With soaring gas prices and a faltering economy, Cayuga County residents are having more and more difficulty taking summer trips to places like Toronto or New York City.
Photo provided by Kristian Reynolds
A cyclist takes a break from riding his bike at Fillmore Glen State Park. Attractions the park features includes a beach, cabins, campsites, hiking, picnic tables, playgrounds and several waterfalls. The park is located on Route 38, one mile south of Moravia.
In fact, the financial hardship concerning travel has caused a new word to enter the English vernacular: The “staycation.”
This year, many area residents are searching for ways to enjoy their summer vacations a little closer to home. According to Meg Vanek, director of the Cayuga County Office of Tourism, that might not be as difficult as people might think.
“Because Cayuga County is so long and narrow, you can actually travel quite far within the county,” she said from her downtown Auburn office.
With the county stretching nearly 100 miles from its northern to southern borders, she continued, people can travel a fairly good distance for a vacation and still remain close to home.
“Someone from Auburn, for example, might want to travel to Fair Haven for a ‘staycation,'” she added.
Fair Haven Beach State Park has for years been a favorite destination for travelers both local and foreign. The park, located just off Route 104A, has numerous beaches and an inland pond surrounded by campsites and cabins.
“There's a great hotel there, too, called Pleasant Beach Hotel, where people can stay or just go for dinner,” Vanek added.
Attractions near the park include the Sterling Renaissance Festival, the Sterling Nature Center and shopping in nearby Oswego.
“Another spot that's in Cayuga County, but you can spend a weekend in is Aurora,” she said.
With McKenzie-Childs studios and the Cayuga Wine Trail just minutes away, she explained, the village is a fairly well-kept secret.
One popular destination there is the Aurora Inn, a historic home built in 1833 that has 10 rooms overlooking Cayuga Lake.
“I think we've definitely had more guests from closer to home this year,” said Lauren Tillapaugh, Aurora Inn director of marketing.
In 2003, the inn underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation, she explained, so the facility might be quite different than what area residents might expect. In addition to the inn's 10 rooms, she continued, the facility has seven rooms available at the E.B. Morgan house next door, along with a full-service restaurant.
“Plus there are several wineries on this side of the lake,” she added, citing Long Point and King Ferry vineyards as examples.
For those who love spending their vacations on - or in - the water, Skaneateles has long been a popular destination for aquatic-minded travelers.
This summer, the village is holding a “100 Years of Boating” celebration, called so because of the 70th anniversary of the Lightning Regatta, named after a popular sailboat first built in Skaneateles, and the 30th anniversary of the village's annual Antique and Classic Boat Show.
“There are several different places to rent boats here,” said Susan Dove, executive director of the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce.
Locations like the Skaneateles Marina and The Sailboat Shop rent canoes, kayaks, pontoon boats and sailboats at hourly or daily rates.
For those seeking guided tours, Skaneateles' Mid-Lakes Navigation offers daily dinner, lunch and sightseeing cruises that depart from Clift Park in the village's downtown area.
The village also has numerous award-winning lodging facilities. The Skaneateles Hotel, located at 12 Fennell St., is offering a special deal to local residents who want to spend time on the lake, Dove said.
“They have kayaks right there at the hotel, and locals can rent one at a reduced rate,” she added.
A popular spot at the southern edge of the county is Fillmore Glen State Park in Moravia.
The park, which in 2007 was named one of the top 100 campgrounds in the United States by Camping Life magazine, has 60 campsites, a stream-fed swimming pool and fishing in the Owasco Lake inlet.
Fillmore Glen also has many miles of hiking trails which include unique geological formations and five waterfalls.
For those who prefer the comforts of home, the park has several cottages available for rental that feature full kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms, boat docks and picnic tables.
In addition, numerous restaurants and shopping areas are located in Ithaca just a few miles away.
“Staycations,” Vanek said, “are indeed possible. You can spend a weekend in your own county and feel like you got away.”
Children's contest
“Staycationing in My Hometown”
A new children's video documentary contest, “Summer in My Town,” encourages children to make the most of their summer “staycations.”
Whether it's an annual festival, a special family-oriented concert or a local parade, children ages 7 to 13 are invited to submit a video documentary that depicts their special part of the world. The winner will receive a $250 plus a special airing of their video on MeetMeAtTheCorner.org, the Web site that sends children on virtual fieldtrips.
The contest deadline is Aug. 31.
Complete information on how to make a video documentary, including step-by-step instructions on creating storyboards and voiceovers, as well as submission guidelines, rules and forms can be found at SummerInMyTownContest.com. Final cassette tapes can be mailed to Meet Me at the Corner “Summer in My Town” Video Contest, 1710 First Ave., PO Box 283, New York, NY 10128. All submissions are the property of Meet Me at the Corner and will not be returned.
