Even though there's no snow on the ground, that thing called "winter break" is quickly sneaking up on us. Kids are looking forward to it – parents, probably not so much. You're probably in frantic search of some great activities to suggest once those inevitable "I'm bored"s make their dreaded appearance. Well, you need look no further than Corning & the Finger Lakes.If you've ever spent the day at The Corning Museum of Glass, you know why it deserves to be on Budget Travel magazine's list of "15 Places to See before 15." Kids love all the hands-on activities they find when they visit the glass museum. Give the museum a "thumbs up" every day through next Tuesday, February 21, and make sure it gets the recognition it deserves.
It was a quiet day in March several years back when I explored New Orleans. The Mardi Gras beads had been thrown, the alcohol consumed, and parades had long since rolled by. If you wanted to see Carnival masks, you couldn't just look around – you actually had to go into a store or visit Mardi Gras World (which I really wanted to do, but didn't have time!) Yes, the Big Easy had settled down from its celebrations, but the energy of the recent activity lingered in the air like electricity.Now, I'm sure it'd be very exciting – invigorating, even – to be on the streets of New Orleans this February 21. But that's just a little beyond the realm of possibility for me. As I'm sure it is for a lot of you. But that doesn't mean you have to miss out on the celebrations.
As I turn my calendar page to February, I can feel it... Love is in the air! It may be the shortest month, but it certainly has the biggest heart. At least, that's what I drew into the space below February 14 on my calendar! While I am of the opinion it's important to express your love to those you care for every day, there's just something about February that makes people more apt to show it.If it's romance you seek this Valentine's Day, look no further than Coring & the Finger Lakes. When you bring your sweetheart here for a weekend getaway, you'll discover plenty of ways to celebrate your love.
We're excited to announce a new blog series to go along with the "best-kept secrets" you can read about in the new 2012 Steuben County Travel Guide! Check back the fourth week of every month this year to read a feature on one of those gems we've found in Corning & the Finger Lakes! To request your free copy of the Travel Guide, e-mail our Sales and Office Assistant, Kevin Peterson, or call 607.936.6544.
Win 2 passes to Cabin Fever!Leave a comment below about a fun past Cabin Fever experience, or why you’re excited about attending this year, and our favorite will win (2) passes to the event! Rules: You must be 21 years or older to enter and be able to pick up tickets at Steuben County CVB (1 W. Market Street, 2nd floor, Corning) by 5pm on Friday, February 10. Contest ends at 12 noon on Wednesday, February 8. Winner will be notified by email.Well, it’s officially cold. With this unusual winter we’ve been having, I’ve actually been quite surprised to find frost on my car and a nip in the air in the mornings. I thought we might be skipping over this season and going straight to spring.
Some called it the end of an era. Some said its beauty simply wasn't enough. Everyone agrees it was a very sad day when Steuben Glass LLC stopped producing the intricate crystal that has been adding to Corning's sparkle for over a century.What began in 1903 with Frederick Carder and Thomas G. Hawkes ended November 29, 2011, when current owner Schottenstein Stores Corp. decided to shut down production. They had hoped to bring the company back to its glory days, but the difficult economy, declining sales, and high expenses proved to be insurmountable odds.When Carder and Hawkes started the company, the primary focus was colored art glass. Corning Inc. purchased the company in 1918, and in the 1930s shifted the focus to making pure lead crystal. Collectors have long sought after the crystal, and presidents have even given it as gifts to visiting heads of state.
Post a comment below to tell us why you think Hammondsport should be America's "Coolest Small Town!"How cool is this? Hammondsport is a top-ten contender for America's "Coolest Small Town!" The Budget Travel competition began last fall with Hammondsport gaining the most votes in the first round. Hammondsport received 8,036 votes in the initial round. The next highest contender was Weaverville, CA, with 999 votes, followed by Beaufort, NC, with 468.
We all know his story. We've all heard his words. He had a dream, and he shared it with the world. His dream for racial equality and an end to discrimination was at the very heart of the American Civil Rights Movement. He was a leader, an inspiration, and a man whose name now belongs to history.We still celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. every January. This year, 171 Cedar Arts Center in Corning is not leaving education about King's life solely up to the history teachers. Through both an art exhibition and a special evening dedicated to "Making Real the Dream," the arts center is portraying King's life in a very poignant way. Now in its 27th year of honoring King, 171 is offering arts learning experience, visual artwork exhibits and performances created by talented artists throughout the region.
