There’s graciousness to the warmer months in Central New York. Humidity turns brisk walks into moseys, and the ubiquitous scent of grilling food perfumes the air.

The easy feeling also comes in the form of community spirit. Every Friday in July and August, people of all ages stroll to Clift Park in the center Skaneateles for an evening of lazy lake views and lively music. That’s when the Skaneateles Community Band offers their annual series of free concerts. Comprised of residents ages 16-90, professional musicians and devoted amateurs alike donate their talents for the benefit of anyone willing to bring a blanket or glide in by boat.

The scene is something like a modern-day “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” There are no parasols or formal walking costumes like in Seurat’s famous painting, but there is a delightful uncanniness in the general air of civility and culture. The scenery includes pristine water and grand homes, purple martins and pampered pets, and revelers of all ages negotiating heat-addled ice cream cones and balancing fish fries.

The timeless quality of the concerts has as much to do with history as it does with the setting. The first performance took place nearly thirty years ago, and ever since then some iteration of the community band has sat in the white gingerbread gazebo by the lake. The conductor still pauses between numbers to announce upcoming town events, and the audience still sings along from the lyrics they’ve been handed. It’s a tableau that would have Norman Rockwell’s ghost clutching for his brushes. And maybe Georges Seurat too, if he wasn’t so busy floating around Paris this time of year.

Skaneateles Community Band’s
“Concerts in the Park”
Clift Park, Village of Skaneateles
Rain location: Allyn Ice Arena, Jordan Street

Times: 7:30 p.m. (July), 7:00 p.m. (August)
Directions

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Posted in Attractions, Location, Outdoors, Skaneateles, Type

Remember when you were a kid and it was all about building forts? Couch cushions in the summer, and hollowed out snow domes in the winter?

It’s hard to beat what a kid can whip up with a good imagination and a few blankets, but the folks at Darien Lake have come close. In addition to 24 brand-spanking new lakeside cabins, they’ve also just introduced 10 Forts-O-Fun kids suites at their onsite hotel. The log-cabin “bunkers” provide Billy and Susie (or maybe that’s Madison and Connor, these days) some independence and their own space to sleep and play—all within earshot. Bonus: park admission is included with your stay.

Of course there are still rides, concerts, and laser shows—all the stuff that put Darien Lake on the map. Shipwreck Falls plunges patrons 50-feet into the waves, and the Predator (one of the world’s top wooden roller coasters) is still the tallest in New York State. But a good measure of the park’s charm lies in the hours before the gates open to daily visitors. It’s then that you’ll see fit moms enjoying an early jog around the glimmering lake, or a family quietly assembling an al fresco breakfast on the porch of their cabin. The park also welcomes visitors in late September for Fright Fest, which includes haunted houses and tingling bus tours for kids of all ages.

Also check out the bigger, better, wetter SplashTown Water Park at Darien Lake Resort.  It features three all-new attractions, Swirl City, a brand new four-slide complex; the new Flotation Station lazy river; Lazy Days Lagoon wave pool; snacks and drinks at Shark Bites; SplashTown Surf Shop; more deck and lounging space; a new bathhouse; and new cabanas.

Fun Fact: Several celebrities have tested their resolve on the park’s popular Ride of Steel, including Liv Tyler, Kate Hudson, Dave Matthews, Britney Spears, and Blink 182.

Darien Lake
9993 Allegheny Road
PO Box 91
Darien Center, NY 14040

(585) 599-4641

Directions
godarienlake.com
splashdarienlake.com

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Posted in Attractions, Genesee County, Location, Outdoors, Type

“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.”
(William Shakespeare, As You Like It)

But there’s another way to look at parks. They’re also theaters upon whose grassy stages people come to play various parts. Parents shepherd teetering toddlers.  Proud owners promenade with their fur buddies. Joggers nod as they huff past. And usually, someone remembers bread for the ducks.

Ringed by historic homes and graced with a fine gazebo, pond, and gardens, Hoopes Memorial Park is a postcard-perfect stage. It evokes the days when the Erie Canal brought great wealth on barges, and William Seward (Abraham Lincoln’s Secretary of State) built his spectacular Victorian mansion on nearby South Street. But it’s also a vibrant place where today’s Auburnites live out their dreams and memories. At various times throughout the year, Hoopes hosts wedding and concerts, art shows and Easter egg hunts.  Most recently, it was transformed into a “Field of Hopes and Dreams” when local volunteers installed over 1200 flags for the Memorial Day weekend. Organizers created the tribute as a way to support a local school while honoring loved ones and armed forces veterans.

Perhaps The Bard was right and we are all “mere players.” But what a fitting place to watch the drama unfold.

For events listings throughout the year, visit Hoopes Memorial Parke calendar.

Hoopes Memorial Park
358 Genesee Street (Route 5, just east of downtown Auburn)
Auburn, NY 13021
(315) 255-4737

Directions

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Posted in Attractions, Auburn Area, Location, Outdoors, Type

History is rife with tales about the Fountain of Youth. Herodotus thought it was in Ethiopia; Alexendar the Great crossed the Land of Darkness to find it; and Juan Ponce de Leon spent much of 1513 poking around for it in present-day Florida.

