RoadAbode ~ RV RoadTripping & Exploring Watkins Glen, New York

Rainbow Falls, Watkins Glen Gorge

During the winter months, the RoadAbode Crew dream about where we want to go for our spring, summer and autumn outings.  Sometimes we'll remember and discuss the awesome places we've been. The RoadAbode Crew love to explore new places, but sometimes it's fun to revisit a place we had a blast at before. The Watkins Glen area in the Finger lakes region of New York is one that we really enjoy and can place in both categories. We've been back to the area multiple times, and each time we discover new things to do, along with revisiting the places we've enjoyed before.
Below, the RoadAbode Crew want to help you explore some of Watkins Glen's surrounding natural beauty, it's racing history, a little of the Wine Country of Seneca Lake and options to tempt your taste buds. The Corning Museum one town over and the campgrounds the RoadAbode Crew have personally enjoyed are also below to check out. If you have not visited Watkins Glen New York yet - put it on your "gotta visit" list!

The area now known as the Village of Watkins Glen was originally named in 1842 as Jefferson, but was renamed after Dr. Samuel Watkins. Doctor Watkins helped to create and build the community. After his death, the area was renamed to Watkins. The current name Watkins Glen was adopted in 1926, after the area became a popular tourist spot because of the beautiful cascading waters of the Gorge of Watkins Glen. The Village of Watkins Glen is nestled at the foot of Seneca Lake in Schuyler County in the Finger Lakes region It's also not far from Ithaca New York ~ home to Cornell University.

Exploring Watkins Glen's Natural Beauty

Waterfalls at Watkins Glen Gorge

The Watkins Glen Gorge is a wonderful hike that will definitely make memories. Past nineteen waterfalls, the trail follows the water carved gorge, allowing hikers to see the power of water against stone and step back in time.  The Gorge is not flat hiking terrain. There are many steps and even tunneled stairways through the rock as you make your way along the trail. Understand that and be ready to be awed on your journey. The trail passes above, beneath, and even behind some of the waterfalls. The creation of the trail itself, is amazing early 1900's engineering. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps of the 1930's replaced dangerous wooded plank paths with the beautifully crafted stonework still standing today. Just think how workers created the trail as you travel along the constant incline,
 If leaving from a campsite at the State Park itself, the feeder trail from the campground will drop you to the South Rim trail, and from there the Mile Point Bridge will bring you just above the wonder of Spiral Gorge. Just remember as you hike past the beauty of stone carved out by water "What goes down must go up" and at some part of your journey you'll have to hike back to the top of the rim. Make sure to have a water bottle and stay hydrated. You can refill at the gift shop at the main entrance, or the snack shop at the upper entrance. And just a warning ~ the "Couch Stairs" trail back to the South Rim is steeper and longer than it looks! There's a reason you need a "couch" at the top! The RoadAbode Crew recommends starting at the Main Entrance, taking the shuttle to the top and enjoying the hike down. Even so, be mindful there are plenty of steps. Here is a NY State Parks map including descriptive highlights of Watkins Glen Gorge.
The Gorge and State Park are not the only place to enjoy natural beauty in the area. Take a stroll along Seneca Lake at Lakeside Park, or explore the Queen Catherine Marsh area and hike to the birding observation platform on Rock Cabin Road. On our guys trip we drove Rock Cabin Road - a small dirt road - be careful not to drift to close to it's edge) and sat at the bird observation platform for about 40 minutes. It overlooks the marsh, and was beautifully peaceful in it's solitude.

For more water-based fun, take a fishing charter out onto Seneca Lake. Trout, Bass, Perch, Pike and even Atlantic Salmon are found in the deep waters of Seneca Lake. More information on fishing can be found here.
Sightseeing excursions and dinner cruises  are a great way to get on the water and just relax. For more adventure try renting a boat to explore the lake; or kayak, and canoe the lake and inlet to the marsh. The Glen Harbor marina is located right next to Clute Park and Campground.
 Fun Fact: Because of it's depth and length, Seneca Lake is home to a sonar and submarine equipment testing facility run by the U.S. Navy. There have been sightings of submarines in the lake, though unconfirmed by the Navy.

