We are off on a twelve day trip down into the Finger Lake region of New York. The Finger Lakes Region of New York State is a 9,000 square mile, four-season playground, set against a backdrop of Mother Nature’s best work – from waterfalls and gorges to thick, cool woods to rolling hills to miles of spectacular shoreline on 11 glacial lakes and one Great Lake. No matter what you like to do, you’ll find it in abundance in the Finger Lakes. The Finger Lakes has more than 100 wineries and is the largest wine producing region in the United States east of California. Because the vineyards are located within the microclimate the 11 lakes create, growing conditions are ideal for a multitude of varietals. The Finger Lakes burst onto the scene with their signature Riesling, and is known for fantastic whites. But over the last several years, their reds have really come into their own and have won awards worldwide to prove it. There are 4 main wine trails in the Finger Lakes region: Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, Seneca Lake Wine Trail, Keuka Lake Wine Trail and Canandaigua Wine Trail. Not a wine drinker, there are multiple breweries and cideries (not sure if that is a real word – place that makes cider) in the region. We visited the region last year for a few days tent camping, and decided to return for a longer more comfortable visit.
Fillmore Glen State park is a very well maintained park, but is very small, with only 10 electric sites, and the sites are the least private of any State park we have visited. We were here to explore the Gorge trail, check out a few wineries and to become tacky Canadian tourists in the nearby towns. The nicest spot we visited was the village of Skaneateles on the Northern tip of Lake Skaneateles (the water is the second purest in all of the US, only Crater lake is cleaner) As we returned to the campsite at the end of the day we stopped at a small winery (There are far fewer wineries this far east of the Finger lakes) The winery was called Chateau Dusseau, we picked up an interesting white called Aurore.
The Gorge at Fillmore Glen is well known for several impressive waterfalls, however there has been so little rain that they were not impressive, in fact one consisted of slightly damp rock face.. The trails were a great hike though, with the temp considerably cooler in the gorge than back at the campsite.
Marcus really loved the trails, there were so few people around that he was able to be off leash for most of the hike.
Fillmore Glen was named after President Millard Fillmore the 13th US President who was born in a log cabin a few miles from the park (a replica cabin was built on the park grounds)
Another very popular attraction at the park is the creek fed swimming area, however the sign stated that the water was a brisk 61 deg so I decided calling off with an ice cold beer was a more sensible option.
A short stay at Fillmore, not sure if I would recommend the park, while the hiking trails are pleasant, they do not come close to those at Watkins Glen (As we will experience next week) Leaving here tomorrow and heading to Robert H Treman State park out side Ithaca…..we will continue the story then….
