Are you ready for part 2?!
I was convinced by my companions that Sunday is a day of rest (no hiking) and one of us was having ulcer problems, so after Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Ithaca, we moseyed over to "Ithaca Commons", their outdoor pedestrian mall, filled with independent shops and street art. Though it was a bit empty on this Sunday morning, I could imagine the hustle and bustle that exists here when school is in term, considering that this is a college town, housing both Cornell University and Ithaca College.
After having a Mexican lunch (great for the ulcer) and some ice cream, we stopped at a grocery store before heading back to our campground to explore what Fillmore Glen had to offer other than our little campsite and the washroom. We thought it would take just a minute since all we needed was bread, but we got lost in the overwhelming maze of shelves and fridges which is Wegman's. Too. Many. Options.
After wandering for more than an hour, we departed for our campsite. Another delicious dinner was made over the campfire and it had a edible flower and fire roasted beet salad to accompany it. This is as close to glamping as it gets when you have to crowd all your camping equipment, personal belongings, and 4 people into a relatively small car.
Fillmore Glen is blessed with some beautiful trails over and along streams and waterfalls. It is also a prime location for day use recreation with another stream-fed watering hole, a large field for throwing around a football, as well as picnic tables and grills for family meals. Quite lovely. And that is exactly why we capitalized on this the next day after packing up and evacuating our site.
However, we could not leave the States without another spree at WEGMANS!
We got a few craft brews, some weird drinks and found interesting cereals. I opted for the Cinnamon Pecan Special K but my Dearest decided to choose something…less healthy, but nonetheless, "special". Yes, it was a box of cereal with the flavour of sprinkled donuts (no, not doughnuts). I wonder if it made the ride home to Toronto…
The Finger Lakes region is really a place to go to over and over again, or else for a longer period of time. There are a few observations that we made about the area which make it characteristic and worth visiting.
But until then, we continue to adventure elsewhere!
Bisouxx,
B[ZU]
I was convinced by my companions that Sunday is a day of rest (no hiking) and one of us was having ulcer problems, so after Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Ithaca, we moseyed over to "Ithaca Commons", their outdoor pedestrian mall, filled with independent shops and street art. Though it was a bit empty on this Sunday morning, I could imagine the hustle and bustle that exists here when school is in term, considering that this is a college town, housing both Cornell University and Ithaca College.
After having a Mexican lunch (great for the ulcer) and some ice cream, we stopped at a grocery store before heading back to our campground to explore what Fillmore Glen had to offer other than our little campsite and the washroom. We thought it would take just a minute since all we needed was bread, but we got lost in the overwhelming maze of shelves and fridges which is Wegman's. Too. Many. Options.
After wandering for more than an hour, we departed for our campsite. Another delicious dinner was made over the campfire and it had a edible flower and fire roasted beet salad to accompany it. This is as close to glamping as it gets when you have to crowd all your camping equipment, personal belongings, and 4 people into a relatively small car.
Fillmore Glen is blessed with some beautiful trails over and along streams and waterfalls. It is also a prime location for day use recreation with another stream-fed watering hole, a large field for throwing around a football, as well as picnic tables and grills for family meals. Quite lovely. And that is exactly why we capitalized on this the next day after packing up and evacuating our site.
However, we could not leave the States without another spree at WEGMANS!
We got a few craft brews, some weird drinks and found interesting cereals. I opted for the Cinnamon Pecan Special K but my Dearest decided to choose something…less healthy, but nonetheless, "special". Yes, it was a box of cereal with the flavour of sprinkled donuts (no, not doughnuts). I wonder if it made the ride home to Toronto…
The Finger Lakes region is really a place to go to over and over again, or else for a longer period of time. There are a few observations that we made about the area which make it characteristic and worth visiting.
- Amazing geological history that resulted in breathtaking scenery. The Finger Lakes were created by retreating glaciers which left beautiful gorges, waterfalls, streams, forests, and lakes in its wake. It really makes you appreciate life and the beauty of nature. There are State Parks everywhere and if you are staying at one, you have free day use entry to all the other ones, a really awesome perk.
- Deliciously fresh, local produce. The areas around the lakes are very fertile and are used to farm a variety of crops. Many of these smaller, family-owned, organic farms that take pride in their products and in their practises.
- Local pride: the number of people sporting Ithaca branded items was very surprising. For a population of merely 30,500, I saw a surprising number of shirts, totes, hats, with slogans like "I am Ithaca" "Ithaca is Gorges" "Ithaca Farmer's Market". I think it's pretty cool.
- This place inspires you to be outside. There were 3 outdoorsy athletic stores within a 200 meter radius in downtown Ithaca. This is no coincidence. The Finger Lakes area is a popular host for triathalons, hiking trips, stand up paddling competitions, etc. The fashion here definitely reflects this, with most residents sporting t-shirts, track shorts, and running shoes as casual wear.
- Wine. This place is a wine-lover's paradise as there are countless vineyards and even a few designated wine trails that feature local wines. The nice thing about this region specifically is that it seems very approachable for the average person as they are not super posh. Along with the "sporty" vibes of the region, there is a bit of a "hippy" vibe with hyper-localism, naturalism, etc. so don't expect super elegant estates around here.
But until then, we continue to adventure elsewhere!
Bisouxx,
B[ZU]