Lake George is a large, clear lake in northeastern New York, at the southeastern edge of Adirondack Park. The Village of Lake George lies at the lake's southern tip. We got in too late last night to see the lake, so before leaving town this morning, we stopped by Million Dollar Beach to take in the view.
Million Dollar Beach, Lake George, NY
Last week, as we drove east through Upstate New York, we visited a few sights along the Erie Canal. Today, on our return west through the state, we wanted to see a few more.
The Erie Canal Park in Camillus, NY, is located midway along on the Erie Canalway Trail on the banks of the first enlargement of the Erie Canal. The park features a small museum in an old general store, and in the mild months of the year, they offer narrated boat rides along the historic canal.
Erie Canal Park, Camillus, NY
First enlargement facts
Erie Canal first enlargement
Behind the museum, a short path leads to the original version of the Erie Canal, also known as “Clinton's Ditch,” a mocking term coined by New York Governor DeWitt Clinton's political opponents when he first proposed the idea for the canal in the early 1800s. Once the canal opened in 1825, freight costs dropped by as much as 95 percent, cities along the canal grew rapidly, and New York City became the nation's premier port. Take that, naysayers!
Old lock house 50
Path to the original Erie Canal
Foiled again
Jordan Canal Park preserves the Jordan Aqueduct, part of the enlarged Erie Canal built in the 1840s. The Village of Jordan has established a nice park in the former canal bed. Some rambunctious boys were fishing in the creek.
Jordan Aqueduct, Jordan, NY
Fisherboys
Erie Canalway Trail
We were running low on time as we came to the Port Byron Old Erie Canal Heritage Park, but it looked too interesting to skip. After passing through a small museum, you can exit through the back and walk through a dry lock to an old, preserved tavern that once bustled with canal travelers. A docent in the tavern regaled us with stories of life along the canal “back in the day.” It almost felt like we were there.
Port Byron Old Erie Canal Heritage Park
Erie House Tavern
Cool old cash register
There was time for one last stop along the Erie Canal, and Tom and I unanimously agreed it would be the Richmond Aqueduct Ruins, outside Montezuma, NY. This was the second longest of the Erie Canal aqueducts, with 31 stone arches that once supported the 840-foot-long aqueduct as it crossed the Seneca River. In the canal enlargement of 1917, part of the aqueduct was torn down, and today ten arches remain, seven on the east shore and three on the west. It was a 1-mile round-trip hike.
Richmond Aqueduct Ruins
East shore arches
Seneca River
Finally, on to the Finger Lakes, a group of eleven long, narrow, north-south lakes in the heart of Upstate New York. The largest one is Seneca Lake, at 38 miles long, 3 miles wide, and 618 feet deep. We'd be staying tonight at the south end of Seneca Lake, in the Village of Watkins Glen. It was a scenic drive into town along the west side of the lake.
Seneca Lake from the Finger Lakes Welcome Center
Lodging: Longhouse Lodge Motel & Manor, Watkins Glen, NY. It was an older hotel with just a few guests – a bit quirky, but I liked it. Tom said his dad used to vacation in the area when he was a kid. He might have stayed here, possibly on the very same mattress.
Lake view from our motel
Vintage furnishings
For dinner, we chose the Lucky Hare Brewing Bar & Grill. Great burgers, fantastic beer, and located on scenic Seneca Harbor. The weather was pleasant, and we sat outside to admire the view.
Lucky Hare Brewing
Brew with a view
Mild regret: As we were driving between Jordan and Port Byron today, I spotted the Dirt Museum and Hall of Fame, but we were in too much of a hurry by then to stop. If only we'd known about this place ahead of time, we could have planned our time better. I'm so intrigued...