This all pre-dates Roseland Water Park by several hundred years—and that’s a good thing. Alexander’s elephants would have hogged the Giant Wave pool, and conquistadors’ armor isn’t conducive to sunbathing or paddle boating. But if early explorers had stumbled on this Canandaigua landmark, they absolutely would have found a place where time slows and youthfulness reigns.

O.K., enough hyperbole. We are just talking about a roadside water park, right?

Weeeellllllll, right and wrong. Ask the 75 year-old Corning gentleman who comes every year with his 40 year-old son for “Father/Son Day,” and the myriad parents who, once having established family check-in times, are free to settle into the shade with a book (one that doesn’t involve a Cat in a Hat). For them and many others, the sparkling (and heated!) waters wash away cares, and everyone is enveloped by a sense of real community. Trained lifeguards keep careful watch; grounds and facilities are spotlessly maintained; families enjoy reunions and birthday parties; and snacks and sunscreen are never more than a few steps away. There’s both a peaceful and playful feeling here that’s rare in today’s hyper-charged world.

This year marks the park’s ten-year anniversary, and there are over 80 events planned for the season (June 26th – September 6^th). The NASCAR Display is back by popular demand (including the Pit Crew Simulation), Youth Fit will do a live demonstration of an exercise video for kids (developed by a local tween – how cool is that?), and there’ll be visits from jugglers, magicians, balloon artists and colorful characters from the Renaissance Faire. No elephants though.

Visit Roseland’s website for info on events and promotions, and call for special group rates.

Roseland Waterpark
250 Eastern Boulevard
Canandaigua, NY 14424
(585) 396-2000

Directions
roselandwaterpark.com

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Posted in Attractions, Bloomfield, Canandaigua, Geneva, Location, Outdoors, Type

Long before modern-day visitors were meandering along the ribbon of pathway that hugs the northern end of Seneca Lake, these shores and surrounding hills were home to apple orchards and Iroquois settlements. Today, it’s where you’ll find 60 acres of unspoiled shoreline, most of which is dominated by an expansive public park, a gleaming Ramada Inn, and the Long Pier.

Routes 5 and 20 divide the city and the lake, so you’ll want to make sure to explore the character of both. The compact city is well worth a visit for its historic architecture (including the gloriously restored Smith Opera House), as well as for its surprisingly diverse eateries. The lakeshore is a serene counterpoint (see upcoming plans for development), and offers a great vantage point of both “sides” of Geneva. Looking north from the pier, you can take in the ruddy brick cityscape rising up away from the water; then on all other sides you’re surrounding by sparkling water and rolling hills.

You’ll find the pier along a paved walking/biking path that can be accessed from various points, including the park, behind the Ramada, and from the Long Pier snack shop. Open in the summer months, the latter is a great place to sample some distinctly local flavors, from Zweigels hot dogs to wine ice cream. You can also rent bikes at the shop, or sign up for boat tours and rentals at Finger Lakes Water Adventures.

Rts. 5 and 20
Geneva, NY
(315) 789-5005

Directions

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Posted in Bloomfield, Canandaigua, Geneva, Outdoors

Anyone who’s spent even a few minutes in Canandaigua isn’t likely to confuse it with Southern California. There are no palm trees or earthquakes punctuating the picturesque lakeside, and the (Atlantic) ocean is nearly a day’s drive away.

Still, surf culture thrives here. To find it, just drift straight downhill from the village to Lakeshore Drive and look for the neon-colored kayaks. When you find them, you’re at Canandaigua Sailbording, an authentic full-service surf shop replete with laid-back staff and groovy gear—both that’ll help you make the most of the sparkling waves just a few feet away. “The owner, Steve Howie, is one of those guys who is Old World business. No complaints at all,” says one online aficionado. “I’ve had occasions where I needed something he didn’t have, and he takes it right off a display model.”

But it’s hard to imagine not finding what you need in Steve’s bourgeoning shop. It houses everything from hip Oakley swimwear and killer sunglasses to surfboards, scuba tanks, wet suits, kayaks, and hydro bikes—plus lots more stuff you’ll only recognize if you’re an experienced water enthusiast.

Happily, among the most noteworthy offerings at Canandaigua Sailboard are individual and group lessons. Whether you’re a nervous neophyte or splash-happy enthusiast, you’ll benefit from Steve’s 35 years of water sports experience. Call for his latest reasonable group and private rates, or strike out on your own with hourly and daily rentals. There’s even a 3-day camp for totally tubular tots. That means the whole family can get stoked.

Surfer’s dictionary, anyone?

Canandaigua Sailboarding
11 Lakeshore Drive
Canandaigua, NY 14424-2307
(585) 394-8150

Directions

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Posted in Bloomfield, Canandaigua, Geneva, Location, Outdoors, Shopping, Type

photo by Mike Allen
three osprey chicks on the nest

photo by Candyce Robb
tree swallows claiming their nest box

Montezuma Wildlife Refuge
Montezuma NWR 3395 Routes 5 & 20
East Seneca Falls, NY 13148
(315) 568-5987

Directions
fws.gov

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Posted in Attractions, Outdoors, Type

Wife. Mother. Grandmother. Madam.

