Sister Trip to the Finger Lakes Region- Keuka Lake & Hammondsport, NY

Sister Trip to the Finger Lakes Region- Keuka Lake & Hammondsport, NY

July 1-4, 2009

My little sister Megan and I had wanted to vacation at Keuka Lake in Hammondsport, New York for years. She had spent many summers at Keuka Lake as a nanny to a family with a summer home on the lake. Even after they sold their cottage, she still traveled to Hammondsport for summer vacations. Although Megan and my middle sister, Joanna, had vacationed at Keuka Lake, I’d only spent a day there and was looking forward to experiencing the Lake, the town of Hammondsport and the surrounding Finger Lakes Region on a long holiday weekend.

Day 1- Watkins Glen State Park

From Akron, Ohio the drive to Hammondsport is only about 5.5 hours. We listened to CDs of movie soundtracks, stopped at scenic overlooks and talked about our upcoming adventures as we drove Interstate 77 North to I-271N to I-90E to I-86E to New York Route 54N into Hammondsport, New York, where we’d be staying. But we’d gotten on the road early so our first stop was Watkins Glen State Park, just east of Hammondsport.

The little town of Watkins Glen, on the south end of Seneca Lake, is quite quaint with galleries, antique shops, book stores and other small town storefronts. We were amazed to find the Watkins Glen State Park ($7.00/car) right in the middle of town. It rained our entire trip but when we arrived around 2:00pm the showers had stopped and the sun was peeking out from under the clouds. The views from the parking lot were amazing- we could see steep cliffs on both sides and a bridge crossing over the first of 19 waterfalls.

As soon as we passed through the tunnel which is the entrance to Watkins Glen State Park, we were instantly amazed by the stunning beauty of our surroundings. We’d seen pictures of the park but were still taken aback by everything we were seeing- waterfalls shooting from narrow crevices in the rock wall, small footpaths curving around the gorge, arching bridges over steep cliffs. We decided to explore as much as we could and spent the rest of the afternoon hiking each of the main trails- Indian, South Rim, Lover’s Lane and the spectacular Gorge Trail. We decided to hike the Indian Trail to the top of the Gorge and then walk the Gorge Trail back. This was a very wise decision- there’s a 400-foot rise in elevation over 1.5 miles from the bottom to the top of the Gorge. The Gorge Trail consists of 832 steps- it was much easier for us to make the trek on the Indian Trail with rugged terrain but no steps and just do the steps on the way down.

The views on the Gorge Trail are striking! The sights got more and more impressive as we traveled down the Gorge behind the trickling Rainbow Falls, over a bridge crossing the 60-foot Central Cascade waterfall, into the Spiral Tunnel and behind the rushing Cavern Cascade waterfall. When we reached the bottom of the Gorge Trail we turned around and headed back up so we could do the Lover’s Lane path next. After that, we hiked the South Rim Trail back the Mile Point Bridge and hiked the Gorge Trail out again. Watkins Glen State Park was a great way to start our vacation and was one of the highlights of the entire trip.

From Watkins Glen we traveled beautiful country roads over hills and into valleys back to Hammondsport. We stopped to take in beautiful views of Keuka Lake from an eastern hilltop. After stopping at the Hammondsport Grocery for a few snacks including super-soft and delicious powdered donuts, we checked in to the Vinehurst Inn ($84/night, 10% AAA discount). We enjoyed the Vinehurst very much. The accommodations are very affordable and offer a Continental breakfast, a dining patio and an outdoor fireplace area. We had Room #1 with neutral decor, vaulted ceilings and a small kitchenette area with fridge, microwave, sink and dishes. We loved being the last unit because we had a lot of privacy- there was a landscaped area and a birch tree outside our window and a small area of grapevines beyond. A bench outside our room was a nice place to sit and read. We unpacked, got settled into our room and spent the rest of the evening drinking wine and playing cards.

