• New York - NYS Parks

    Chimney Bluffs State Park

    June 19, 2024 - By 

    Sunday was another beautiful day here in Central New York. Again it was bright and sunny, but not overly hot or humid. As it was Father’s Day, we let Vance decide what the day’s adventure would be. He chose a hike at Chimney Bluffs State Park in Wolcott, NY. Boy #2 had the day off from work, so the three of us hit the road and headed west down Rt 104. We started with the Bluff Trail, and it had changed a lot since the last time we were there, back when the boys were small. Record high water levels…

  • Other Travels

    Lake Ontario Lighthouses: Selkirk & Tibbets Point

    June 25, 2023 - By 

    A few weeks back, we Marriners continued our summer of lighthouse excursions. This time we headed north, and it was a gorgeous day for a road trip. Our first stop was in Port Ontario, NY, at the Salmon River Lighthouse, which just about everybody calls the Selkirk Lighthouse. Built in 1838, this gorgeous light sits at the mouth of the Salmon River (hence the official name). This lighthouse is privately owned, but the owners are fine with people walking around the property and taking pictures. I was completely charmed by the stonework on the house, and that red tower. A…

  • Other Travels

    Lake Ontario Lighthouses: Sodus, NY

    June 18, 2023 - By 

    After our trip to Maine and the lovely lighthouses we saw there, Vance and I started thinking about the lighthouses closer to home. I think we kind of take them for granted, seeing as we live so close to Lake Ontario and they’re kind of just there? I mean, we find ourselves in Oswego a lot, and the West Pierhead Lighthouse is something we see all the time, and we never think about how special it is to live so close to such a piece of history. So, in search of a family activity for the summer, we decided to…