New York

Sweet School Issue: Fall/Winter 2010 Author(s): Jackie Perrin Tucked away on a bluff on Little Sodus Bay, the Fly by Night Cookie Company is part sweets-lover fantasy, part miniature museum — a fanciful bakery located on the shores of Lake Ontario in Fair Haven, New York.  The one-of-a-kind bakeshop boasts a colorful proprietor and mouthwatering sweets, from pies, breads and pastries to the specialty of the house — cookies — in more than 50 varieties. Now, smitten fans can take home more than a sweet sampling when they sign up for a half-day kitchen shadowing ...

Taste the Seasons Issue: Fall/Winter 2010 Author(s): Gerald Bartell Families who want to experience farm life will have a great time, any time, at Critz Farms, just south of the charming lakeside village of Cazenovia in Central New York. Critz Farms is family owned and managed by Juanita and Matthew Critz. Their three children, Patrick, James and Jessica, also work on the 325-acre property, some of which is leased out to other farmers. Visits are educational, entertaining and, best of all, tasty. Harvest time — from September to late October — brings hayrides to pumpkin ...

Brooklyn Down Under Issue: Fall/Winter 2010 Author(s): Jenna Schnuer It is, no doubt, the most unexpected start to a New York City adventure. The directions point you to a corner in Brooklyn. Upon arrival, one thing stands out amid the hustle and bustle of the area: a ladder sticking out of a manhole in the middle of Atlantic Avenue, with traffic — usually at a gridlocked standstill — on either side of it. Yes, that’s your destination. It’s the Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour , the chance to explore one of NYC’s forgotten places. Running underneath what is now Brooklyn Height...

Ski, Slide and Stay Issue: Fall/Winter 2010 Author(s): Jackie Perrin Situated in the heart of Finger Lakes “Snow Country,” an area that consistently wins the crown in New York’s annual “Snowball” snowfall competition, Greek Peak Mountain Resort in Cortland, New York, has long been a cool destination for adventurers. In addition to 32 trails, 6 aerial lifts, night skiing and a full-service Nordic Center, the family-operated resort offers a lively schedule of activities both on and off the slopes.   Now, visitors can spend a day on the mountain, then relax at the ...

Rockefeller Retreat Issue: Spring/Summer 2010 Author(s): Gerald Bartell Like a photogenic film star, the Hudson River seems incapable of taking a bad picture. Splendid panoramic views open up at every bend of the 315-mile river as it flows through Eastern New York. But the vistas from Kykuit (pronounced to rhyme with “high-cut” and meaning “lookout” in Dutch) in Sleepy Hollow, New York , could make even cell phone shots look like a National Geographic layout. Perched 500 feet above the Hudson, Kykuit was the family estate of the Rockefellers for four generations. Now on the...

Wines and Natural Wonders Issue: Spring/Summer 2010 Author(s): Claudia J. Taller It’s hard not to have fun while exploring the back roads and hidden places of Seneca Lake in New York State’s Finger Lakes Region . Part of the fun is that the sites along Seneca Lake, carved from ancient seabeds by prehistoric glaciers, provide geology lessons in its notable waterfalls, salt mines and wine. The entrance to Watkins Glen State Park is in the heart of Watkins Glen’s old-fashioned downtown. Granite outcroppings and waterfalls, hanging greenery, rock walkways, and the sound of water everywh...

Geeked Out (in a Good Way) Issue: Spring/Summer 2010 Author(s): Samantha Laros Are your children addicted to technology? Take a family trip to the Sony Wonder Technology Lab on Madison Avenue in New York City , within walking distance of designer shopping and the world-famous toy store, FAO Schwarz. Start off your visit on the fourth floor by logging on to a virtual world, personalized with your name, voice recording and musical preference. Then, enter the lower floors of the lab for more than 20 exhibits. Participate in a collaborative television broadcast with other guests on th...

Come Fly With Me Issue: Spring/Summer 2010 Author(s): Gerald Bartell The winds drifting through the hills surrounding New York’s Finger Lakes constantly shift, making it possible to catch a ride on one of them on just about any spring, summer or fall day. Aloft, you’ll look down on sweeping views of the valleys and lakes of this idyllic region. Your magic carpet, as it were, will be a sailplane you’ll board at the Harris Hill Soaring Center in Elmira, New York . Try out the Schweizer 2-33 sailplane, the sort that’s widely used as a training craft, or the high-performance...