Exploring Racing at Watkins Glen

"The Guys" at "The Glen"

We love to watch NASCAR, and other road events, but have not attended one at Watkins Glen International ourselves. Watkins Glen has a rich history of racing, and on race weekends it does keep the town hopping! "The Glen" as it's called by racing enthusiasts annually hosts one of the nation's premier vintage events, the Zippo U.S. Vintage Grand Prix The featured highlight of the Festival is a tribute to the original Grand Prix races using the original 6.6 mile road course. The Watkins Glen Grand Prix Tribute is designed to recreate the ambiance of the 1948-52 Watkins Glen street races.  Initially, public roads in the village were used for the race course. In 1956 a permanent circuit for racing was built.
On our Guys Weekend, we happened to to go on the weekend of the NASCAR Sprint Series at the Racetrack. (as of 2013 named "Cheez-It 355 at The Glen")  Even though the town was full of race fans, we still had no problem getting around. We even took a ride up to the track and walked around. (the outside perimeter, tickets just to walk inside were $100!) We even saw a time trial accident on one of the Jumbo screens surrounding the track. In town, there were plenty of memorabilia vendors to check out, along with a few cars and parts on display. It seemed the diffrent race teams were "crusing" the main drag with tricked out semis the eveing before the race. A real party atmosphere. If you are into Motorsports, "The Glen" should be on your list to check out.

Exploring a Small Taste of Seneca Lake Wine Country

Seneca Lake has a perfect location for growing grapes and making wine. The hills slope and almost seem cradle the deep cold lake. The lake itself does not freeze - this is because of springs that feed it, and the circular current that is created deep within the lake. The unique macroclimate of the lake and the depth of soil together with how the soil percolates make the area excellent for grape production. There are over fifty wineries surrounding Seneca Lake, and at least thirty are on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. We can only speak to a few we've visited near Watkins Glen, at the Southern end of the lake. But what we have sampled we have thoroughly enjoyed! We are relative "newbies" to wine tasting, and if you have not tried it - the Seneca Lake area would be the place to truly learn and experience good wine. The vintners we met were more than happy to help us understand the ins and outs of tasting and developing a "nose" for a good vintage. Really, it comes down to what you sense of smell and taste tell you! It's fun to pick out the unique "notes" that remind of other flavors that come out of the fermented grapes.  Here are the Wineries we visited on our "Guys Weekend":
Lakewood - The tasting room was close to Watkins Glen, and near the lake. Our tasting was fun and laid back, Our server was both knowledgable about the wines, and the local area - and had a great wit to boot. I really enjoyed their Riesling, but I do tend to like toward the sweet white side.
Castel Grisch - Both a restaurant and winery, I was disappointed that the long gravel road didn't lead to an actual castle, but my disappointment was quickly diminished by the informative and talkative ladies that help us sample not just wines, but cheese pairings as well! (There is a whole Artisan Cheese-making trail in the area that we have not tried yet!) At Castel Grisch we enjoyed the Taminette and Cayuga White wines. I wish I remember the cheese we purchased, but it was  creamy, herbed, and we  thoroughly enjoyed with more wine relaxing back at RoadAbode that the evening. We did not dine at the restaurant, but the German-Hungarian menu items looked tempting. Definitely want to return and do some more in-depth "sampling".
Red Newt Winery & Bistro is on the western side of Seneca Lake, We had wanted to stop by earlier for a special "Summer of Swine" Roasted Pig. The festivities were over by the time we got there. However our server was able to talk to the chef and procured pork sandwiches for us, and suggested a superb  red wine to pair with, making for a great dinner. Thanks to Bonnie our server for going the extra mile!

