Finger Lakes and Niagara Falls

glatt · 07-18-2013, 12:39 PM

We're going to take a week long road trip up to Niagara Falls with a stopover in the Finger Lakes. Looks like we'll spend several nights in Ithaca as a base, and then at least one night in a very touristy hotel right on the Falls on the Canada side where every room has a supposedly amazing view of the Falls.

Anybody familiar with the Finger Lakes? What should we make sure not to miss? We're planning to go to a few parks and the glass museum but I feel like we have a couple days we need to fill. What is a must see in that area?

BigV · 07-18-2013, 12:54 PM

Walking across the Rainbow Bridge (yeah, rainbow bridge) was super fun, but we had a much shorter trip than you're planning (just a day trip). Be aware that just over the bridge on the Canadian side is a carnival/arcade/Disneyland/funpark/moneypit district that will exert a pull on your wallet. The kids will be attracted to SOMETHING, I promise. Be prepared. Also, everyone will need their US citizenship documentation which is subjected to scrupulous inspection upon returning to the US (thankyouDHSvermuch... not). Be prepared.

I bought duty free booze in Canada, totally worth it. Also, the view of the falls from the Canadian side was much more beautiful than what we managed to see from the US side. Do you have a polarizing filter for your camera? It may improve your shots of the water, depending on the light when you visit. Even polarized sunglasses are a great help. The museum/historical visitor center was very interesting (to me, less so for the others in my group).

That brings me to another point... the different stuffs will interest the different people in your group ... differently. Duh. But the differences can be extreme. I had zero interest in the arcade and my kids' interest in the historical displays was *less than* zero. Conflict, or at least grudging boredom. Perhaps you can divide the groups, or alternate, or ... something.

Also, there was MUCH WALKING. Miles of walking, prepare accordingly. I could easily spend the whole day, or more, in and around the falls. There is much to see on both sides.

glatt · 07-18-2013, 01:02 PM

I think I want to go swimming in a Great Lake. Maybe both of 'em there.

I remember from my childhood that they are like the ocean, but not as rough, and fresh water. So I need to look for a nice swimming beach.

Undertoad · 07-18-2013, 02:13 PM

I've been to the Finger Lakes several times. The Finger Lakes are noted for their wineries.

Almost all of the wineries offer tastings, which I realize are not as interesting for the youngsters. (Although it may give them an introduction to alcohol in a better setting than any of their peers will get.) But some of the larger places also offer a short tour of their facilities, which is more likely to be interesting to everybody.

They grow almost exclusively white wine grapes, due to the cold winters. This hot summer will produce a great vintage year, if it keeps going.

There are a lot of excellent B&Bs up there, so you might consider doing that as a change from the usual hotel thing.

Cellar connection: while you are there, if you travel up route 96 out of Ithaca, you may notice a small shitty roadside bar called "Barangus". This bar was the inspiration for a (fictional) story by early dwellar Richh, who would have been a famous writer if he A) was less consumed with making every story incredibly pornographic, and B) hadn't died in his 30s.

http://www.lunabase.org/~faber/RICHH/gresge/Barangus

orthodoc · 07-18-2013, 02:28 PM

Lake Ontario is COLD, even in summer - be forewarned! It's so deep it never really warms up. Lake Erie is far more shallow and warms up enough to have some nice swimming spots. The only ones I really know are on Presque Isle in Erie, which is pretty far off your planned itinerary.

You have to go on the Maid of the Mist while you're in Niagara Falls. The boats (there are several, all named the same) go as close to the base of the falls as possible. You get thoroughly wet (they provide rain ponchos) but it's a great way to appreciate the sheer power of the falls. Ignore the kitschy tourist-trap stuff as far as possible and drive up to the Whirlpool and, further along the Niagara Parkway, the School of Horticulture. A little farther and you arrive in Niagara on the Lake, a beautiful historic town well worth a visit and maybe even an overnight stay. High tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel is fun, if you like that sort of thing. There are numerous wineries in the Niagara region as well, and some excellent restaurants. Just avoid the touristy stuff (unless you enjoy it, of course). Have a great trip!

chrisinhouston · 07-18-2013, 02:34 PM

Be sure to take time to visit The Jello Museum in Le Roy, just west of the Finger Lakes.

http://www.jellogallery.org/

glatt · 07-18-2013, 02:59 PM

Ha! That's right on the way. We may just have to stop there.

gvidas · 07-18-2013, 04:13 PM

In no particular order (with no attempt at being comprehensive [and not necessarily listed as an endorsement or suggestion]), you might look into the following places:

The Glenn Curtiss aviation museum, which I remember mostly as detailing the legacy of a slightly bitter dude.

