Travel Tuesday: Active Leafcation

By | October 19, 2020

do you make up words? It sometimes drives me crazy — what is the ask? — when we have the perfectly good word “question”, but other times I’m full-on verbing/nouning. When I was thinking of the name for my Facebook album for the post, leafcation came to me as the perfect word, and so it was hatched.

I hope this is helpful for anyone planning an autumn roadtrip. While avoiding planes makes sense this year, upstate & western New York is just much easier to explore via car.

I had no plans on a road trip until two weeks ago Tuesday when my brother confirmed we’d have a socially distant something, somewhere for my nephew (newly six). I also realized that was a long weekend when Budget offered an extra day on my rental at no cost and… why the hell not. Once my brother confirmed we’d do the get together at their place in Albany, I began to sketch out a plan. I knew that this trip had two goals aside from seeing family & COVID safety (both givens): enjoy fall colors and be active. My road-trip style of travel typically left me with just enough time for a treadmill run in the hotel gym, and I didn’t want that for a number of reasons. COVID safety was a concern, of course, but really I just wanted to explore the areas I was staying.

just a taste of fall

 

Stop 1 doesn’t really count for this leafcation for two reasons: it was overnight at mom & Bob’s and fall colors really hadn’t begun yet. That said, for those spending time in fall in the lower Hudson Valley, there are some great runs:

  • the Esposito Nature Trail leading to the Old Erie Path is my hometown trail. As kids, we knew “Uncle Ray” for whom the trail was named and we used to take family walks on it. Recent renovations have removed the old exercise stations, but it’s still a protected path with plenty of space to share the road with cyclists. Portions of the Old Erie Path are in need of some grading (and is the site of my only running fall), so while trail shoes aren’t necessary, careful footing is. There is no water along the trails, so bring your own.
  • the Shared Use Path (aka SUP) on the new Tappan Zee Bridge. While I enjoyed running this a few weeks ago, it’s not something I’d do regularly.  One of my favorite things about Nyack/Rockland is getting off the roads and away from the traffic. Running along-side lanes of traffic just doesn’t cut it, although the views are stunning.
  • Rockland Lake. I love it, but I don’t run it nearly enough as a ten-minute drive to run never appeals first thing in the morning.
  • Hook Mountain, the riverside path and connection to Rockland Lake. I’ve never actually run this, but love it for a riverside walk.

turning west

 

After spending a couple of hours in Albany, I headed west to my first stop in Utica. There was nothing special about Utica as a stop, but I just knew I couldn’t make it to the Rochester area as I don’t like driving after dark. My overnight was at the Delta Hotel downtown and I don’t have much to add about it as it was just a place to sleep. It was quiet, clean and easy to access off the Thruway, which was all I needed.

 

Oneida Lake

One of the best decisions I made on this trip was to stay off the Thruway when possible. I do not like driving with a ton of trucks and firmly believe that you see very little of interest on an interstate. This decision was immediately correct as I pottered through the small towns in the western Adirondacks/eastern Finger Lakes. CarPlay showed a body of water to my right and I turned down a street to find this beautiful vista in the map dot known as Lakeport, New York. Oneida Lake is the largest lake entirely within New York and was a great place to stretch my legs.

what a welcoming parking lot/trailhead

and stunning trail colors

with a side of some history

After visiting with my college roommate and her family, we decided to take a walk with the kids. They had been exploring portions of Ontario Pathways throughout quarantime and I was eager to see some of it in person. We chose this section at the Orleans trailhead as it was a segment they hadn’t yet done. Like the Old Erie Path and many other multi-use trails, this is a former rail line and when I read the distance I couldn’t help but think it would make a great, small marathon. There hasn’t been anywhere near enough water this summer, but I would love to see more of this trail including the Winnie the Pooh trail and Double Drop Falls.

I usually stay with friends in this area so don’t have much on where to stay, especially with the Inn on the Lake gone, but there are a number of hotels, and bed & breakfasts in the Canandaigua, Victor areas and of course Rochester itself.

Inspiration Point indeed!

first view of the colors and the Genesee River

just magic

why this run became a hike

 

did someone say waterfalls?

