Visiting the Villages of Upstate New York

Day 29 – June 25, 2014

Lake Placid, NY/Lake George, NY/Saratoga Springs, NY/Cooperstown, NY/Binghamton

318 miles/I lost count on the hours.

Today did not go as planned – at all.  Our biggest impediment was Mother Nature!  What a crappy, rainy day!  We woke up to such grey skies, it looked like winter.  I loaded my car in a down pour, and then very carefully began our journey down the mountain.

Last summer, when we were in Santa Fe, we visited the Georgia O’Keefe museum and I became enchanted with one of her landscapes of Lake George.  After some research, I learned that once upon a time, it was a big summer destination of many New York City artist in the beginning of the 20^th century.  Coincidentally, in the past year a number of my friends mentioned Lake George and how much they loved the area.  Lake George won a slot on our road trip itinerary.

Due to time constraints and hotel options, I planned to explore Lake George and Saratoga Springs on the same day, staying in Saratoga Springs.  When we got to Lake George, the weather had not changed.  The kids were freaking out, because I promised them that we’d play miniature golf in Lake George.  They had to settle for Fort William Henry.  Fortunately, they loved it (there were a number of artillery demonstrations).  Strolling around the lake was not an option – as it was pouring. 

We decided to try our luck a little further south and moseyed on to Saratoga Springs – where it was also raining.  Oh, the moaning and bitching from the back seat, all about mini-golf.  Momma had a back-up plan – the National Museum of Dance.  And yes, it was about as boring as it sounds.

Main Street in Saratoga is bustling and calling my name.  Oh Amy, you were so right about all the restaurants and shops!  I was itching to explore and do some damage, but it was raining cats and dogs.  I was also already thinking ahead to tomorrow, which involves a nine hour journey, with a stop in Cooperstown.  According to my calculations we’d be arriving in the Washington D.C. area around 6 p.m. - guaranteed to be a traffic nightmare.  So, I pitched a change-in-plans to the children, with mixed reactions.  I decided to exercise my preemptory executive powers and do what I wanted to do, which would cut down on driving time to following day.

So off to Cooperstown we headed.  At this point the rain was torrential! 

Cooperstown was another pleasant surprise.  Yet again we found ourselves in an adorable village on a lake!  Who knew there was such idyllic summer vacation bounty in the state of New York?  I’m thinking house rental on a lake next summer.  But I digress…  The Baseball Hall of Fame is all that it promises to be and more.  I really enjoyed it – the kids, not so much.  Oh well.

After the Hall of Fame, we embarked on the last leg of our journey for the day – to Binghamton, NY.  There are no words.  Rain, hotel by the interstate, dinner at Applebee’s.  You do the math.

Lake Placid - Nostolgia for the Miracle on Ice

Day 28 – June 24, 2014

Middlebury, VT – Lake Placid, NY

75 miles/two hours

We woke up to dreary skies and a quick check with weather.com showed dire storm warnings, with threats of hail.  Holy Moly.  It was so gorgeous yesterday!

Our drive was slow (back roads, again) and through the Adirondack Mountains!  I so wish it had been a prettier day, because I know it would have been a stunningly gorgeous trip.  When we pulled into Lake Place, I was a bit disappointed.  My first impression was that of a one-horse town that had seen better days (probably circa 1980!).  I stopped to get the kids some Subway for lunch, before heading to the Olympic Museum. 

The museum, honestly, wasn’t all that – but the price was fair, considering other venues we’d patronized.  For me, the highlight was the OLD television that was airing the “miracle on ice” game.   When we got there, the game was midway through the first period.  You know what I did?  I sat down and watched the rest of the game – the whole thing. Fortunately, the commercials were edited out.  I had never seen the game, but remember my parents watching it.  Of course I’ve seen many highlights over the years and the movie, Miracle – great movie (Kurt Russell), if you haven’t seen it.  Even though I knew the outcome, it was still thrilling to watch and I got Goosebumps.  Much to the horror of the children, I also shed a few tears!

I was going to take the kids on a gondola ride up White Face Mountain, but it was so overcast, that I decided to save some coin.  I don’t think we would have seen much.  I took the children to the ski jump and offered to take them up (there was an elevator), but a few of the kids flat out refused.  Then we went by the horse show grounds, where the 1980 opening ceremony took place, to see the cauldron.  Security (due to the horse show) wouldn’t let me get too close.  I was surprised by was how small un spectacular it was.  Oh, we were a different world in 1980.