Finger Lakes Distilling

Surrounding the Southern portion of Seneca Lake we have visited are not just wineries, but great brew pubs and from our Guys RoadTrip - the favorite stop - Finger Lakes Distilling, also on the western side of Seneca Lake. Finger Lakes Distilling is the region's largest craft distillery. They use locally grown fruit and grains to produce their high quality, handmade spirits.
Ed, one of the guys along for the weekend is a real connoisseur of spirits, especially whiskies and gins. The woman who helped with our tasting was a fount of knowledge and actually owned a small bed and breakfast in the area. She and Ed had fun comparing notes while tasting and because of the rapport and her kindness, took us on an "unscheduled" tour for a behind the scenes look of the distilling process. Ed was impressed enough to buy a few bottles, and I as usual led with my sweet tooth and purchased their MapleJack liquer. It starts as an apple brandy, aged in oak barrels and then sweetened with local maple syrup. It's really good over ice cream. Yummy!

Exploring Watkins Glen with your taste buds

Cool Little BrewPub

When we go RVing, one of the ways we enjoy relaxing is to go out for a meal. Watkins Glen area has plenty of opportunities to enjoy a breakfast, lunch or dinner out. Jerlando's Ristorante & Pizza Co offers Italian Specialties in a family friendly atmosphere. Next to Lafayette Park, Tobes is a great place to stop for breakfast and since you are on vacation, grab a freshly baked doughnut too! This place doubles as an ice-cream parlor after breakfast. If you like pancakes, omelets, and hash browns, this places serves them up with a  small town diner feel. If you are on the main drag and in the mood for craft beer, try The Wildflower Cafe, which is also home to the Roosterfish Brewpub. Their fare features local and fresh ingredients.
If you are in the mood for a margarita with your meal, head over to  Garcia's Mexican Restaurant. And for something a little more fancy, Seneca Harbor Station, a converted railway station, has beautiful views of Seneca Lake from either the restaurant, deck, or beach-side tables. a fancier dining experience, with pricing to match.
For dessert, stop by Great Escape, Colonial Creamery or Glen Dairy Bar for ice cream and yogurt based treats. Some cool, unique flavors!

Explore Corning

Only 30 minutes from Watkins Glen Village is the town of Corning. The big draw for us is the Corning Glass Museum, The museum is a Science, History and Art Museum all rolled into one. There are live demonstrations of creating glass objects, and the science of how glass helps us in everyday life, from fiber optic cables, windshields on cars, to the "Gorilla Glass" used in smartphones and tablets .The town offers many more reasons to visit. In 2013 Corning was chosen by Rand McNally as "The Most Fun Small Town in America"  From the Rockwell Western Art Museum to the various festivals that happen, We haven't discovered all this town has to offer yet. We do love the brick oven pizza at Apollo Pizzeria on East Market Street!

Exploring Three Campgrounds ~ All Great Choices

Watkins Glen State Park Campsite

When RVing, a campground can make or break your impression of an area. The Three campgrounds we've enjoyed are all different, and we like them for different reasons. The Watkins Glen/Corning KOA is great for young families. This campground between Watkins Glen and Corning New York features a heated indoor pool, a pirate ship, lazertag, zipline and more activities going on to keep the kids and active parents happy. Meetup with non-RVing friends who can stay in the on-site cabins. The campground features over 100 RV sites, including premium sites with a concrete patio and full hookups. Our girls really enjoyed the indoor pool and strolling along the hiking trail and over to the fishing pond to see what was being caught.
If you're looking for more of a wilderness experience for friends and family, Watkins Glen State Park Campground is located within a short hike to the Gorge There are over 300 campsites with centralized  restrooms, hot showers, and a dump station. Many sites have electric, with water fill stations located at locations on each camping loop. There are no full hookup sites. The park has its own Olympic-sized pool (used by campers and other visitors) and overlooks Seneca Lake.The woods provide plenty of shade in the summer months, and spectacular colors in the fall.
The third campground we have used for a guys weekend, and a year later a girls weekend away. both "adults getaway" weekends. Clute Memorial Park and Campground is run by the parks and recreation department of Watkins Glen Village. It is alongside the city boat launch and within walking distance of a Super Walmart and downtown Watkins Glen. This campground has amenities for kids, but no pool and the one shower house seemed a little more worn, but very nice. The Girls from their weekend stated that the showerhouse by the office was great. There are limited shaded spots to setup at this campground, but it's the location that is the draw for us. There is a swimming beach across the road in Seneca Lake. For our adult getaways, we liked the location because of the easy access to Watkins Glen downtown, the Gorge. and it is a great starting point for our Finger Lakes Wine Tour. We also like having full hookups with less cost than the KOA. For our guys weekend, we just drove five minutes up the road to take a swim in the State Park pool.  Being able to walk along Seneca Lake, or to go shopping  or dining in town was a big plus for us.
All three campgrounds are great - each a unique experience. Which to choose all depends on who is along on your trip, and what they enjoy and feel are necessities when RVing.

