Upcoming vacation: Grand Canyon of PA & Finger Lakes (NY) - must sees?

[Marcster]

Hey guys, my wife and I are planning a short vacation up to the Finger Lakes (Watkins Glen, specifically) with a slight detour to see the Grand Canyon of PA on the way up (Wellsboro, PA) and the Corning museum on the way back.

Have any of you guys been there? Any places, restaurants, wineries, etc. that are a must see?

Any route recommendations from Reading, PA area?  We'll be traveling by car...

Thanks in advance.

[Mastros2]

I would recommend Hyner View over the Grand Canyon of PA.  IMO, better views.  The GCoPA is limited with views but Hyner View is 360.  http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/hynerview/index.htm

Also, check out Naples NY for their Grape Festival.   http://www.naplesgrapefest.org/.  Oops, it's this weekend but it may hang over a few days.

If you go to Naples, any of the mom and pop pie joints are to die for.  Monica's Pies are nationally known but other vendors do compete.  
http://www.monicaspies.com/

"The Grainery" in Naples has excellent breakfast. Also, there are a few wineries in town.

[ChrisZRX]

Here's a recommended riding route I put on another thread. Not much on twisties but very scenic.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/715480

Stop in at any winery that looks interesting, but I'd recommend Bully Hill Vineyards in Hammondsport, south end of Keuka Lake.

Make sure you tour the Glen at Watkins Glen, and Taughannock Falls near Ithica.

Yes, PA Grand Canyon is a should see.

[MrsCablebandit]

My favorite Finger Lakes winery is Bully Hill.  They have a great story (about the goat) and the folks there are a ton of fun!  What other winery sells thongs?!?  Bully Hilly does!  

+1 on Mastros2's assessment of Hyner View vs. GCoPA.

Not sure what's east of US 15 to get north, but west of US 15 is PA 287 which goes north from US 220 up to Wellsboro...it is a great road.

[ChrisZRX]

Not sure what's east of US 15 to get north

That would be I-81.  

[et]

Make your way over to Hammondsport, NY and visit the Glenn Curtis Museum.
It's definitely worth a visit !

[MrsCablebandit]

That would be I-81.  

Oooo...yeah...a boring interstate.  What fun.    At least you have good taste in wineries.  

Marcster, if you do go to Hammondsport, the Crooked Lake Ice Cream Parlor is worth a visit.

[ChrisZRX]

I agree about 287.  The Wellsboro Diner is a good place to get lunch.  I always stop there when passing through Wellsboro.

[ConPilot1]

Wellsboro Diner has the most amazing open face roast beef + gravy sammiches I've ever had, with a side of nice stiff REAL homemade mashed potatoes.

It's a must try if you go there, the house specialty.  

[Marcster]

OK, so I've added the Wellsboro Diner to our lunch plans for the ride up.  http://www.yelp.com/biz/wellsboro-diner-wellsboro

Hyner Park might be an addition to our trip.  But that will probably be too much to do in one day (plus 5-6 hours of driving). Since Hyner State Park would be more out of the way than Harrison State Park, it might be a two-part park visit on a future trip back to just the Canyon (go to both parks on a revisit), vs. trying to jam everything into one drive.

Wife and I have to talk about it in more detail tonight.  She doesn't have an interest in that early aviation museum mentioned above, though I would like to see it.

While we are in Watkins Glen, one of the salesmen here at the dealership recommended Savard's Family Restaurant for breakfast (he and his wife have been to Watkins Glen a few times).   http://www.yelp.com/biz/savards-family-restrnt-watkins-glen#query:Savard%27s%20Family%20Restaurant

I'm organizing our travel plans (with hyperlinks) into my account on Springpad. I love that site, very helpful. www.springpad.com (free!)  I find a new use for that site everyday.

Does anyone here use Travelpod to track their adventures?: www.travelpod.com (it's free, I might give it a try).  

[J.R.]

Glad this thread popped up, since I'm planning a trip with my wife for our anniversary!

We'll be riding 2-up on my Concours, so do you think we'll be able to make it to the overlook?  It just says unpaved, not if it's dirt or loose/hard packed gravel...

I would recommend Hyner View over the Grand Canyon of PA.  IMO, better views.  The GCoPA is limited with views but Hyner View is 360.  http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/hynerview/index.htm

[Cablebandit]

It's paved up to the overlook, and quite twisty.  There is a dirt road that come in the backside but that's passable on a C14 as well.

[Marcster]

So we're also going to visit Taughannock Falls as suggested by ChrisBandit -- thanks!

