The Time Machine

As I drove up to the Historic Dunkirk Lighthouse, I passed the beach all set up for battle and I felt like I was transported back in time. Once I got to the lighthouse I felt like I was continually being thrown in a time machine and spit out at various points of history. To my right were reenactment camps ranging from the French and Indian War up to World War II, in front of me was a stage with a mix of contemporary and oldies music playing, to my left were crafters and behind me was the Historic Lighthouse. However, when the battle reenactments took place during the day on Saturday and the AK-47’s began to go off, it was clear that I had stepped out of the time machine into World War II. Saturday night I was delighted to hear from some of Chautauqua County’s best young musical talent, the Infinity Rock Band.

On Sunday I got to host some of my favorite guests in the Seaway Trail tent, my parents!! As they wandered around the grounds, I had them take pictures. So without further ado, I will share with you the pictures from our guest photographers: David and Sylvia:

As I left Dunkirk and drove East, with the setting sun behind me, I couldn’t help but to feel that the sunset was symbolic of the end of my journey on the Seaway Trail this summer. Thanks for hitting the road with me, and I hope that you go out and enjoy the Trail, the way I have this summer!!!

On the Road Again... and Again... and Again

This weekend I spent a lot of time on the road. My first stop was at the Seaway Trail Discovery Center in Sackets Harbor, then I headed northeast on the trail up to Waddington, for their Homecoming festival. Did you know that St. Lawrence County was named one of the best rural places to live in the US? It is no doubt that small town festivals like the Homecoming are one of the major reasons that it received this designation.
I ended the weekend with a concert at the Sodus Point Lighthouse. The crowd was dazzled by the acoustic barbershop harmonies of the Chorus of the Genesee, for the low, low price of free!

Harborfest Fights Mother Nature to Light up the Sky

This weekend I was in my own backyard at Oswego’s Harborfest. This was one of the events that I was most excited about, mostly because I went last year with some of my friends and had a great time. But, like the rest of the summer, Mother Nature had other plans. Luckily, the rain cleared in time for the fireworks, but the lightning stuck around making the already world-class fireworks, a once-in-a-lifetime spectacular.

Traveling the Trail with TippingSprung

On Friday, I met Allan and Bridget at the airport and I was excited to finally have traveling companions. Allan and Bridget work for TippingSprung (our branding consultants) and were here to spend a week traveling the trail and getting feedback from people along the trail.

We started the week at the French Fest in Cape Vincent. The French Fest highlighted all that Cape Vincent has to offer while paying tribute to it’s past. There were delectable French pastries, delightful parades, and two dazzling craft fairs.

On Monday, we began at Fort Ontario, where Bridget and I got a tour (and history lesson) from two reenactors working there.


Next we went to Sodus Point Beach. The weather wasn’t very cooperative and we didn't get to spend much time there, but it was cool to walk down the pier and look out over the lake, at the beach and the Sodus Point Lighthouse.


Tuesday, we were joined by Teresa, the President of the Seaway Trail Corporation and went to Brown’s Berry Patch where there was so much to do. It was great to have people with me so that I could step away from the booth and see what was going on. There were fields of fresh fruits and vegetables (blueberries, which are my favorite, were just coming into season and very tasty), also there was a petting zoo, restaurant, gift shop and ice cream stand. I made sure that I got an ice cream cone before I left, even if it did ruin my appetite for dinner. (Sorry mom!)

Wednesday we went to the Niagara Falls Outlet Mall. Unfortunately, we had to leave early due to a storm. However, I made up for it by doing my part to spend my stimulus check and boost the economy (which was really unfortunate for my bank account).

Thursday morning, we went to the Seaway Trail Discovery Center in Hamburg, where we got to sit out on the porch, looking over Lake Erie and talk with travelers coming through.


Thursday afternoon, we headed down the Chataqua Wine Trail to Woodbury Vineyards where we got to try some great wine, and I found the coolest gift shop item, a flip flop coaster that stays on your wineglass!

Friday brought us down to Erie, Pa. where my travel companions and I went our separate ways. Allan, Bridget and Teresa went home and I headed out to the Tom Ridge Center at the entrance to Presque Isle. Once I took down the set-up, I still had some time to go around the Tom Ridge Center and indulge my inner-child with the awesome interactive displays.


Saturday, I headed out to Roar on Shore (Erie’s motorcycle rally) to hopefully get some surveys as people were going into the stunt show and concert. Unfortunately, the weather again didn’t cooperate, but it cleared up enough that the show was able to go on.