Day 2- Wine Tasting and More

Although a high chance of rain was in the forecast for every day of our trip, we decided that we were not going to let that stop us from doing most of the things we wanted to do, including hiking a huge hill on the western side of the Lake called ‘Bully Hill.’ After enjoying the Continental breakfast at the Inn, we drove into Hammondsport, parked lakeside and started our hike up a 2.25-milelong continuously climbing hill. The sky was cloudy but blue and there were great views of the hillside, vineyards, lake and bluff. The sky turned dark as we walked back down the hill and rain started to pour as we were nearing the bottom but we just had fun with it, jumping in puddles, kicking our feet and laughing.

Wine-tasting was on the agenda for this day but we first stopped at the Glen Curtis Museum ($7.50/person, $1 AAA discount) because we saw a sign that said they were featuring vintage bathing suits. After watching a short film about Glen Curtis and all his accomplishments (avid athlete and sportsman, aviation pioneer, inventor, “fastest man on Earth”), we took in the bathing suit exhibit. It alone was worth the entrance fee. The bathing suits were fantastic! We loved examining the details of each suit as they were so unique. After the vintage bathing suit exhibit, we walked around the rest of the museum and looked at bicycles and motorcycles that Glen Curtis had built, furniture and jewelry belonging to his wife, and the airplanes, flying boats and other inventions that made him such an influential figure in his day. Visiting the Glen Curtis Museum isn’t the typical type of attraction that we’d take in but we really enjoyed ourselves- the bathing suit exhibit was one of the highlights of the trip.

From there we headed to the Bully Hill Vineyard for our first wine tasting of the trip. We decided to do the custom tasting, which was $1/tasting of any wine on their menu. Our wine guy was very helpful- he took the time to ask us what we typically liked and made suggestions. We chatted with him about hiking in the area while tasting American Riesling, Goat White, Bully Hill Riesling, Sweet Walter White, Ives and Banty Red. After selecting a few bottles to purchase, we headed over to the Bully Hill Restaurant to enjoy a mid-afternoon snack of tapas. We selected Olive Oil Roasted Garlic with Goat Cheese and Baked Brie with Sweet Walter Cranberry Compote along with a glass of Seasons wine. The portions we received were much larger than we had expected and we enjoyed both tapas very much but I think we’d probably give the Roasted Garlic and Goat Cheese the edge if we had to pick a favorite.

From Bully Hill we headed over to Dr. Konstantin Franks Vinifera Wine Cellars for a free tasting. We waited for a few moments to gather a group of about 10 and then headed into a tasting room where a wine guy would give us a choice between two wines, one sweeter and the other drier. Meg and I usually just got one of each so we could try each others, as well. We tried five different pairings including the 2006 Chardonnay, 2007 Gewurztraminer, 2007 Semi Dry Riesling, Salmon Run Coho Red and the Chateau Frank Celebre Champagne. The wine guy was a lot of fun- he kept us laughing the whole time.

After leaving Dr. Franks, our last stop was Heron Hill Winery. We each decided to try any 6 wines on the menu for $5. We loved our wine guy- although he was serving a few different couples he had a way of carrying on individual conversations with each of us. He gave us tastes of wines we had not chosen because he thought we’d enjoy them- all his suggestions were great. He was a blast. I tried the Classic Chardonnay Unoaked 2007, Classic Semi-Dry Riesling 2007, Classic Semi-Sweet Riesling 2007, Late Harvest Vidal Blanc 2007, Reserve Old Riesling 2005, Ingle Vineyard Riesling 2006, Late Harvest Riesling 2004 and Riesling Ice Wine 2003. We made a few purchases and then headed back to our hotel room to relax.

After resting, Megan and I thought it would be fun to go out for a few drinks. We headed to Maloney’s Pub, a place that the Heron Hill wine guy said had live music and a cool vibe. It was open mic night and a duo was playing bar classics like “Margaritaville” and “Rolling Stone.” We met a few locals who generously kept us in shots of Patron and Absolute Cran all night. I chatted with a local grocer Dan who made a few suggestions for the trip to Corning we had planned for the next day. Megan and I had a blast- it was the perfect way to cap off a day full of fun!

