I Love (Upstate) NY!

In the midst of a brutal NY winter, one that never seems to end, I needed a reminder of why I love this area.  When out of state people hear I Love NY or even New York State, they think the glitz and chaos of New York City.  Nice to visit, but my kind of New York couldn't be more opposite from the City. 

I live in Jefferson County- nestled on the shores of Lake Ontario.  Born and raised here, I am always at a loss when I hear of Fort Drum transplants complain of how much they dislike this area.  Perhaps different values, maybe different hobbies.  Granted, the humidity in the summer can feel suffocating at times, and several feet of snow falling is nothing new to us, but I still love that I can call upstate New York home. 

Today I was at the counter of a local butcher's shop (Little Barn Bulk Foods) picking up fresh cuts of meat and I was reminded of why I love it.  The owner saw some faces he didn't recognize and introduced himself with a smile and shook their hands.  I browsed the shop, looking at containers of local honey, marbled rectangles of homemade soaps, plastic bags of fresh cheese curd, homemade muscle relaxing rice bags, etc.  On the counter top was an advertising for next weekend open house at local maple syrup farms.  We are so fortunate to live in an agricultural area.  I can't fathom living in an area where there are no pumpkin patches to select the perfect jack o lantern from.  Can you imagine what it's like to grow up and not know what it's like to pick a ripe berry or green bean straight off the plant and pluck it into your mouth? 

We took the scenic route home and could drive for miles without seeing a house.  In another season, I am sure those fields would be occupied with cows or horses.  We did see some deer in the distance, at the edge of the thicket of trees.  While everything right now is covered in a frosty blanket of white, soon the green buds will appear on the branches and a lush carpet of green grass will replace the snow.  In the fall, those green buds will eventually turn into masterpieces of yellow, red, orange bursts that will cascade slowly down.  Raked into a huge pile creates hours of fun for little ones who run and jump into the pile of the leaves. 

I can enjoy the sandy beaches along the shore of Lake Ontario.  Or if I prefer the mountains, I am only a drive away from the Catskills or the Adirondacks.  Those who thrive in the faster pace of a city can seek refuge about an hour away in Syracuse.  Or a further drive will put you at Rochester, Buffalo or Albany.  I do fine with having Watertown within a fifteen minute drive away.  Lots of nationally known chains (Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Applebee's, Starbucks, etc) and then the treasure trove of locally owned gems in the area.  You could go fancy with Café Mira, Sboro's, Tin Pan or The Clipper Inn or casual with Fairground Inn, Jeans Beans, The Barley Pub, Gram's Diner or The Crystal Restaurant.  Bakeries like April's Cake Shop, Pearl's Pastry or Chrissy's Beanz provide unforgettable treats to quiet the fiercest of sweet tooth's!  For the health nuts, be sure you stop in to Mustard Seed or Green Thyme.

Especially if you enjoy the outdoors, upstate New York has endless options for you.  Hiking, Biking, Kayaking, Boating, Fishing, Hunting, Snowshoeing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Ice Skating, Sledding, ATV riding, Camping, Swimming, etc. 

To really experience what upstate New York has to offer be sure you:

• Attend Farmer's Markets to sample locally grown foods and locally made goods.  Click here for a list. 
• Visit Boldt Castle.
• Eat a Jreck Sub. 
• Feed the goats at Old McDonald's Farm.
• Pick your own apples at Behling Orchards. 
• Make your own jam with fresh berries you pick yourself - for a list of places that offer "u-pick", click here. 
• Visit Thompson Park- great playground for children (free), slide down the hill in the winter (free), ice skating (bring your own, free) or visit the Thompson Park Zoo (fees, best time is Boo at the Zoo around Halloween.)  Around the 4th of July they host the Syracuse Symphony followed by fireworks- all free.
• Adults looking for entertainment should check out Lake Ontario Playhouse Comedy Club or go on a wine tour of our local wineries. 
• Throw on your pajamas, pop some popcorn and jump in the car to head to the drive-ins for a double feature for less than the price of admission of one movie at the theater!  Choose from Black River Drive-Ins or Alex Bay Drive-Ins.  The South Jefferson Rescue Squad also hosts several FREE movies-on-the-lawn nights! 
• Check out the festivals galore including but not limited to:  The Cheddar Cheese Festival, The Cream Cheese Festival, NYS Woodsmen's Field Days, The French Festival,  Punkin Chunkin Festival, Made in New York Festival, etc. 
• Enjoy some fresh maple syrup during Maple Weekend's Open Houses! 
• Go tubing/skiing/boarding at Dry Hill Ski Area. 
• Check out the numerous State Parks in the area which provide grounds for hiking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, picnicking, swimming, boating, etc. 
• Go white water rafting down the Black River. 
• Cut your own Christmas tree down after a horse-drawn sleigh ride at Hemlock Haven. 
• Stand in the middle of the Ice Castle at the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. 
• Get an up close look at how the Eisenhower Lock works on the St. Lawrence Seaway!   
• See wind power at work and witness the towering wind mills located at the Maple Ridge Wind Farm. 
• Two words - Adirondack Mountains.  Those two words contain the most breathtaking scenery, the best hiking, the coziest towns year round.  A drive through the Mountains is a must at fall time.  Home to the 1980 Olympics, Lake Placid still offer luge and bobsled rides, skiing, skating and so much more.  Visit Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George. 
• Cool off during the humid summers with a visit to Enchanted Forest Water Safari in Old Forge. 
• Read a book at the beautiful Flower Memorial Library. 
• Visit the North Pole.  North Pole, NY that is...home of Santa's Workshop. 
• Hop aboard the Bunny Express or Polar Express at the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. 
• Take a cooking class with Boo Wells of The Farmhouse Kitchen. 
• Drive a go-kart, play some miniature golf or take a swing at the batting cages at Rt 342 Go Karts & More.
•  Explore the walking trails in the area. 
• Participate in geocaching at the Minna Anthony Common Nature Center. 

Or travel a bit further to enjoy these activities:

• Experience the power of the Niagara Falls.  While activities such as Maid of the Mist do charge a fee, to walk the park and witness the breathtaking falls it is FREE!! 
• Play at the National Museum of Play. 
• Experiment at the Museum of Science and Technology.
• Travel across the Thousand Islands Bridge and enter into a different country- Canada!
• Visit the Baseball Hall of Fame. 
• Prospect for diamonds at the Herkimer Diamond Mines. 
• Experience history at The Erie Canal. 
• Watch glassblowing at The Corning Museum of Glass. 
• Bounce around the Sky Zone Indoor Trampoline Park. 
• Explore endless choices of entertainment by visiting the I Love NY website...

Please feel free to comment below as there is no way one post could possibly encompass everything there is to see and do in upstate New York and surrounding areas!  I am hoping that this blog reaches those being stationed in Fort Drum or just new to the area see what a great area it really is.  Or maybe give long time residents ideas of things to see or do.  Or perhaps, like me, a reminder of why we live here...and LOVE IT!