Although I moved to Long Island, New York in the 1960s, I had never traveled much "upstate" (anything north of New York City). Yes, I'd been to events in Beacon and to Bear Mountain State Park (when I was young enough to climb to the top). But never to Albany, the state capital or any of the many scenic areas.

But "upstate" had always been on my agenda, particularly Niagara Falls, as my parents traveled there (in the middle of the depression) for their honeymoon. Finally, in 2021, I began a series of trips upstate. I would have started with Niagara Falls, but with COVID, the Canadian border was closed, not a good time to visit there.

Instead, I chose to visit Albany and then a bit of The Adirondacks. By 2022 the Canadian border was open. I spent several weeks journeying along much of the route of the Erie Canal, to Niagara Falls and beyond. I took brief detours, one to the Corning Glass Museum and another to Letchworth State Park, a beautiful park with magnificent waterfalls between Rochester and Buffalo.

My interest having been whetted, I vowed to return to visit more of the Lakes Region, particularly its waterfalls. But 2023 and 2024 took me elsewhere, to Boston and Washington. But the Lakes Region was definitely on my agenda for this year (2025). I did some research and, with some help from a photographer who regularly posts on Facebook, I had a plan.

However, I had some health issues this past spring and summer which precluded travel. Finally, come September, I felt up to the trip, but other commitments limited it to a short three days.

I spent the first day near Ithaca, the second near Watkins Glen and the third farther north towards Rochester. I had some thoughts of getting all the way to the gorge in the center of Rochester, but my hiking at Stony Brook State Park left me so exhausted that I gave that up. A goal for another upstate trip.

It turned out to be a good time to play the tourist. The weather cooperated: no rain, comfortable temperatures for hiking. The foliage was just beginning to turn. And the summer crowds were long gone. The only issue was the lack of water. A long summer/fall drought had left the waterfalls and streambeds shriveled, in some cases to a dribble. That did make the rocks in the streambeds more visible, but I’d like to return sometime when rain has filled up the streams.

I’ve enjoyed these trips I’ve taken in the last five years. Driving my own car, I avoid all the hassles of airlines and rental cars. I can adjust the itinerary to accommodate the weather, my energy, and “discoveries” I make along the way.