KWP

My husband and I are renting a car at LGA airport Oct 14 and flying out of Buffalo 8 nights later. We have booked a hotel on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls the last 2 nights. What are your suggestions for the previous 6 nights. We are 50 yrs old and very active. Are there great bike trails, hiking, wineries, theatre? We enjoy quaint, historic towns. How will the color be? We are locked in on our dates.

rkkwan

Do not miss the Finger Lakes region. Many many wineries, esp on both shores of Seneca Lake. Decent B&Bs in Watkins Glen.

You may want to go to the Catskills before too. Don't know too much, so I'll let others tell you. Then Cooperstown to visit Baseball Hall of Fame, Ithaca to see Cornell U. etc...

Upstate NY is really one of the prettier regions of the US. You'll enjoy it there.

kcapuani

Are you planning on spending 6 nights in NYC, then driving to the Buffalo area on 10/20? There is so much to see outside of NYC that it would hard to decide where to go. The finger lakes region has a number of wineries and quaint towns - I recommend the MacGregor Vineyard on Lake Keuka. Ithaca is also a beautiful town with several waterfalls, although depending on which way you drive, it can be out of the way. Around Buffalo, there are some great parks where you can see fantastic color. I would stop at Delaware Park in the city - it is a Frederick Law Olmstead designed park (like Central Park). There is a 1.75 mile loop which makes for a nice walk. You'll pass by the city's zoo and can catch a free glimpse of the bison. There is another section to the park called Hoyt Lake which is also quite beautiful. Near here is the Albright Knox art gallery if you enjoy modern art.

As for Niagara, go to Niagara on the Lake. It is such a charming town with great wineries in the area. The Peller Estate and Hillebrand come to mind. I also highly highly recommend dining at the Inn on the Twenty in the town of Jordan Ontario. It is 15 miles north of Niagara Falls, just past St Catherines. The setting is gorgeous and the food wonderful. Check it out at www.innonthetwenty.com.

Will you be bringing bikes with you? If so, I can recommend some trails in the Buffalo/Niagara area.

For theater, NYC is obviously the place to go. But, Buffalo also has a beautifully restored theater called Shea's. The 2005/2006 schedule is not out yet though.

Also, look at www.iloveny.com

KWP

Thanks so much for the suggestions! We will depart NYC on Oct 14 by rental car, and have no confirmed plans until our Niagara Falls, Ontario hotel reservation on Oct 20. We will need to rent bikes in whatever towns are recommended. We like to bike 30 - 50 miles in a day, so long bike trails are preferred.

kcapuani

Definitely rent them in Niagara on the Lake. Check out www.cycleniagara.com or zoomleisure.com for info. There is a paved trail that runs from NOTL to Ft Erie, Ont (across Peace Bridge from Buffalo) that is about 35 miles long. Given your interests, you may want to stay in NOTL rather than Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls has little culture, and is mainly chain restaurants and wax museums. But, the view of the falls from most hotels is spectacular

KWP

We have the Sheraton on the Falls booked for two nights with a falls view. Maybe it would be enough to only have one night. I was interested in doing the most recommended Niagara tours. Would a day trip be better from NOTL? We could skip the Sheraton, as you suggested. How long does it take to get to Niagara Falls from NOTL? Thanks for your help!

rkkwan

The highways along all the Finger Lakes are pretty, and not too much traffic. Not dedicated bike paths, but you don't really need them.

giro

I would suggest taking Route 17 through southern Ny state on your way to Buffalo. (Once voted Parade Magazines Most Beautiful Highway. Suggest stopping at Letchworth State Park which is about a 90 minute ride from Buffalo. You may want to spend the night in Morristown and take in the Letchworth Falls and canyon area. Ride into Buffalo through Warsaw is quite pretty with rolling ills and countryside.
Suggest enjoying some Ice Wines while in the Niagara area...it is what they are known for. I don't know if there are any bike paths but the road from the peace bridge to the falls on the Canadanian side parallels the niagara river and is scenic.