Still, with all this, I was not very impressed with the town.  Then I ventured further into the village, past the Olympic venues and down main street and holy moly – we discovered another adorable town.  I love this country.  Main Street was too cool for words, but very crowded and limited parking – most of it parallel parking.  I could be in trouble with my beast mobile. 

I decided to check in at the hotel and try my luck later.  After the children swam, we ventured back to Main Street, where the crowd had mercifully thinned out.  I found some accessible parking and we were off to explore. 

We had a delightful dinner (although a bit pricey) right on Mirror Lake - Lake Placid (as in body of water) is a little further north.  The children were so good, I promised ice-cream for dessert.  While walking to Ben & Jerry’s we passed a bookstore and…well, you know the drill.  I had a sweet chat with the bookseller, whose shop was open in during the 1980 Olympics and she shared with me some of her memories and impressions of the games.  I asked her if she thought the town could still host an Olympics.  Living in Atlanta, I frankly was astonished by the small size of Lake Placid.  It’s tiny.  I can’t even fathom how they’d handle the traffic.  She admitted that she didn’t think it was possible, because the games have become so big.  In 1980, the staff of ABC and the Olympic dignitaries took up all the local hotel rooms!  Everyone else had to be bused in - daily.  They had to build a village for the athletes, which was outside of town.  By the way, the village is now a state prison!  Just a little trivia.

We wrapped up our Main Street tour with ice-cream.  We’re going to go to bed early – because we have a two city stop tomorrow, Lake George & Saratoga Springs!   We’re racing around third base, heading home.

I'm Enchanted With Vermont

Day 27 – June 23, 2014

Concord, NH – Middlebury Vermont

175 miles/4 ½ hours

We took another circuitous route through New Hampshire back roads, to get to southern Vermont.  We were headed to Manchester, so we drove through the Green Mountains – and it was beautiful.  We were officially off the grid for a while, as well.  No cell service.

Manchester, Vermont is precious.  Oh, be-still my heart.  Think of every movie set in a small New England town – and Manchester is it, come to life.  I fell in love and this is it, call the realtor!  The grass is plush, manicured and the color of emeralds.  The mountain views took my breath away.  The New England architecture conjured up memories of my childhood.  I don’t believe I’ve ever seen houses painted a crisper, brighter white.  The glossy black and green shutters sparkled on the alabaster dwellings.  There were vibrant red and purple flowers everywhere.  Main Street is lined with shops and cafes.  I didn’t see any structures that were worn down and there wasn’t any litter or graffiti.  I could smell the clean mountain air and the fresh grass – it was exhilarating.  I’m telling you, I felt like I was home.

We visited the Lincoln family home, Hildene.  As you can see from the pictures, it is very grand and beautiful.  The house was built by Robert Todd Lincoln in 1905, for his family.  RTL was President Lincoln’s oldest son, a lawyer, our Secretary of War under President Arthur and a Pullman Railway executive.  The house, the gardens and the views are amazing.  Of all the historic homes that we’ve toured, this is my favorite. 

With a heavy heart, I pointed the car northward, to Middlebury, VT.  As we were traveling we passed a Maple Museum and on impulse, I stopped.  The Maple Museum was okay.  I think you really have to be interested in the history and manufacturing of maple syrup to fully enjoy it.  The ladies who ran the facility were wonderful and we bought a big (and expensive) jug of authentic Vermont Maple Syrup.

Middlebury is a charming little town (home of Middlebury College) and it’s almost, but not quite, as charming as Manchester.  We did some pool time and then visited the village.  Unfortunately, almost all the businesses closed at 5:30 p.m., so we couldn’t explore any of the bookstores or gift shops.  We had dinner at a Middlebury staple (according to the hotel’s restaurant guide), Fire & Ice, and it was fine.  For my Naples peeps, to was very reminiscent of the Pewter Mug (although I haven’t been there since it reopened).  Loved the décor, but the menu didn’t appeal to me – although to be fair, I’m getting sick of restaurants!

Funny story from the restaurant.  A child fell off his chair and started crying at the table next to ours.  Camden growled a little and said, “Two things mom.  One, it’s crying.  Two, I don’t think we’re going to have a quiet dinner.”  I was shocked by how indignant he was.  Insert the proverbial pot and kettle here.  Then, when the mother picked up the crying child and took him out of the dining room, Camden continued with hopeful curiosity, “Um, unless they’re leaving?”

Back in the room we once again vegged out to Full House.  It's become a road trip ritual.  I think by the time we get home, we’ll have watched the whole series!