Hello everyone
I am thinking of spending a few days in the watkins glen area. I have never been there and would appreciate any information: places to visit, to stay, to eat, etc. and any advice. Will appreciate any help. I am traveling from the south jersey area and have 4 days.

Is there some particular reason you're going there?

(The only times I have been - a good many years ago - was for the Formula 1 car races. Didn;t know there was anything else much there.)

I thought it might be a pretty place to see: the parks and scenic views. But perhaps I should go to Vermont instead? Since I do not know Watkins Glen, I thought others could advise me.

Watkins Glenn is good for about a one-day visit. The town itself is a little iffy. I think Vermont would be a better choice.

Ithaca might be another option - there might be more to do, depending on what's going on at Cornell and Ithaca College, there are wonderful scenic views from Cornell's campus (and nearby areas), and lots of wonderful parks and waterfalls nearby. Hope that helps!

thanks so much for the info.

There are lots of pretty state parks: Taughannock Falls and Buttermilk Falls (closer to Ithaca, but not far from WG).

If you're going don't be there on 8/12 there's a Nascar race that weekend--well unless you like Nascar--I wish I was going actually...

Hi,
I just wanted to say I agree 4 days in Watkins Glen is 3 days too many. Very pretty area...but not much to do. Ithica area is similar but Ithica is more of a town. For the 4 days I'd go to Vermont/New Hampshire area for scenery plus it's not much further than Watkins Glen from southern NJ.

Paul

glaird - Since you mentioned in another post that you were interested in pretty scenery, plus hiking, the Watkins Glen area is a great place to explore.

At Watkins Glen State Park, you can take a trolley up to the top, then walk down through an amazing wonderland. During the Great Depression, that area was home to some of the world's most wealthy industrialists.

They hired tens of thousands of workers from New York City to come up and build incredible trails that look like they were made by the Seven Dwarves.....stone paths, stone retaining walls, etc...etc.

These paths wind for miles and miles along the sides of rivers and streams.

At one point along the way down from the top of the Watkins Glen hike, you'll end up at a stairway that is carved right through the center of a massive boulder. It comes out on the other side behind a waterfall, and you can reach out and touch the water as it jets past.

Admission to one park entitles you to go to all of the other state parks in the area. It is absolutely beautiful.

The park employees can guide you to other nearby areas that have great scenery and waterfalls.

Anyone who doesn't think that area is worth a visit either hasn't gotten out of their car long enough to explore it on foot, or they're just not hikers.

You could spend days playing outdoors there, away from crowds and off the beaten path if you just want to escape for a while.

We stayed at Glenora overlooking the lake. We went for the 2 day wine festival and visited wineries in the area, plus did some sightseeing and enjoyed some nice restaurants in the area.

Why go to the Watkins Glen area? Well…take a peek at these links:

http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=105

http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=104

http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=25

http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=93

http://nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=100

The trails at Watkins Glenn are breathtaking…and easy, if you take the ride up the mountain and then walk back down to your car.

And the hiking in the park area above the campground at Robert Tremen State Park is just insanely beautiful. I had so much fun out enjoying nature there, I didn't have time to check out the town itself.

If you go....definitely take your camera!