15 Places You Should Check Out This Summer
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
There’s no need to go far for a great experience this summer. The region has plenty of attractions for day trips.
Natural Wonders
Watkins Glen State Park in Watkins Glen includes numerous waterfalls (one you can walk behind), 200-foot cliffs, woodland trails, Glen Creek and gorge trails. Bring along a picnic to enjoy at a trailhead picnic table. Pre-K–aged grandchildren should be fine. However, the trails are not stroller friendly, so plan to use a baby backpack or leave the very little ones with their parents.
https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/watkins-glen-state-park
Letchworth State Park in Castile is known as the “Grand Canyon of the East” for its jaw-dropping vistas and geological features among its 66 hiking trails. The Genesee River pours through the park’s gorge, forming three waterfalls, some tumbling for 600 feet. The park is also home to Humphrey Nature Center with programming and exhibits educating the public about the park’s geology and history.
https://parks.ny.gov/visit/state-parks/letchworth-state-park
Introduce the Niagara Falls in Niagara Falls to your grandkids. You’ve probably already seen the falls a few times, but witnessing youngsters’ first glimpse is an experience of itself. The park offers more than just the world-famous falls. Ride the Maid of the Mist, walk the Cave of the Winds to experience Bridal Veil Falls and stick around for the Illumination of the Falls each evening. It’s breathtaking.
Adventure
Bristol Mountain in Canandaigua is not just for skiing. Their Aerial Adventures Park includes an extensive high ropes courses, ziplines and individual 63-foot launcher bosting 3.8 Gs of force. While scampering among the treetops, take a few moments to survey the forest floor for deer and other wildlife. It’s also a great place for incredible bird’s-eye photos.
https://bristolmountainadventures.com
Buffalo Pedal Tours in Buffalo provides a variety of 90-minute bike themed tours including chicken wings, murals, history and more. Just pick the type of ride that interests you and gather friends and family to pedal with you for a group outing. The multiple-seat bikes look a bit like small trolleys with a shade. Bench seats are available for breaks or non-bikers. Each bike accommodates 15.
Rainy Days
History buffs should see the attractions in Palmyra, including Alling Coverlet Museum and Gift Shop, Palmyra Historical Museum, Erie Canal Depot building, Print Shop Museum building, Palmyra Print Shop and Phelps General Store. Not far away, the Hoffman Clock Museum in Newark is worth a stop. Housed in the Newark Public Library, the museum displays a few hundred timepieces. Admission is free and it is open whenever the library is open.
Strong Museum of Play in Rochester is a great place to take the grandkids and take a trip down memory lane. The museum occupies 150,000 square feet with exhibits of current day and historic games, toys, video games, along with the Skyline Climb, Play Lab, Butterfly Garden and carousel and train. The museum is meant to be interactive, so encourage the kids to enjoy the hands-on exhibits.
Destiny USA in Syracuse is the state’s largest shopping and entertainment center with 250 tenants. Peruse stores such as newcomer IKEA, solve physical puzzles at 5 Wits, wander through the Amazing Mirror Maze, scale the challenges at Canyon Climb Adventure, bounce through Get Air Trampoline Park, and if small grandkids are along, check out Wonder Works, Billy Beez and Adventure Animal Rides. The scope of shops and eateries makes Destiny a great choice for a day indoors.