Well, Christmas is over and the New Year is still a week away. Your kids have unwrapped their toys, and – if they're anything like my brother when he was little – have probably broken a few already. They've been playing with everything for a couple of days. I'd give it maybe one more before you'll start to hear those two little words that haunt every parent's nightmares: "I'm bored."Those couple of weeks off school around Christmas time are highly anticipated during the fall, but somewhere in the middle of break, you realize it's far too long. There's a line in a Christmas song that expresses this. After describing what the kids are hoping to find under the tree, Bing Crosby notes, "Mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again..."
10... 9... 8... 7... 6... 5... 4... 3... 2... 1... It's almost New Year's!!! So, what are you going to do? I bet you've been too preoccupied with holiday shopping and decorating to even think about that giant ball dropping in NYC. If you're like me, Christmas kind of snuck up on you this year. The weather's been warm, and it doesn't really seem like winter at all. How could it possibly be holiday time yet, let alone the end of 2011? Never fear! I've got suggestions sure to help you ring in the New Year in style.
Last week, we discovered all the wonderful winter adventures Corning & the Finger Lakes has to offer those outdoor enthusiasts. We covered cross country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and so much more! We talked about great places to take your sled and spend the day on the slopes. We even discussed where to go for all your winter sporting gear! So you adventure-seekers... you guys are all set! You know where to go, you know what to do. All you need now is for some of that white stuff to start falling from the sky – then it's go time!But for those of you who are like me and fall into that "wanting to be warm and dry" category when it comes to winter, this blog's for you! (And when you adventuresome types come in from the cold, you can do all these fun things, too!)
There are two types of people when it comes to winter. There are those who crave adventure. They can't wait for that first significant snowfall so they can rush outside and take part in all those classic winter activities. Whether they're flying down a steep slope or snowmobiling somewhere off the beaten path, these outdoor enthusiasts crave the exhilaration found in winter sporting activities. Then there are those who need to stay warm and dry. They firmly believe the bears have it right. Winter is prime time for hibernation!
I couldn't help but hum that classic song, "It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas" as I hung ornaments on my Christmas tree last weekend. Even though the chill that's usually hanging in the air right about now is distinctly absent, the spirit of the holidays is present and accounted for! It seems everywhere you turn, there's another sign that the holiday season has indeed arrived in Corning & the Finger Lakes.Look no further than Pulteney Square in Bath this Friday evening from 6-8:30 p.m. The "Spirit of Christmas" will have you celebrating the sights and sounds of the season, as you gaze at church nativity scenes while listening to live music and carolers. And the tastes will be pretty good, too! Enjoy chili, donuts, popcorn, cider and hot chocolate. Meet Santa and Mrs. Claus and peruse the stands of food and craft vendors – maybe even get a few people checked off your holiday shopping list!
Thanksgiving is one of those times when you get to slow down and really think about all the good things in your life. Sure, you stress over what size turkey to get to feed all the people you're inviting over. How much time should I allot for the preparation of the meal? Who's bringing what? How am I going to stand having my crazy aunt at the table with me for an extended period of time? Yes, these are the great questions that come with the Thanksgiving holiday. However, another question arises: What am I thankful for?
Thanksgiving: a time for family, friends, and food! No doubt you've already thought about how you'll be celebrating and who you'll be doing it with next Thursday. You're pondering what dish to bring to your aunt's house to contribute to the feast – or perhaps you've just been told! Me? I've been required to show up with some of my famous "cake balls" shaped like turkeys – or else!Perhaps your mind has skipped right over Thanksgiving and it's completely focused on what comes after. It's easy to get distracted from the upcoming holiday when department stores are glowing brightly with the colors of Christmas. And all those ads! Black Friday deals are infiltrating our newspapers, e-mails, and Google searches! Temptations abound! I'm already laying out my plan of attack for that early-morning shopping spree. (I absolutely refuse to go out Thanksgiving night!)But see? I'm getting ahead of myself. It's so very easy to do.
It's finally here! I know you've been waiting for it! It's another one of those calendar phenomenons: it's 11.11.11! It only occurs once every 100 years, so obviously it's a day for observance marked by immense celebration!Clearly, I'm kidding – or at least I think I am! I was thinking about other interesting calendar dates this morning and realize I remember exactly what I was doing on 10.10.10. Of course, this is only because the bus driver on our Sound of Music tour is Salzburg, Austria, lamented that the "just married" couple in the horse-drawn carriage next to us was going to have a much easier time remembering their anniversary than he did.It's amazing how many people seek out these unique dates for weddings. Heck, I might have even tried to snag a venue for my upcoming wedding on this date, if it weren't for the fact I've always dreamed of an August wedding. I really missed the boat on 08.08.08 a few years ago!
