New York State

Post date: Jun 12, 2015 9:29:58 PM

During the planning stages of this trip, the biggest decision was what did we want to experience in the States visited - Cities or small towns. We both agreed the only big city we wanted to spend time in was Washington DC.  So NY city was not on our agenda, instead our travels would take us to Upstate New York.  After all the winter snows & rain (and often continued rain while we were there) the area around Webster, Syracuse, and Rochester were just beautiful.  Rivers, lakes, canals, waterfalls & ponds were at capacity. Looking across Lake Ontario, felt like looking across the Ocean.  There were 9 lighthouses, built in the 1700 & 1800's, along the US side of the lake alone.  Small marinas, beach towns, picturesque port towns, with rocky shores as well as sandy shores.  The grass filled parks with picnic tables & bar-b-ques all free of charge.

Rochester was the home of George Eastman.  His Mansion was open for tours & the gardens where like parks & golf courses. He was an interesting man, that rarely took photos (usually just for testing his product & designs) never married, loved music, Big Game Hunting, entertaining & like Hershey, gave all his money away to the Fine Arts & Medical institutions.

Rochester, like Syracuse & Webster are old towns, with brick buildings, rivers, lakes, marinas & rail roads.  Downtown Rochester had a huge waterfall (High Falls) that was used to generate electricity as well as provide power for mills & a brewery. The towns are being recognized again for their beauty. Buildings are being renovated for the new generation of tourists, wineries, art galleries & marinas.

We spent many days just driving through the countryside, past farms, fields, barns & visiting wineries.  

The Erie Canal was so peaceful & beautiful.  The original Tow Path has been leveled & paved, providing a 360-mile walking trail.  We took a canal cruise, passing under bridges so low that everyone on the top deck had to sit down, while the captain & crew ducked in order to clear the bridges.  The homes along the canal had their own docks & piers.  It was Memorial weekend, so we passed along a rowing regatta.  People out enjoying the day!

State Parks are abundant, with more rivers & walking trails as well as amazing water falls & foor bridges.

It's lovely here and the parks & lakeshores are so inviting.  When (continuing) Spring rains & gray skies clear for a day it's breathtaking.  Nature's colors are brilliant. 

But the winters are long, snowy & cold and that's the one thing that keeps us focused on returning to California!