I remembered Letchworth State Park from a trip as a kid and a college floor program, but hadn’t been back in 20 years. With the fall colors, holiday weekend and COVID-19 capacity restrictions, I knew going early was my best chance at getting into the park, especially the most scenic portions.  I knew from some research that there were a number of trails accessible in the park, but it wasn’t always easy to sync those up with the GPS directions and the park entrance I used.

So I decided to wing it. I knew it was ~ a mile and a half from the first parking lot to Inspiration Point and I decided to go for that as I knew I just wanted to explore the Falls. The Upper and Middle Falls were stunning even with the lack of water and if the leaves weren’t at peak, well I don’t know what peak is. I quickly realized that this was going to be more of a run some/climb some trip, and that was fine on a cool, damp morning. There were some larger tour groups near the Inn and the museum, but overall the park was very quiet. I really appreciated that – not for social distancing reasons, but my pet peeve in parks is people yacking into their phones. I’d love to come back and explore Letchworth at greater length.

chase all the waterfalls

American falls

Bridal Veil Falls

 

I have a strange memory from the childhood road trip to Western New York of asking mom & Dad how I’d know the difference between Letchworth’s falls and Niagara’s when we got the film developed.  Oh the innocence of the internet not giving you a pre-existing image of a place! This is why I had limited time at Letchworth – on a whim within this road trip whim I decided to see if I could make Niagara Falls. It was only about two hours from Letchworth, and it was worth every minute.

I parked in one of the small lots right when you enter the State Park (lower right on this PDF) and had a thought of running Goat Island but a) needed to use the restroom and b) it was a super warm day and I was in capris. I could have done a camp/soccer style car change into a Skirt, as I’d done to switch from a long-sleeve tee to a short-sleeve one, but was not that motivated. I settled for meandering around between the American Falls and Canadian Falls and racked up an impressive amount of steps. Plus it was nice to just sit and people / waterfalls watch. I’m sure Goat Island and the Park in general could be a great race course, but these views weren’t one to run past.

There’s a valid argument that the view from the Canadian side is better, but can’t get any closer than the American side. Had the border been open (weirdest sight ever) I’d have no doubt done that, but I don’t feel like I missed anything. I briefly considered doing Cave of the Winds, but I didn’t see the appeal in getting utterly drenched.

Like I said, absolutely worth the detour. What I didn’t do because I wanted to break up the drive on the last day, but what I’d recommend is staying in Niagara Falls or Buffalo so you have more of the day and/or sunrise at the Falls

Niagara Whirlpool

I left a little after three so as not to drive too long after dark, but before I left Niagara, I wanted to see the Whirlpool, which was something I vividly remembered as a kid. This was one area that I truly wished I had more time to hike because it was absolutely stunning and there are so many trails.

Second Coming House

Mt. Morris Dam

The drive was most definitely not boring as I was treated to a few of the Prophet Isaiah’s house on the way out of Niagara Falls and a beautiful dusk at Mt. Morris Dam as I dipped back into Letchworth on my way southeast. Yes, it would have made MUCH more sense to save Letchworth for when I doubled back, but part of me wanted to see this trip the way I remembered first experiencing the waterfalls, and I was worried about Letchworth being at capacity.

 

this view makes track work fun

never had to worry about a place to run here

I didn’t pick Corning out of any great desire to see the city – in fact I skipped everything but Wegman’s – but rather I was looking for somewhere that would make Tuesday’s drive back to the city more manageable. I figured that would either be Corning, Elmira or Binghamton.  Thank you lots of experience on the southern tier. Corning hotels worked out better, and as I got tired/stressed my night vision, I was glad I made the choice furthest west.

happy wet Cari

When I checked in to the Fairfield Inn, I asked about the best / closest place to run and was pointed toward the Painted Post Trail, which looked great.  When I woke, the weather did not look so great, but I wanted to get out there since I hadn’t properly run Monday and I knew it would make the drive home much more pleasant.

