Finger Lakes and Niagara Falls

[glatt]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

http://www.jellogallery.org/

[Undertoad]

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]

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

[gvidas]

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]

Watkins Glen.

[Griff]

Taughannok Falls, Cascadilla Gorge, and Buttermilk Falls will all be worth the trip! There is hiking all over and many more falls and gorges. Sometimes they do get over-crowded though. Cornell Campus is really nice and you'll want to wander College Town. Make sure you get to Purity Ice Cream, it is the yum.

[Griff]

Oh, try not to stare at the nakid dirty hippies. It only encourages them. There are creeks everywhere just keep looking around. Check out Ludlowville Falls (Salmon Creek). There is also a dinosaur museum but the name is escaping me. Have fun!

[glatt]

Sounds like there is tons to do!

We were planning on going to Watkins Glen and other gorges and streams, these other ideas are great. Just what I'm looking for.

Wednesday, a friend was telling me I have to check out The Food Truck in Ithaca.

[glatt]

We may have waited too long to make all the hotel reservations. We had a few days here and there to fill in, and the hotels we wanted in some of the smaller towns have been all booked.

Some of the Trip Advisor reviews are saying gas workers in the fracking fields are filling up these hotels, so it may always be like this.

You really can't take spontaneous trips to small towns and expect there to be vacancies!

We're still doing the trip, but need to adjust plans a bit here and there.

[Spexxvet]

Sonnenberg gardens

http://www.sonnenberg.org/