That’s the curious caption under a Prohibition-era photo of Batavian Edna Gruber. Its disparate nature reflects the complexity of human individuality—a characteristic that’s equally evident among the varied holdings of the Holland Land Office Museum.

The handsome stone and pillar affair is named for its original role as a storehouse for the monies, maps, and deeds generated by the enormous Holland Land Purchase of 1792. So how does multi-faceted Edna figure in? She doesn’t exactly; at least not as part of the purchase. But she does belong at the Museum nonetheless, along with many other interrelated characters and items. That’s because the place also serves as a treasure chest for the Genesee County Historical Society. There’s a remarkable collection of presidential photographs (check out dynamic politician and World Bank President Barber Conable Jr. as he grins and grips with Ford, Reagan, and Bush Sr.); a bust of Iranian Hostage Crisis survivor Terry Anderson (he’ll be on hand this fall for the dedication of the proposed Peace Garden); a priceless collection of autographed calling cards (Thomas Nast, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Robert E. Lee to name a few), and an authentic gibbet (no link provided to spare the faint of heart). And that’s just a small sampling.

It’s famously been said that “history only remembers brilliant successes and brilliant failures.” But what makes this place special is its deliberate celebration of everyday humanness. Sure there are heroes and rogues at the Holland Museum. It’s just that you’ll find them mixing with artistic store clerks, svelte servicemen (check out the waist size on the uniform in back), and at least one largely pregnant, yet unabashedly fashionable bride.

Nope, it wasn’t Edna.

That would just be too predictable.

Holland Land Office Museum
131 W. Main Strteet
Batavia, New York 140200
585.343.4727

Directions
hollandlandoffice.com

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Posted in Attractions, Genesee County, Location, Type

There’s no doubt that Mike Carroll was meant to be here.

Not that it’s that simple. In fact, he originally planned to demolish the historic schoolhouse that now serves as his elegant studio and showroom. “I was more interested in the land under the building,” recalls the potter. “But once I saw the inside, I knew I had to save it.” The result is a sophisticated blend of past and present. “Everything but the windows is period-authentic,” he says. “We even restored the ‘Old Schoolhouse #3’ designation on the front of the building” (a labor of love that involved gently hand-sanding through three layers and many more decades of previous signage).

Sill, sweat equity isn’t the sum of Carroll’s living legacy. Rather, it’s his deep commitment to the community. Along with his finely crafted tableware and decorative pieces, he also showcases the work of many other regional artists. There’s art glass from Avon; jewelry from Henrietta; plus thick hardwood cutting boards and “almost too elegant to use” trivets and tiles from elsewhere in Central NY. “Lately people are always talking about the terrible economy,” says Carroll. “But imagine how much better off we’d be if we bought local products from people and places we know.”

True to the soul of the schoolhouse, Carroll supports the intellectual and cultural growth of the area. Along with a full-service pottery supply business, he also offers reasonably priced classes and workshops (ages 13 and up). And be sure to visit on June 16th, 2010 for the debut of Summer Faire, a mini-festival that will feature bluegrass music, visiting artists, food and more.  Check out studiosalespottery.com for information as it becomes available.

Studio Sales Pottery
5560 Routes 5&20
Avon, NY

Hours:
Tuesday – Friday 12 –5 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday: 12 –4 p.m.

Directions
studiosalespottery.com

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Posted in Caledonia, Avon, Lima, Location, Shopping, Type

Bass Pro Shop puts the world in reverse. It’s only after you pass into the lodge-style superstore that the great outdoors unfolds. It’s as if Disney opened a theme park catering exclusively to hunters, fishers, hikers, and campers—but with an enormous selection of gear. Circumnavigate a massive boulder-bounded aquarium. Meander through the forest of fishing poles. Marvel at the awesome/alarming (depending on your perspective) taxidermy tableaux (white tails, bull moose, and black bears, oh my!). From cammo to home furnishings, ATVs to women’s fashions, the sheer scope boggles.

There’s always a danger that such an ambitious enterprise will lack heart. After all, the place is as vast as an airplane hanger and stuffed to the gills with outdoor products. But that’s where the staff comes in. Most of the people who work at the store are fishers, hunters, and lovers of the outdoors. Ask an associate for the best places to fish, and you’re likely to be invited on the next trip. Express an interest in kayaking, and you’ll head to the store’s outdoor pond for a live tutorial. “We love this place so much that half of us are here on our days off,” admits one enthusiastic employee. “It’s rewarding to educate people so that they can enjoy the outdoors as much as we do.”

Experiential education is definitely a key reason to visit. There are training opportunities and demonstrations year round, from turkey call-offs and ice fishing seminars to camping classes and GPS training. And make it a point to bring along a young person during the holidays, when the store mounts a grand Macy’s-style celebration. There are free arcade games, big checker mats, old-timey toys, hands-on holiday activities (like building an ornament), and free photos with Santa.

Bass Pro Shops
1579 Clark Street Road
Auburn, NY 13022
Phone: 315-258-2700

Directions
basspro.com

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Posted in Auburn Area, Shopping