Tag: Watkins Glen

Southern Tier Adventures

harkinchronicles

After we left our Airbnb, we headed back south. My mom had recommended several wineries for us to stop at along Seneca Lake but because it was a Sunday, most of them were still closed at the time we were traveling.

Kayla had told us that we should check out the gorge in Watkins Glen. It was pouring out but James and I wanted to since we were right there. We had seen part of it from the road when we were driving the day before and honestly didn’t know what to expect. We just thought there was a little area right off the road – nope. It’s a HUGE PARK. Even though it was pouring, we still hiked a little on the trail. It was amazing to see the path the water had carved for itself. The water was coming down through the rock with such force that it looked like a water slide. We definitely want to go back later this summer!

Since we didn’t get to make our own glass the day before at the Corning Museum of Glass, we bought tickets to an afternoon glass blowing session right after we left Watkins Glen. We had lunch when we arrived in Corning and then went to the museum to do some shopping before our session began. James and I both go to make something and they let us go at different times so we could get pictures of each other! James actually got to shape the glass for his sculpture which looked super cool and is something I definitely want to try.

We started driving back towards home after we finished our glass blowing session but since it was so early in the day, we decided to stop along the way as things seemed interesting. On our way up we had spotted a casino called Tioga Downs right off the highway. We decided to stop and as we were pulling into the parking lot, there was a sign that the antique barn was open! James was definitely not as excited as I was, although he did wind up finding a tool organizer that made his boss jealous. I found some vintage Pyrex dishes that were way cheaper than what I had been finding them for in Connecticut. Also, fun fact, Pyrex was made by Corning! So it was totally an appropriate souvenir. We went into the casino itself for a bit but we’re spoiled after living so close to Foxwoods and Mohegan so we hit the road again. We made one more stop in Binghamton to have dinner and got home in the early evening.

James and I both really want to go back to the Finger Lakes region for a long weekend this summer so hopefully I’ll have another post about this wonderful place later this summer!

Until our next adventure!

This Is Wine Country

harkinchronicles

Earlier this month, James and I joined several of my sorority sisters and their significant others in the Finger Lakes region of New York to celebrate Kayla and Josh’s wedding. Kayla is my “big” in our sorority. We have this habit of dressing, looking, and acting alike so it was no surprise that Kayla ALSO ran off into the woods to get married. Unlike James and I, her and Josh aren’t planning a big reception so this was our time to celebrate. PLUS Kayla and Josh live in California so I don’t get to see them that often. It was absolutely refreshing to have a bunch of us under one roof just like it was in college…except with boys…and a baby…that’s also a boy.

James and I drove up Friday after work. We stayed in this huge, old (haunted) Airbnb in the middle of nowhere. Everybody was arriving at different times and by the time we arrived, everybody that was already there was settled into bed. James and I went to our room and got a decent night’s sleep except for the part where Jess, Phil, and their baby arrived at 4 am and James didn’t KNOW anybody else was arriving in the middle of the night so he thought a ghost baby was out to get him. Whoops.

Saturday morning, I woke up to the wonderful sound of my friends chatting away downstairs. I found my way to the living room and promptly dove onto the antique couch they were sitting on. After a bit of catching up, we all sat in the large dining room to have breakfast together. I wish the weather was a little bit nicer – there was a large covered porch off the dining room that would have been perfect but it was chilly.

After breakfast, we headed into Corning to pick up Irene and visit the Corning Museum of Glass. Several of wanted to do the “make your own glass” session but we just didn’t have enough time. We went through the museum and saw several demonstrations including glass blowing. After the museum, we grabbed lunch at Mooney’s which I guess is a chain that they also have in Buffalo? Half of our table ate like adults and ordered sandwiches and the other half of our table ordered giant platters of mac and cheese…you can guess which end James and I sat at.

For the afternoon, we visited one of the many winerys bordering Seneca Lake – Lakewood Vineyards. Some people will come to the area and rent a party bus and do an entire wine tour (saw a few of those during our travels) but we stuck with just the one winery. The lady serving us was so nice (she reminded me of Maranda’s mom) and she gave us plenty of extra samples. We purchased a bottle of rose wine from the winery.

Since we had such a huge lunch, nobody really wanted dinner. Also, the weather turned out nicer than predicted (for Saturday only) so we sat around the bonfire drinking wine and eating junk food including roasted marshmallows. Once it got too dark, we went back into the house and played the Harkin House favorite, Quiplash, before heading to bed.

Sunday morning we had to check out of the house pretty early but we came downstairs to find that everybody had surprised Kayla and Josh and James and I with wedding cakes and cards! Irene even played “Happy Wedding Day to You” on the piano – if you’re curious it 100% sounds like “Happy Birthday to You” haha. After enjoying cake for breakfast, we quickly checked out and parted ways. Some people went straight home, others went to visit family and friends in the area. James and I went on our own little adventure which I will write about separately.

Until our next adventure!