Day 3- Bath, Corning and Beyond

It was drizzly and we were recovering from the night out so instead of hiking we decided to just take it easy. Our first destination was Bath to do a little thrift store shopping. On our way we stopped at the Betty Kay Bake Shop to pick up a few treats. The glazed donuts and apple fritters were amazing (3 donuts, 3 cookies- about $3.50)- of all our travels only their glazed donuts have rivaled our own hometown bakery Archer’s.

After making a few purchases at the local thrift shop, we headed East on I-86 to Corning to visit the Corning Museum of Glass. When we arrived the place was packed with kids because they get in for free. Someone had told us that the gift shop offers almost as much to see as the tour does so we decided to skip the tour and visit the huge gift shop instead. What an amazing sight! Everything just gleamed and sparkled. Along with classic Corning and Pyrex bake ware, intricate pieces of art glass and crystal were displayed. Christmas ornaments and household decorations were displayed along with glass lenses used in the space program. As a couple of girls who love to shop, we could have spent hours in here!

We headed into historic Corning for lunch. On Dan’s recommendation, we tried Atlas Brick Oven Pizza (medium pizza, about $9) and it was scrumptious! We ordered the classic sauce and cheese blend, half plain, half with pepperoni. After a morning of feeling slightly under the weather, Atlas Pizza was all I needed to cure a lingering hangover.

That evening we headed to Maloney’s Pub to see ‘Blues Explosion.’ We just wanted to spend a little more time in Hammondsport on our last night so we had a few drinks, enjoyed the band but then headed back to the Inn to start packing up. We spent our last night in the room, playing cards, scrolling through the pictures and reflecting on our trip.

Day 4- Letchworth State Park

Our last day had arrived and we were up early and ready to go by 9:am. Before heading home, we had one last stop to make on our way. We wanted to visit Letchworth State Park, known as the Grand Canyon of the East. From Hammondsport, we headed up NY Route 15 to I-390 and followed county roads from there. Along the way we could see huge wind turbines on the hilltops that surrounded us. We pulled into Letchworth State Park ($6/car) and drove quite a way before we finally came to the Visitors’ Center. We walked from the Visitors’ Center to the lower rim and all the way to the Upper Falls, taking in the views along the way. Letchworth offers vast canyons, roaring waterfalls and grand sights. The Gorge is quite large and offers several spectacular waterfall views. Megan and I enjoyed standing in the misting spray and viewing the rainbows created by the middle falls. We watched a train pass high above the upper falls. We took in many amazing sights.

After leaving Letchworth State Park, we drove northwest until we met up with I-90W and followed that to I-271S to I-77S. We were home by the early evening. Our trip was made up of a combination of the things we enjoy doing the most- active recreation like hiking, relaxing with some wine, doing a little shopping, etc. By preparing and bringing most of our own food we were able to keep costs down. We had a great time at each of the places we ended up and spent our time on a vacation buzz of meeting great people, trying new things and laughing. We’re looking forward to returning soon, hopefully with friends!


More Watkins Glen & Letworth State Parks Pictures

Sisters' Daytrip- Falling Water and Ohiopyle

Falling Water and Ohiopyle
Saturday, May 16, 2009

Visiting Falling Water has been a dream of mine since I was a teenager and saw a picture of the home in an art book. Falling Water is the masterpiece design of famed US architect Frank Lloyd Wright. After seeing a documentary on the designs of Wright and learning that, located southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it was within a driving distance I decided to someday travel to the home. However, I never quite made it. So, when it came up again, I decided I didn’t want to push it off to the side again and made plans with my little sister Megan to head out that upcoming Saturday.

Reservations are required to visit Falling Water but tickets can easily be purchased through the website. We orders ours the night before and had our choice of tours but during busier times, reservations should be made up to two weeks in advance. We left on Saturday morning. The 3-hour drive was easy and scenic. We took Interstate 76 East from Akron and into southeastern Pennsylvania to PA Route 31 to PA Route 381. This region of Pennsylvania is much hillier than Ohio and passing on the highway above we enjoyed seeing towns growing out of the valleys below. PA Route 381 is also known as the Laurel Highlands Scenic Byway and we passed many nice views on our way. The road was a mix of tourist attractions, shops offering wood objects, marine gear or country crafts, campgrounds and worn homes. It passed through small towns and over meandering hills in farm country. The ride alone was enjoyable.

