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A
car-free vacation is feasible here -- especially if you're
staying in the new Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
(opening in Summer 2008) which is right across the parking
lot from the harbor, or if you're staying right in Watkins
Glen itself, and don't mind a little walking. You'll
need to take the bus to Ithaca and then hire a taxi to
Watkins Glen. There's plenty to do right on Seneca
Lake, and there are many wine tours available
- which is smart regardless of whether or not you have
a car with you! It's true that in order to see some of
the attractions described below, like Watkins
Glen State Park, Watkins Glen International,
or She-Qua-Ga Falls, we suggest going
by car to make sure you pack in all the attractions!
LAND
OF THE TUMBLING WATERS
It's easy to see why Watkins Glen State Park
is the most popular of all the Finger Lakes parks. At
two miles long (with cliffs that are 200-feet high, carved
through time by water) the hike through the narrow gorge
along Glen Creek is almost spiritual. With 19 breathtaking
waterfalls, deep pools, and stone bridges created so that
you can enjoy the views, the State Park understandably
made Reserve America's "Top 25 Scenic Views"
list and was described as having a "reputation for leaving
visitors spellbound." A shuttle bus will take you from
one end of the park to the other so you can walk the 1-1/2-mile
trail, with over 800 stone steps and an elevation gain
of over 500 feet. Guided walks are also available.
 A
backdrop for the village of Montour Falls, She-Qua-Ga
Falls (left) sits at the head of Main Street.
She-Qua-Ga Falls (which means "Tumbling
Waters") splendid beauty is a reminder of how the land
that the Senecas called home, and the land of those that
followed, can co-exist in harmony.
Other
waterfalls located in Montour Falls include Aunt
Sarah's Falls on State Route 14 and Deckertown
Falls on Catlin Street, off of South L'Hommedieu
Street.
Excelsior
Glen Falls on State Route 414 in Watkins Glen
offers a challenging hike. Hector Falls,
located just north of Watkins Glen on State Route 414,
is quite a site as it flows not only down the cliff, but
under the road and into the lake.
 THESE
BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING (AND HIKING!)
Finger Lakes National Forest, the only
National Forest in New York State, offers 16,000 acres
of beauty to enjoy, with over 30 miles of trails meandering
through forest, open fields, wildflowers, cow pastures,
and even you-pick blueberry patches.
Bring
your hiking boots and binoculars and get back to nature
by visiting Texas Hollow State Forest,
which is great for bird-watching.
Sugar
Hill State Forest, meanwhile, is perfect for
hiking, biking, picnicking, bird and wildlife viewing,
horseback riding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing,
and hunting. Covering over 12,000 acres just west of Watkins
Glen, this park offers spectacular views and miles of
forests. Catch a glimpse of the wildlife in the area!
Three
railroads once transversed Schuyler County, along with
a canal, but only one railroad operates today. The result
of a remarkable program that's turned the old rails into
trails, the Catharine Valley Trail runs
largely on portions of abandoned Northern Central Railroad
and Chemung Canal Towpath corridors. When complete, it
will measure 12 miles long and connect Watkins Glen State
Park with Mark Twain State Park in Horseheads, NY.
The
path is named for Catharine (pronounced Cath-a-REEN) Montour,
who not only married a Seneca chief but became the leader
of the Shequagua village after he died. In 1779, she led
her people to Canada when Sullivan's Army burned 30 or
40 log houses of the village to keep them from joining
the British to fight against the Patriots. Catharine later
came back to the land she loved and lived here until her
death in 1804. A memorial in her honor sits in a wooded
grove just off the Cook and Genesee Street section of
the Catharine Valley Trail in Montour Falls.
Finger Lakes Trail, an amazing footpath
for hikers, stretches 560 miles from Pennsylvania to the
New York border up to the Catskill Forest Preserve. Forty-eight
of those miles make their way through Schuyler County,
winding their way through several state parks and wildlife
management areas. Starting at Watkins Glen State Park,
the Queen Catharine Marsh Trail, a branch
of the Finger Lakes Trail, creates a nine-mile loop.
Located
at the southern end of Seneca Lake, between Watkins Glen
and Montour Falls, the Queen Catharine Marsh
is a unique natural area. The 1,000-acre complex is also
called the Catharine Creek Wildlife Management Area, and
for good reason. A virtual playground for anyone who loves
nature, the marsh teems with wildlife of all species,
including muskrats, turtles, ducks, beavers, deer, and
great blue herons. From birdwatching to fishing, hunting,
trapping, kayaking, and nature study, the marsh has a
lot to offer.
