with snow on the ground and in the treetops.  There is plenty to do in the winter, especially in the Lake Placid area.  I don’t believe the lake is full of activity in the winter, but there is skiing and snowshoeing in the nearby mountains and woods.   For a place to stay, I recommend the Winterberry Bed and Breakfast right outside the center of town.  Our room was inexpensive and breakfast was delicious.  For Lake George, we stayed at the Inn at Erlowest, a grand old mansion right on the lake.  If you want luxury in a rustic setting, this is it!  The drive from Lake George to NYC is about 3 hours.  If you are planning a trip just to Lake Placid, the drive will be 5 hours.

Niagara Falls

I have to admit that Niagara Falls has never been on the top of my list of places to visit, despite having lived in NY my whole life. However, our recent trip to the Finger Lakes brought us in close proximity and we had to take the opportunity once it presented itself.  If you read my previous post, you’ll know that we based ourselves in Canandaigua to explore the Finger Lakes.  The drive from Canandaigua to Niagara took one and a half hours.   If you get there early enough in the morning, before 11am, you will find parking easily on the NY side (at least in mid-October).   Here are some views of the falls from the NY side.  There are in fact, three waterfalls, which I didn’t know about until I did some research for this trip.  Here is a view of Horseshoe Falls from Goat Island.  You can somewhat tell from this picture that it is indeed shaped like a horseshoe.

Here is a view of the other two falls, the large American Falls and the tiny one next to it called Bridal Veil Falls (yes, that tiny sliver of a waterfall in the foreground that is separated from the other waterfall by a ruined platform).

I didn’t know why my Canadian friend insisted I had to cross into Canada to see the falls until I got here.  Considering the limited view of the tops of the falls on the NY side, you owe it to yourself to bring your passport and cross over to Canada!  There are two ways to cross into Canada from the immediate area – cross Rainbow Bridge by foot or cross it by car.  Crossing by foot is far easier because you will not get stuck in traffic.  We went through the customs office on the NY side in 5 minutes (keep in mind we were there before noon).   The walk across the bridge takes just another 5 minutes, but I would imagine that everyone spends at least 15 minutes just gawking and photographing the falls from this vantage point.

The view from the Canada side is not that different from the view from the bridge.  I will spare you the multiple pictures I took from the Canada side that look almost identical to the one above, just a little closer and flatter in appearance.   Some things of note on the Canadian side – lots of casinos and a sea of authentic Korean and Japanese restaurants (many of them did not have English translations on their storefronts).  Very interesting.  Also, keep in mind that you will need to drop two quarters into a turnstile to cross the bridge back over to the NY side.   Those Canadians!

I don’t know how many people just look at the falls and then leave. That would be a mistake.  Further up north on the NY side is a beautiful area called Whirlpool State Park where you can see whirlpools from a safe distance.  The water from the falls meanders its way here where its goes through some turbulence as it swizzles around a bend before making a 90 degree turn eastward.  The whirlpools appear and disappear without any noticeable pattern and greatly vary in size.  Whirlpools are quite disturbing if you have never seen one in real life.   Now I can truly appreciate how ships can get sucked up into a whirlpool, never to be seen again.  There is an aerial tram that takes you on a scary ride above the whirlpools from the Canadian side to the American side.  It was not operating the day we were there because of strong winds.

For folks coming from NYC, I would recommend a trip to Niagara Falls if you happen to be near that area anyway, but not as a trip for its own sake.  Also, I would agree with most people that you must visit the Canadian side to get a full view of the falls, but I would not recommend spending the night there unless you like casinos and amusement parks.

The Finger Lakes

My little blog won’t be able to do this northwestern part of the state justice.  I barely scratched the surface during my 3 days here, but what I can give you is a little flavor to whet your appetite.  On the map, you can easily see how the Finger Lakes got its name – deep grooves left by glaciers resulted in long slender bodies of water side by side resembling fingers. There is an abundance of gorges, waterfalls, forest, and of course, lakes in the area.  Perfect for nature lovers!

