Chautauqua Lake
 

We'll be in the area early June with 3 children, ages 5-7. If only spending a day, what do you recommend for activity & lodging? Unique, different, fun & good value are things I'm looking for. Thanks!

For lodging, look into: <BR><BR>The Maple Springs Lakeside Inn (www.mslsi.com) ... For a family, I would recommend looking into a room in the carriage house (one or two bedroom suite). They have a boat dock so you could rent a boat for a day (in the town of Beamus Point just a few minutes away). <BR><BR>WeWanChu Cottages (www.wewanchu.com)- Although my husband and I prefer the Maple Springs Inn, I think that as a family with 3 children, these cottages would be perfect (if you can get a reservation ... call soon!) They are very nice and right on the lake. I recall that there is a little beach and play area for children and I think they have group bonfires at night (?in the summer). You can also rent a boat from them right at their dock which would be fun. <BR><BR>For activities, there is not a whole lot in the area (although it is very pretty around there) ... the Chatauqua Institute is interesting, but probably not for children. You could go hiking at Panama Rocks in the area ... there is some information about this on Maple Springs Inn website. The town of Beaumus Point has a few restaurants and shops. I think the most fun would be to rent a boat and tool around or do some fishing.

There is a wonderful little amusement park right across the lake from the Institute called Midway. It it one of the oldest trolley line parks still in existance in the USA. The park is small, family operated, and the rides are really geared to kids in your family's age range. They have a wonderful old merry go round and an open air roller rink. I'm sure your kids would enjoy it. They, I believe, have a website.

You could go done to Jamestown and visit the Lucy & Desi museum http://www.lucydesimuseum.com/ . <BR><BR>http://www.hotellenhart.com/<BR>http://www.webbsworld.com/

Don't forget to include a trip to Lilly Dale Assembly. A community of spritualists. They are Mediums and or Healers.