Finger Lakes Waterfalls, Museums and Wine Tasting

many of them into an extended weekend. Feel free to meet up late Fri. or early Sat., but I'd like to drive up Thur. afternoon and evening, camp out at a campsite in a national forest between Seneca and Cayuga lakes, and begin sightseeing early Fri. If we can't stay in the NF, Watkins Glen and other state parks with campsites are nearby. Weekends after the Labor Day weekend are usually cooler and less crowded than before, so camping is likelier to feel cozier. There are two big museums west of the campsite: one is the Corning glass museum, probably the largest of its kind in the US. Not only did Corning and other local glassmakers create some of the most brilliant glasswork, but Corning developed the ceramics used to coat fiber optic cable, an important artifact in modern technology. Another museum choice (and a smaller one) is the Curtis aviation museum. By Lake Keuke, this is where Glen Curtis made the first airplane takeoffs and landings on water. Not as well known today as Ohio's Wright brothers, Curtis was a major flight pioneer, and examples of some of his company's airplanes are at the museum, both originals and reproductions. It also has vintage automobiles. The 19th-C. brick buildings of Hammondsport are nearby. Time permitting, we'll try to start seeing waterfalls late Fri.: there are many near Montour Falls. Wineries and the occasional microbrewery or distillery dot the shores of the various lakes, and we may have time to sip or guzzle late each sightseeing day, or earlier if you get exhausted from waterfall gazing. Few if any of the falls are much of a hike, but we will keep busy driving from one to the next. Lake views (like the banner pic of Lake Seneca) will probably be available at or near many of the falls. Let's begin Sun. seeing waterfalls some ways N. of Ithaca, see some (and gorges) in and around Ithaca itself, maybe have an early dinner in Ithaca, then leave. I've counted up to sixteen waterfalls we can see over the weekend, though I doubt whether we'll have time and energy (and sobriety?) for all of them.

How to find us: From the North, take State Route 414 South towards Watkins Glen, NY (Exit 41 off I-90). Travel south roughly 35 miles, turn left onto County Route 2 (roughly 1 mile past the Dandy Mini-Mart).  Travel for 4.0 miles east.  Blueberry Patch Campground is on the right.