We came here to see the leaves change and at mid-October, we were in time to see the colors peak.  It’s absolutely gorgeous at this time and with the summer crowd gone, the perfect time to explore at leisure.  Here are a few highlights from our stay.

Taughannock Falls is at the bottom end of Cayuga Lake, close to Ithaca.  It can be seen from two vantage points, from the top at a parked lookout point and from the bottom of the falls itself.  Here is the view from the lookout.  What I saw didn’t match the pictures, possibly because there hadn’t been enough rain in some time.  Its height is still impressive though.

The hike to the falls itself is an easy 20 minute walk through a partially dry river bed (or you can follow the official trail that is completely dry above the river bed).  We saw hawks nesting on the gorge wall.  Pretty amazing.

For our stay here, we decided to base ourselves at the upper tip of Canandaigua Lake.  This was so we could drive to Niagara Falls without spending too much time on the road (separate post on that coming up).  Canandaigua also happens to have a nice little main street and a historical attraction called the Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion.  This estate houses a 40-room mansion and several different styles of gardens.  You can tour the grounds and mansion by yourself, but I recommend the free guided tour of the mansion – you get more out of it than just reading the signs.

The real highlight of the Finger Lakes, at least for me, was the gorge at Watkins Glen.  Something about the 800 steps carved into the rocks, forming a meandering and moderately-difficult trail with gushing water and dripping caves, reminded me of Lord of the Rings.  You forgive this man-made intrusion into nature because otherwise you would not be able to experience the sights and sounds of this place.

The drive to the Finger Lakes takes about 5 hours from NYC.  To keep your sanity, I recommend you break up the drive somewhere along the way, like in Binghamton.  The Finger Lakes is a huge area and you have many options for where to rest your head.  We stayed at a Victorian bed and breakfast in Canandaigua called the Inn on the Main, which I recommend wholeheartedly because we felt very pampered.  The Finger Lakes is also known for its impressive number of wineries.  For more things to do, especially when the lakes are open for water sports, click here.

Duke Farms

This was a farm that tobacco built, although you would be hard-pressed to believe that this vast 2,000-acre estate is simply just a farm. Created by J.B. Duke in the late 1800′s, it started out as a purchase of a single farm by the Raritan River. The estate quickly expanded as 40 other farms in the surrounding area were added to the property. In the beginning, Duke Farms was meant to be an actual farm with cattle and horses, but J.B. tried his hand at it and changed his mind, opening up the land as a public park instead.

The landscaping is diverse, ranging from waterfalls to hills to a large number of lakes, with sculptures dotting the landscape almost randomly. This work is attributed to the design firm of Frederick Law Olmstead – the same firm that designed Central Park.  Given the size of this place, you will probably want to explore by bike to get the most out of your visit here. On bike, you should probably give yourself 2-3 hours to look around.  On foot, you ideally would want to spend half a day here.

The Coach Barn was the first of several barns to be built. It’s clear from the expensive finishes that they were meant to be more than just barns. In fact, they look more like mansions to us ordinary folks!

While the other barns seem to be in good shape, this one is being reclaimed by nature. The old hay barn is now a home for these lovely ladies.

I saw two conservatories, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more to be found elsewhere on the property. This is the major one, called Orchid Range. As you would guess by the name, it housed orchids. J.B.’s daughter, Doris, had a passion for them. The conservatory still has orchids on display today, along with other tropical plants.

This foundation was meant for yet another mansion that was planned.  It remains a mystery why they stopped building it.

Had they completed the mansion, this would have been the view from the backyard.

While water plays a large role in the landscape design, the lakes and waterfalls that I saw were not that attractive – they were covered with green algae!  Fortunately, there were plenty of streams where the water ran clear and the trees gave plenty of shade – perfect for a picnic!

