There is something special about taking the long way. The old fashioned way. The hard way. Sure, there are planes and trains and buses and cars and bikes, but there’s just something about going for a hike. For a long walk, for a short stroll, to relieve your mind of tolls. To soak in the …
Adoring Zoar Valley
Are you a fan of puttering around in creeks and being stunned by stunning cliffs? Well, Zoar Valley, located near Gowanda, is just the place for you! Carved out by Cattaraugus Creek, Zoar Valley winds and turns, sculpting curves and cutting through steep rock. There are several entrances and trails to explore, as can be …
DENY Podcast: New York Parks & 600 Miles on the Erie Canal
Pop some headphones on and go for a walk while listening to my story about one heck of a walk. Part One: I ask my mom about her favorite parts of New York. She asks me about walking from Buffalo to Albany. Part two: My mom asks me about all the odd things I saw …
How to Not Look Like a Dunce on a Trail
If you’re new to something, it’s easy to look foolish while doing that something. So, why not l learn what NOT to do the easy way — by laughing at how ridiculous these scenarios are instead of trying them out for yourself. Dress in layers. That mountain you’re about to climb with snow on the …
Eternal Flame Falls: Fire Under a Waterfall
Water and fire don’t mix. At least, that’s what I thought until I saw a burst of fire happily blazing under a 35-foot waterfall. Eternal Flames Falls trail, located in Chestnut Ridge Park in Orchard Park, is a 1.4 miles trail described by AllTrails as “heavily trafficked” and is rated as moderate. Which means there …
Motivational Plants
No, I am not going to talk about an elixir mix of herbal tea, or incense that gives you a spike of motivation. A “motivational plant” is a term I made up to describe plants that grow in interesting conditions or in interesting ways. Interesting conditions. Humans — often the well-off humans — have a …
Letchworth is Worth the Trip
Dubbed “the Grand Canyon of the East” and rated as the Best State Park in the U.S. by USA Today, Letchworth State Park is a destination all residents of New York should check out at least once. The park is 17 miles long and contains 14,350 acres across Livingston and Wyoming counties. The crown jewel …
Letchworth’s Canal: Throwing Money in a Ditch
Letchworth State Park had a canal running alongside the Genesee River gorge. Its been abandoned for over 140 years. It took 25 years and 6 million dollars to construct the Genesee Valley Canal. All for the canal to be abandoned 16 years after it was completed. Talk about throwing money in a ditch, eh? …
Allegheny Forest: Handsome Lake Campground, One of the Best Around
Disclaimer: Handsome Lake Campground is technically not in New York. It is located about 10 miles into Pennsylvania in Allegheny National Forest, which connects to Allegany State Forest in New York. (Why is “Allegany” spelled two different ways between the national forest and the state park, I don’t know). Located in Bradford, PA, Handsome Lake …
Vines Have Taken Over New York
Once you see it, you can’t unsee it; vines have covered New York. (Well, a lot of New York). There are so many different kinds of vines. I don’t know a lot about them, and fear mislabeling them, so I will generally describe them and give my guess as to what they’re called based off …