Corning Museum of Glass, always good for lightening your pocket. Come for the glass, stay for the Indian buffet.

The women's rights movement first started in upstate NY. Seneca Falls has a few interesting museums/national historic landmarks relating to women's suffrage and otherwise telling the story.

It's the wrong season, but for two months out of the year (when the maple is flowing) there's an amazing all-you-can-eat buckwheat pancake restaurant in Angelica.

Kodak was started/headquartered in Rochester. There's probably a good museum connected to that, but I've never been.

Western NY has its roots in a weird mix of religious minorities seeking freedom and solitude, radical leftists, video artists, and hippies. Such an odd place.

xoxoxoBruce · 07-18-2013, 08:59 PM

Watkins Glen.

Undertoad · 07-18-2013, 02:54 PM

Oh yes and while you enjoy the Finger Lakes, realize that they were created by glaciers! The glaciers created tons of debris at their edge, and then tons of meltwater... for which the debris created dams. The water eroded valleys into what had been a more mountainous area.

glatt · 07-25-2013, 08:19 PM

Not this time. We don't want to carry that much stuff. Especially through a border crossing. I know there is tons of good camping there though.

glatt · 07-25-2013, 08:20 PM

We've since got hotel rooms lined up. Different hotels in different towns.

Griff · 07-27-2013, 01:06 PM

I was camping/riding with a kid who lifeguards at Treman State Park, that's a good one as well but they've had to close the swimming a couple times after heavy rain due to e coli from upstream cows... I believe they test the water daily.

glatt · 08-02-2013, 10:59 AM

One last question.
We're going to be in Canada for an afternoon, overnight, and the following morning. We're paying with a credit card for the hotel and meals. Should I change any cash into Canadian $? I can't think of any reason to need Canadian cash, but is there something I'm not thinking of?

I'm going to the AAA office on my lunch break today, and can change money there.

Perry Winkle · 08-02-2013, 12:36 PM

We were in rural Alberta, CA for a week 2 years ago. Had no problems using plastic.

07-18-2013, 12:39 PM	#1
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Finger Lakes and Niagara Falls We're going to take a week long road trip up to Niagara Falls with a stopover in the Finger Lakes. Looks like we'll spend several nights in Ithaca as a base, and then at least one night in a very touristy hotel right on the Falls on the Canada side where every room has a supposedly amazing view of the Falls. Anybody familiar with the Finger Lakes? What should we make sure not to miss? We're planning to go to a few parks and the glass museum but I feel like we have a couple days we need to fill. What is a must see in that area?

07-18-2013, 12:54 PM	#2
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	Walking across the Rainbow Bridge (yeah, rainbow bridge) was super fun, but we had a much shorter trip than you're planning (just a day trip). Be aware that just over the bridge on the Canadian side is a carnival/arcade/Disneyland/funpark/moneypit district that will exert a pull on your wallet. The kids will be attracted to SOMETHING, I promise. Be prepared. Also, everyone will need their US citizenship documentation which is subjected to scrupulous inspection upon returning to the US (thankyouDHSvermuch... not). Be prepared. I bought duty free booze in Canada, totally worth it. Also, the view of the falls from the Canadian side was much more beautiful than what we managed to see from the US side. Do you have a polarizing filter for your camera? It may improve your shots of the water, depending on the light when you visit. Even polarized sunglasses are a great help. The museum/historical visitor center was very interesting (to me, less so for the others in my group). That brings me to another point... the different stuffs will interest the different people in your group ... differently. Duh. But the differences can be extreme. I had zero interest in the arcade and my kids' interest in the historical displays was less than zero. Conflict, or at least grudging boredom. Perhaps you can divide the groups, or alternate, or ... something. Also, there was MUCH WALKING. Miles of walking, prepare accordingly. I could easily spend the whole day, or more, in and around the falls. There is much to see on both sides. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