The Sweet Spot Issue: Spring/Summer 2010 Author(s): Lori B. Murray Add Dylan’s Candy Bar to your list of must-see destinations in the Big Apple. The three-story Manhattan store is like walking into Candyland or the world of Willy Wonka. A 10-foot-tall chocolate Easter bunny greets you at the door. And throughout the candy emporium, you’ll see everything from floor-to-ceiling columns shaped like candy canes and tables that represent Lifesavers to a giant glass lollipop tree and an array of bright colors and eye-catching shapes and graphics. Choose from more than 300 typ...

Feats of Flight Issue: Spring/Summer 2010 Author(s): Jennifer Rogers For many families, the air show is a summer tradition as important as lemonade or visits to the beach. And with good reason — air shows display fascinating feats of both scientific and human excellence that never lose their magic. Generations of vacationers have been mesmerized by the loud roar of a jet shooting through the clouds, and throughout the spring and summer, there are myriad opportunities to introduce your own family to the excitement. Here are some of the season’s highlights: The New York Ai...

Aerial Adventure Issue: Fall/Winter 2009 Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek The woods that surround the town of Long Lake in the central Adirondack Mountains are lovely, dark and deep; too deep, says pilot Tom Helms, to appreciate them from the few roads that wind through town and along its namesake 14-mile-long body of water. Which is why for more than six decades, travelers have sought out the seaplane services of Helms Aero Service — currently two Cessna 206 craft equipped with straight floats — on the beach near the bridge along St. Rte. 30. Make an appointment (or if you’re...

Gamble at the Gorge Issue: Fall/Winter 2009 Author(s): Gerald Bartell It’s possible to visit the Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel and never roll the dice, cut a deck or pull a slot lever — yet still have a full weekend. Since the property stands just blocks from New York’s Niagara Falls , visitors can enjoy simply watching the Niagara River thunder over its famous cliffs. That’s if Seneca’s inviting hotel rooms don’t bring out the inner wallflower who wants to watch high-def TV, catch up on Facebook or read a romance novel while lounging on a pillow-top bed. Want to resist ...

Profiles in Courage Issue: Fall/Winter 2009 Author(s): Jill Sell Don’t expect to see a repeating video of the World Trade Center’s twin towers exploding. The 100 images and artifacts displayed in the small but powerful Ground Zero Museum Workshop in New York City focus instead on the incredible spirit of those whose lives were intimately touched by the 9/11 recovery effort. Museum owner Gary Marlon Suson is the official photographer at Ground Zero for the Uniformed Firefighters Association. Suson spent between six and seven months at the site, 19 hours a day, photogra...

Dragon’s Lair Issue: Spring/Summer 2009 Author(s): Jenna Schnuer With just one visit you’ll become part of an elite and very happy group of people who have made Playland Amusement Park in Rye, New York , part of their summer since, well, way back when. Founded in 1928, the amusement park still has an old-timey feel but supplies a seemingly endless variety of modern amusement park rides and other fun. It will provide goose-bump-raising action for thrill riders while entertaining those who prefer mini golf and other calmer fare. The park’s biggest draw is the Dragon. T...

Field Day Issue: Spring/Summer 2009 Author(s): Bob Beasley Nostalgia rules in Cooperstown, New York . Known to most as the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, this little burg also boasts a tribute to upstate New York’s rural heritage —  The Farmers’ Museum , where you can experience small-town life as it was in the 1800s. As you meander through the museum’s 19th-century village, you might want to consult your cell phone to confirm it’s still 2009. Every structure is authentic, relocated from area towns and preserved to create a genuine early-Ameri...

Get Fresh Issue: Spring/Summer 2009 Author(s): Jenna Schnuer The variety of reasons to visit U-pick farms of the Finger Lakes Region in New York is as bountiful as the number of crops harvested in the area. Whether you have kids who need to get a grasp on where food really comes from (while having more fruit-stained finger fun than they could ever imagine) or you just want to soak up some rays while gathering the goods for a year’s worth of pies, the 9,000-square-mile, 14-county Finger Lakes region awaits. Don’t worry, you won’t have to randomly drive down countr...

