Loving Upstate New York

The past four days have been spent exploring various parts of Upstate New York. After leaving Killington, Vermont on Monday morning, we drove through the Adirondack Mountains and arrived in Lake Placid (do you believe in miracles). Lake Placid was the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics as well as the 1932 Winter Games.

Lake Placid gives off serious Swiss mountain village vibes. Surprisingly, the village of Lake Placid sits on Mirror Lake, while Lake Placid itself is nearby. Jane, Riley, and I walked the loop around Mirror Lake, giving Riley plenty of time to enjoy the sights and smells along the way. After our walk, we backtracked a bit in search of a bar or restaurant that welcomed her. We settled on Lake Placid Pub & Brewery, where we sat outside across from Mirror Lake. Jane and I enjoyed delicious open-faced roast beef sandwiches, while Riley got to relax by our side and enjoy the outdoor dining experience.

After lunch, we walked past a few of the Olympic venues, including the outdoor speed skating oval and the ice hockey rink.

Monday night, back at our hotel, we watched (with great disappointment) as my Cleveland Guardians lost Game 6 of the ALCS, ending their hopes of reaching the World Series.

On Tuesday, we drove for a few hours before arriving at Taughannock Falls State Park. We hiked the South Rim and North Rim trails, as well as the Gorge Trail. That night, we stayed in Ithaca and enjoyed dinner at a Korean restaurant downtown.

Before leaving Ithaca on Wednesday morning, we made a stop at Ithaca Falls. Riley was back on the trail with us as we continued our journey to Letchworth State Park, also known as the Grand Canyon of the East. We hiked to the Upper and Middle Falls and stopped at Inspiration Point to take in spectacular views. With so many trails and new places to explore, it was another great day for all three of us. That evening, we stayed in Geneseo and Jane and I had a wonderful dinner at the Big Tree Inn.

Thursday morning, we returned to Letchworth State Park for even more hiking. We really enjoyed our time in the park, and as an added bonus, admission was free this week.

We have been fortunate to visit many national and state parks. So many of these parks were developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) from 1933 to 1942.

Continuing west, we decided to call an audible and stop in Buffalo. I had never actually visited the city; I had only driven through on my way to Niagara Falls and Canada. Jane, on the other hand, had spent time in Buffalo when her mother and stepfather lived there.

Friend of the blog Beth Reid (Jane’s sister) came through with the exact address of their former waterfront townhouse, which was less than a 15-minute walk from where we parked at Canalside. I enjoyed the Buffalo Waterfront and exploring a part of the city I had never visited before.

From there, we made a quick five-minute drive to Resurgence Brewing Company. We each had a couple pumpkin ale’s, and since we were in Buffalo, we shared wings and a burger. One of the best parts of the stop was how dog-friendly Resurgence was. The beer, food, and music were all fantastic.

These past four days exploring Upstate New York have been wonderful. We’ve done plenty of hiking, more than 7.5 miles each day (capping off today with 9 miles), and we were fortunate to have sunny skies and temperatures in the low 60s.

We think Riley has thoroughly enjoyed her extended walks and all the new places she’s been able to explore. Of course, all that time outdoors means we need to be extra diligent about checking her for ticks.

Friday, we arrive in Cleveland.