Hope the info above helps convince you that Watkins Glen NY  and the surrounding area is worth checking out. We truly love what the area has to offer for those RVing in the mid-Atlantic states.. I'm sure the RoadAbode Crew and friends will be back - there's still tons to discover, and plenty we want to re-visit. From festivals, to wine tasting, to great eats, Watkins Glen is on our short list of "Hey - let's do that again!"
If you have other tips about what to do and see in the area, we'd love for you to share! Please comment below if you have tips - or questions we could answer for you. Enjoy life ~ Go RVing!

For the "On the Spot" posts from our Watkins Glen and Corning Adventures check these links:
Synopsis of Guys Trip 2012
Our Girls at Corning Glass 2011
Watkins Glen SP Campground

September Trip

Drove to the KOA in West Chester after work. Traffic was suprisingly light. Even though night had fallen by the time we pulled in, we are level and setup was easy on a dry, clear night. Pizza and some cable tv tonight.

Weekend in Lickdale

Had a great day by the waters of the Swatara today. We’re at Lickdale Campground in Jonestown PA, just above the Hershey area off of exit 90 or Route 81. We discovered this campground at a RV show we attended back in March. After talking with the owners, we were impressed by their easygoing natures and the description of the campground. We decided to give the campground a try and made a reservation that afternoon. We’re glad we did!

We left home after work on Friday, so with getting RoadAbode, loaded up, hooked up, and pulled out, it was after 8:30pm before we pulled in our site at the campground. It didn’t help that we got into a few traffic backups along the way. Fortunately, our site was pretty level, so we could hookup and setup easily. This is the first time we’ve been in a pull-through site that is parallel to the campground road. We are positioned next to the Swatara Creek, which is a short flight of steps below our site. We have a nice cement pad for our patio – this is a great setup for our weekend.

In the morning, we were able to see how beautiful our view was from inside RoadAbode. Sitting at our dinette, we could watch the water pass by, along with a few geese and the occasional kayak. Am and I headed out for the morning walk with Molly and stopped by the camp store. The camp store is really well stocked, like a store should be – a little of everything you might just need, plus some things you never knew you needed. Once back at our site, we sat out on our patio and enjoyed the morning, listening to the bird songs and bubbling of the passing water. With fresh-brewed coffee in hand, the morning couldn’t have been much better!

Once we roused the girls, we had a breakfast of egg sandwiches, and planned out the day. We stayed close to camp and the girls had fun creating sailboats from paper plates, tying to our fishing poles and floating them from our site and reeling them back in until noon, when we had a lasagna lunch offered by the campground. After our filling lunch, we headed out to explore Indian Echo Caverns. Our family is full of self-proclaimed “cave geeks", enjoying to learn about local caverns wherever we travel. The grounds above the caves were beautifully kept, and the tour, lead by Ryan, was informative, with fun history and stories about the various formations and rooms within the caverns. My favorite Lore was about the "Mysterious Black Box" found by some adventurous kids back in the early 1900's; and the story of the "Cave Hermit", William Wilson, the hermit who lived on a ledge for 19 years, after the tragic death by hanging of his only sister in 1785. The best part of the whole trip was before we came - when we found out from Indian Echo’s website that pets are allowed to come along, so Am carried Molly thru the tour. She was well behaved, and I think enjoyed the scents and watching the other people on the tour. After the tour, I walked the grounds with Molly, as the girls checked out the wares of the gift and souvenir shop. Now happy with their parting gifts, headed to an old favorite - Chocolate World - Hershey’s ride thru a mockup of their chocolate factory. I stayed with Molly while the girls went through.