Learn more
€ Cayuga County Office of Tourism: Call 255-1658 or visit www.tourcayuga.com
€ Fair Haven Beach State Park: Call 947-5205 or visit www.nysparks.state.ny.us
€ Fillmore Glen State Park: Call 497-0130 or visit www.nysparks.state.ny.us
€ Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce: Call 685-0552 or visit
www.skaneateles.com
This year, many area residents are searching for ways to enjoy their summer vacations a little closer to home. According to Meg Vanek, director of the Cayuga County Office of Tourism, that might not be as difficult as people might think.
“Because Cayuga County is so long and narrow, you can actually travel quite far within the county,” she said from her downtown Auburn office.
With the county stretching nearly 100 miles from its northern to southern borders, she continued, people can travel a fairly good distance for a vacation and still remain close to home.
“Someone from Auburn, for example, might want to travel to Fair Haven for a ‘staycation,'” she added.
Fair Haven Beach State Park has for years been a favorite destination for travelers both local and foreign. The park, located just off Route 104A, has numerous beaches and an inland pond surrounded by campsites and cabins.
“There's a great hotel there, too, called Pleasant Beach Hotel, where people can stay or just go for dinner,” Vanek added.
Attractions near the park include the Sterling Renaissance Festival, the Sterling Nature Center and shopping in nearby Oswego.
“Another spot that's in Cayuga County, but you can spend a weekend in is Aurora,” she said.
With McKenzie-Childs studios and the Cayuga Wine Trail just minutes away, she explained, the village is a fairly well-kept secret.
One popular destination there is the Aurora Inn, a historic home built in 1833 that has 10 rooms overlooking Cayuga Lake.
“I think we've definitely had more guests from closer to home this year,” said Lauren Tillapaugh, Aurora Inn director of marketing.
In 2003, the inn underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation, she explained, so the facility might be quite different than what area residents might expect. In addition to the inn's 10 rooms, she continued, the facility has seven rooms available at the E.B. Morgan house next door, along with a full-service restaurant.
“Plus there are several wineries on this side of the lake,” she added, citing Long Point and King Ferry vineyards as examples.
For those who love spending their vacations on - or in - the water, Skaneateles has long been a popular destination for aquatic-minded travelers.
This summer, the village is holding a “100 Years of Boating” celebration, called so because of the 70th anniversary of the Lightning Regatta, named after a popular sailboat first built in Skaneateles, and the 30th anniversary of the village's annual Antique and Classic Boat Show.
“There are several different places to rent boats here,” said Susan Dove, executive director of the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce.
Locations like the Skaneateles Marina and The Sailboat Shop rent canoes, kayaks, pontoon boats and sailboats at hourly or daily rates.
For those seeking guided tours, Skaneateles' Mid-Lakes Navigation offers daily dinner, lunch and sightseeing cruises that depart from Clift Park in the village's downtown area.
The village also has numerous award-winning lodging facilities. The Skaneateles Hotel, located at 12 Fennell St., is offering a special deal to local residents who want to spend time on the lake, Dove said.
“They have kayaks right there at the hotel, and locals can rent one at a reduced rate,” she added.
A popular spot at the southern edge of the county is Fillmore Glen State Park in Moravia.
The park, which in 2007 was named one of the top 100 campgrounds in the United States by Camping Life magazine, has 60 campsites, a stream-fed swimming pool and fishing in the Owasco Lake inlet.
Fillmore Glen also has many miles of hiking trails which include unique geological formations and five waterfalls.
For those who prefer the comforts of home, the park has several cottages available for rental that feature full kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms, boat docks and picnic tables.
In addition, numerous restaurants and shopping areas are located in Ithaca just a few miles away.
“Staycations,” Vanek said, “are indeed possible. You can spend a weekend in your own county and feel like you got away.”
Children's contest
“Staycationing in My Hometown”
A new children's video documentary contest, “Summer in My Town,” encourages children to make the most of their summer “staycations.”
Whether it's an annual festival, a special family-oriented concert or a local parade, children ages 7 to 13 are invited to submit a video documentary that depicts their special part of the world. The winner will receive a $250 plus a special airing of their video on MeetMeAtTheCorner.org, the Web site that sends children on virtual fieldtrips.
The contest deadline is Aug. 31.
Complete information on how to make a video documentary, including step-by-step instructions on creating storyboards and voiceovers, as well as submission guidelines, rules and forms can be found at SummerInMyTownContest.com. Final cassette tapes can be mailed to Meet Me at the Corner “Summer in My Town” Video Contest, 1710 First Ave., PO Box 283, New York, NY 10128. All submissions are the property of Meet Me at the Corner and will not be returned.
Learn more
€ Cayuga County Office of Tourism: Call 255-1658 or visit www.tourcayuga.com
€ Fair Haven Beach State Park: Call 947-5205 or visit www.nysparks.state.ny.us
€ Fillmore Glen State Park: Call 497-0130 or visit www.nysparks.state.ny.us
€ Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce: Call 685-0552 or visit
www.skaneateles.com
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