07-18-2013, 02:28 PM	#5
orthodoc Not Suspicious, Merely Canadian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,774	Lake Ontario is COLD, even in summer - be forewarned! It's so deep it never really warms up. Lake Erie is far more shallow and warms up enough to have some nice swimming spots. The only ones I really know are on Presque Isle in Erie, which is pretty far off your planned itinerary. You have to go on the Maid of the Mist while you're in Niagara Falls. The boats (there are several, all named the same) go as close to the base of the falls as possible. You get thoroughly wet (they provide rain ponchos) but it's a great way to appreciate the sheer power of the falls. Ignore the kitschy tourist-trap stuff as far as possible and drive up to the Whirlpool and, further along the Niagara Parkway, the School of Horticulture. A little farther and you arrive in Niagara on the Lake, a beautiful historic town well worth a visit and maybe even an overnight stay. High tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel is fun, if you like that sort of thing. There are numerous wineries in the Niagara region as well, and some excellent restaurants. Just avoid the touristy stuff (unless you enjoy it, of course). Have a great trip! __________________ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Ghandi

07-18-2013, 08:59 PM	#9
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Watkins Glen. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

07-27-2013, 01:06 PM	#13
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	I was camping/riding with a kid who lifeguards at Treman State Park, that's a good one as well but they've had to close the swimming a couple times after heavy rain due to e coli from upstream cows... I believe they test the water daily. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

07-18-2013, 01:02 PM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I think I want to go swimming in a Great Lake. Maybe both of 'em there. I remember from my childhood that they are like the ocean, but not as rough, and fresh water. So I need to look for a nice swimming beach.

07-18-2013, 02:13 PM	#4
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	I've been to the Finger Lakes several times. The Finger Lakes are noted for their wineries. Almost all of the wineries offer tastings, which I realize are not as interesting for the youngsters. (Although it may give them an introduction to alcohol in a better setting than any of their peers will get.) But some of the larger places also offer a short tour of their facilities, which is more likely to be interesting to everybody. They grow almost exclusively white wine grapes, due to the cold winters. This hot summer will produce a great vintage year, if it keeps going. There are a lot of excellent B&Bs up there, so you might consider doing that as a change from the usual hotel thing. Cellar connection: while you are there, if you travel up route 96 out of Ithaca, you may notice a small shitty roadside bar called "Barangus". This bar was the inspiration for a (fictional) story by early dwellar Richh, who would have been a famous writer if he A) was less consumed with making every story incredibly pornographic, and B) hadn't died in his 30s. http://www.lunabase.org/~faber/RICHH/gresge/Barangus

07-18-2013, 02:34 PM	#6
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	Be sure to take time to visit The Jello Museum in Le Roy, just west of the Finger Lakes. http://www.jellogallery.org/

07-18-2013, 02:59 PM	#7
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Ha! That's right on the way. We may just have to stop there.

07-18-2013, 04:13 PM	#8
gvidas Hoodoo Guru Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 286	In no particular order (with no attempt at being comprehensive [and not necessarily listed as an endorsement or suggestion]), you might look into the following places: The Glenn Curtiss aviation museum, which I remember mostly as detailing the legacy of a slightly bitter dude. Corning Museum of Glass, always good for lightening your pocket. Come for the glass, stay for the Indian buffet. The women's rights movement first started in upstate NY. Seneca Falls has a few interesting museums/national historic landmarks relating to women's suffrage and otherwise telling the story. It's the wrong season, but for two months out of the year (when the maple is flowing) there's an amazing all-you-can-eat buckwheat pancake restaurant in Angelica. Kodak was started/headquartered in Rochester. There's probably a good museum connected to that, but I've never been. Western NY has its roots in a weird mix of religious minorities seeking freedom and solitude, radical leftists, video artists, and hippies. Such an odd place.

07-18-2013, 02:54 PM	#10
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Oh yes and while you enjoy the Finger Lakes, realize that they were created by glaciers! The glaciers created tons of debris at their edge, and then tons of meltwater... for which the debris created dams. The water eroded valleys into what had been a more mountainous area.

07-25-2013, 08:19 PM	#11
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Not this time. We don't want to carry that much stuff. Especially through a border crossing. I know there is tons of good camping there though.

07-25-2013, 08:20 PM	#12
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	We've since got hotel rooms lined up. Different hotels in different towns.

08-02-2013, 10:59 AM	#14
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	One last question. We're going to be in Canada for an afternoon, overnight, and the following morning. We're paying with a credit card for the hotel and meals. Should I change any cash into Canadian $? I can't think of any reason to need Canadian cash, but is there something I'm not thinking of? I'm going to the AAA office on my lunch break today, and can change money there.

08-02-2013, 12:36 PM	#15
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	We were in rural Alberta, CA for a week 2 years ago. Had no problems using plastic.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)