Month: August 2016

Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania

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Cherry Springs State Park is a relatively small state park in the northern part of Pennsylvania. There are no major cities for over a hundred miles in each direction, allowing the park to have the darkest skies on the east coast.  In 2007 it was designated as an International Dark Sky Park and has since attracted astronomers from around the globe.

The campgrounds and big, blue sky


Highlights:

  • Stargazing: Visitors come to Cherry Springs for one thing: to view the night sky. At 2300 feet atop the Allegheny Plateau, stars, planets, and even the shadow of the Milky Way is visible.  There are two observation fields. One is for serious astronomers and photographers, the other for the general public. The night we visited was clear, and we layed out on a blanket for hours, just mesmerized by the expansive sky. It was an experience that I won’t soon forget. Photographing the sky requires talent and equipment that I don’t possess, so these photos have been borrowed from internet sources but were taken at Cherry Springs.
  • Nature Trail: The sky is definitely the main event at Cherry Springs, but there is a picturesque nature trail with a varied scenery, wild life, and lots of berry bushes with ripe raspberries and blackberries. The whole family enjoyed the short, but pretty trail.

Travel Tip: Unless you are a hardcore camper, consider staying at some of the other state parks in the region and driving up at night for stargazing. Although the campsites were huge, the campground is very rustic with latrine style toilets and no running water. There also wasn’t much to do during the day, with the exception of the short nature trail. So although we had planned for two nights, we left after just one.

Huge campsite!



For Kids: It’s tough for little ones to wait patiently for the stars to appear, but enjoying a beautiful sunset with a campfire and some smores helps pass the time. Fun for parents too!



Until planning this trip, I had never heard of a “dark park”, but after experiencing the awe-inspiring views of the sky from Cherry Springs State Park, I know we’ll be back!  



Watkins Glen State Park, New York

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We visited many beautiful places this summer, but none quite like Watkins Glen State Park.  Located in the Finger Lakes region of New York, near Seneca Lake, Watkins Glen is a 400 foot gorge through which the Glen Creek flows. The natural stone path leads visitors along a breathtaking trail, with stunning views around each turn.

Some of the many waterfalls seen along the trail



Highlights:

  • Gorge Trail: This 1.5 mile pathway offers the best views of the entire gorge. Magnificent rock formations, waterfalls, and moss covered bridges provide beautiful scenery the entire length of the Gorge Trail. 

The Narrows

The Heart-Shaped Pool

Seen along Gorge Trail


A beautiful bridge along Gorge Trail

Sunlight shining through the rocks



Travel Tip: Although this trail is on the shorter side, be sure to wear appropriate footwear. The rocky trail can get wet and slippery, and there are 832 steps along the trail. And if a round trip hike sound like too much, a shuttle at one end of the gorge will bring you back to the main entrance for $5. 

Liam and Grampy on the Indian Trail

A great walk for all ages!

Climbing stairs with Grammy

A portion of Gorge Trail



For Kids: Not only are there 19 waterfalls along the Gorge Trail, the path even goes behind two of them! Kids will feel the spray of the water as they pass behind Rainbow Falls, and can reach out to feel the cold water pouring over the rocks. It’s exciting for children of all ages!

Jack touching the waterfall

Family photo under Rainbow Falls


Another beautiful view of Rainbow Falls

Jack and Ashley in front of Lily Pond


Watkins Glen State Park is a gorgeous, almost magical place. The scenery is varied and picturesque. Combine it with a trip to nearby Letchworth State Park for a wonderful few days enjoying the natural beauty of upstate New York!

Letchworth State Park, New York

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Often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the East”, Letchworth State Park is a 17 mile stretch of natural beauty. The park is located 35 miles southwest of Rochester, and has recently been named the #1 state park in the U.S. We spent four days camping, hiking, and enjoying all that Letchworth has to offer.


