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Rich and Sue Freeman have written several books about New York State, including Take a Paddle – Finger Lakes and 200 Waterfalls in Central and Western New York. I recently read Cobblestone Quest: Road Tours of New York’s Historical Buildings, a handsome book about Cobblestone buildings in New York State.

The book includes a section about cobblestones, including what they are, where they come from, the history of cobblestone buildings, architectural styles, and how to spot a cobblestone building.

The second section includes 17 tours, complete with maps and detailed directions. The tours are located within a 65-mile radius of Rochester, where, according to the Freemans, over 90% of cobblestone buildings in the United States are located. (The reason for this is explained in the first section.)

Each tour takes you to cobblestone houses, businesses, schools, as well as museums and restaurants.

A third section has a handy list of cobblestone museums, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, antique shops, and galleries that are located on the tours, which is handy

Like the Freeman’s other books, this one is thoughtfully laid out and detailed. The cover has several beautiful color photos of cobblestone buildings, but unfortunately, the inside photos are only black-and-white.

For anyone interested in cobblestones, this is an excellent book, Even if you are not particularly into cobblestones, you’ll enjoy the tours, and you just may find yourself becoming quite fond of these unique and attractive buildings.

For more information on the Footprint Press, click here.

Book Review: Cobblestone Quest: Road Tours of New York’s Historical Buildings

Paperback: 208 pages

Publisher: Footprint Press, Inc. (July 18, 2005)

ISBN-10: 1930480199

ISBN-13: 978-1930480193

The Last Ride Haunted Hayride – Hastings, NY

 Guest post by Liz Skellington

Most people like to be scared once in awhile. That’s why we watch scary movies or visit haunted houses. My family likes a good scare, from watching Friday the 13^th to visiting haunted trails on moonless nights. We love Halloween.

I looked for something good to scare us in October, but found few choices. We went to one nearby place, but they were closing early.

We then drove south. I remembered a sign in passing and we figured we’d give it a try. Driving down Route 11 we found the sign – black – offering hayrides and a Haunted House. We took The Last Ride Hayride and it was fantastic, so we went back the next night for the Haunted House.

We all enjoyed the hayride. Due to recent rain there was a lot of mud, which added to the fun. One woman I talked to said that she had looked all over before discovering this place. Among the characters we saw on the hayride were witches that gave us candy, a pirate, and classics like Jason and Freddy. There were also the usual ghosts and ghouls.

The Haunted House was “spook-tacular. As you enter, Dr. Zombie the doorman tells you, “Once you enter there’s no turning back” and locks the door behind you. The day we went, they toned it down for my little girl. It was very dark inside and my husband ran into a wall. The Mad Butcher was my favorite. My son liked the Floating Heads the best.

Dutch, our driver on the hayride, told me that this setup was put together with the help of friends and family in three weeks. His son, Dan, owns the attraction. This year it ran weekends through October and everyday the week of Halloween. There is a concession stand with coffee, donuts, apple cider, soda, chili and other snacks available. There’s also a gift shop.

The property was purchases just for the attraction. Between Dan and Dutch, they’ve run trails and Haunts for over ten years.

This year, tickets were $8 per person for the hayride or the Haunted House. There is also a combo ticket that is $14 for both. Group rates are available. Call 315.529.0320 for info and directions. The Last Ride Haunted House and Hayride is located at 291 Johnson Road, Palermo.

Fall Foliage in New York State

It’s a bittersweet time here in northern New York, at least for me. The leaves are starting to turn, signaling the advance of fall, my favorite season. But it also means that winter is close behind. I like winter, but only the first two months or so. I feel that snow after Christmas is just not necessary!

The leaves here in central New York are probably at about 15 to 20 % right now, but I’m enjoying the contrast of purple and yellow flowers in green fields and rust-colored shrubs. Just a peek at what’s to come!

I’ve found some links to great sites help you enjoy the spectacular fall colors in New York State.

NYS Foliage Report
This site has a map of current foliage conditions as well as a report of where the color is in New York State, region by region. Check the links on the left to check out upcoming events, farms to visit, and an article about why leaves change color.

NYS Scenic Views
Part of the previous site, this page lists great places in New York State to view autumn color.

Driving Tours
Here you’ll find excellent suggestions for driving tours through New York.

Hot NY Deals
Check out this site to search for foliage lodging specials.

I’ll be posting more fall photos as I get them. Enjoy this beautiful season!