Girl Power Issue: Spring/Summer 2009 Author(s): Ed Condran Female tweens are the hot new demographic. Just ask Miley Cyrus, the folks behind “High School Musical” and American Girl. Featuring dozens of historically based, fictional characters, the American Girl books and the dolls that accompany them tell the stories of girls who overcame obstacles, showed courage and shaped the world around them — while getting into plenty of mischief and fun along the way. During holidays and weekends, nearly every inch of the 43,000-square-foot American Girl Place in Midtown...

Home On The Range Issue: Spring/Summer 2009 Author(s): Kelly Curran For anyone who has been dying for an excuse to break out the old Stetson for a day, look no further than Bennett’s Riding Stable . Since 1942, the family-owned business, located in Lake Luzerne, New York , has been offering western-style horseback rides through the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains for those in the mood for a rustic excursion. “We take trails that have been in use for 67 years,” says Bonnie Bennett, who along with her husband Lawrence is the second-generation owner of Bennett’s. The...

Slip into Saratoga "Spahhhs" Issue: Spring/Summer 2009 Author(s): Gerald Bartell When you sink into a soothing spa bath at Saratoga Spa State Park , in Saratoga Springs, New York, remember that the swirling 97-degree mineral waters have an impressive pedigree. The waters that weary-limbed travelers seek here were first discovered by resident Iroquois in the 14th century. By the 1800s, the region became known as the Queen of Spas and as the place that, literally, put the carbonated fizz in ice cream sodas. In the 1930s, Franklin Roosevelt ordered the creation of new spa and arts and ...

Sticks and Stones Issue: Spring/Summer 2009 Author(s): John Tidyman It’s a rare resort that offers golfers such a selection. Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York , features five excellent courses, which means something for everyone. The links here are diverse, including a par 3, a nine-hole track and three regulation courses — designed by such famous names as Rick Smith, Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Tom Fazio. Sandstone Hollow, the par 3 course, is perfect for fine-tuning your iron game. You’ll find a player-friendly course set on beautiful, rolling terrain at the wid...

Vinifera Vintages Issue: Spring/Summer 2009 Author(s): Kelly Curran In the 1950s, sampling New York wines was nothing to get excited about. The area was known for producing only sparkling and sweet wines, and neither exceedingly well. Cold winters kept more elegant vinifera grapes like Riesling, chardonnay and pinot noir from thriving, much to the dismay of local sophisticated palates. But then he arrived. A Ukrainian immigrant with a Ph.D. in viticulture, Dr. Konstantin Frank came to New York in 1951 and forever changed the wine industry in the eastern United Stat...

Wild Day Out Issue: Spring/Summer 2009 Author(s): Jenna Schnuer Shocking (and shockingly wonderful) but true: there’s more to Long Island’s wildlife than just seagulls and crabs — much more. At Manorville, New York’s Long Island Game Farm , tigers, gators and a giraffe named Jack all share top billing for the visitors who flock there. You’ll also get a good look at ostriches, peacocks and kinkajou. They have some of those sweet-looking honey bears, too. In addition to truly wild wildlife, the Game Farm features shows and rides to entertain all ages. Take a spin on t...

Get Your Kicks Issue: Fall/Winter 2008 Author(s): Ed Condran If you think Santa Claus is jolly when he listens to little tykes’ requests at the mall, wait until you see St. Nick waltz across the stage at the 76th annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular in New York City . The benevolent bearer of gifts sports the broadest of grins when surrounded by the Rockettes, a bevy of long-legged beauties kicking their way across the venerable Radio City stage in midtown Manhattan from November 7 through December 30. More than half of the show was revamped for last year’s di...

Hey, Taxi! Issue: Fall/Winter 2008 Author(s): Jenna Schnuer Anyone longing for the golden yellows, brilliant reds and oh-so-oranges of the fall foliage season, hail a taxitout de suite — a New York Water Taxi , that is. Okay, so you can’t actually hail one of these boats. But when the leaves begin to make their colorful displays this autumn, travelers can board one of the company’s brilliant yellow watercraft (trimmed with that familiar, black-and-white checkerboard pattern) on Pier 17 at the New York City’s South Street Seaport for a five-hour cruise on the Hud...