We arrived at the entrance of Falling Water and passed through a dense wooded area before finding the gate. When we parked we were amazed by the number of out of state license plates. There were plates from Iowa, California, Texas and many other states from around the nation. We even saw plates from British Columbia and Ontario. We were struck by what an attraction the Wright-designed home really was.

We checked in at the Visitors Center and waited for our group to be announced. The Visitors Center is a large round pavilion that compliments its wooded setting. It offers restrooms, lockers, a cafe’ and a gift shop. When our tour group was announced, we made our way down a winding quarter-mile path lined with wild rhododendron, large rock formations, a babbling stream and a few small waterfalls. Suddenly the home came into view and we took in our first sight of it. Built to blend into the woods around it, it really does mimic the hillside and instead of disturbing the environment is built around it. We gathered on the bridge near the famous waterfall that the house was built around and waited for our tour to begin.

Our tour started with some history of the home, its owners the Kaufmanns (of Kaufmanns Department Store) and its designer Frank Lloyd Wright. Frank Lloyd Wright designed Falling Water on commission as the all-season vacation home of the wealthy Kaufmann family, who resided in Pittsburgh, PA. Wright, who made up the term ‘organic architect’ to explain his philosophy of design, designed Falling Water to look as if it was a part of the landscape. He paid special attention to the surroundings, using the rocks on the property as part of the foundation and the fireplace hearth and having the stream and waterfall pass right under the house. He built the home and guest house on several terraced levels to mimic the hillside where it was perched. The home and surrounding landscape existed in harmony.

We took the $20 general tour which included a tour of the main great room, the guest room, the master bedrooms, the son’s room, the guest house and many of the several terraces around the home. Indoor photography was not permitted on the general tour but we were encouraged to explore the exterior spaces and grounds and take photographs after the tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and did a great job of talking to everyone in the group and making sure that all were able to hear. She was able to answer everyone’s questions and offered comparisons to other Wright designs. She was a very informative guide and I enjoyed her presentation.

I had looked forward to seeing the home for so long and, of course, the view of the exterior was amazing but I was very surprised to be most captivated by the extensive art collection in the interior. The aesthetic of minimalist furnishings and muted colors complimented by eclectic and colorful art is what I aspire to in my own home so I was quite inspired by the Japanese tapestries, centuries-old religious artwork from all regions, native-American pottery and modern sculptures. Everything in the home except for floor coverings is original and the art collection was one amassed by the frequent travel of the Kaufmanns, although Wright gave them some things from his own collection including Japanese wall hangings and a giant iron pot of his own design that was hung near the fireplace and used to serve soup or mulled wine out of during parties.

I was also very impressed with how the home was built around the natural setting. Instead of moving them, large stones on site were used to make up the hearth of the large fireplace in the great room and the home is cantilevered over the stream and waterfall. A natural stream fills the pool on the upper level. Wright even designed a gap to be left in the floor to let the spring waters trickle down a rock wall that was now part of the home’s interior.

It is said that Falling Water has a hundred steps and that is true. The most unique of the staircases is one that descends from the main great room down to the cool stream below. Another is set near the front door and leads down to a platform near the same stream. Yet another beside the front door leads up to a covered terrace. The terraces were also amazing, all set up with comfortable lounge furniture and simple sculptures. The highest terrace had a small culinary herb garden with thyme, sage, rosemary, chives, basil and all the other fresh herbs that I love to grow myself.

The tour ended with a video about conservation efforts and we took some time to wander the grounds and take some pictures of the home from different view points. We then made our way up the hill, browsed the gift shop and headed back to our vehicle. Megan and I were both blown away by the beauty of the home and grounds and with the tour.

After leaving Falling Water we headed a few miles further down PA Route 381 through Normalville toward Ohiopyle. The first thing we did when we arrived in town was change into hiking gear and have the picnic lunch that we brought with us. We sat on the rocks down by the river and enjoyed our homemade sandwiches and grapes while watching the rushing water.

