The Natural Beauty of Its Parks and Tree-Lined Roadways Are Notable During the Spring and Summer Months
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The Finger Lakes Region is a splendid vacation area for all seasons! The natural beauty of its parks and tree-lined roadways are notable during the spring and summer months. But the area becomes breathtaking during the fall when multi-colored foliage is visible everywhere. Visitors can enjoy these amazing views while hiking, shopping at the local farmers markets, following a wine trail or visiting one of the many attractions. In the winter, the area becomes a haven of winter sports activities. Eldridge Park, (607) 732-8440 One of the area’s oldest and most popular attractions Eldridge Park is part Elmira’s living history. Eldridge Park was first opened at the turn of the 20th century and underwent a major restoration in 1997 and was completed in 2010. The park includes a skate park, one of the world’s fastest carousels, an arcade, the recently opened Mark Twain Miniature Golf Course and dragon boat rides with tours on Eldridge Lake. Along with all of its various amenities Eldridge Park has multiple picnic areas and pavilions as well as soccer fields and a walking path right around the lake making it ideal for any family, romantic, or group outings. Tanglewood Nature Center, (607) 732-6060 Tanglewood Nature Center & Museum is a regional nature center and museum located just outside of Elmira, New York on Coleman Avenue. Its gorgeous scenery and abundant wildlife lends itself to a perfect setting for people of all ages to come and enjoy what nature has to offer. Visitors are able to walk the Gleason Meadows & Frenchman’s Bluff Trail System and enjoy the smells, sights and sounds of nature. The joint trail system covers over 400 acres and 2 ponds. A few of the outstanding, nearby New York State parks include Letchworth, Buttermilk Falls, Taughannock Falls, Watkins Glen, Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park and in neighboring Pennsylvania—the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Buttermilk Falls State Park, (607) 273-5761 Buttermilk Falls State Park, named from the foaming cascade formed by Buttermilk Creek as it flows down the steep valley side, has an upper and lower park. The upper park has a small lake and wooded hiking trails; the lower park has a nature trail, which runs into Larch Meadows—a moist, shady glen and wetlands area. Taughannock Falls State Park, (607) 387-6739 Taughannock Falls State Park’s namesake waterfall is one of the outstanding natural attractions of the Northeast. Taughannock Falls plunges 215 feet past rocky cliffs that tower nearly 400 feet above the gorge. The gorge trail offers spectacular views from above the falls and from below. Watkins Glen State Park, (607) 535-4511 Watkins Glen State Park, the most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks, descends 400 feet past 200-foot cliffs, generating 19 waterfalls along its 2-mile course. The trail overlooks the gorge and winds over and under waterfalls and through the spray of Cavern Cascades. Fishing is also available in nearby Seneca Lake or Catherine Creek, which is renowned for its annual spring run of rainbow trout. Letchworth State Park, (585) 493-3600 Letchworth State Park, the “Grand Canyon of the East,” is one of the most scenic areas in the eastern U.S. The gorge is home to three major waterfalls with cliffs as high as 600 feet. Letchworth offers nature, history and performing arts programs, whitewater rafting and hot air ballooning. Pennsylvania Grand Canyon Often referred to as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania and as the Pine Creek Gorge, the Pennsylvania Canyon stretches for over 45 miles with depths of nearly 1500 feet and is surrounded by 165,000 acres of state forest. Its dynamic topography creates many scenic wonders, including steep canyon walls and waterfalls. The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon is part of the Tioga State Forest, beginning just south of Ansonia, Pennsylvania, and continuing south to Waterville. The overlooks at Leonard Harrison and Colton Point offer the most spectacular views of the Canyon. The hiking trail from Leonard Harrison State Park winds past waterfalls and steeply descends one mile to the Canyon floor. Touting numerous developed trails, the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania is a hikers’ paradise. Floating, boating, fishing, hiking and biking are all part of the area's available outdoor adventures. Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion, (585) 394-4922 Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion, the nation’s most extensively preserved country estate from the Victorian era, offers formal and informal gardens, a historic mansion, the Lord & Burnham greenhouse complex and beautiful views of Canandaigua Lake. The historic park is also home to the Finger Lakes Wine Center. Hampton Inn Elmira/Horseheads in the Heart of the Finger Lakes Region Newly opened, located in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region of New York, the Hampton Inn Elmira/Horseheads is the perfect choice for business and leisure travelers. All within minutes of wine country, museums, shopping, state parks and outstanding restaurants, these spacious 73 rooms feature luxurious beds, LCD HD televisions, refrigerators, microwaves, coffeemakers, and complimentary high-speed Internet. Some rooms offer Whirlpools and/or sleeper sofas. Complimentary breakfast, business center, indoor-pool, whirlpool and fitness center add to our guest amenities. Come stay with us to experience a Green Environment at our LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Certified Hotel—within 3 miles of the Elmira/Corning Regional Airport. Photos courtesy of Chemung County Chamber of Commerce – (607)-734-5137 Tompkins County Convention & Visitors Bureau – (800)-28-ITHACA Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce – (800)-607-4552 .