Posts filed under ‘Seneca falls’
A Seneca Falls: His Story
View of downtown Senca Falls from the Sculpture Trail
A fabulous post from Not That Geneva:
Seneca Falls Still Matters
Take the time to visit Seneca Falls.
The Secret Sidewalk of Charlotte
Sidewalk between houses and Lake Ontario
Several years ago my husband surprised me with an invitation to go for a walk. Usually it is me that is begging to get outside, but he had a received some inside information on a secret sidewalk in Charlotte.
Lakeside view from the sidewalk.
We parked our car on a side street off Beach Avenue and walked west from the public beach. Maybe a half mile down the road of lovely lake houses we noticed that there was a paved sidewalk, connecting to the main street sidewalk at a 90 degree angle, with a painted marker on it, passing between two of the houses. It initially looks like you might be trespassing on someone’s property, and in any other neighborhood you would be, but (80 years ago) there used to be a street running between these houses and the beach. Today it is only a right-of-way, but what a tremendous glimpse you get!
Markers on the sidewalk indicate and entrance
One of the entrances is very near the intersection Clematis St. and Beach Ave.
For more information on the history and zoning of this lovely stretch of land.
Cayuga-Seneca Canal Kayak
View from Cayuga-Seneca Canal looking towards Seneca Falls
Late in the afternoon on a hot and lazy Saturday I drop my kayak into the Cayuga-Seneca Canal right outside of Waterloo. The water is surprisingly clear and there is little current making it ideal for self-propelled paddlers.
There are lots of river dwellers to observe — heron, kingfishers, sunfish, ducks, and painted turtles. They are used to the boat traffic, but not used to me when I tried to sneak up close for a picture.
Great Blue Heron posing
The Cayuga-Seneca Canal is a 16 mile section of the Seneca River, which flows 61.6 miles from west to east, starting at Seneca Lake flowing east through the Montezuma Marsh, at the north end of Cayuga Lake to Three-Rivers (Onondaga County) where it combines with the Oneida and Oswego Rivers, with the Oswego River then emptying into Lake Ontario.
Between Seneca Lake and Seneca Falls, the canal flows parallel to routes 5 and 20, making it much easier to drop in a kayak. This section of the river gets a lot of motorboat traffic (Limit 6 mph) many of whom are fisherman.
Turtles are camera shy
Pretty detour off of the canal
Chasing Kingfishers
Where can you drop your kayak into the water? Here is a list of marinas:
Cayuga Marina, 6721 River Road Route 90, Cayuga, NY 13034, (315) 252-5754
Seneca Falls Harbor, 60 State Street, Seneca Falls, NY 13148, (315) 568-2703
Waterloo Harbor & Campground, 1278 Waterloo-Geneva Rd., Waterloo, NY 13165, (315) 539-8848
Hidden Harbor Marina, 1076 Waterloo-Geneva Rd., Waterloo, NY 13165, (315) 539-8034
A & B Marinem, 634 Waterloo-Geneva Rd., Waterloo, NY 13165, (315) 781-1755
Inland Harbor Marina, 608 Waterloo-Geneva Rd., Waterloo, NY 13165, (315) 789-7255
Barrett Marine Inc., 485 W. River Rd., Waterloo, NY 13165, (315) 789-6605
Montour Falls Marina, Marina Drive, Montour Falls, NY 14865, (607) 535-9397
Stiver’s Seneca Marine, 401 Boody’s Hill Road, Waterloo, NY 13165, (315) 789-5520
Cayuga-Seneca Canal
Showing the entire path of the Seneca River
Other places to launch a kayak along the Seneca River :
Cayuga Co. In the Town of Aurelius along Lock Rd. just off Rt. 90 in the Hamlet of Mud Lock. Concrete ramp. Parking for 10 vehicle. Restrooms.
Cayuga Co. At the bridge on Bonta Bridge Rd. 2 mi./3.2 km. east of the Village of Weedsport. Hand launching. Parking for 10 vehicles.
Cayuga Co. Mosquito Point. On Rt. 38, 3 mi./4.8 km. north of the Village of Port Byron just north of a large trestle bridge. Hard surface launching ramp. Non-motorized boats only. Parking for 15 vehicles and trailers.