The paper plate sailboats

After a few scenic detours, we headed back to camp where I enjoyed a little nap and some cable TV, while the girls continued working on their sailboat projects. As the day progressed, the wind picked up and was blowing around the trees hard enough to knock a few medium size branches off around camp. The creek had a lot of green leaves floating past, knocked off by the strong gusts.

Dinner was a quick trip to Wendy’s, with a follow up of ice cream at the camp store. No fire tonight, I just thought it was too windy, plus the temp is dropping – it’s just too cozy to sit in RoadAbode and watch some interesting TV. As I type, everyone is dozing, and a slight rain is starting to come down – time to put away the chairs outside.

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Update 2015 - Lickdale is now Jonestown KOA, and they are better than ever! love to visit this friendly park. They have upgraded their playground, and their shower house. The also host unique events like carnivals and car shows. Well staffed and great place to relax in Pennsylvania! Check them out!

Chester County Weekend

Thismonth's adventure with RoadAbode is in Chester County, at the KOA of WestChester. Not sure if this is really West Chester, but we are in the Brandywine Valley, home to horse farms, the Wyeth Family, the Duponts, and mushrooms. Usually when we vist this area we stop in to see Longwood Gardens, but this time we actually came to visit the KOA. E wanted to go canoeing again, and this time A and K wanted to give it a try as well. The KOA has a small rental fleet of canoes, and the Brandywine that it borders is slow moving with shallow water to give them a safe and relatively easy taste of paddling slow water.

Friday Night

We left Friday Night after a full day at work or school for each of us. Drive down was mostly painless, just a bit slow on the blue route (476) after exit 9 for Route 3, and right before Route 1 passes thru Ridley Park area.

We arrived at the KOA by 8:30pm, and were escorted to our site. The Campground's (or "Kampground" in KOA parlance) office and activity center are beautiful, as is the pool and newer looking cabins (kabins). The roads and sites themselves, however, could use some more gravel or paving. Still, the campground has a nice setup, with a central location to what we wanted to do.

Our evening was taken with leveling and setting up the basics, and getting Friday Nite Pizza going. After dinner, we enjoyed a little cable then off to bed. Fell to sleep to the sound of a light rain on RoadAbode's roof.

Saturday

Everybody slept in for the morning (except A and Molly) and we got a late start. Had a great breakfast of eggs and sausage to start the day, then got cleaned up and dressed. Most of the morning it drizzled or rained on and off. Once the weather broke, we took a walk around to check out the surroundings. Even with a decently steady rain, the Brandywine seemed fine for canoeing.

First though, we wanted the sun to come out and warm things a bit.

We headed out to a place I've wanted to hit for some time, Cajun Kates. Voted both Best of Philly and Delaware County for 2009 for Cajun food, is a small counter front resturant in Booth's Corner Farmers Market in Boothwyn PA. Turns out this place is as much a draw as the food at Cajun Kates. About 40 minutes away from the campground, the time passed quickly as we passed the horse farms and the girls sang their favorite tunes - acapella. The farmers market was filled with a mix of dry goods, Amish meats, candy counters, baked goods, vegetables stands, antiques. If you couldn't find it here - you may not need it! After wandering around and buying a few things, we found Cajin Kates. Only 6 stools in front of a small, almost inconspicuous stand. Behind the counter four guys filling orders as fast as they come, with a frenzy of customers coming to pickup pre-ordered meals, or jumping onto a stool as soon as it's vacated. We ordered Jambalya, and Crispy Cajun Mac & Cheese with Crab & Andouille Sausage to go. We also got two "gator on a stick" to sample on the way home. After getting the prize I came for, we set off toward home base. The gator was basically a sausage speared on a stick . more greasy than expected, but spicy and delicious. Worth the ride for sure!

The girls liked it also, but not as much as I did.