The town of Ohiopyle is our kind of place- laidback and friendly. There were cute historic buildings in the area like the Visitors' Center in an old train station but many buildings are older and worn-looking. Everyone is friendly and everyone wants to be outdoors. Half the cars in any parking lot had kayaks on top of them, the other half had bike racks. The charm of the town is its ‘I’d rather be ...’ attitude. I wish I had more time to spend relaxing on the patio of the local restaurant or eating hand-dipped ice cream on the porch of the general store.

Next on our agenda was some good hiking. We stopped by the visitors' center and picked up a trail map but decided that instead of doing one long trail we’d rather explore many of the small trails that lead to the riverside. We stood on the bank above and watched kayakers make their way down fast and rough water. We climbed over large boulders and explored crevices. We lounged on large rocks on the edge of the river. We took in the scenery of an amazing place we’d never been. The hiking in the Ohiopyle State Park combines everything we love about individual trails in our parks system- the rapids and waterfalls of the Gorge, the boulder climbing of Virginia Kendall, the rugged terrain of Adams Run. We enjoyed every minute of hiking and really took the time to enjoy our surroundings. We also indulged in our newest obsession- trail running- and ran along some of the higher trails that weren’t close to the rocky riverbed.

After a few hours of hiking and trail running, we heard thunder in the distance and headed back. We jogged over the old train bridge and got into the car just as the storms were starting. We headed back into Normalville and stopped at the central gas station, Speedy Meedy’s. It should not go without saying that the staff of this gas station/deli are friendly and fun! We discussed a Pittsburgh Steelers clock on their wall, the fact that we’re Cleveland Browns fans and the rivalry between the teams. I always love to get the authentic local experience and as odd as it may be, the friendly folks at Speedy Meedy’s provided.

Meg and I headed home following the same route we came. Although there were storms and bad rain all the way home, it was still an easy and enjoyable drive. We discussed the day and our favorite parts. It is hard to identify the highlight of the trip. Visiting Falling Water is a dream come true but experiencing Ohiopyle left us wanting more and we hope to sometime soon bring our group of girlfriends to enjoy all the outdoor experiences available in this area. The excursion was the perfect one-tank trip and combined art and architecture with the ruggedness of the great outdoors. I can’t wait to return to enjoy more of what this region has to offer!

Girlfriends' Daytrip- Wine Tasting in Geneva

Wine Tasting in Geneva
Geneva, Ohio
April 25, 2009

The northeast tip of Ohio is wine country and is a great destination for a one-tank day trip. We spent an amazing day celebrating a few birthdays in our group. Diana, Jean and Janet were all born on April 23. Diana came up with the great idea to spend the day doing a wine tour of five of the vineyards and wineries in the area. The Winegrowers of the Grand River Valley planned ‘Around the World’, which paired appetizers from different European regions with wines from the Grand River Valley Wine Region. The participating wineries were Debonné Vineyards, Ferrante Winery & Restorante, Grand River Cellars Winery & Restaurant, Laurello Vineyards and St. Joseph Vineyards.

The group included Diana, Di’s friend Kristen, Janet and Jean, Jan, Megan and I. Much thanks to Kristen who provided our mode of transportation, a rocking minivan, and herself as designated driver! Jill, Di’s GPS, unit assisted in directing us to our destinations. The day couldn’t have been better. After a long winter, we were enjoying unseasonably warm April temperatures in the mid-80s. It was so nice being able to wear tank tops and sandals again. We all piled in the minivan and laughed and talked as we headed toward the wine region, taking Interstate 77 North to Interstate 271 North to Interstate 90 East to Route 534.