Favorite Paddles – Meandering Down the Oswegatchie

We slid our green canoe into the shallow water, climbed in, and pushed off. The sky was blue, punctuated here and there with white fluffy clouds. As we glided silently over the water, it seemed as though we were the only people for miles around.

My husband and I were canoeing the East Branch of the Oswegatchie River near Cranberry Lake, one of our favorite paddles. There were plenty of cars in the parking lot on this beautiful late summer day, so there were other canoeists and hikers around us. We couldn’t hear them though, just the wind in the trees and the chirping of birds.

The word “meander” is used often in describing this branch of the river, and it fits perfectly. The waterway winds leisurely this way and that, around beaver meadows and grassy banks, through riverscapes that “have changed little since Indian times”, according to Paul Jamieson and Donald Morris in “Adirondack Canoe Waters – North Flow”.

“It puts distance between you and the civilized world you have left behind.”

A few hours later, we stopped at a campsite on a bank overlooking the river to eat lunch. We had a perfect view of the river north, south and east. We usually canoe in late summer or early fall, so bugs were practically non-existent; but I’ve heard that they are ferocious in the late spring/early summer months.

We’ve never canoed the entire 13 miles or so to High Falls, but it is definitely on our to-do list. There are a number of campsites along the river, as well as a few lean-tos. The recommended minimum time allowance for the trip to High Falls is three days; two days up and one back.

To get to the boat access point, turn onto Sunny Lake Road (or Inlet Road) and take an immediate left. Sunny Lake Road is 1 mile south of Newton Falls Road (Route 60).

Sunny Lake Road is a long dirt road that leads to the parking area near the put-in. No motor boats are allowed on the river.

For more information, see: “Adirondack Canoe Waters – North Flow” by Paul Jamieson and Donald Morris.
“Quiet Water Canoe Guide – New York” by John Hayes and Alex Wilson.

Friends Lake Inn, in Chestertown, is a hidden jewel. My husband and I stumbled onto this luxurious inn on a weekend jaunt in the Adirondacks. We checked it out, decided to spend the night, and loved it!

Pine trees reflect in the windows of the balcony outside our room at Friends Lake Inn. Photo: ©Brenda Potter Reynolds

We hadn’t planned on a romantic weekend. My husband and I had loaded up our canoe and headed for Loon Lake in the Adirondacks.

When we got there, we found that we couldn’t launch our canoe – the launch site was closed.  Now what to do? We decided to explore the area, and found Friends Lake. While driving around the lake, we came upon Friends Lake Inn.

My husband was intrigued. He went in and checked it out, even though it looked like an upscale place and we were in shorts and sneakers. Soon, he came back out with a big smile on his face. They gave him a great rate, and dinner was included, so he had booked a room!

I didn’t know what to think as I followed him back in. The interior was beautiful, probably four-star. (I later checked, and it is indeed rated four-stars by AAA.) I explained to the desk clerk that we hadn’t packed for this type of stay, that we had planned a weekend of hiking and canoeing. She was very nice and told me not to worry.

So I didn’t. At least until it was time for dinner! But first, we went upstairs to our room – #5. It was wonderful – a Jacuzzi, four-poster bed, and a balcony overlooking the garden. The room was thoughtfully outfitted with robes, magazines and books, and coffee maker. We cleaned up, relaxed, and then went down to dinner.

The restaurant was upscale but relaxed. I felt a little uncomfortable about our attire but I saw other diners in casual dress, so I felt better. We had a very attentive waitress and waiter looking after us, making us feel a bit spoiled. The appetizer, bread and an olive oil dip, was excellent. I had the Baby Chicken and my husband had Glazed Pork Chops. The pace was leisurely and we loved the fireplace. The restaurant also offers an extensive wine list.

After dinner, we retired to our rooms. I spent some time on the balcony, until the cool spring air drove me in. We slept well on the comfortable bed.

Our stay included breakfast so we went downstairs and enjoyed another meal in the restaurant. It was served buffet-style and included fruit, juices, eggs and meat choices, cereal and toast. We chose a table near the windows with a view of the lake in the Lakeview Dining Room.

After breakfast, we lingered, reluctant to leave. We walked around the property and checked out the outdoor sauna and the garden pond.

Friends Lake Inn has 17 rooms, some with Jacuzzi’s, some with fireplaces. The entire staff was friendly and incredibly helpful. The inn offers getaway packages like a Romantic Country Weekend and an Adirondack Adventure Weekend. They also host wine-tasting events.