 COME
SAIL AWAY
Seneca Lake (left) is the Queen of the
Finger Lakes at thirty-eight miles long and over 600-feet
deep. The area was known as the "Land of the Lake Guns"
by the Senecas, because of the strange sound of thunder
that seems to come from the bottom of the lake itself.
In the early part of the 20th century, people used water
from the lake in their cars because the lake hardly ever
freezes -- on account of the numerous active springs in
the lake bed.
Captain
Bill's Seneca Lake Cruises offers dining cruises
as well as tours on the 1930s-era Stroller IV.
But if you're looking for a day of gentle sailing across
the tranquil waters of Seneca Lake while learning the
history of the area, Captain Terry Stewart of Seneca
Sailing Adventures is your man. Captain Terry and
his First Mate Lisa will take you on a 2-1/2-hour tour
of Seneca Lake aboard the Lee Sea Anne, a sailboat
that accommodates up to six passengers.
The
crew is very knowledgeable about the area and will take
you on a guided tour past points of interest such as "The
Painted Rocks" while recounting local lore. (Captain Terry
himself offers many amazing little-known facts about Seneca
Lake.) A "Cruise and Snooze" package allows you to let
the gentle rocking of the water lull you to sleep as you
spend the night right on the boat! (Get a little sea sick?
That's okay too. Stop by and see Captain Terry at the
harbor and he'll be happy to share his stories and give
you a tour of his boat while it's docked.)
Jet
ski and boat rentals are also available at the Anchor
Inn & Marina on Salt Point Road in Watkins
Glen.
HOOKED
ON FISHING?
If you are looking to throw a hook in the water, Schuyler
County offers some of the best fishing in New York
State, and offers many "fishing holes." You can fish right
off the dock at the Harbor, or head on over to Catharine
Creek, where there are 29 different species swimming around
in the rich waters adjacent to the marsh. It's said that
giant carp up to a yard long make their home in the waters
of Seneca Lake and Queen Catharine's Marsh. Other fish
native to the area are large- and smallmouth bass, northern
pike, landlocked salmon, pickerel, brown trout, lake trout,
rainbow trout, smelt, and pan fish.
Waneta
and Lamoka Lakes cover 165 acres of marshland
and open water. A parking area and boat launch is located
on County Road 23 in the town of Tyrone, making for easy
access to the wetlands. The land is still abundant in
the deer, turkey, squirrels, and rabbits that the prehistoric
Lamoka tribe once hunted here.
 GO
SPEED RACER GO!
Known as the home of American road racing, Watkins
Glen International is a world-renowned road
course and one of only two road course tracks in America
that hosts both NASCAR and Indy Car races (the other being
Infineon in Sonoma, CA). The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series
Centurion Boats race at Watkins Glen was named the best
race of 2007 by Sports Illustrated magazine,
and the raceway proudly proclaims that "It's Racing, only
Twisted!"
In
May of each year, hundreds of cars line up to take a few
laps on this world-famous road course to raise money for
Kyle Petty's Victory Junction charity, but you can drive
your own car around this world-famous track anytime from
May thru October! "Thunder Road Tours" start at noon each
day by appointment only and allow you to take 3
laps around the track for just $25! You'll experience
the ups and downs, twists and turns as the track elevation
changes around hairpin curves and get an idea of what
it must be like for the drivers who take those turns at
145 ‚ 195 miles per hour!
With
over 2,000 acres of land, Watkins Glen International
offers much more than racing; concerts, wine
and cheese tastings, even a McDonalds Play Land area for
the kids. A family-friendly race track, the Speedway admits
children 12 and under in for free, except on NASCAR weekend,
which offers free admission to kids 5 and under and a
reduced admission for kids ages 6-12. (Reserved seating
prices are a little higher, and kids must pay for reserved
seats.)
You
can spend the whole weekend right at the raceway! Reserved
camping spots are already sold out by early spring, but
camping spots are still available on a first-come, first-served
basis. Campers return year after year, enjoying the friendships
they've made over the years with their fellow race fans,
but also finding that there's always a new experience!