Dinner stops include:

Rooster Pub / Wildflower Cafe http://www.yelp.com/biz/rooster-fish-brewery-watkins-glen?rpp=40&sort_by=date_desc

They have a very cool logo --  http://www.roosterfishbrewing.com/index.php

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Smok'n Bones BBQ: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g47380-d833731-Reviews-Smok_n_Bones_BBQ-Burdett_Finger_Lakes_New_York.html
(no restaurant website)

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Blue Pointe Grille (the restaurant in the hoity-toity hotel my wife picked): http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g48815-d1490998-r117997729-BluePointe_Grille-Watkins_Glen_Finger_Lakes_New_York.html#REVIEWS

http://www.watkinsglenharborhotel.com/dining.php

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Rooster Fish Brewery has growlers and is within walking distance of our hotel.  

[J.R.]

It's paved up to the overlook, and quite twisty.  There is a dirt road that come in the backside but that's passable on a C14 as well.

Thanks  

[cbsnbiker]

Here's a second for the Glen Curtiss Museum.

There are many wineries in the area. Two that come to mind that others have recommended are Konstantin Frank, and Standing Stone.

When will you be making the trip?

[Marcster]

Here's a second for the Glen Curtiss Museum.

There are many wineries in the area. Two that come to mind that others have recommended are Konstantin Frank, and Standing Stone.

When will you be making the trip?

Wineries and apparently cheese factories...

Beginning of October.  

[cbsnbiker]

If you were planning to go next summer, I would have other recommendations (such as Glimmerglass Opera).

Here are a few other thoughts.

You could visit Cooperstown for various museums. The most famous one is the baseball museum, but there are others, including the Fenimore Museum. (There's also Glimmerglass Opera, but, again, it's summer-only.)

Check out the offerings at the various colleges in the area (Ithaca College, Cornell, Hamilton, Colgate, etc.). They have concert series, art museums, and all sorts of other stuff.

Is there anything at the racetrack in Watkins Glen in October?

[Marcster]

Cbsnbiker - I don't know if we'd have enough time to tie in a trip to Cooperstown, we're only planning a 4 day vacaton and we'll already be visiting 3 state parks, the Corning Museum, and as yet to be determined winerys & cheese factories.

But we are baseball fans, and there will be future vacations. We have no interest in flying with the ridiculous, invasive TSA practices right now. There's just too much good stuff within a few hours drive...

[lloydo]

I would highly recommend the Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, NY (not far from Watkins Glen). Mr. Curtiss contributed greatly to early motorcycle designs.  There is a lot to offer for lovers of  motorcycles and airplanes/airplane engines.

http://www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org/

Lloyd

[ConPilot1]

+ on the Roosterfish microbrewery/restaurant in Watkins Glen. EXCELLENT food, one of the best burger's I've ever had and some really fine microbrew IPA's. Great place.  

[cbsnbiker]

Cbsnbiker - I don't know if we'd have enough time to tie in a trip to Cooperstown, we're only planning a 4 day vacaton and we'll already be visiting 3 state parks, the Corning Museum, and as yet to be determined winerys & cheese factories.

But we are baseball fans, and there will be future vacations. We have no interest in flying with the ridiculous, invasive TSA practices right now. There's just too much good stuff within a few hours drive...

Is Letchworth State Park in the mix?

Too bad you're driving -- there's good riding in that whole area.

[Marcster]

Is Letchworth State Park in the mix?

Too bad you're driving -- there's good riding in that whole area.

No, not Letchworth...  Watkins Glen State Park, Taughannock Falls State Park (both in NY) and Leonard Harrison State Park (in PA).

No, not riding.  I haven't been on a motorcycle since my accident.  Wife is still extremely against it and I'm still on a 3 year premium upcharge (according to Progressive) because of the accident.  My wife did ride on the back of a scooter we rented when we cruised to Bermuda.

[Marcster]

So when I get back from this vacation, where should I post the pics & write-up?

A) Start a new thread in Region 6.

B) Start a new thread in Ride Reports (keep in mind that this will be a drive, not a ride).

C) Post pics and write-up in this thread.

I defer to the EOE at large, what say you?  

[cbsnbiker]

So when I get back from this vacation, where should I post the pics & write-up?

A) Start a new thread in Region 6.

B) Start a new thread in Ride Reports (keep in mind that this will be a drive, not a ride).

C) Post pics and write-up in this thread.

I defer to the EOE at large, what say you?  

D): Post it to off-topic.

After all, it has nothing to do with riding, but is worthy of posting somewhere.

[ChrisZRX]

I'm definately interested in the pics and write-up.

[Cablebandit]

travelocity.com?

[mustang]

travelocity.com?

 

[Marcster]

We're back home!  Had a blast...

We went to Taughannock Falls State Park (NY), Watkins Glen State Park (NY) and Leonard Harrison State Park (Grand Canyon).

I'll have to make a full write-up, and sort through over 1,000 photos (yes, over 1K!) but here's a teaser:

[Mastros2]

   Nice!!!

[ChrisZRX]

I love NYS.  Too bad they're taxed to hell.