Duke Farms is located at 1112 Duke Parkway West in Hillsborough, NJ. It is best to drive there and is about 1.5 hours from the city. However, you can take the N.J. Transit Raritan Valley Line to the Somerville Station and taxi the remaining 1.5 miles to the entrance. The grounds are open 8:30 to 6:00  every day except for Weds, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Admission is free, and there is plenty of parking space. No pets are allowed. There are a number of environmental workshops and tours being offered right now – costs vary, and you should register in advance.

Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens

An hour’s drive north from the city is a little-known sculpture park hidden away in PepsiCo’s world headquarters. The Donald M. Kendall Sculpture Gardens is as much a mouthful to say as it is chock-full of 20th century art. It was created by the former chairman of the board and chief executive officer in 1965, when PepsiCo came into being after Pepsi-Cola merged with Frito-Lay. The park has expanded over time and now houses 45 sculptures scattered over 152 acres. This is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive office environments for any worker bee!

This place shares a lot of similarities with the Storm King Art Center (reviewed here). However, the two notable differences is that this place is the private property of a major corporation, and lucky for you, admission is free! The park is carefully landscaped with a mixture of lakes, ponds, grassy fields, and woods.  I suggest giving yourself at least 2 hours to explore.  Some of the sculptures are striking, others odd, while a few, decidedly creepy. Enjoy and bring a picnic!

The park is located at 700 Anderson Hill Road in Purchase, NY. The best way to get here is by car, but you can also use public transportation – take the Metro-North to White Plains and then a taxi or the No. 12 bus to the entrance.  In the summer, the grounds are open from 7 am to 7 pm. In the winter, they are open from 7 am to 5 pm. Dogs are allowed, but not bikes. For those of you who are planning a wedding, this is a great place for wedding photos! We saw a wedding entourage taking advantage of the backdrop of sculptures and lakes. Lastly, watch out for snakes – we saw a small one on one of the pathways sunning itself without any care of passerbys.

Randall’s Island

Randall’s Island is a formidable chunk of land in the East River wedged between Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx.  It was opened up as a park in the 1930′s by Franklin Roosevelt.  Since then, it has undergone many uses, the most current being a recreational area for a variety of sports. The concentration of sports fields in this park is unbelievable – well over 50! Name a sport and the park can probably accommodate your team. There is also a golf center, a tennis center, and a track and field stadium.  Not to be remiss, bikers, joggers, and casual walkers get plenty of pavement along the shoreline. Fishermen can also be found lined up along the shore looking for a good catch.

The park recently hosted an arts and music exhibition called Flow.12, featuring the works of five artists. The pieces are site-specific and will be around all summer. This one, called Meters To The Center, is by Laura Kaufman.

This island is by no means the next Governors Island, but it does have expansive views of Manhattan, large fields of grass and trees for picnicking, and the  East river rushing by on either side.

We shared a brief moment with this little fella.

For those of you who like bridges, the southern part of the island has not one, not two, but three vying for your attention!  This is the footbridge that connects to Manhattan on 103rd Street.

Here is the Triboro Bridge (you will need to torture this diehard NYer before she uses the new name!)

…and in the distance you get a view of the Hell’s Gate Bridge.

There are many ways to get to the island.  From Manhattan, you can walk or bike across on the newly opened footbridge at 103rd St.  If you prefer public transportation, you can hop on the M35 bus at the NW corner of 125th Street and Lexington Ave.  Folks from the Bronx can use the pedestrian ramp at Cypress Avenue and Bruckner Boulevard, which deposits you at the northern end of the island. The ramp in Queens is at Hoyt Avenue and 28th Street, adjacent to the Astoria Boulevard N/W station.  It deposits you mid-island. By car, access is off the Triboro Bridge. Be aware that there is a $6.25 toll to enter the island.