BuffaloGirl

Oh my, New York State in October is awesome. The Hudson Valley is beautiful with quaint towns and gorgeous views of the river. (I'm not sure if West Point is open to the public for tours anymore), but if it is it's worth it. The Finger Lakes are beautiful and have plentiful wineries. Also, Letchworth State Park is so worth a visit. Words cannot describe the beauty of it, especially when the leaves are in full color! If you like history, I recommend Old Fort Niagara on the American side of the falls. Well, it's a few miles away. The fort is in pristine condition, loaded with American history, and has the oldest building on the great lakes - the French Castle! It also has a wonderful museum. The fort sits on Lake Ontario where the Niagara river empties into the lake - directly across from Niagara on the Lake on the Canadian side. The fort sits within a state park that boasts a sloping grass beach. On a clear day you can see the Toronto skyline.

The fort is in Youngstown, NY, which is a very old, historic town. The "cocktail" was invented there in a very old stone tavern which still exists and serves drinks - although the name escapes me.

As for Niagara Falls, I would hike down into the lower Niagara gorge on the American side. There is a long, narrow stairway near Devil's hole that goes down into the gorge, and once down there you can hike along the lower river (you'll have to do a little research on this). The rapids down there are among the strongest in the world - they are absolutely wild. The rapids, the gorge walls, and the colored leaves would make for a great hike!

For pix of Letchworth:
http://www.perrychamber.com/Letchworth.html

Old Fort Niagara: http://www.oldfortniagara.org

It's late and I'm tired. If I can come up with more info., I'll post again. Have a great trip!

kcapuani

I would say stay in NOTL and take a day trip to Niagara Falls. I am not sure when many of the attractions close down for the season (Maid of the Mist, Cave of the Winds etc) but it is sometime in Oct. If these attractions are closed, then there isn't much to do except view the falls from different vantage points or go to one of the two casinos. NOTL has shopping, good restaurants, easy access to cycling trails etc. Here are two more websites to help you decide:

niagaraonthelake.com
tourismniagara.com

KWP

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions. It sounds like we will have a wonderful vacation.

KWP

Do you think we have a good chance of seeing fall color, or will it be too late?

kcapuani

I honestly can never remember when the leaves are at their peak. I would say that mid-Oct should be peak in Western and Southern NY but I know that as fall approaches, www.iloveny.com has a fall foliage map showing the stages.

BuffaloGirl

KWP - you have a very good chance of seeing fall colors. My B-day is 10/19, and the leaves usually peak around then. Sometimes, though, they peak sooner and sometimes later. No guarantees, but I would have to say you picked some very safe dates!

BAK

Why not leave New York City, drive north along the shore of Lake Champlain, turn west through Saranac Lake and go to Watertown, then north to the Ivy Lea Bridge over the St. Lawrence River into Canada, and then west again through Kingston and Toronto (spend a couple of days there) and on to Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake, then cross back into the USA, visit buffalo for a couple of hours, and fly home?

Toronto has Braodway-style theatre; Niagara on the lake has the Shaw Festival, and other live theatre.

Lots of bike trails through beautiful parks, in Toronto.

Niagara on the Lake is packed with wineries, extending to St. Catharines, Beamsvbille, and other nearby communities. Niagara on the Lake would qualify as an historic town -- lots of old buildings, including homes, from the 1800s.

You should have nicely colored trees if you circle north a bit from the Ivy Lea Bridge, too.