The trail was just as easy to find as the hotel staff made it sound and I extended the trail slightly to incorporate Craig Park and the school trail at the far end. I’m pretty sure it’s my first time on a school trail in  20+ years, and the leaves made it fun. Actually, so did the perfect running temperatures as the rain eased up to a drizzle.

It was fun to run a portion of the Wineglass route, and that race is officially on my bucket list for 2022 or 2023. I thought Corning was much harder to get to than it actually is. And I look forward to seeing Ithaca and Watkins Glen because this trip definitely reminded me how much I love waterfalls. Stunning natural beauty.

I was glad for the run since I barely hit step goal even including the run and the walk from rental car drop off. Overall though, steps were easy to come by on this trip as all of the areas were so much fun to explore. It’s way more fun to see the area you’re overnighting in, even if my road trip over nights aren’t typically that scenic.  This trip can’t be as adhoc in “normal” years as the hotels would be way more likely to be booked for college’s parent weekends and/or leaf peepers. We take the good where we can get it this year.

 

Tuesday Topics

This was going to be wholly a Travel Tuesday, and then I saw the Tuesday Topics was destination running, so linking up with Zenaida and Kim for some run fun.

13 thoughts on “Travel Tuesday: Active Leafcation

  1. Kim G

    I’ve never heard of a Leafcation but what a great idea! Although we can’t have traditional vacations/racecations this year, it’s nice to still be able to travel safely for a change of scenery.

    Reply
    1. cari Post author

      I was surprised no one else was using that on social. To me it’s way more natural than leaf peeping, which sounds super odd to me. I wasn’t crazy about the hotel stays, but wasn’t up for car camping although it’s also a possibility. I think we all need a change of scenery, even if it’s a town away

      Reply
  2. Kimberly Hatting

    Oh, even with my English minor, I have ZERO issue with creating words and treating them and real LOL. For example, I’ve been known to treat the acronym DOMS as a verb (Friday morning had me DOMS’ing). I’d never submit a thesis with any of these creations, but they’re perfectly well-suited for my little blog 😉 Thanks for taking us with you on this beautiful leafcation!

    Reply
  3. Darlene S Cardillo

    This trip sounded perfect. I would totally enjoy what you did.

    When I did Wineglass, we stayed in Painted Post. And it was so foggy and cold the day of our race. Maybe I need a re-do.

    I don’t travel to Rochester and Buffalo anymore for work…I wish I had gone to Letchworth and the Falls when I did. Never enough time.
    What are your Thanksgiving plans?

    Reply
  4. Chocolaterunsjudy

    Watkins Glen is a must-do. Ithaca is really pretty too.

    Memory lane for me, I went to both Letchworth & Niagara several times while in college in Rochester (RIT). And my only trip to Toronto, too.

    I really have SO wanted to go to Letchworth, but it’s a long drive & I believe they don’t allow dogs so that’s not happening right now. My HS friend was there like a week after you. You guys are killing me! Glad you got to enjoy it all. It can’t have been easy being in the city all through this.

    Reply
  5. Deborah Brooks

    You sure posted some incredible photos the last few weeks Fall really is such a beautiful time. I also love visiting Niagara last year and I was blown away by the views. I was on the Canada side 🙂 Thanks for sharing your leafcation with us. Nothing wrong with making up words!

    Reply
  6. Shathiso

    What a lovely travel post and beautifully captured in photos too! There’s nothing like a drive to really see the country. We recently travelled up north and chose two different routes, one going up and one coming back down. And we noticed so many different things – changes in terrain, sand colours, tree sizes. Pre-covid, we would have flown and missed all that, LOL!

    Reply
  7. Coco

    So gorgeous! Sounds like the perfect type of vacation for this time of year, and for this year. I love fall and being outside in fall weather. We visited Niagra from the Canada side a few years ago — it was fabulous.

    Reply
  8. Zenaida Arroyo

    What an awesome trip! I loved seeing all of your pictures. When I ran the Buffalo Half Marathon a few years ago I was planning to see Niagara Falls but did not make it there. Now I regret it. I have seen them on the Canadian side.

    I’ve heard about the Wineglass race. That would be a fun one to do!

    Reply
  9. Pingback: Virtual Races and Running Clothes – travellingcari.com

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