Travelling Back in Time at Ft. Niagara

This weekend I was at the French and Indian War Reenactment at Ft. Niagara. Even though I stuck out like a sore thumb, I felt like my car had become a time machine and that it had taken me back to the 18th Century. Thousands of reenacters settled into two camps (one inside the Fort and one outside) for the weekend. When I had a few free moments I walked through the camps, getting a sense of what it was like to live during the war. Throughout the day there were demonstrations, activities for kids, skirmishes, and a battle in the afternoon. And on Sunday I had to leave early because my location was right in the middle of a battlefield!

Falling for Niagara Falls

After Kent, I spent the remainder of the weekend in Niagara Falls. Unfortunately, on Sunday a storm came through and I was forced to take cover in the Visitors Center. Luckily though, the Visitors Center has lots of fun activities, from displays about the falls to a movie theater (showing a movie on the history of Niagara Falls) to a food court and gift shop. Once the storm passed though, it was time to get back outside, there was so much to do at the Falls I didn’t know where to begin. The observation deck on the tower gave a birds eye view of the Falls and the Maid of the Mist boat and Cave of Winds tours bring you right up to the Falls.

After experiencing the rush of one of New York’s grandest natural landmarks, I departed to continue on my journey…

Kent Classic Car Cruise-In

I started this weekend by cruising over to Kent for the Classic Car Cruise In. On my way I stopped at the Cottage Inn Restaurant in Red Creek. Walking in the door I immediately felt at home. The decor in the dining room made me feel like I was at my grandma's house for lunch and the service was the same as grandma's. The food was delicious and I could tell that I wasn't the only one that found this gem by all the people that were there for lunch.



Once I got to Kent, I knew it was going to be a great night. Lots of people came out to enjoy the beautiful evening, the cars and the company. And did I mention the food? The Orleans County Chapter of the American Red Cross served up an excellent Chicken BBQ and Brown’s Berry Patch provided strawberry shortcakes and ice cream for dessert. Everything about the evening was wonderful: the cars, the food, the music (they played the song I wanted before I even requested it!) and as always, the people!



As the sun set on Kent, I found myself traveling west toward my next stop….

Free Ice Cream in Massena!!!

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the St. Lawrence-FDR Project, the New York Power Authority invited the community to come to the visitors center for an evening of music, ice cream, and fireworks. And you know that I was there for the free ice cream!
Free ice cream aside, the evening was a great time. The interactive displays in the Visitors Center helped me to burn off the calories from the ice cream.



Meanwhile, live music outside entertained everyone as we enjoyed the view and the great weather. The evening concluded with a booming fireworks display (I say booming not only because the fireworks were loud, but they also echoed off the dam, giving a new twist to the display).

The night flew by (especially after working the whole weekend at Harborfest) and before I knew it, I was moving on…

Rochester Harbor and Carousel Festival

I never realized that a great American road trip was located right in my backyard! So this past weekend when I had to travel to Rochester for the Harbor and Carousel Festival, I decided to leave early, so I could start the weekend with a little road trip…
Some of the highlights were: Wolcott Falls, Webster Park, The Strong National Museum of Play and Visit Rochester (for some info on the city).

There was a lot to do at the festival: midway rides, a food court, 2 stages (one of which I could see from my tent – thanks Jim!), vendors, the beach, a lighted boat parade Friday night and fireworks on Saturday, but one of the best parts of the Festival was the wonderful people that I met. On Friday, Bob Klos (a former Seaway Trail Board member) came to help me with the booth. Also, I had some amazing neighbors: Neal Budd from the Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse and Staff Sergeant Barnes and Private Campion from the Army National Guard.

However, I think my favorite activity this weekend was trying to jump start a Humvee. On Saturday night, my friends from the National Guard packed up to go home, but one of the decommissioned Humvees had a dead battery and wouldn’t start. And just in case you ever find yourself in this situation, regular jumper cables do not work to jump a Humvee. Eventually, Private Campion went to the Armory and got the cables needed to get the Humvee started.
Once the festival was over and I was all packed (thanks for the help guys!), I headed over for a tour of the Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse.

As I stood at the top of the lighthouse, I reflected back on the amazing weekend that I had. And even though I had fun and I didn’t want it to end, it was time to hit the road again….

Taking Off On My Journey

My first stop on the Experience the Journey Summer Tour was the Pultneyville House Tours. Pultneyville’s Historic District is comprised of over 30 houses from the 1800’s that still retain their beauty as they approach their 200th birthdays. Some of these houses even withstood fire from the British during a skirmish in the War of 1812. The Pultneyville Historical Society did an excellent job of organizing the tour of many of these historic homes. Even the rain couldn’t keep visitors away!
Luckily for me, Nan Hance at the Artisan’s Loft (an awesome art gallery located right in Pultneyville along the Seaway Trail) let me hide underneath the overhang in front of the gallery, so I wouldn’t get wet!
Even though it rained, this was a great start to my tour and I can’t wait to see what’s down the road for next week…