Highlights:

  • Scenic Views: The first glimpse into the gorge is shockingly beautiful. There’s nothing about the surrounding landscape to suggest that such a remarkable natural formation is hidden in the midst. And you don’t need to be an avid hiker to enjoy the views. The most impressive areas can be seen from parking areas right off of the park roads!
  • Waterfalls: Letchworth State Park boasts three gorgeous waterfalls, appropriately named Upper Falls, Middle Falls, and Lower Falls. Each can be seen as part of the scenic drive or from the popular Gorge Trail. Just don’t forget your camera!
  • Hiking: There are few things that I find more relaxing and enjoyable than a walk in the woods, and with over 66 miles of hiking trails, Letchworth provides plenty of opportunities to get out and explore the area. We spend much of our time hiking different areas of the park – even in the rain!
  • Family!: After spending a month on the road, it was awesome to have two of my sisters join us for the weekend at Letchworth! The boys especially enjoyed games of Old Maid, trips to the playground, and making smores with Aunt Ashley and Aunt Amanda. They drove almost three hours to see us, and we loved every minute of the time we spent together!

Travel Tip: Although the hiking and nature walks are some of the best activities that Letchworth has to offer, their trail system can be confusing. The gift shop at the visitors center sells a $7 book that gives a detailed description of each trail, provides suggestions for connecting trails to make loops, and contains a laminated trail  map, which was especially handy during our morning walk in the rain.


For Kids: Just a month before our visit, in June 2016, Letchworth unveiled a 7 million dollar Nature Center. Designed as an educational space, there are interactive exhibits and staff who are eager to share hands-on items like animal furs with the kids. They even have a butterfly garden, a playground, and a 1 mile Storybook Nature trail with 14 stations, each a page from a story about the environment.

Letchworth is well-deserving of its title as the top state park in the nation! They have it all here: A museum, a visitors center, a nature center, scenic drives, amazing hikes, plenty of picnic areas, and there is even a hotel within the park if camping isn’t your thing. Despite it’s remote location, it is absolutely worth the travels to witness the beautiful gorge!

Niagara Falls, Ontario

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View from the top of Skylon Tower

Niagara Falls is an absolutely breathtaking natural beauty, attracting tourists from all over the world. At 180 feet, Nigara Falls is the second largest waterfall in the world, and the amount of water that pours over it is amazing. The entire town of Niagara Falls is focused on the waterfalls, and there are plenty of options for viewing it. With everything from ziplines to sunset cruises there is something for everyone! We purchased the Adventure Pass, which included a Hornblower Cruise, the Journey Behind the Falls, the White Water Walk, Nature’s Fury 6D Experience, and 2 days of unlimited rides on the WeGo bus. It definitely kept us busy! 

Jack and Liam checking out the falls from the window of the Visitor’s Center


Highlights:

  • Hornblower Cruise: It’s the quintessential falls experience to get a poncho and join the masses for a boat ride that takes you right up close to the falls. It’s an experience for all ages to feel the mist and hear the roar of the falls. And you WILL get wet!

    Rocking the red ponchos

    A view of the falls with a Maid of the Mist boat

    A close-up from the Hornblower

  • Journey Behind the Falls: An elevator ride took us down into a series of tunnels that lead to lookout points where we could see that we were actually behind the waterfall! My favorite part was the observation deck with great views super close to the falls!

    The tunnel behind the falls

    A view of the falls from the observation deck

    Jack getting sprayed by the mist

  • Skylon Tower: We debated about spending the money to ascend the tower after spending a full day viewing the falls, but I am so glad that we did! We actually ate dinner at the buffet restaurant up there, which was pricey but also allowed us to visit the observation deck after dinner. This was my favorite spot to view and photograph the falls. You can fully appreciate their magnitude and beauty from the top of Skylon Tower.

    The boys all ready for dinner on top of Skylon Tower

    My boys and I at the top

    The American Falls from the top of Skylon Tower

    Travel Tip: Make time to go see the falls at night, as they are colorfully lit. They even have fireworks and live music on some nights! 

    Night falls!

    Nigara falls is all lit up!