Cayuga Co. Howland Island. Off Rt. 38 3.5 mi./5.6 km. north of the Village of Port Byron. Hard surface launching ramp. Parking for 23 vehicles.
Town of Tyre. At the Barge Canal in the Montzuma Wildlife Refuge, off Rt. 20. Hard surface launching ramp. Parking for 25 vehicles.
Wayne Co. Town of Savannah. Where Railroad Rd. meets the river. Car-top launch. Parking for 3 vehicles.
Wayne Co. Howland Island. At the end of Carncross Rd. Car-top launch. Parking for 5 vehicles.
Finger Lakes Antiques: Amazing Treasures to be Found
My Finger Lakes Treasure from the Teller House: a painting of their summer home.
The Finger Lakes area is loaded with antique stores and antiquing events. Should you vacation here, you may find yourself sucked in to a nearby town to hunt for a military trunk that can double as a coffee table, as I was recently, with my niece from Brooklyn. She said the prices were much lower than anything she had seen in the New York City area. We did not find a winner, but I think I might have about 6 different options for her in my attic.
I have six different military trunks in my attic
All were purchased by my Dad after WW2, and sent us all off to camp and college
I confess, I am NOT an “Antiquer.” I grew up in a house and cottage FILLED with antiques that I assumed were hand-me-downs from our many Finger Lakes relations. It did not occur to me that these were valuable or collectable.
My Grandpa had inherited the contents of 2 large estates in Auburn, New York in the early 1950s and most of us grand kids have furnished our homes with the furniture that came out of the summer and winter homes of Judge Teller and his spinster sister.
My oldest brother is the only one who can remember the process of having to empty the contents of the two homes. There was a horse drawn sleigh in the barn, civil war uniforms in trunks, and fruit preserves, in the basement, over 50 years old! Much of the furniture from these homes has made its way into the homes of my 4 siblings and me.
I remember the antiques in my Grandma’s house on East Lake Road in Skaneateles. Her house was where I spent my youthful Sundays with my big brother, both of us bored to death while the grown-ups were visiting, so we would explore, discovering the 50-year old Life Magazines in her attic, or climbing the long-since productive fruit trees in the orchard leading from her house to the lake.
This was one of the trucks we played with
My brother and I found metal toy trucks big enough for us to ride down her pitched driveway. He remembered this coca-cola truck.
Sunday afternoons at Grandmas House included these tiny classics
We also found “Big Little Books”upstairs in her guest bedroom that we devoured.
Here is a partial listing of some of the Finger Lakes antique stores:
Bloomfield Antique Mile — You’ll find plenty of antique shops representing more than 175 dealers! Beautiful Bloomfield, NY, is flourishing as an antique mecca: we’re home to a generous country mile of quality shops dotting the old Seneca Trail (now known as Routes 5 & 20)
The Carriage Factory Antiques contains 3 floors of old “stuff” Located o between Canandaigua and Geneva, on 2348 State Route 5 and 20 in Stanley, NY 14561-9540, (585) 526-6076, Open Daily 10am-5pm
Country Reflections Antiques and Gifts — Located on 83 Cayuga St. in Seneca Falls at the Northern end of Cayuga Lake.
FOUND in Ithaca is a multi-dealer antique and vintage marketplace. Located in the Cherry Street Industrial park just two blocks from Wegmans. FOUND’s 7000 square foot space has room for over 40 dealers. The website shows images of many items. 227 Cherry St, Ithaca, NY 14850, Open 10-6 every day, EXCEPT TUESDAY, Phone: 607.319.5078.
The Ithaca Antique Center – This “mall” is a lot more than a shop, but it has a more than 75 dealers under one roof. Located at 1607 Trumansburg Road, Ithaca NY 14850. Hours Mon-Sat 11-6 and Sun 12-5. P: 607-272-3611.
Ontario Mall Antiques — Largest antique mall in upstate New York. Located on Rt 332 in Farmington (North of Canandaigua).
The Paris Flea — Located in downtown Skaneateles, on 23 Jordan St.
The Skaneateles Antique Center — 2 East Genesee Street, In the Village of Skaneateles, NY 13152, 315-685-0752. Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 to 5:00, Sundays 11 to 5:00
Some good links:
Also a listing of antique shows
If you like antique wooden boats, there is an Antique and Classic Boat Show every July in Clift Park, downtown Skaneateles. This year’s show is July 29, 30, & 31, 2011.
