Summer is almost upon us, and with it the season of... well, finding interesting things to do. There are many excellent places to visit from our area that are only an hour or two away and make perfect day trips. Day trips are excellent because there is no hotel bill, they can be planned the day before instead of weeks or months in advance, and there is no need for a dog sitter! The choices for a day trip are almost limitless, but each area seems to have its own specialty and flavor.
Rochester is an excellent choice for a day trip. It is just under 90 miles away, and it takes about an hour and a half travel time each way. Like Syracuse, Rochester is full of things to do and can make for an excellent trip for groups of any age and size. For the younger set, try visiting the Strong Children's Museum or Seabreeze. Seabreeze is a great choice for a summer trip as it is like a miniature Midway, but with a water park. Kids of age love it, and the adults don't seem to mind either. There are simply too many possibilities to mention, from wine tours to the Corning Museum of Glass, to the numerous special events and festivals scheduled for the season. Visit the website at www.visitrochester.com to plan your trip.
Alexandria Bay and the Thousand Islands region is also a great place to visit. It also takes about an hour and a half to travel the 90 miles to get there, and there is plenty to do upon arrival. The town itself is great to wander around and visit the shops and boutiques, and the state park is excellent to visit the beach and relax a while. Many people also elect to use one of the tour boat services to visit the romantic and beautiful Boldt Castle on Heart Island. An enchanting love story and a beautiful piece of history await, and there are often outdoor weddings help there throughout the summer. For a more Gothic feel, tourists can also take a tour of Singer Castle on Dark Island. It is full of lore, superstition and secret passages that make the imagination roam. The boat tour companies offer dinner cruises and tours of the islands where passengers can see the homes of the rich, including the founder of McDonald's and the home where Thousand Island dressing's creator vacationed. WWW.alexbay.org offers more information and planning tools for a trip to the area.
For a closer trip, Sylvan Beach at the east end of Oneida Lake offers a short, simple trip with something for everyone. The historical amusement park still stands, along with a few games and concession areas selling ice cream, hot dogs and the like. The beach and picnic area are free to the public and easy to access, with only a small fee for parking to spend the day. There are several area restaurants that range from inexpensive and simple to a little more involved and costly, and the majority of them are within walking distance of the beach and parking area. The Beach House, a bar and grill located almost at the water's edge, sponsors concerts all summer long for their patrons and beach goers to enjoy. It is a quick 40 minute, 26 mile drive to reach Sylvan Beach for a day of fun in the sun, and a click on www.sylvanbeach.org will give you a great idea of what to expect when you get there.
For the shopaholic in each of us, there is also the option of a daytrip to the Waterloo Premium Outlets. The outlets offer many stores maintained by brand names where bargains can be found on anything from clothes to shoes, diamonds to drills. The mall offers a nice food court as well as two other restaurants, and it is in close proximity to Watkins Glen, the Cayuga Wine Trail, the Finger Lakes trail and other attractions if a combination trip is more your style. The outdoor setting makes it a nice change from our local shopping malls, and it is a great way to enjoy both the weather and shopping.
With so many great places to visit, the hardest thing will be deciding which to try first! Enjoy your summer!
May
27
Ready...Set...Take a Day Trip!
Christina Lackey 05/27/09
CATEGORY: General Society