It was closed while we were there, but in the summer, guests can swim, canoe or fish on the private beach.

For more information about Friends Lake Inn, visit their website  here or call 518 494-4751.

My husband paddles on Lake Durant. Blue Mountain can be seen in the background. Photo: ©Brenda Potter Reynolds.

Blue Mountain, in the central Adirondacks, is awesome from any angle. My husband and I got to see several of those angles from my favorite seat – in a canoe.

Lake Durant, a 327-acre lake near Blue Mountain, was ablaze with fall color when my husband and I paddled there in October. We stayed at the Lake Durant State Park Campground there, and launched right from our site.

Once on the water, it was hard to know where to begin. To our right was a bridge, to the left, beautiful waters that begged to be explored. Right in front of us was Blue Mountain, with its 3759-foot summit. We headed left, (west) towards Rock Pond.

The ever-green of pine trees contrasted with the yellow, orange and red colors of the leaves. It was one of those perfect fall days; warm and sunny with blue skies.

We soon came to a low footbridge that connected a hiking trail. After disembarking from the canoe, we were able to slide it under the bridge. Then we took a break, admiring the view while we rested.

Rock Pond lived up to its name. The outside was rimmed with large rocks, and more lurked below the surface. Near the end of Rock Pond, we startled a Great Blue Heron, who flew off to a more private place.

Paddling back, we stopped at the bridge for lunch. Several hikers passed through as we sat on the bridge and lunched, enjoying the lovely day.

Paddling back on Lake Durant, we followed the north shore, which hugs Route 30 in places. We explored the shoreline, stopping once to climb the bank and check out a road that led to the dam on the northeast end. Then we paddled up to the bridge, which crossed the dam.

The next day we arrived at Blue Mountain Lake. There were plenty of people milling about, but there weren’t many on the water.

We launched and headed west, turning often to admire the view of Blue Mountain behind us. We met a few kayakers as we crossed the lake, paddling past homes and cottages.

A handmade bridge marked our entrance to Eagle Lake. Built by William West Durant, the bridge combines stone with ornate woodwork, and demanded that we stop and take several photos.

We both enjoyed Eagle Lake. It was quieter, very peaceful, and there was little development.

Soon we entered Utowana, a lake we’d often admired from Route 28. This long body of water reflected the fall colors beautifully and encouraged lingering. We stopped at a hidden waterfall for lunch, eating among moss-covered stones. There were a few camps and one lean-to, otherwise we saw few signs of civilization.

We ended our trip at the end of Utowana. Before we left, though, we walked the carry to the Marion River, checking it out for a future trip.

Any day on the water is a good one – but this one was one to remember.

Karen & Jasper’s Bistro, Watertown

I found Karen & Jasper’s Bistro by accident. As my husband and I drove past the Kinney’s Plaza on Washington Street in Watertown, I noticed a sign that read Homemade Italian Food. I was surprised – I didn’t even know that there was a restaurant there.

After we finished our errands, my husband said, “I’m hungry. Where do you want to eat?” He loves Italian food, so when I told him about the sign, naturally he wanted to go there.

I walked in expecting a small diner, but when I saw the real tablecloths and candles on the tables, I knew that wasn’t so. There is a bar in the front and a dining area that was small but not crowded with tables.

The menu had plenty of Italian specialties, including lasagna, manicotti, and homemade gnocchi and meatballs, plus steaks.

I had the spaghetti and meatballs, which was very good. The sauce was tasty and a little spicy. Be forewarned – I don’t know how many meatballs the dinner portion comes with, but the lunch portion came with only one.  But it was it was a good-sized one.

My husband had Chicken Parmesan, his favorite dish. He pronounced it delicious, and I have to agree – the portion I stole off his plate was. Our salads were fresh and also very good.

After our meal, we talked with our waiter, who told us that the proprietors  used to own Benny’s Steakhouse, a well-known restaurant on the other side of Watertown. It had closed and was torn down to make room for a car dealership.

He also told us that the owners had totally renovated the inside of the building, which used to be another restaurant and that the owner built the bar himself in his garage, and then brought it into the restaurant.

We left, delighted that Benny’s legacy lived on, even if it was under a different name. My husband already wants to go back.

You’ll find Karen and Jasper’s at 1322 Washington Street, Watertown Plaza, Watertown. Their phone number is 315-788-4110.