Watkins
Glen International also offers one of the biggest
showcases of New York State wines when it hosts the International
Wine Festival each July. You can taste over
500 wines from over 75 wineries while enjoying the scenic
views Watkins Glen International has to offer.
Enjoy live cooking demonstrations, attend a culinary class,
or just kick back, relax, and enjoy the live music while
you chow down on the wide sampling of gourmet foods. Educational
wine seminars are also available.
The
International Motor Racing Research Center,
on Decatur Street in Watkins Glen, preserves the heritage
of motor racing, housing approximately 2500 rare and reference
books on the sport, as well as hundreds of periodicals,
programs, manuscript collections, historic scrapbooks,
and many other motor racing related items. The Center
is open to anyone interested in the sport, for professional
or personal reasons.
Finally,
as you walk the streets of Watkins Glen, be sure to look
down at the ground when you're in the area of N. Franklin.
You can read all the markers on the Drivers Walk
of Fame, which honors all the talented drivers
who have competed at Watkins Glen since 1948!
 GOOD
WINE MAKES FOR A "GRAPE" TIME!
Sheltered in a valley created by hills and gorge walls,
Seneca Lake creates its own micro-climate which is the
perfect setting to grow grapes that are not only hardy,
but also allows for the cultivation of more delicate varieties
such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot
Noir. The Seneca Lake Wine Trail consists
of over 30 wineries around Seneca Lake, and you'll be
sure to find a wine to suit everyone's taste.
The
Seneca Harbor Wine Center is housed in a 19th-century
brick building, a former foundry, right on the waterfront.
Renovated by the Pleasant Valley Wine Company,
it boasts a horseshoe-shaped bar made by skilled craftsmen
using the oak and cypress from old wine casks.
Glenora
Wine Cellars, located on State Route 14 in Dundee,
offers a wide variety of both dry and semi-dry wines,
along with sweet and semi-sweet blends, fruit and grape
wine-blends, and sparkling wines. They even have a kid's
corner for the younger set who aren't quite old enough
for wine tasting yet. You can enjoy a picnic there, satisfy
your hunger in their on site restaurant, Veraisons
Restaurant or stay at the Inn at Glenora.
In
1951, Frank Stamp abandoned his position as a dentist
in Maryland and moved his family to Lakewood Farm, a rundown
peach and apple farm on the west side of Seneca Lake.
The next summer he started planting grapes, and the result
became the Lakewood Vineyards. The winery
now produces wines from three families of grapes that
were once used for commercial grape production until they
pressed the grapes for their first vintage in 1988. The
family welcomes you to enjoy their wines! There is also
a picnic area and play area for the kids.
 Hazlitt
1852 Winery is a winery that isn't afraid to
let its hair down! Enjoy their world class wines on a
bar stool in their cozy tasting room! Check out the antique
tools and memorabilia while tapping your foot to the lively
music that's always playing. Besides their wines, Hazlitt
1852 Winery also offers a line of sweet hot sauces
called Red Cat-Tastrophe, which includes their Red Cat
Wine as one of its ingredients and claims to have "tails
flaming in the litter box!" A picnic table area is available,
as well as banquet and conference facilities.
HOW ABOUT SOME CHEESE WITH THAT WINE?
Agriculture is Schuyler County's leading economic
engine, with over 400 full and part-time farms covering
35% of the county. Agri-tourism allows visitors to experience
life on working farms and agricultural enterprises directly.
Schuyler County offers a large number of agri-tourism
sites that also sell their products, which include everything
from maple syrup, to jams, jellies and juices, honey,
fruits and vegetables, and even berries.
Located
just outside Odessa, the Sunset View Creamery
is a 100-year-family-owned farm offering tours and, of
course, cheeseÖ lots of cheese! Established in 1905, the
farm is now run by the fourth and fifth-generations of
the original Hoffman family who settled in this area.
Tours are by appointment only.
Located
between Watkins Glen and Ithaca in Trumansburg, Finger
Lakes Farmstead Cheese, offers two kinds of cheeses.
"Schuyler" is made in the Dutch farmstead and Gouda tradition,
while "Red Meck" is a red-washed French-style cheese similar
to the original Muenster.