The first vineyard we visited was Debonné Vineyards. Debonné is a large, polished, bustling vineyard with a lot of outdoor spaces to sit and relax while drinking a bottle of wine and enjoying a cheese plate purchased at the vineyard. The grounds would also be beautiful for a wedding ceremony and reception. They were serving food from Slovenia- Zlinkrofi, a meat-filled dumpling with sauerkraut- and a choice of three white and three red wines. I tried two whites- Vidal Blanc, a sweet wine and Jazz White, a semi-dry. I tried a sip of Kristen’s Harmony, a blend of Chardonnay, Merlot and Riesling. All were good but I preferred the Vidal Blanc. After we each enjoyed a sample of the appetizer and two glasses of wine, we browsed the wine shop, beer tasting room and gift shop. After purchasing a few bottles of wine we gathered to head to the next stop. All in all, Debonné is a beautiful vineyard in a nice setting but lacks a little character.

We headed to St. Joseph Vineyards next. After the polished look of Debonné, St. Joseph seemed like a real home with a tasting room in the back. I loved it- it had a very low key appeal. They were serving food from Germany- a delicious quiche called Zwiebelkuchen German Onion Pie- which was simply scrumptious. Even my very picky little sister Megan, a real hamburger and fries type chick, loved the quiche! I enjoyed mine paired with a Riesling. My next wine choice was the Pinot Noir, which I really enjoyed. Jean got the Merlot and Megan tried the Shiraz so we were all able to sample and compare the three. I think the Pinot Noir won by a landslide! We wandered out back to a small pond and then headed out to the back porch of the tasting room. Picnicking is allowed at St. Joseph so patrons were enjoying their own cheese and fruit with a bottle of wine purchased on site while looking out toward the pond and the wooded areas beyond. I loved the quirky character of this place.

The Grand River Cellars Winery was right up the road and our next destination. To me and I believe everyone else in the group, this was the highlight of the ‘Around the World’ tour. The winery has nice grounds with a restaurant, outdoor patio and manicured landscaping and is understated rather than overdone. After purchasing our tickets, we were told to head down into the cellar. We walked down a series of steps into the basement and entered a huge room with giant vats of wine, other equipment and oak barrels lining the walls. The lights were dimmed and white twinkle lights illuminated the space, paired with candles on wine barrels set up to be used as tables to add to the ambiance. We were all blown away by the charm! We had our choice of their Austin’s White or Austin’s Red paired with an Irish Beef Stew and Oatmeal Bread. I’m not a huge stew fan but it was really good and I loved the bread. We gathered around a wine barrel turned cocktail table and enjoyed the atmosphere of the cellar. A gentleman invited us to sample more wines and we headed over to his table to sample their Vidal Blanc Ice Wine, a winner of the Director’s Choice Award for the Best Dessert Wine in the State! Next he gave us a glass of the White Fox, a sweet wine made from Niagara grapes. I loved the grapeyness of this wine and after resisting at other vineyards, I decided to buy a bottle of the White Fox. In terms of atmosphere, hospitality and warmth, the Grand River Cellars Winery was a huge hit among our group. I hope to visit again soon to try their restaurant, ‘The Tipsy Grape Grille.’

Next we drove to Laurello Vineyards. We had a blast just getting there because Jill instructed us to turn into a grape vine field so Kristen steered the minivan down a dirt road but found another dirt road that led right to the vineyard parking lot. It was an adventure within an adventure. The Laurello Vineyard featured Sicilian Bruschetta. I’m usually not a huge tomato fan but I enjoyed the appetizer with an assortment of red wines. The decor of the vineyard was laid back. There were fish on the wall, large doors, concrete floors and a spacious sitting area with chairs in the back near the barn. The settling was lovely but there wasn’t anything about it that set it apart from the rest. But, the owner would come out to check on customers and the patrons would chat with each other. As one guy asked us what we were celebrating, another took a few groups pictures of us. The laidback atmosphere is complimented by laidback clientele.