Lakeside Allure Issue: Fall/Winter 2008 Author(s): John Patrick Pullen Though the Seneca-language translation of “chautauqua” is “bag tied in the middle,” it could also mean “romantic escape” to traveling couples. It’s easy to get lost in the charm of Chautauqua, New York, especially if you’re with someone you love — and The Spencer Hotel & Spa is as good a place as any to find yourselves. The nearly 100-year-old historic landmark is four floors of quaint allure, with rooms custom-painted by local artists to depict the scenes of famous books by authors such as Jane Aus...

Take the Chill Off Issue: Fall/Winter 2008 Author(s): Ed Condran You can almost hear the “U-S-A,” chant when you skate on Lake Placid ice. The cry of national pride — which emanated from the vibrant upstate New York town after the young American hockey team beat its grizzled, heavily favored Russian rival nearly three decades ago — won’t go away. But there’s much more to Lake Placid than the memories of what was arguably the most dramatic and surprising upset in sports history. The Whiteface Lodge , for instance, is a destination in its own right. The posh Whiteface ...

Fish Stories Issue: Spring/Summer 2008 Author(s): Tracey Teo, Photo Courtesy of Niagara Tourism & Convention Corp. Finding Nemo is part of the fun of visiting the Aquarium of Niagara Falls in  Niagara Falls, New York . Visitors missed the much-loved clownfish while the 200-gallon symbiosis exhibit was being renovated during the winter, but now he’s back and sharing his tank with lots of new friends. Named after the star of the 2003 animated Walt Disney film, “Finding Nemo,” the fish is an aquarium favorite with toddlers and teenagers alike. Shark Shanty is an exhibit kids can really sink their teeth into. Unlik...

Fly Right Issue: Spring/Summer 2008 Author(s): Jenna Schnuer Put a bit of a twist on the flying around town that families typically engage in during a whirlwind weekend in New York City . Instead of hopping from one standard tourist attraction to another, grab hold of life — and get a firm grip on the trapeze bar — at Trapeze School New York . Located atop Pier 40 at Hudson River Park on the lower west side of Manhattan, Trapeze School guarantees that even Gotham veterans will suddenly see the city from a whole new angle (for those up for a challenge, that angle ...

Going in Circles Issue: Spring/Summer 2008 Author(s): Catherine Larkin, Photo Courtesy of Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum For adults, carousels evoke feelings of nostalgia — from the distinctive music to the intricately carved horses moving up and down as the platform circles round and round. Many children’s first amusement park ride, the carousel is thrilling to little ones, but less scary than many of today’s faster rides. Yet when carousels first became popular in America in the 1870s, many adults hesitated to ride them because of their speed. If you’ve ever wondered about carousels, then the Herschell Carrousel Factory...

Wiggle and Slide Issue: Spring/Summer 2008 Author(s): Jenna Schnuer When the kids in a family span a range of ages — and, of course, that can include an adult who loves to indulge his or her inner child — it can be a challenge keeping everyone entertained for an entire day. But a swirl of amusement ride thrills and water spills (on a slide, that is) offers the perfect antidote to that age-old problem. Now, thanks to new attractions at the Six Flags Great Escape & Splashwater Kingdom in Lake George, New York , everybody from wee ones on up can get their fill of fun. ...

Wild Ride Issue: Spring/Summer 2008 Author(s): Tracy Teo, Photo courtesy of Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours Hydrate Your Senses. That’s the new slogan for Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours of Lewiston, New York . But your senses won’t be the only thing hydrated should you and your family brave a ride up the Niagara River in a Wet Jet, an open boat that propels passengers up the Niagara River into the raging whitewaters of the Niagara Whirlpool and then, like a roller coaster, suddenly drops them down to Devil’s Hole Rapids. You will be knee deep in water with wringing-wet hair, but you won’t care, because this is the ...

Castle and Course Issue: Spring/Summer 2008 Author(s): John Tidyman Golf resorts come in all shapes and sizes: big and small, expensive and economic, plain and fancy, old and new. But Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York , grew from a 10-room inn and tavern in the late 1860s to an ethereal castle and grounds that can only be described as magical. Upstate New York is a scenic region, and the people at Mohonk ensure the natural beauty remains unsullied. The gardens here retain 19th-century ideas about Italian, English and French landscaping. The 2,200-acre resort ...