As I used to say when I was little, "Shop 'til drop! Shop 'til drop!" Years later, that remains my mantra during the holiday shopping season. What a blessed time of year, isn't it ladies (and few select gentlemen)? From the moment the clock strikes midnight the day after Thanksgiving, it's game time!I haven't always felt this way, though! I used to love nothing more than staying home on that wretched non-holiday to help my mom trim the tree and hang lights all over the house. However, right around the time I went away to college, I decided I must experience this so-called Black Friday for myself. But I was going to do it from a safe distance. Yes, I'd enter the craziness that became department stores. Yes, I'd watch people run around as if the item they were in pursuit of was being discontinued forever. I might even make a small purchase. Who could tell!? But I promised myself I wouldn't get sucked in.
Alright, so you know where you are hunting and when. Or don't you? I admit it is difficult to choose from the 28,000 acres of public hunting land available in Steuben County, where more whitetail deer are harvested than in any other county in the state. Steuben County has even been called the "perennial chart-topper" by New York Game & Fish magazine. No, the decision to hunt in Steuben County certainly isn't a hard one! What's next?
Halloween has a way of sneaking up on you, doesn't it? It's almost scary how quickly autumn has flown by. Trees have shed their colorful leaves, and we're left bare, skeletal remains of seasons gone by. Where flower pots stood on the porch seemingly five seconds ago, pumpkins now perch, awaiting Batman, Cinderella, Buzz Lightyear and friends to show up looking for candy. Yes, it's spooky how quickly time flies.When I was younger, Halloween never elicited the same excitement in me as it did in other children. While my friends would beg their mothers to take them to the store to find the perfect princess costume, I was content to go pick out a pumpkin and call it a day. For some odd reason, the thought of caking on face paint, pinning a rainbow wig to my mess of curls, and roaming the streets in shoes six sizes too big for my feet was never that appealing to me. Is it obvious that I clearly, painfully even, remember that clown costume?
There's no doubt about it! Everywhere you look, it's evident that harvest time has taken hold in the Finger Lakes Region. Everything is lush against a backdrop of gorgeous autumn colors. The October sun glistening off the lakes is one that provokes us to stare at the beauty of the landscape, rather than enticing us to jump on in. The rolling hillsides that have been such a full, vibrant green for the past few months now dazzle with rusty, golden hues. The grapes in the vineyards are just aching to be plucked. Ah yes, harvest has come to Corning & the Finger Lakes, and there's no better time to partake in the bounty that the region has to offer.
Fall is in full swing in Corning & the Finger Lakes! The weather is cooler, the trees are turning, and the hillsides are becoming alive with the shades of autumn. The season is simply too beautiful not to have a few festivals, urging you to get out and soak in the wonder of fall in the Finger Lakes.Falling on the perfect time to visit the region, Canadian Thanksgiving allows hundreds of visitors the chance to not only gaze at the autumn colors, but to celebrate them! With the holiday falling on Monday, October 10 this year, it provides a great opportunity for a long-weekend traveling adventure just a little south of the border. Welcome, Canadians! Come sip the delicate wonders of harvest time in wine country.
What's more exhilarating than running a race alongside several thousand people – or even watching from the sidelines? Doing it all with the beautiful backdrop of fall in Corning & the Finger Lakes, of course!This year's 30th Annual Wineglass Marathon is bigger and (dare I say it) better than ever! Voted "Speediest Race" by Runner's World Magazine, the Wineglass Marathon has 1900 marathoners in the full race from Bath to Corning, and has 1140 runners in its inaugural half-marathon from Campbell to Corning. Participants are coming from 46 states and 5 countries. While it's true that the race is what draws people to the area, once you get here, you'll discover there's so much more to Wineglass weekend than Sunday morning!"This has really been a team effort by the community to make the Wineglass Marathon the best event it could be this year," said Sheila Sutton, assistant race director. "I think the runners will be happy."
There is simply nothing more breathtaking than fall in the Finger Lakes. Everywhere you look, you're surrounded by beauty, whether it's the blaze of color on the hills, or in the pristine blue of the waters. While Christmas may be "the most wonderful time of the year," fall is arguably the most beautiful time of the year in Corning & the Finger Lakes – and that calls for a celebration!"The 16th annual Jazz & Harvest Festival has remained one of our most popular events from year to year because it celebrates the bounty of the Finger Lakes Region in the beautiful autumn season," said Mike Melaro, director of marketing and communications for the Gaffer District. "From wine tasting and jazz music to a farmers market and scarecrow contest, there's something for everyone!"