Other
farm-related attractions include the Skyland Gallery
& Cafe which boasts a 3,000-square-foot Art
Barn showcasing the work of over 300 local artists, nestled
among stone-walled gardens where you can cut your own
bouquets or walk through their labyrinth. Get a real feel
for the country by feeding the goats, sheep, and chickens,
or feed yourself at their Garden Room Cafe, which features
a vast variety of desserts along with light lunches and
dinners. This wonderful complex also has an in-house pottery
studio where you can watch a potter spin a lump of clay
into a work of art.
 Set
amongst the rolling hills and forests and situated on
175 acres, New York Farm Sanctuary (left),
cares for hundreds of animals and offers a very unique
visitor center called the "People Barn." Finally, Arcangeli
Farm Country Critters allows an up close look
at some unique animals, including miniature horses, llamas,
emu, reindeer, miniature pigmy goats, peacocks, and more!
They offer tours, picnic and party space, wagon rides
and an incredible corn maze in the fall.
GO
GREEN!
Take a bite out of the big apple! A big juicy organic
apple, that is! Good Groceries on 4th
Street in Watkins Glen offers a great variety of organic
foods and locally grown produce as well as toiletries
and other "green" good-for-the-earth items.
The
Watkins Glen Farmer's Market, located
at scenic LaFayette Park, is open Fridays from the end
of May until the end of October. Montour Falls
Farmers Market is open on Thursdays and Saturdays
at the Montour Falls Fireman's Field. Reisinger's Apple
Country is another good option for apple and pumpkin
picking.
SHOPPING
IS A SPORT TOO
Schuyler County has NO TAX on clothing and footwear
under $110 per item! Take advantage of these great savings
by saving even more at the Famous Brands Outlet
on N. Franklin Street in Watkins Glen. Offering quality
clothing, footwear, hunting wear and gifts and accessories
at affordable prices, it's the place to shop for brand
names for less. They even have a bargain basement (literally!)
for extra savings.
Also
located on N. Franklin Street, Putty Jug Antiques
is one of several antiques stores in the area with a wide
variety of treasures from the past. Larry Novinsky, the
owner, offers a wide variety of heirlooms, unique jewelry,
and even the antiques of tomorrow: modern souvenirs! Other
antique stores include Guild Brothers Antiques
& Gifts on Main Street in Montour Falls.
ARTS
AND CULTURE
Oh Susannah's Quilts & Gifts, located
on 4th, just off of N. Franklin Street in Watkins Glen,
has an incredible selection of 100% cotton fabrics, as
well as quilt kits. They offer instructions and classes
for those who want to learn the art of quilting.
 Knitting
is making a comeback as one of the most popular hobbies,
and Finger Lakes Fibers (left), also
on 4th Street, has a great variety of luxurious yarns,
natural fibers, and hand knitting supplies. They also
carry locally spun and dyed yarns as well as unique fibers
from all around the world. Stop in anytime for individual
knitting and spinning instruction. While you're there,
you can also pick up a book or two from their wide selection,
or a basket or bag to carry those knitting projects around.
Graceful
Arts Fiber Studio in Hector also offers a wide
variety of specialty yarns.
FYI: Finger Lakes Fibers also offers
classes around your scheduled stay! Create your own knitting
getaway!
World-class
art can also be found in Watkins Glen at art galleries
like Artaj on Franklin Street and the
Linda McIntyre Art Gallery on Porter
Street. Christian Thirion, a master glassblower, displays
his stunning works of art at his nearby Glass
Art Gallery. His colorful wave series of vases
and bowls are amazing in and of themselves, but his new
Lighting Features Series of chandeliers will simply take
your breath away. Mimicking the waterfalls that cover
the area, these lighting fixtures gracefully flow and
curve, creating quite an awesome display.
SEARCH
FOR TREASURE
Grab your GPS and head out to look for treasure! Geo-caching
is an exciting and entertaining adventure for the Indiana
Jones in everybody, minus the bad guys trying to kill
you! Caches are hidden all over the world by organizations
and individuals who then post coordinates that will lead
you to these little treasures.
In
a "Pay It Forward" way, once you find a cache, you can
take what's in it, but you should leave something in its
place for the next treasure hunter. As of early 2008 dozens
of caches were hidden within 10 miles of Watkins Glen,
and hundreds within 30 miles. Why not spend the day not
only viewing the gorgeous scenery, but also hunting for
a few trinkets of treasure along the way!
See
more info on activities and businesses
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