Fred and Ethel, Too Issue: Spring/Summer 2008 Author(s): Jenna Schnuer Thanks to the fame and global appeal of one beloved silver-screen star, Jamestown, New York , has been having a ball for years. The hometown of legendary redhead Lucille Ball, Jamestown is also home to the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center , comprising two unique facilities and a gift shop that pay homage to the lives and laughs of the “I Love Lucy” stars. The show may have broadcast only 179 episodes, but the center faithfully preserves its legacy with the Desilu Playhouse, named for the studio where the ...

Love is in the Air Issue: Spring/Summer 2008 Author(s): Kathy Witt Any setting that inspired author Ralph Waldo Emerson to pen beautiful prose has to be beyond breathtaking. Enter New York’s Hudson Valley , which the famed writer rhapsodized about in his 1836 essay, “Nature.” That work led to the creation of the Catskill Forest Preserve, and today, those scenic 600 square miles serve as the backdrop for the Emerson Resort and Spa , a destination where tranquility is paramount, opulent amenities are the norm and intimate moments seem to wait around every corner. The Eas...

Sweet Relief Issue: Spring/Summer 2008 Author(s): Jenna Schnuer New York City knows how to grab the attention of out-of-towners: Whether it’s steel-and-glass skyscrapers prompting eyes to gaze upward, or glitzy theater marquees and avant-garde boutiques drawing stares of wonder, there’s no shortage of interesting sights during a walk around the Big Apple. The Union Square Chocolate, Wine & Culture Tour adds sweets shops to the must-see list. The city’s famous food offerings have always run the gamut — from New York’s own style of tasty pizza and bagels, to chic ...

Under the Rainbow Issue: Spring/Summer 2008 Author(s): Jenna Schnuer Held aloft by their signature rainbow-colored balloons, the wicker baskets that take Adirondack Balloon Flights passengers into the sky are the best kind of standing-room-only spaces around.   Soaring high above Lake George, Saratoga Springs, Albany and the Adirondacks in northern New York State , the whimsical tours offer passengers a view that company owner/pilot Phil Jackson describes as looking like a “Grandma Moses, country-type painting.” For more than 30 years and through more than 3,000 fli...

Win, Lose or Spa Issue: Spring/Summer 2008 Author(s): John Patrick Pullen, Photo coutesy of Oneida Indian Nation Department of Communications From bingo to blackjack, Turning Stone Resort & Casino brings big gaming excitement to Verona, New York . With more than 80 table games, 2,400 slots, the state’s largest bingo hall and a swank little keno lounge, it’s enough to keep even the best players engaged. But much like Las Vegas, gambling is only part of the draw. With accommodations ranging from the four-diamond Lodge at Turning Stone to the serene Villages at Turning Stone RV Park, there’s a place for everyone to stay. Plus, the resort pac...

Home on the Range Issue: Fall/Winter 2007 Author(s): John Pullen Since remakes are all the rage at the movies these days, why not take a cue from the Billy Crystal comedy "City Slickers" and escape the suburbs to saddle up? Bailiwick Ranch , the oldest and largest stable in New York's Catskill Mountains , caters to wannabe cowpokes by arranging for horses and a guide to lead them on half-day rides through the historic Hudson Valley town of Mount Pleasant. The ranch is just two hours from New York City, but with 300 acres of private trails and access to more than 25,0...

Lighten Up Issue: Fall/Winter 2007 Author(s): John Pullen Although lots of families love snow for the ambiance it adds to the season — not to mention, the fun snowball fights it allows — there's nothing you can do to guarantee a white Christmas. But you can ensure that your holidays are bright. The larger-than-life Christmas displays at Lights on the Lake , a stunningly beautiful, two-mile stretch of colorful spectacle in Syracuse, New York's Onondaga Lake Park , offers visitors enough festive wattage to make up for less than wintry weather. From Nov. 20 throu...

Reflections of the Past Issue: Fall/Winter 2007 Author(s): Gerald Bartell The past seems to come to life with every brick, plank and plate of glass in Auburn, New York . In 1998, when then-First Lady Hillary Clinton stopped here while on her Save America's Treasures Tour, she declared that "this region of our country is especially important to a very particular, special part of our history." Clinton was referring to the era of slavery, and few places in Auburn evoke it as well as the Harriet Tubman Home and Seward House . In 1824, William Seward, an anti-slavery politician, m...