Caumsett State Historic Park

Caumsett offers a little something for everyone. Within this park on Long Island Sound, you will find hills, open meadows, a pond, woods, marshland, and a shoreline. In the 1920′s, the millionaire Marshall Field III bought the land and turned it into a country club and hunting grounds. The Native American name that he chose for his estate means “place by a sharp rock.” His vast estate epitomized a life of leisure, and thankfully, when it was given to New York State in 1961, it was turned into a public park for others to enjoy. Today, you can go fishing, scuba diving, horseback riding, birdwatching, jogging, biking, and hiking within the 1500-acre grounds.

There are certain remnants of the old estate still left, sprinkled throughout the grounds. Near the entrance to the park, you will come across what used to be his dairy farm. If you are interested in seeing more of the old estate, there are ample signs pointing you down the road to his summer and winter cottages. They are not open to the public.

Also near the entrance is an equestrian center where you can take riding lessons. We saw a group riding around the park on the early morning that we were there.

My visit to Caumsett offered a not only a nice 4-mile stroll among the different environs, but also a side trip down memory lane. In sixth grade, my class spent a few days here on a science excursion. We stayed at the mansion at the top of the hill and learned about the ecological history of the Sound. It was an eye-opening experience for a city girl. I believe the mansion is still used for school excursions. However, it is not open to the public.

The best place to picnic here is at the back of the mansion facing the pond and the Sound beyond.

A short downhill stroll from the mansion leads you to the lake-sized pond.

Much of the walk to get to the shore is through shady wood.

The beach is not the type that is good for sunbathing. It is rocky and littered with shells and seaweed. It also smells a little from the drying seaweed, but is worth the stroll for the nice breeze and change of environment.

Caumsett is only accessible by car and is about an hour’s drive from the city. It is located at 25 Lloyd Harbor Road in the town of Huntington. Supposedly, it is open daily from sunrise to sunset, but when we were there last weekend, the sign said the park would close at 6pm. The parking fee is $8. Dogs are not allowed, I think because of the horses, but bikes and strollers are welcome. There are wide swaths of open field with no shade, so bring a hat and/or sunglasses. If you are visiting the marshes, bring bug spray. There are a number of guided hikes offered this summer on the weekends. Check the listing here.

Catamount Aerial Adventure Park

This outdoor spot is not for the faint of heart.  It is meant to challenge you – mind and body.  Everyone knows the formula for an obstacle course.  Lay out a course with a start and end point, then add in some obstacles to make it challenging along the way. At Catamount, the “adventure” comes in the form of multiple obstacle courses spread out in the treetops, with ropes and wooden walkways suspended over the air and tree platforms to hug for dear life in between.  There are courses for all levels, from those afraid of heights to brazen warriors.  To get the most out of this place though, you should not be completely scared of heights.

Photo credit: Laurie Husted

Sadly, I have none of my usual pictures for you, but the above  shows you part of the layout.

So what is this place about?  You are first strapped into a harness and given two ropes with hooks at the ends called caribiners. Then they provide instructions on how to use them so that you don’t become a foolish casualty.  When you do the courses, no staffer is watching to make sure you are hooking and unhooking yourself to and from the proper lines, so you are pretty much on your own.

Each course is marked with a color that indicates its difficulty level.  If you are somewhat scared of heights like me, you will probably get through maybe 3 of the 5 levels.  The easiest course is only 10 feet off the ground, while the most difficult appears to be more than 30 feet high with the most precarious situations imaginable to test your balance.  Almost all the courses have a zipline for you to practice your Tarzan holler.

I recommend this place for those of you who are looking for something challenging, gets the adrenaline going, and doesn’t necessarily require that you be in top shape.  All you need is some agility and brain matter for problem-solving.  Did I say it was fun? It was most definitely fun.

Catamount is about a 2.5 hour drive north of the city, at 2962 State Highway 23 in Hillsdale.  You can find the directions here. Right now, it is open only on weekends and holidays, from 9:00 to 5:30. From June 16 to September 3, it will be open daily.  In the fall, it goes back to being open only on weekends, plus Columbus Day. The park fee is $51 for adults 12 and older, $42 for kids 10 to 11, and $33 for kids 7 to 9.  There is free parking onsite.