The annual Seaplane Homecoming will return to the shores of Keuka Lake on Saturday, September 17. For the last eight years, the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum's event has delighted visitors with all kinds of demonstrations, games, rides, and food – and this year's "Splash-In" will be no different! Join in the celebration of 100 years of naval aviation (1911-2011), while welcoming in the beauty of fall in Corning & the Finger Lakes."The purpose of the Seaplane Homecoming is to honor the man, Glenn Hammond Curtiss, who inspired men to pursue seaplane development," reads the Seaplane Homecoming website. "He was, after all, the first to fly off water and had ideas well ahead of their time that are still used today in every seaplane flying."
With the school year just beginning, children are rediscovering the joy of learning. It's always exciting to pick up fresh information and have new experiences. But the learning doesn't have to be limited to the classroom. The Benjamin Patterson Inn in Corning will offer a fun chance to learn about culture and heritage during the 31st annual Whingblinger September 10-11."The Whingblinger Heritage Festival is a chance to invite, engage, educate and entertain the public through various demonstrators and activities that allow the visitors to step back in time and experience firsthand how past generations went about their daily lives," said Doc Cavallaro, director of Benjamin Patterson Inn and the Corning-Painted Post Historical Society.
It seems like yesterday kids were running through the doorways of their school buildings and into the warm embrace of summer vacation. Those lazy, hazy days we've quickly become accustomed to are drawing to an end. The weather's a little cooler, the days a little shorter. Soon the school bus will again be stopping to collect children with backpacks and lunch boxes. Even though life's routine is on the verge of returning, there's still time to savor that last bit of summer with events in Corning & the Finger Lakes.Labor Day Weekend is one of those bitter-sweet times of the year. You feel that impending end of so-called "vacation." You want to relax one last time (or your summer has been so busy, you need to relax for the first time). Instead of mourning the end of summer, celebrate it with some fun events sure to make the transition into fall a little easier.
There are moments in life when you encounter something so beautiful it takes your breath away. I witnessed those moments time and time again when I worked at The Corning Museum of Glass. Visitors would make a curve around the gallery's interior wall, and would stop short, gasping with delight. Directly in front of them stood an enormous Tiffany stained glass window.
In these dog days of summer, there's a pretty good chance the novelty of "summer vacation" has worn off. Back in May, the thought of soon having your kids home all day might have been a welcomed one, but three months later, it's quite possible you're counting the days until the new school year begins. The heat is oppressive, your children are bored, and you are simply exhausted. Sounds like you need a little "you" time.How about getting together with some of your closest girlfriends who need the same thing? Corning & the Finger Lakes offers so many great opportunities to make for a relaxing, yet memorable Women-Only Weekend. Leave the kids with dad and meet the gals for a little R&R with a spa day and a good glass of award-winning Finger Lakes wine.
It's that time of the summer again. The crops have been grown to fruition, the horses' hair has been braided, and the monster trucks have been rolled out to put on a show. Everything from the delighted squeals of pigs to the happy laughter of children beckons you to the county fair.The Steuben County Fair returns August 16 - 21, marking its 192nd year in Bath, NY. This fair holds a special significance above all others – it is the longest continuously-running county fair in the United States. It has been held annually since 1819 without interruption.If I had to use one word to describe county fairs, it would be eclectic. You can find anything and everything to entertain you. Not only are there animal shows of all kinds, but there are pie eating contest, talent shows, and even demolition derbies. And the Steuben County Fair is no exception.
Summer is ripe for the pickin'. It warm outside, there's time for activities, and everything's lush and in bloom. Although this hasn't been the best growing season imaginable for area farmers and winemakers, Corning and the Finger Lakes remains a great place to find locally-grown food this summer.When I was younger, my mom would take me to a U-Pick blueberry farm at least once a summer. Aside from the bugs that always frightened me, it was one of the best experiences I can remember. It was always such a treat to pluck a blueberry from the bush and pop it into my mouth. We'd fill buckets upon buckets – enough to ensure we'd have blueberry pancakes all winter!Take your kids on a berry-picking adventure to Blueberry Hill Farm in Hornell and let them experience the joy of staining their lips with the color of summer.