Travel Back in Finger Lakes Time to The Hayward House
The Hayward House is a Bed and Breakfast in Ovid New York. The house is actually in the middle of nowhere, but not too far from everywhere you might want to go, whether it’s wineries, the lake shore, Ithaca, Seneca Falls, or Watkins Glen. But when you stay at The Hayward House know that you will get peace and quiet, and big sky and stars galore.
DiVine Dining at the Hotel Clarence, Seneca Falls, NY
The newly renovated Hotel Clarence
The grand old Gould Hotel on Fall Street in downtown Seneca Falls has stepped into the future with a $6.2 million renovation and a new name with an old history — Hotel Clarence.
This modern boutique hotel and its exceptional restaurant are a vibrant social center and lovely destination for guests wanting to experience the charm and the history of the Finger Lakes Region. Hotel Clarence features revitalized architecture, contemporary American cuisine at DiVine, the newly renamed Kitchen and bar, and all the modern amenities one would expect from a four-star hotel.
Dining on a sunny day at DiVine
DiVINE Kitchen & Bar prides itself on utilizing fresh products from Seneca County’s many wineries and farms to create its cuisine. Great local beer too. The Clarence has hired the former chef at Mirbeau Inn and Spa. He is also the executive chef and owner of Moro’s Table in Auburn, Edward Moro. I can’t say enough wonderful stuff about Moro’s Table.
Moro said he worked in California’s Napa Valley and in the Oregon wine country before coming to the Finger Lakes. He said he was attracted to the New York wine region
“This is where I plan to live for the rest of my life,” says Moro “It’s a great area to raise kids, and it has wonderful food and wine.”
The menu consists of fresh-breads, crisp bountiful salads, farmer’s market vegetables, slow smoked ribs, thick steaks grilled over hardwood, the freshest seafood and homemade desserts and ice cream.
I did not have time to try one of each, so I ordered the ROASTED BEET AND MACHE SALAD with Local Goat Cheese, Candied Pecans and Fresh Pears, and I added some shrimp.
For dessert I ordered the bread pudding, which would have fed a mid-sized medieval village, it was so big!
Downtown Seneca Falls in winter
Seneca Falls claims itself as the real Bedford Falls — the site of the 1946 Frank Capra movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The restored hotel is named for the angel rescued by the film’s hero, George Bailey, who jumps from a bridge to save Clarence. The theme of the beloved movie ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ greets you, (projected on to the white wall of the lobby) as you enter the hotel and reminds the traveler of times gone by. This gem should not be missed by those planning a trip to upstate New York.
A cozy corner in the lounge
The Gould Hotel opened in February 1920 and at the time the Syracuse Journal claimed The Gould Hotel to be “the most complete and perfectly equipped of the smaller hotels of New York State. Four stories in height, absolutely fireproof in construction and equipped in perfect taste and convenience, it is scheduled to become the Mecca for travelers and autoists between Rochester and Syracuse.
Beyond its fantastic location, Gould Hotel featured gorgeous Spanish style architecture, elaborate banquet facilities and a renowned restaurant. Unfortunately, The Gould Hotel eventually closed and the building was turned into apartments. It subsequently sat vacant for quite some time.
The actual bar from Muldoons
The old mahogany bar in the Hotel Clarence came from Muldoon’s, a longtime downtown Seneca Falls bar. Tom Muldoon, the owner, was a colorful character, and the bar and its owner are fondly remembered by Seneca Falls natives.
The hotel’s central location is within short walking distance of the Ludvico Sculpture Trail and the National Women’s Hall of Fame. It is also close to MANY wineries around both Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. It is a short drive to the Waterloo Outlet Mall and the Montezuma Wildlife Refuge.
If you want to check out reviews, you will find they are many and varied as some LOVE the renovation and some are underwhelmed.
The Hotel Clarence is located at 108 Fall Street, Seneca Falls, NY 13148
Reservations can be made by calling 877-788-4010
A Finger Lakes Stroll Through Seneca Falls
The Ludvico Sculpture trail has a name more auspicious than it is. But it is perfect for the downtown of Seneca Falls. It can be used for hiking biking, X-country skiing, or dog walking. What I liked about the trail the most was the great view it provided of the downtown area via the canal that runs right through town.
Finger Lakes Summer's Blog 