The Book of Love Issue: Fall/Winter 2007 Author(s): Gerald Bartell For book lovers, the perfect vacation is one that can bridge an awfully wide gap: a getaway that allows both quality time with a loved one and ample opportunity to curl up with a good book. To that end, New York's Library Ho tel is the perfect place to get between the covers. The luxury boutique hotel took a page, as it were, from the Dewey Decimal System by naming each of its 10 floors after the system's 10 categories, including history, literature, philosophy, etc. The result is 60 meticulously design...

Edible Entertainment Issue: Spring/Summer 2007 Author(s): Gerald Bartell If watching cooking shows makes you want to peer over the host chef's shoulder as he creates a stunning souffle, you'll want to visit the New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua, New York . Among the most popular classes the center offers are with celebrity chefs and cookbook authors. You can work alongside them if you want, or just sit back and see how they do it before sampling their results. Besides classes with star chefs, the center offers classes for cooks of all levels. Don't know how to...

The Amusement Continues: Issue: Spring/Summer 2007 Author(s): Gerald Bartell First, the details: Six Flags Darien Lake remains open, but no longer under Six Flags ownership. The popular park near Buffalo, New York , is now under the ownership of CNL Income Properties in Orlando, Fla. The Darien Lake park will have a new name to be announced. Already purchased season tickets for 2007 will be honored at Darien Lake and at other Six Flags Parks. And purchasers can still enter a contest to win a night at the Darien site with 100 of their guests. Now, the fun: You can still plunge 20...

Relaxing Rochester Issue: Spring/Summer 2006 Author(s): Ellen Clark Rochester, New York’s third-largest city, has some surprising attractions for couples seeking a weekend respite. For starters, how about a luxury hotel on the Erie Canal? The Renaissance Del Monte Lodge Hotel & Spa, located in the toney little village of Pittsford, is the perfect place to feel pampered. An attentive staff, a spa and rooms that boast such upscale amenities as orthopedic mattresses, leather recliners and luxury linens – what’s not to like? After an oh-so-relaxing spa treatment, head...

Home with Hart Issue: Spring/Summer 2006 Author(s): Ellen Clark On a 9-mile-long island in the St. Lawrence River, surrounded by rolling golf greens, sits a pristinely maintained turn-of-the-century mansion. Built by newspaperman and New York State Senator Elizer Hart in the 1870s on Heart Island — which later became home to the area’s most famous structure, Boldt Castle — the house was transported across the frozen river to Wellesley Island after Hart’s death to serve as a clubhouse for wealthy members of the exclusive Thousand Islands Club. Eventually a new clubho...

Step Into the Orient Issue: Spring/Summer 2006 Author(s): Amy S. Eckert A springtime stroll through Rockford’s Anderson Japanese Gardens is good for your soul. So say garden staff members, and the Journal of Japanese Gardening agrees, ranking Anderson Gardens one of the finest Japanese gardens in North America. Twisting stone pathways and stairs force visitors to slow down as they enter the traditional Pond Strolling Garden. Stone lanterns and ceremonial water basins embellish the path through stands of carefully pruned evergreens, rushing brooks and vivid rhododendrons, ...

Uncommon Scents Issue: Spring/Summer 2006 Author(s): Ellen Clark There’s no better way to shake off the winter doldrums and celebrate spring than by surrounding yourself with hundreds of sweet-smelling, pastel-hued lilac bushes. At Rochester’s Lilac Festival, May 12–21, you can do just that.  Highland Park’s first lilac bushes, planted in 1892 and representing 20 varieties, have been joined by hundreds more, and today more than 1,200 shrubs (500 varieties) blossom over 22 acres. This aromatic phenomenon created a stir in  1898 when 3,000 people gath...

Fall for the Foliage Issue: Fall/Winter 2005 Author(s): Christine A. Smyczynski Nothing says it’s autumn like a trip to Letchworth State Park, one of the prime fall foliage viewing areas in western New York. The centerpiece of this 14,350-acre, 17-mile-long park is the 600-foot-deep Genesee River Gorge, which is spectacular this time of year. The original 1,000 acres of the park were donated to the state by Buffalo businessman William Pryor Letchworth in 1859. The Glen Iris Inn, Letchworth’s former country home, overlooks the park’s impressive Middle Falls. The inn offers ove...

