Any upstate NYers around?

[nola mike]

Looking for somewhere to stay for a night on the way to Toronto. Probably somewhere in the vicinity of 219, maybe 1-3 hours south of Niagara falls. Any cool little towns, b&b's, little lakes, etc?

 

[briangcc]

I'd look around Chataqua Lake if you're toting a boat with you. Probably 1.5 Hours to the border straight up I-90 and catch the Peace Bridge off I-190.

Other option might be to look in Olcott which is right on Lake Ontario. There is a town launch, last I was there it was $7 fee to launch.

 

[nola mike]

I'd look around Chataqua Lake if you're toting a boat with you. Probably 1.5 Hours to the border straight up I-90 and catch the Peace Bridge off I-190.

Other option might be to look in Olcott which is right on Lake Ontario. There is a town launch, last I was there it was $7 fee to launch.

No boat, no kids. Just a convertible and my wife.

But yeah, also realizing that there's a whole huge lake right there, I'm sure there's cool stuff there, right?

 

[briangcc]

Chautauqua Lake has a ferry that crosses it. No idea on cost, just had to dodge it a few times I've been out there. Chautauqua Institute is there.

Chautauqua Lake | Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau

Chautauqua Lake is a popular inland lake for recreation including boating, sailing, paddle sports and fishing. Bassmaster Magazine named Chautauqua Lake the #25 Best Bass Lake in the Northeast (July 2021).

www.tourchautauqua.com

I'm further North in Lockport (Locks 55 & 56 on the Erie Canal are right in the city). I'd say take the cave tour but...umm...yeah it's closed indefinitely for obvious reasons.

Whirlpool Jet Boats departs out of Niagara Falls CA. All the good stuff for the Falls is on the Canadian side, the US side is a dumpster fire.

Might look into staying in Youngstown and taking in Old Fort Niagara right on the lake. https://www.oldfortniagara.org/ The I-190 is a short hop and you'd catch the Lewiston-Queenston bridge over to Canada.

And it wouldn't be right if I didn't mention trying the wings. Bar Bill is supposedly a good joint if you believe Josh Allen. Anchor Bar is the home of the wing and there's Duff's as well.

Depending on where you're coming from, could I twist your arm some to head up through NY using I-81 instead? Get North of Syracuse into 1000 Islands area. Wonderful country, gobs to see/do - 2 castles you can tour, Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, lots of wineries / distilleries - then cross the Thousand Islands bridge into Canada. Drop back down into Toronto from there.

Lots of options in / around the area.

 

[dingbat]

Know 219 between Du Bois and Buffalo all too well. Travel travel that route 3-4 times a year to visit customers in Buffalo and Ontario. Typically run up 99 to Port Matilda then take 322 over to Du Bois to pick up 219.

Nice drive, but pretty barren of "to do and see" type places. The Zippo lighter factory and museum is in Bradford if your into that kind of thing. The Kinzua Bridge State Park isn't far from there either.

If I'm traveling Mrs. Dingbat we always stop in Ellicottville to walk around and get something to eat before heading into Buffalo. What once stated as a small ski resort, has become quite the year round outdoor vacation spot over the past 10 years or so we've been stopping there.

 

[nola mike]

Chautauqua Lake has a ferry that crosses it. No idea on cost, just had to dodge it a few times I've been out there. Chautauqua Institute is there.

Chautauqua Lake | Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau

Chautauqua Lake is a popular inland lake for recreation including boating, sailing, paddle sports and fishing. Bassmaster Magazine named Chautauqua Lake the #25 Best Bass Lake in the Northeast (July 2021).

www.tourchautauqua.com

I'm further North in Lockport (Locks 55 & 56 on the Erie Canal are right in the city). I'd say take the cave tour but...umm...yeah it's closed indefinitely for obvious reasons.

Whirlpool Jet Boats departs out of Niagara Falls CA. All the good stuff for the Falls is on the Canadian side, the US side is a dumpster fire.

Might look into staying in Youngstown and taking in Old Fort Niagara right on the lake. https://www.oldfortniagara.org/ The I-190 is a short hop and you'd catch the Lewiston-Queenston bridge over to Canada.

And it wouldn't be right if I didn't mention trying the wings. Bar Bill is supposedly a good joint if you believe Josh Allen. Anchor Bar is the home of the wing and there's Duff's as well.

Depending on where you're coming from, could I twist your arm some to head up through NY using I-81 instead? Get North of Syracuse into 1000 Islands area. Wonderful country, gobs to see/do - 2 castles you can tour, Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, lots of wineries / distilleries - then cross the Thousand Islands bridge into Canada. Drop back down into Toronto from there.

Lots of options in / around the area.

Wow, great suggestions! My wife is from Watertown, been a few times. Her family had an island up in Alexandria bay that they sold 10 years or so ago. Makes me sad. We actually did a road trip up there in the fall. I've done the boat museum before (obviously going to do that, right?) Crossed the border near there, drove along the river on back roads to Montreal, then did the same thing on the NY side on the return. Had so much fun (we used to do road trips a fair amount) decided to try a different route. We totally forgot that driving can actually be fun if you don't have kids in the back seat. We'll be staying on the Canadian side of the border in Niagara falls. Although I've heard from so many people how terrible the US side is that I kind of now have a morbid curiosity about it. We'll only have Friday night, and not sure how much time we'll have to enjoy it, depending on what time we leave and how much dawdling we do on the way.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Did you check the "where are you ?" map in the restoration area stickies?

 

[briangcc]

Wow, great suggestions! My wife is from Watertown, been a few times. Her family had an island up in Alexandria bay that they sold 10 years or so ago. Makes me sad. We actually did a road trip up there in the fall. I've done the boat museum before (obviously going to do that, right?) Crossed the border near there, drove along the river on back roads to Montreal, then did the same thing on the NY side on the return. Had so much fun (we used to do road trips a fair amount) decided to try a different route. We totally forgot that driving can actually be fun if you don't have kids in the back seat. We'll be staying on the Canadian side of the border in Niagara falls. Although I've heard from so many people how terrible the US side is that I kind of now have a morbid curiosity about it. We'll only have Friday night, and not sure how much time we'll have to enjoy it, depending on what time we leave and how much dawdling we do on the way.

And there ya go. Hop off I-81 at A-bay, take Rt 12 S towards Clayton. Thousand Islands Bait Store is the place to shop if you're doing any kind of fishing or want a Nav map for the River. About 1 mile on your right is Gals ice cream. A bit further down on the left is Clayton Distillery and they have Miniature golf as well. Lots of little shops between Clayton and A-bay along Rt 12.

NY side of the Falls really is a dump. Biggest draw is the Casino. Rest of it....well...did I mention it's a dump? Advice...drive back over the Rainbow Bridge (yes that's the name of the actual bridge) and see it on the way back.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Know 219 between Du Bois and Buffalo all too well. Travel travel that route 3-4 times a year to visit customers in Buffalo and Ontario. Typically run up 99 to Port Matilda then take 322 over to Du Bois to pick up 219.

Nice drive, but pretty barren of "to do and see" type places. The Zippo lighter factory and museum is in Bradford if your into that kind of thing. The Kinzua Bridge State Park isn't far from there either.

If I'm traveling Mrs. Dingbat we always stop in Ellicottville to walk around and get something to eat before heading into Buffalo. What once stated as a small ski resort, has become quite the year round outdoor vacation spot over the past 10 years or so we've been stopping there.

For sure great scenery along that way, but definitely not many real interesting places to visit some cool old towns scatttered about. Kinzua bridge used to be well worth the side trip when you could still walk out on it, not so much now since it collapsed.