There are nearly 100 wineries within the Finger Lakes Region of New York. One of them, Widmer Wine Cellars, is located in the beautiful hills of Naples on the Canandaigua Wine Trail.

My husband and I recently enjoyed a tour at the Widmer facilities. Our tour group leader’s name was Jerry Karns, but he wore a nametag that read “Helen”. It was the subject of great debate among a few of us. When someone in the tour group finally asked him about it, he told us that it was a great conversation starter. And it was!

Wine Casks at Widmer Winery. Photo(c)Brenda Potter Reynolds

In the initial building, we learned the first of what Jerry called “Jeopardy Facts” – that the containers that are upright are called tanks, and the ones that are on their sides are called casks.

Jerry had several of these facts for us – he told us “If you win on Jeopardy with one of these, just send me a check!”

Next, we progressed through an area where port wines and sherry are aged inside oak barrels.

In the next building, we learned that the winery’s Manischewitz line is the top producer of Kosher wines in the world. Every step of the process is supervised by two rabbi/winemakers.

I found the bottling area interesting. A computer monitors the entire automated line as it bottles, caps, and labels 150 units a minute. Unfortunately, we happened to be there during lunch hour for the employees, so we didn’t get to see the line in action. The line is in action Monday through Friday during the 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. tour.

Beyond the bottling area was a small museum, featuring items and photos from Widmer’s past. We saw photos of founders John Jacob Widmer and his wife Lisette, items and artifacts used in the wine-making process years ago, and photos of a fire that destroyed much of the production facilities in 1943. Luckily, Jerry told us, very little product was destroyed and the production facilities were rebuilt.

The last stop was the gift shop and wine-tasting center. There was a wide selection of gift items and wine accessories available, including jams, juices, and gift boxes. There was – of course – an excellent variety of wines to choose from as well.

Our tour of Widmer was both informative and – thanks to Jerry’s sense of humor – fun. And very tasty!

Resources

For more information about Widmer Wines, visit: Widmer.

For recipes and entertaining ideas utilizing Manischewitz products, visit recipes.

Widmer’s Wine Cellars is located at One Lake Niagara Lane, Naples, NY 14512. Their phone number is 1-800-836-5253.

Although New York State was once home to over 250 covered bridges, only 24 of these historic structures remain.

Covered bridge aficionado Rick L. Berfield spent two years locating, researching, measuring, and documenting remaining covered bridges in the state over 50 years old. The result of this labor of love is the book, “Covered Bridges of New York State”.

Each of the bridges, including four that are on private land, are described in detail, including the year built, the width and length, location, waterway crossed and more.

Beautiful color photography by Richard R. Wilson completes the book.

This book is worth owning for the photos alone, but for anyone who interested in covered bridges will want a copy. Summer’s almost here now and what better way is there to spend a day than looking up and exploring New York’s historic covered bridges.

Covered Bridges of New York State
by Rick L. Berfield
Photos by Richard R. Wilson
Syracuse University Press

Photo(c)Brenda Potter Reynolds. Fair Haven State Park near Oswego.

My husband and I recently visited his grandmother in the hospital in Illinois. As we were leaving, one of the nurses said, “You must be the New York relatives!”

Then she went on to tell us that she visited New York once, and loved it. “The shopping, the lights, all the people! And we went and saw the Statute of Liberty!”

My husband and I looked at each other. We’re used to this, people thinking that New York means New York City. We live in rural northern New York, a good six hours from the Big Apple. I laughed later when I realize that we must have been the most “hillbilly” New York City people she had ever seen!

Yes, we’re privileged to claim New York City as our own, but the rest of the state is just as interesting and beautiful.

In the mid-part of the state, the picturesque Finger Lakes boast lush vineyards, and the home of a former president. New York’s’ Adirondack Park is six million acres of protected wild beauty, as well as home to 46 mountain peaks over 4,000 ft. tall.

The Tug Hill Plateau receives up to 350 inches of snow a winter, sometimes piling up 1 to 4 feet in a single storm!

The mighty Niagara Falls send 40 million gallons of water a minute roaring over the falls.

And the St. Lawrence Seaway offers fishing, recreational boating, and transportation for ships between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.

We’ve got foliage and farms that rival New England, world-class fishing, and we’re backed by one of the Great Lakes.

This site will explore New York, north and west, and all of its natural beauty. Visit us often and experience all of New York State; one of wilderness, outdoor fun and rural beauty.