Village People Issue: Fall/Winter 2005 Author(s): Ellen Clark Visiting Genesee Country Village & Museum is like being shot-putted back into the 19th century. Plunked in the middle of thousands of acres of farmland in rural New York, this 200-acre living-history museum transports you to a time when villages such as this were self-contained worlds. Villagers in period costumes bustle around the complex going about their appointed tasks just as they would have more than a century ago. The huge kitchen in the Livingston-Backus House is frequently filled with the aroma...

Capturing the World Issue: Spring/Summer 2005 Author(s): Miriam Carey New York artist Brian Tolle gives shape to the elements in his downtown Cleveland installation "For the gentle wind doth move silently, invisibly." His title takes a cue from a William Blake poem, but the work derives from meteorological phenomena. Tolle used computer imaging to measure exact wind patterns that blow off Lake Erie into Cleveland's downtown. From these images, Tolle created eight sculptured urns — each 9 feet tall — and shaped them with wind patterns in mind. The result is a delightful wa...

Gift of the Glaciers Issue: Spring/Summer 2005 Author(s): Liz Vaccariello Native Americans believed the Finger Lakes of Western New York were formed when the Great Spirit reached out to bless the region and left behind the imprint of his hand. But according to geologists, the 11 long narrow lakes, wide valleys and deep gorges with rushing waterfalls were formed by the grinding action of Ice Age glaciers. These geographical features are found nowhere else in the world — and, as it turns out, they create the perfect environment for growing grapes. In today's modern tourist age,...

Glass With Class Issue: Spring/Summer 2005 Author(s): Gerald Bartell Start at the clock tower that has stood at the center of Corning, New York , since 1883, and tour a charming town in the center of western New York's wine country. Streets here have taught Main Street America a lesson: The restoration of Corning's Market Street became the model for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Program. The Corning Museum of Glass gives the town its artistic heritage. Visitors watch glass-blowing demonstrations and tour a gallery that documents the 3,500-yea...

Historic Hamlet Issue: Fall/Winter 2004 Author(s): Gerald Bartell If You Go ... Genesee Country Village and Museum, 1410 Flint Rd., Mumford, N.Y., 585/538-6822, www.gcv.org . May-Oct.: Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat.-Sun. and holidays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., closed Mondays except Sept. 6. Adults $12.95. Just outside the town of Mumford, New York, Genesee Country Village and Museum offers a look at a beautifully preserved 19th-century American village, complete with a town square. Encompassing 175 acres, the village contains 59 buildings that were moved to the site from ...

Lingering in the Lehigh Valley Issue: Fall/Winter 2004 Author(s): Gerald Bartell If You Go ... Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800/747-0561. www.lehighvalleypa.org Raddisson Hotel Bethlehem, 437 Main St., Bethlehem, Pa., 610/625-5000, 800/333-3333. Rates: $119-$254 for two. Moravian Museum, 66 West Church St., Bethlehem, Pa., 610/867-0173, 800/360-TOUR. www.historicbethlehem.org . Tues.-Sun. noon-4 p.m. Moravian Book Shop, 428 Main St., Bethlehem, Pa., 888/661-2888, daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Granny McCarthy's Tea Room and Donegal Square Celtic Imports, 534 Main St., Bethele...

Live Like a Millionaire Issue: Fall/Winter 2004 Author(s): John Young If You Go ... Glendorn, 1000 Glendorn Dr., Bradford, Pa., 800/843-8568. www.glendorn.com . Rates $495-$695. In 1928, Bradford, Pennsylvania, oil tycoon and raconteur C.G. Dorn purchased a 1,280-acre parcel of land that surrounded his fishing camp and included a number of ponds, as well as his favorite trout stream, Fuller Brook. In the 1930s, Dorn began construction on the Big House, an elegant yet rustic redwood lodge that showcased an eclectic mix of architecture, including eyebrow windows, diamond le...

Checking In Issue: Spring/Summer 2004 Author(s): Paulette Dininny The big butter-colored building with cheerful wooden rockers on the porch belies the magic of The Hotel Lenhart at Bemus Point, New York , on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in western New York. Step inside the front door of the hotel and you've suddenly walked into the late 1800s. Portraits on the wall tell the story of the family who has owned and operated the venerable hotel since 1881. Desk clerks still use the original cash register. Look up and see a ceiling hook at the top of the fourth floor used ...