Once back, we took Molly out for a walk, and headed to the office to start our Canoeing adventure. Once we got our life jackets and paddles, we walked down the hill to the river. I gave a little lesson on how to steer, then sent K & E off to paddle upstream, while I setup A and myself at the launch. The girls needed a little more instruction on how to paddle and keep pointing where you want to go. While doing this, my wallet and phone (together in a zip lock bag) ended up missing. Looking downstream, about 50 yards we saw something plastic shine in the water. We turned and headed toward, and sure enough, it was my package of important items that had slipped out of my pocket. Blessed break!

We turned back and headed back to the girls and continued on our explore. The water was very clear, and the girls were excited to see some catfish swimming by. We had this part of the river to ourselves, as we past railway, old horse farms, and palatial McMansions, all sharing the banks of the Brandywine. Before we knew it, it was time to turn and head back. No one fell in, no one got overly wet, and all enjoyed the ride. They all want to try something a little longer next time - perhaps like Wading Pines in the NJ Pine Barrens.

We returned our rented gear, picked up some firewood for later, then went back to RoadAbode and took Molly on her own explore. Met a few other dog owners and chatted a bit. Then back to RoadAbode and warmed up our selections from Cajun Kates. Great Jambalaya and the mac and cheese was like none I've had before. Another great meal. Topped it all off with ice cream from the campground, and then a fire to bring in a beautiful sunset. Saw a line of over 50 geese fly ovehead as the stars started to show - quite a sight! Met Baily the Golden Retriever - Who get's around on four wheels - lost a leg to cancer Very friendly and walked over to meet us. Soon the temperature was dropping it got cooler, and the girls headed in to enjoy some of Mike Rowe's adventures on the Discovery Channel.

A cup of coffee, some snacks, and checking on here brings an end to the day.

Great day!

Lazy Sunday

Had stayed up late - to about 2am - watching Cable (Deadliest Catch?) and looking at pics we had taken at the gardens. Slept til about 8am, then had a breakfast of French Toast while Am & Kim hit the Showers (I had one last night, and Em was waiting til we got home)
Watched Cartoons with Em, then got dressed and started prepping for travel. Took a walk with Am - to look at group tenting (not impressed) for RPC, but it would still be a great place to camp with Church - if everyone gets a site or cabin. Just more expensive than state park camping.
We left by a little before noon, and pulled into Roadabode's home by about 1:30 or so. (just made one stop along the way)
Had a late lunch at Olive Garden, then we parted ways - I stopped to check in at work, the girls home for a meeting.
Great weekend to add to our memories!

West Chester and Longwood

Had a great roadtrip down to the West Chester KOA last night. Travel time was about a little over an hour. After pulling in, unhooked RoadToad, got propane and then were escorted to our site. All the staff were really friendly, even though we were checking in right a closing time. Two guys did the propane, and two ladies did the check in procedures, and getting us to the site. Up on a hill, we have a good view over the new Activity building and the office, (Nice to see they are keeping up and making capital improvements!)and are right across from a private residence (the owners?) Getting into the site could have gone smoother, but that's because I misread some of Amy's handsignals. (meh, it was dark, and I was tired)
Site is amazingly level, given that the whole campground is on rolling green hills. Got all set up, had our Friday night pizza (little frozen ones, but good) and while the girls watched some cable, I signed in to do some server updates and fix some cell sync issues. Worked on that til about Midnight, then headed to bed.
Oh yeah, and it's WARM. About 70, so we actually had the door open ...til it started to downpour. Rained off and on from right after we were done setting up, til we went to bed. Little lightning too.

Today, got up about 8am, put coffee on, and about to have an omelet. Heading to Longwood Gardens today. Looks like a beautiful day too, about 65 and blue skies. I'm ready for a good day!

Slackin' -n Campin'

Today was a slacking day. stayed in bed til almost 9am. had breakfast at 10am, and just sat around camp. Felt good! Played cards with Kimberly while Em and Amy went for a swim. Only left camp today to go out for a late lunch. Programmed into Lola to find a KFC - and found one in Kenneth Square. After lunch, a stop to the local Big Lot - then back to camp. Enjoyed a trip canoeing up the Brandywine. Saw some nice size trout in the clear water.

After some snack, we enjoyed a magic show provided by the KOA, some TV then bed.

