We're Californians starting our 40th anniversary trip with four nights in Ithaca NY May 4-7. These are the only four nights we could get at the William Henry Miller Inn in May. We're hoping the weather holds. I have along lists of outdoor things such as the local gorges and parks, plus Cornell arboretum and Sapsucker Woods. We've never visited this area.
We have Saturday, May 4 through Monday, May 13 for our trip. We're debating between:
1. Leaving Ithaca and staying around Letchworth Park for a few nights, then spending 1-2 nights in Niagra Falls (where I've never been). We'd fly out of Buffalo back to San Francisco.
2. Leaving Niagra for another time and flying in and out of Ithaca, doing a loop. We'd still stay in Letchworth as we're real hikers and it looks fantastic, but Sonnenburg Gardens looks awesome as well.
For the Ithaca loop, can you recommend other places to see? I read that the Erie Canal is in the area, but know nothing about it. Is it up by Sonnenburg?
We're 65 but in great shape. We like to hike, see gardens, perhaps do some kayaking if the weather cooperates, see historic neighborhoods, watch birds.
I realize there's a risk with the weather, but due to other commitments this is the only time we can visit the Finger Lakes.
Any suggestions are welcome and much appreciated.
Leslie
Ithaca/Finger Lakes - 40th Anniversary
Recent Activity
View all United States activity »
- 1 Yellowstone Snow Melt, Roads and Trails - Timing
- 2 San Francisco - one semi-splurge restaurant?
- 3 Finally, seeing the Outer Banks
- 4 Need help with itinerary to Seattle, Oregon, California
- 5 Luggage stolen from locked rental car in Orlando
- 6 San Fran, Napa, Palo Alto, Carmel advice
- 7
Rocks and Roads in Utah
- 8
First-time to NYC Trip Report as promised!
- 9 2 Brits Travelling USA July-Aug 2013
- 10 Stay between San Francisco and Redwoods?
- 11 Using public transit in San Diego
- 12 1st time in Boston --need advice
- 13 New Orleans trip (plus road trip) Help Pls!
- 14 Memphis Tours
- 15 D.C. in a day
- 16 Ideas for Northern California trip?
- 17 What to do with extra day in Virginia?
- 18
A Visit to Charleston
- 19 Cedar Point Wait Times
- 20 time for a new countdown to Hawaii
- 21 How far ahead to book Alcatraz?
- 22 San Francisco Anniversary Trip
- 23 NYC Newbie Needs Advice Re JFK Transportation
- 24 Florida to Yellowstone to Mt. Rushmore-Sept 2013
- 25 3 Week Roadtrip Starting in Nashville - Where to Go?!
You should take a look at fingerlakes.org
for information about the Finger lakes region in NY.
The weather in early May can be on the cold side, or rainy. Fours days in Ithaca should be fine. Do some research about hiking the gorges. There have been many fatal accidents in the area over the years.
Letchworth State Park is worth a visit.
You may also want to consider Seneca Falls, where you can visit the various sites associated with women's history.
Depending on how much driving you are doing and your route, Rochester, has the lilac festival in May. and there is the Eastman house (as in Eastman Kodak, photography exhibits) and the Susan B Anthony house.
Niagara Falls is very commercial. But the Falls are still impressive. Ride the Maid of the Mist . Go to the Floral Clock and the Botanical Gardens on the Canadian side.
leslieq
We did the western part of this loop for our 40th anniversary in October, but unfortunately had to cut it short due to Super Storm Sandy's arrival. Also avid hikers and have visited the eastern Finger Lakes several times. Never run out of things to do.
Unless you REALLY have a burning desire to see Niagra Falls, I'd suggest you do a 230 mile loop through the Finger Lakes. LOTS of wonderful falls to see in a more natural setting.
After leaving Ithaca, which has so many wonderful places/gorges to explore, you could visit Corning in a morning before heading to Letchworth State Park for 2-3 nights. In Corning, you could see the Glass Musuem and Rockwell Museum, which would probably take more than a morning. Continuing to Letchworth is the cute town of Hammondsport with several fun wineries, including Dr Frank Constantine and Bully Hill. This would be a rather long day to get all of this in.
Letchworth State Park is AMAZING! Our first visit in October and loved it. You MUST stay at the Glen Iris Inn. Rooms are small, but you're here for the view. Wonderful falls right at the inn. Not sure the inn will be open; may open Mother's Day. If not open, the lodge may be and is close by.
From Letchworth, head to Senaca Falls for 3 nights. Several women's rights historical sites in area, Sonnenberg Gardens, many wineries and good hiking. Believe Erie Canal runs through Senaca and/or other sections of it can be easily accessed from there. Montezuma Wildlife Refuge may have good birding that time of year. Auburn has some interesting historical sites, including Harriet Tubman home, Steward home and Willard Chapel, which is the only intact wholey Tiffany designed chapel.
On way back to Ithaca (or are you flying from Syracuse?) the Fillmore Gorge is an often overlooked good hiking gorge although probably not as spectacular as some of the others.
It sounds as though you've scoped out places around Ithaca to visit/hike, but if you need any suggestions there, let me know.
Check out the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge located at the north end of Cayuga Lake for bird watching.
Also don't forget to explore Sapsucker Woods which is part of the Cornell University Laboratory of Ornithology for more bird watching.
Sonnenburg Gardens were very unimpressive when I visited there about 3 years ago.
Since you've never been to Niagara Falls and you will be no more than 2 hours away when you are at Letchworth I suggest that you set aside 2 days for the Falls. Niagara on the Lake is a short 15 minute drive from Niagara Falls Ontario Canada and would be a nice spot to stay. There are plenty of B & B's in the area.
Buffalo has great architecture if you're into that.
Well, Watkins Glen, definitely; since you are in good shape it will be easy.
Seneca Falls, definitely. Skaneateles has a great deal of charm. Geneva has interest.
If you go to Niagara Falls, the Canadian side is much better, and the Canadian town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is very charming, and if you like art, the Albright-Knox Museum in Buffalo is famous.
Shoult your thoughts turn east, Cooperstown has the Baseball Hall of Fame