New York literally had us at hello. From the moment we entered the state until we left, we were in love with its breathtaking beauty. We drove through the Allegheny Plateau, past Chautauqua Lake, and Lake Erie before arriving in Ithaca. Our goal was The Cornell Lab of Ornithology but we soon found that there’s so much to do that we added as much as we could to our itinerary.
For more on our drive through the Allegheny Plateau, please see: https://www.facebook.com/wildlifeonthego/posts/1927400347531851
Robert H. Treman State Park
By Eva
I had every intention of getting a run in on the trails at this State Park but its beauty distracted me. My mom and I both agree that it’s the most beautiful place we’ve ever been and we’ve been to some great places. Lucifer Falls is beyond description and we feel that none of our photos reflect how truly amazing it is. There is a cool swimming area at the bottom of the waterfall that is near the campground. It was fun climbing the hills behind our campsite. We recommend trying to hike as much of this park as possible.
For more photos on this State Park, please see: https://www.facebook.com/wildlifeonthego/posts/19281430507909
Buttermilk Falls State Park
By Eva
Breathtaking. The trail we chose ended up being pretty strenuous because it was uphill for a lot of it. Coming down was very steep so it was a little hard on the knees. Learn from us and don’t hike this when you haven’t had much to eat and make sure you bring water. The beauty of the trail definitely made it worth it even if we were sore for a couple of days.
We had originally tried to camp here but our camper is 30′ long and they don’t take anything longer than 20′.
For more photos on this State Park, please see: https://www.facebook.com/wildlifeonthego/posts/1927776880827531
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
By SuzAnne
I teach a class for Marine Science Adventures on Coastal Ornithology so I often refer to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology for information. We had to go out of our way a bit to visit the Lab but we’re glad we did.
The Lab has many different features that are beautiful, interesting, and educational. Beautiful works of art are displayed inside and out. There are areas to listen to recordings of birds, other wildlife, and habitats. Two viewing areas, one downstairs and one upstairs, offer a great chance to see and photograph birds, other wildlife, and wildflowers. The staff was very helpful.
We forgot our binoculars for the hike in the Sapsucker Woods but it worked out because the lab has extras that can be checked out. We didn’t go far before we saw and heard birds, turtles, frogs, and an abundance of wildflowers. The woods are very beautiful and peaceful.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a world leader in bird research and conservation. They offer opportunities for people of all ages to participate in citizen science and to further their education about birds. Visit their website, birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478, for more information.
For more photos, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/wildlifeonthego/posts/1927815374157015.
Cornell Botanic Gardens
By SuzAnne
These gardens are very beautiful! We didn’t plan enough time to really explore but just a small area, unfortunately. There is so much to see that it’s worth taking a day just for these gardens and the walking paths. Make sure you look at a map online before you go.
Cornell University and the city of Ithaca have a lot to offer tourists. We hadn’t researched the area enough or allowed enough time on this trip but we all agree that we definitely want to return! There are other State Parks in the area and also the Finger Lakes.
For more about the Cornell Botanic Gardens, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/wildlifeonthego/posts/1927975187474367
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