Floating Highway Issue: Spring/Summer 2004 Author(s): Ellen Clark General Information General information : New York State Canal Corp., 800/4CANAL4, www.canals.state.ny.us Mid-Lakes Navigation , 800/545-4318, www.midlakesnav.com Erie Canal Cruise Lines , 800/962-1771, www.canalcruises.com Renaissance Del Monte Lodge , 41 N. Main St., Pittsford, 585/381-9900, marriott.com/property/ Richardson’s Canal House , 1474 Marsh Rd., Pittsford, 585/248-5000, www.canalhouse.org Ripples glisten in the sun as the sleek canal boat glides past grassy banks that roll into seemingly en...

Round We Go Issue: Spring/Summer 2004 Author(s): Peter D.A. Warwick There was a time when almost every community worth its salt had a park with a wooden carousel in it. You can relive those times at the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in North Tonawanda, New York. Located in an original factory where carousels were once produced (listed on the National Register Of Historic Sites), the museum's exhibits bring to life an era that is long gone. The centerpiece of the museum is a 1916 Allan Herschell carousel with 36 hand-carved wooden horses and more than 580 lights. A ...

Estate Planning Issue: Fall/Winter 2003 Author(s): Jennie Phipps If You Go : Meadow Brook Hall, Oakland University, Rochester, 248/370-3140. Full house tour, daily at 1:30 p.m. year-round. Sat. and Sun. tours 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. Admission: $8-$20, depending on number of areas toured. The Inn on Ferry Street, 4 East Ferry St., Detroit, 313/871-6000. $129/night. The Whitney, 4421 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 313/832-5700. Mon. 6-9 p.m.; Tue. 6-9 p.m.; Wed.-Thur. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m; Sat. 5-10 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-2...

Grape Escape Issue: Fall/Winter 2003 Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek If You Go . . .  Plan a stay at Merritt Hill Manor in Penn Yan, an 1822 Federalist-style home. Marc and Susan Hyser are first-rate hosts, miraculously anticipating your every need before you even think to ask. Breakfast is hearty, with everything from fresh fruit to German apple pancakes. Ask for the Leon Taylor Bedroom – the lake view is perfect and the yellow rubber ducky in the shower is a nice touch. After breakfast, take a quick walk around the inn's 12 acres. 2756 Coates Rd., Penn Yan, 315/53...

Picture Perfect Issue: Fall/Winter 2002 Author(s): Gerald Bartell Approach Rochester as a photographer. This city, after all, once put Brownie cameras in nearly every home in America. Think of taking wide-angle shots as you walk East Avenue, a panorama of classic Tudor, Victorian and Colonial Revival homes presiding over wide lawns. Why haven't more movies been shot here? East Avenue evokes a back-lot set for the typical American street scene. For medium shots that close in on the center of a story, stop at the George Eastman House and Museum . It was Eastman who brou...

Skiff Row Issue: Fall/Winter 2002 Author(s): Ellen Clark At The Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, New York, wooden boats from yesteryear are polished and varnished to better than new, their brass rubbed until blindingly shiny, their engines pristinely steam-cleaned. Claiming to be one of the world's largest fresh-water maritime museums, the collec- tion celebrates the days when pleasure boating around the Thousand Islands area of the St. Lawrence River was a leisurely pursuit done in quiet inboards with beautiful facades. In the early 1970s, antique-boating ent...

Skiing on a Porcupine Issue: Fall/Winter 2002 Author(s): Jennie Phipps In the 19th and 20th centuries, the Por- cupine Mountains in Michigan's Upper Peninsula were known for their deposits of copper, and the brave miners who worked in cold, deep and dangerous holes to bring the ore to the surface. Porcupine Mountain copper was used to make the country's first telegraph and telephone wires. That era has passed; the last mine closed eight years ago. Now people come to the Porcupines to test their mettle on challenging downhill and cross-country ski trails. Porcupine Mountain...

Snowflakes to Wildflowers Issue: Fall/Winter 2002 Author(s): Jill Sell This month, wildflowers have replaced snowflakes on the ski slopes in Ellicottville, New York. Just a few years ago, only the locals would have seen the flowers. It was Holiday Valley and HoliMont ski resorts that brought approximately 550,000 visitors a year to Ellicottville, a quaint valley community in the Allegany foothills in the southwestern part of the state. But the Ellicottville area (actually the side-by-side village and town of the same name) is gaining a remarkable reputation as a four-seaso...