BAK

rbrazill

KWP - You've received a wide (and geographically diverse) range of advice. I suggest that you explore the Southern Tier, Finger Lakes and Western New York areas. I agree with Giro, Letchworth State Park (and the nearby Stony Brook State Park) are both worth a trip. Letchworth (the "Grand Canyon of the East") is actually located off I-390, not Rte 17. I don't know exactly when you'll be in the area, but Letchworth has a giant antique/art fair on Columbus Day weekend each year. They also have hot-air balooning over the park.
I'm not a big fan of Finger Lakes (or Niagara) wines, but some of the wineries themselves (particularly on the western shore of Seneca Lake) are very located in beautiful areas overlooking the lake and opposite shore's cliffs. The Finger Lakes also have a number of beautiful hotels/spas. You should check out the Aurora Inn: http://www.aurora-inn.com/ and Mirbeau Spa: http://www.mirbeau.com/ and Esperanza Mansion: http://www.esperanzamansion.com/
The bicycle trails around Niagara Falls especially from the Falls to Niagara on the Lake are really nice.
You might also want to stop in Rochester and visit the George Eastman House or the Susan B. Anthony House.

KWP

I sure appreciate all the suggestions. It sounds like a fabulous area! I'm been checking the map, trying to incorporate as much as possible.

SenecaGirl

KWP -- don't miss the Finger Lakes!! Ithaca (Cayuga Lake), Watkins Glen (Seneca Lake) and Hammondsport (Keuka Lake) are all quaint towns to visit and plan bike trips around. The local highways around the lakes are perfect for bike rides and provide gorgeous scenery. The wineries are so much fun to stop at and have a picinic on the grounds. Check out www.uncorkny.com. Stay at one of the many B&B's, the lakes are full of them (vs. hotel).

Ithaca has many parks -- Buttermilk Falls and Taughannock are my favorite to hike. The Commons (a Pedestrian Mall) is fun to walk around. The Ithaca Bakery is great for breakfast. Check out: www.visitithaca.com for tons of info.

Watkins Glen has a phenominal state park with a unbelievable gorge -- plan a few hours to hike it, and don't miss Mr. Chicken for lunch across the street! Jerlando's is good for Italian (all on the main drag). This is the best web-site I could find for Watkins Glen: http://www.schuylerny.com/main.asp?ID=40

Hammondsport is a very small town at the base of Keuka, and the Village Tavern has a great menu and a massive wine and beer list. http://www.villagetaverninn.com/ The west side of Keuka has great wineries to stop at, especially Dr. Frank's.

Letchworth State Park (off 390) is amazing...great stop on your way through. http://www.letchworthpark.com/

Rochester -- there is the Erie Canal with a bike path that you could also do; or your could rent a canoe which is fun. Check out this site: http://www.canals.state.ny.us/exvac/...ire/index.html Might be nice to spend a night in Rochester -- downtown is great, I love Restaurant 2 Vine's for a special dinner: www.2vine.com. Alexander St is great for bars! Park Ave is very quaint for shopping and a stroll -- stop by Nathan's Soup kitchen for take-out. Above post mentions George Eastman House and Susan B. Anthony House...good ideas.

That's where I stop, I'm not good with Niagra. You are going to have a great trip -- you will see some fall foliage, just depends on the year. But you couldn't have picked more perfect dates. Here are some helpful web-sites:

http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com/
http://www.visitfingerlakes.com/
http://visitnewyorkstate.net/winecountry
http://www.visitrochester.com/

You must post a trip report to let us jealous ones know how much fun you had!! I'm so glad to see people touring beautiful NY state!

joolleeb

Having grown up in upstate NY you MUST go to the Finger lakes wine country.I have been living in DC for the past 8 years and whenever I return home this is the one thing I LOVE to do. The drives around the lakes are beautiful. My favorite winery's are Wagner on Seneca lake and Bully Hill(fun tour!) on Keuka I believe-You can spend a day atleaset touring the winery's. Also I love Watkins Glen-there is a Gorge there that is abosolutely breath taking and plenty of hiking through it. Stay in a B&B or the Seneca Lodge-def eat at the Seneca lodge one night-great fresh/organic food.

julie21486

I have to recommend Letchworth State Park. While it has great camping & cabins available you can stay at the Letchworth Inn. Beautiful scenery along the genesse river that winds through the gorge. There are 3 sets of waterfalls to enjoy, one of which is right in front of the Inn. Great history as well, I wouldn't miss it if you'll be in the area!