Productive day? No way. But great to be with the girls enjoying the time!

Camping Close to Home - West Chester

Thurday night I was a "bachelor" for the evening, the girls headed off to the West Chester KOA to get an early start to our camping weekend before the Kickoff to RPC's YouthWeek.
After work Friday, I bolted out the door at 5:05pm and headed off down the road, directed by Lola our GPS. Took almost exactly a hour from door to to - and that included a turnaround because of a detour - road closed in Brandywine. The girls jumped right into the car - because we were heading to Longwood Gardens - 15 minutes away - to see an Open Air Concert by one of our favorites - TroutFishing in America . The concert was awesome, rain held off, and as a bonus the girls got to see a little of the gardens and the water and light show that's held at closing. I hadn't realized that they never had been to the gardens - and they definitely want to go back someday during daylight to check it out.
It was odd for me - The girls had already set up camp pretty well - I didn't have much to do when we got back to RoadAbode - except relax. We had our usual Friday Night Pizza, a little TV, and off to bed.

Rainy Drive & Artistic Glass

We finished packing up and were on the road before 10am. With some easy directions from the staff @ KOA Niagara we were to Rainbow Bridge in no time. Destination - Corning & Watkins Glen, NY. There was some rain, but as we headed south the skies really opened up. RoadAbode did well, and we only slowed slightly in the heaviest parts. 4 hours later we were at the City of Corning. The river was high, but we didn't see any danger. We caught a quick lunch @ Wendy's (the girl's choice) and then headed to the Corning Museum of Glass. In hindsight we should of planned more time at this interesting place. From the History of Glass, glassmaking techniques, Glass in Art and Sculpture, and the future of glass in technology - all where covered in the museum. There were also demonstrations of glassblowing, and a chance to try using glass in various artforms for yourself. The Girls took advantage of the last option, creating fused glass mirror frames.
After Having fun at the museum, and doing some shopping, we headed back to RoadAbode and to our next Camping spot, Watkins Glen KOA We selected this KOA for it's proximity to Corning, location in Watkins Glen, and Free Wifi - to check into work. The Facilities were awesome - all new indoor pool, and playground, climbing wall, fishing pond, and trout stream - and a nice hiking trail. We should have spent another day or so in this

area - and plan to in the future!

RoadAbode's Home For A Few Days

Here's a pic of our Spot at the KOA in Niagara - for a few days
This was before we were totally setup, we also have a screen room and seating area already set up.

Niagara Bound...

After a busy day @ work, & a late church "business" meeting until 10:30pm on Tuesday, Amy and I loaded up RoadAbode. Amy had picked her up earlier in the day, so she was just waiting to be filled with the things that make our trips fun.
We worked 'til around midnight, and then went to bed, too tired to do more.
Awoke at 6am, got myself ready, made sure I had packed the essentials (like this laptop and all it's cables and such) got the girls moving, helped Amy get together the last of our things, and we were off.... by 9:30am. (one hour behind schedule)We started off our travels as we usually try to - with a short prayer of thanks and request for wisdom and safety.

It seems all the road crews were put on 'high alert' RoadAbode is on the move!!!. I think every route between Philly and Niagara had some type of construction on it.
The girls were pretty bored for much of the ride (all 9 hours...) and kept occupied with card games, CD's, videos & games. They even took a short nap. But as we started seeing directional signs for the Falls - they got excited - really excited!
as we got closer to the Falls, following the Niagara River, we could make out some of the place we want to visit, the Minolta Tower and the Skylon Tower. We also could see the mist rising as the water fell over the falls. The view of the falls was shorter than I had thought as we drove over Rainbow Bridge, but was exciting for all of us.
We got to the border around 6:30pm - and were boarded by a congenial young woman. She just checked our papers, asked if we were carrying any firearms, asked which one was Kimberly, and asked Emily her birthdate - and we were free to go.
We continued on to Lundy Lane and pulled into the KOA. Check-in was no hassle, and we got to a great spot, close to the playground and pools (both inside and out) and fully paved, with a little patio.


We're all setup, the girls are finally in bed, tomorrow, a new day of adventures awaits!