    For Kids: My boys really loved Niagara’s Fury, though I wasn’t overly impressed. It starts with a cute film on the history of Niagara Falls told through cartoon characters and then moves into more of an IMAX type of experience that includes water flying around. I think he’s crazy, but Jack says it was his favorite thing. 

    Even the movie requires ponchos!

    And if you want something that doesn’t require a poncho, both of my boys liked looking for rainbows in the mist.

    Rainbows never get old



    We had a great time in Niagara Falls. It is one of those places that is just overwhelmingly cool, agood item for a bucket list. The only downside for me is that the town is super touristy and we visited during peak season, so there were lots of crowds and long lines. Two days was plenty, and we were ready to head back into the wilderness!

    Presque Isle, Pennsylvania

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    Sunset on Lake Erie

    Presque Isle is a peninsula that juts out into Lake Erie that has been designated as a state park. With 13 miles of roads, 21 miles of trails, and 13 public beaches, it is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a few days of summer!

    Presque Isle location



    Sara’s Campground on the Beach

    There is no campground located inside Presque Isle State Park, but Sara’s Campground is located right outside the entrance. The coolest thing about this campground (and one of our deciding factors in visiting Presque Isle) is that you can camp right on the beach! Our campsite was about six feet from the water’s edge on a sandy beach. We spent a much-needed couple of days swimming, lounging, and finishing each night with a campfire, smores, and stargazing. This truly is a beautiful place!

    Beach bums!


    Highlights: It was all about the beach for us! The boys spent hours in the water each day, barely coming out for a break. The water wasn’t too cold, and the bottom was nice and sandy once you got out past the rocks. 

    The boys swam for hours!


    Travel Tip: You can’t book a site on the beach, and they fill up fast on the weekends. If you have your heart set on setting up your tent on the sand, plan to arrive early on Sunday – Wednesday. We got there at noon on a Sunday and had our pick of waterfront sites. 

    Making smores (and memories!)

    Our campsite on the beach


    For Kids: The weather can greatly impact the size of the waves on Lake Erie. The water was very calm on the day we arrived. Liam could swim freely, and I was comfortable watching from the shore. There was a quick storm in the morning of the second day and the waves got huge. It felt like a freshwater ocean. The older kids on the beach were having a blast body surfing and using boogie boards. The experience was very different each day, so it’s something to keep in mind when planning a trip.

    The calm waters of Day 1


    Liam playing with his new floatie

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    Presque Isle State Park

    We only peeled ourselves off the beach for about a half day of exploring Presque Isle State Park, and I would love to go back some day to do more. They have nature trails, bike rentals, free pontoon boat rides, 13 beaches and more that we’ll have to check out next time. Here are the things we enjoyed during our short visit.

    View of Perry Monument from the boat



    Highlights:

    • Lady Kate Cruise:  This is a scenic boat tour of Lake Erie that includes views of several lighthouses, the skyline of Erie, and views of Presque Isle from the water. It was a pleasant ride, even as a storm was brewing.

      The Lady Kate

      One of the lighthouses seen on the boat tour

    • Lighthouse Tour: There are three lighthouses on Presque Isle, but only one is open for public viewing. For $6 a tour guide will bring you to the top, sharing the history of the area and interesting stories about the lighthouse.

      The Presque Isle Lighthouse

      The view of Lake Erie from the top of the lighthouse

    Travel Tip: Pack a lunch if you plan to spend the day in Presque Isle State Park. I didn’t notice any concessions, but there are dozens of great picnic spots!

    A section of park road


    For Kids: There are 13 public beaches with lifeguards! If you need a break from the water, the park offers free pontoon not rides through the lagoons daily, and 11 miles of paved bike trails (bike rentals available). There’s plenty to keep children of all ages happy!

    Sand castles!!



    I wish we had planned more time in Presque Isle! It is a great place for inexpensive family fun and we had a great time relaxing on the beach after a very busy few weeks of travel. And the sunsets are breathtaking!