The wine tour was from noon to five but it was nearly six by the time we reached Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, our final destination. Although we knew we’d miss the featured Italian appetizer of Portobello Mushroom Risotto and wine pairings, we thought it would be a great ending to our day because it has a restaurant where we could unwind and reflect on the day. The winery is big and bustling- quite the spot to end the evening. Many of the groups that were there were celebrating as well. We got on the restaurant list and then explored the building. There is a gift shop, wine bar and outdoor patio where live music was being played. The outdoor area had several different pavilions and a fountain in the middle. We relaxed outside with a few glasses of wine and listened to the music while watching a woman who was pleasantly drunk on wine dance around the patio. By this point I, too, was pleasantly drunk and very much enjoyed just sitting and enjoying the environment while sipping on glasses of Bianco and Vidal Blanc wines. Our table was large and situated right in front of the windows so we had a great view of the grounds and musician. Megan and I decided to share the Portobello Mushroom & Artichoke Bruschetta, the Pizza Margarita and the Tiramisu. All were amazing. A few others tried the dinner for two which was a three-course meal with wine pairings- cheese manicotti and lobster to start, a beef dish for the second dish and cannoli with red ice dessert wine for dessert. I really enjoyed the restaurant at Ferrante and look forward to returning. Although Ferrante is a larger vineyard that lacks some of the character the smaller vineyards seem to have, it is still warm and relaxing.

To say I had a blast in wine country would be an understatement. As celebrations go, the wine tour was the perfect choice. Not only did I get to spend a beautiful day with my closest friends but we got to enjoy a little slice of what Ohio has to offer. Each vineyard had its own feeling and attitude and I loved the mix that we experienced. There are several other wineries in the area to explore and I can’t wait to visit the region again!

Special thanks to Diana who provided all the pics!

Camp Tuscazoar Maple Days Festival- Dover, Ohio

Maple Days Festival
Camp Tuscazoar- Dover, Ohio
April 4, 2009

My family has always loved a good festival! Some of my fondest family memories are of jumping in hay bales at the Algonquin Mill Festival, camping out and listening to tribute bands at a Harvest Festival and enjoying ice cream at the Utica Ice Cream Festival. This year we decided to travel to many festivals around our state to get to know a little about each community that holds these celebrations. Along with the festivals we visit annually, we hope to get to a few new ones, too. Although most of these excursions will only be day trips, I’m going to include them in my blog to promote tourism within our own state. Traveling doesn’t have to be spending a certain amount of time in a destination that is a certain distance away. Traveling within the state is a great way to save time and money while spending tourism dollars at local businesses and organizations.

The Camp Tuscazoar Maple Days Festival is one that my family and friends have been visiting for the past four years. Featuring great hiking and all-you-can-eat pancakes with homemade maple syrup, this event kicks off the outdoor season and we all look forward to it. Maple trees within the camp are tapped and connected by miles of tubing. All the sap is collected and made into maple syrup on site. A local Boy Scout troop serves pancakes and sausage to accompany the syrup.
We all decided to meet in the campground parking lot. Although previous years have been cold and rainy, we had a perfect day. The turn-out was huge. The group consisted of my brother Michael, my friend Diana, my sister Joanna and her boyfriend Troy, my friends and sisters Janet and Jean and Jean’s boyfriend Bob, my friend Jan and her dog Carly and me. We decided to take a hike before eating breakfast and headed down the hill to the Dover Dam. There hadn’t been too much flooding this year so it wasn’t a very exciting sight.


We continued down the trail and then headed off the beaten path and into the woods. We climbed a hill, hopped a stream and followed logging trails to the Zoarite Iron Mines, a mine established around 1817 by German settlers. An old stone wall probably used as a loading dock still exists in the middle of the woods. After resting at the mine, we continued on to Buzzards Roost, an outcropping of rocks that sits hundreds of feet above the Tuscarawas River. Once a Native American look-out, it now overlooks the Dover Dam and the river valley below. The views are breathtaking- each year this spot is the highlight of our hike.

We’d hiked a few miles and were ready for some food! We all headed back to Kimble Hall to enjoy some pancakes and maple syrup. The $6 all-you-can-eat breakfast is a hit with everyone. We always head up for seconds of the fluffy pancakes that are served with sausage links, apple sauce and coffee, water or punch. After filling up on breakfast, we walked off a little by climbing the hill to the parking lot. We were all beat but enjoyed another great year at the annual Maple Days Festival.

Maple Days 2010

Maple Days 2011

Maple Days 2013