Why New York's underrated Finger Lakes should be on your radar
Etched into the terrain over eons of glacial activity, this corner of New York doesn't just promise a wealth of adventures in nature among four distinctively beautiful seasons; lively cities and some fascinating historical twists are also yours to discover. Start and end: Greater Syracuse, New York
From Cortland/Homer: I-81N (30.2 miles)
Within Syracuse's abundant Americana charms lie many surprises that are much more than they initially seem. Clinton Square's shallow pool and festive fountain make for pleasant ambiance downtown, but subtle clues in the perimeter reveal the landmark's origins as the worn remnants of the Erie Canal. An unassuming nearby plaque tells the tale of the Jerry Rescue of 1851, a famous event from the city's abolitionist past as the 'Great Central Depot' of the Underground Railroad. Outraged at the apprehension of a formerly enslaved local named William Henry (a.k.a. Jerry) due to the recent passage of the Fugitive Slave Act, a group of residents took up arms, forcibly stormed the jail adjacent to the plaza, liberated Jerry, and granted him safe passage to Canada where he lived the rest of his life in freedom.
To the west in Liverpool, it might amaze spectators of the rainbows of flora, swooping birds, and picturesque twilights over Onondaga Lake to know that the idyllic waters were, until recently, considered among the most polluted in the country.
The big surprises don't end there, either—this was also the birthplace of the archetype for American democracy. Onondaga Lake was the founding location of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, a collective of tribes from Upstate New York whose union was characterized by checks and balances, separation of powers, and representative delegation. If that sounds familiar to the American system, that's no accident. In 1987, Congress formally acknowledged the direct influence of the Haudenosaunee on the fledgling United States government.
(America has a hidden 740-mile river adventure that's finally being revealed)
Onondaga Lake is hardly the only attractive outdoor space around Syracuse. Get lost in the shady forests of Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville or Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville, making sure to end your trek at the latter with a delightful waterfront lunch at Yards Grille.
Syracuse is an excellent town for big appetites: Taste New York's Italian heritage in the succulent slices baked at Apizza Regionale, savor a tantalizing plate of noodles at Pastabilities, or indulge your inner carnivore at the original location of famed New York staple Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. Finally, don't forget to try the mouthwatering Peruvian fare and paninis of Hope Cafe, where the eatery's moniker is more than just a name—the profits go toward fighting hunger and funding humanitarian causes worldwide. Deer Haven Park (Romulus)
From Syracuse: I-81N to I-90W to Rte. 414S (58.3 miles) Deer Haven Park is home to the Seneca white deer. Photograph by Deborah Egan, Deer Haven Park LLC.
Crossing west into Seneca County—occupying a narrow isthmus between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes—uncovers a wonderland of gorgeous greenery and secluded lakefronts. There is also the occasional dose of the strange, beginning with a series of derelict weapon huts and clandestine government buildings, overgrown with vegetation and weathered walls after years of neglect, with grounds patrolled by ghostly, stark-white deer. While this scene sounds like something straight out of a post-apocalyptic film, this is just a typical day at Deer Haven Park in Romulus.
The former Army depot ensnared a population of these otherworldly fauna when constructed during World War II, allowing their numbers to thrive in the subsequent decades of operation. While there is a choice for a self-guided auto tour, the weekly guided bus experience is recommended for the added historical context and glimpses into the remaining structures.
Step into the silent and haunting liminal spaces behind the weighty doors of the imposing concrete bunkers, see the mysterious fenced-off 'Q' sector that once housed nuclear weapons, drive past dusty dirt patches used long ago for training exercises, and catch the sight of run-down outposts towering above the trees. Combined with the Seneca White Deer, this unique park makes for an unforgettable, can't-miss stop. D&K Ranch (Interlaken)
From Romulus: Rte. 96S (12.9 miles)
With rooms including a swanky converted grain silo and cozy wooden cabins, the D&K Ranch in Interlaken promises a fantastic place to take in the splendor of the Finger Lakes National Forest. Navigate the serene "Faerie Trail' lined with surreal art displays made up of figurines and other bits of lovely casual weirdness, or engross yourself deeper in the leafy canopies by taking a horseback excursion arranged by the property. Don't miss an atmospheric nightfall at the nearby Finger Lakes Cider House, where a colorful garden perfect for carefree strolling awaits with fiery sunsets best appreciated with a refreshing beverage in hand. Ithaca
From Interlaken: Rte. 89S (18.9 miles) The Myers Lighthouse on Cayuga Lake has been in use since it was built in 1998. Photograph by Thomas Farlow, Alamy Stock Photo
Leave Seneca County to find the offbeat vibes of Ithaca at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake. Post up at the shore and admire the shimmering waters or immerse yourself in them properly by hopping into a kayak from Paddle-N-More.
Witness why "Ithaca Is Gorges," to borrow a local catchphrase, by taking in the misty spectacle of roaring Ithaca Falls or following your curiosity onto one of the many access points leading to the Cascadilla Gorge Trail. Running straight through the center of town, marvel at the craggy facades lining the walk that often feature mesmerizing cascades flowing down their earthen grooves.
The gorge eventually leads to Cornell University. The treats from Cornell Dairy are more than splendid to the taste buds; the ingredients come locally sourced from the Veterinary College. Listen to the music fluttering in the treetops of the Sapsucker Woods, and use the app developed by the School of Ornithology to decipher what avian species were heard based on their songs. An unbeatable stay lies ahead at the student-run Statler Hotel, where peerless service, cozy quarters, incredible meals, and friendly bartenders exemplify an outstanding slice of the Hospitality School.
Downtown Ithaca is a delight to explore with its pedestrian-friendly streets and quirky local businesses. Catch a flick at the funky Cinemapolis, browse the glamorous new conference center, or check out the delights of the charming Dewitt Mall, whose corridors conceal a music shop, a co-op grocery, the laid-back Cafe Dewitt, and the savory dishes of legendary vegetarian establishment Moosewood. The restaurant, recently celebrating its 50th anniversary, has been enjoyed by countercultural luminaries like Allen Ginsberg and the Grateful Dead over the years.
Aspiring chefs should also snag a copy of Mollie Katzen's foundational cookbook, recently ranked as one of the most influential of the past century. End the evening at the Northstar Public House or the Ithaca Beer Company, where tasty concoctions pair fantastically with the live music lasting well past sundown. In the morning, bite into a doughy pastry fresh from the ovens of Ithaca Bakery. Cortland / Homer, NY
From Ithaca: Rte. 13N (23.4 miles)
The Hope Lake Lodge, part of Cortland's Greek Peak Mountain Resort, is a superb family-friendly attraction regardless of season. The colder months offer numerous ski routes, snow tubing, and an indoor water park, while summer unveils the thrilling zip line and riveting alpine coaster. Maintain your outdoor fix at the nearby Lime Hollow Nature Center, seeing how many surreal sculptures you can encounter within the inviting Art Meadow.
Twist your fork in some spicy spaghetti from Rex's Pasta, satisfy your sweet tooth with a stop on the Cortland County Ice Cream Trail, greet the sunrise with a poached benedict breakfast from The Exchange Restaurant, or have dinner and drinks with a view over the endearing streets of tiny Homer from the hospitable Dasher's Corner Pub. Brew enthusiasts should make time for a visit to Homer Hops, where a compelling selection of craft beer lies in store alongside an expansive patio overlooking a lush meadow often hosting concerts in the warmer months. John Sizemore is an Austin-based freelance travel writer, photographer, yoga teacher, and visual entertainment developer. He loves covering road trips, parks, cities, off-the-beaten-path destinations, and the occasional strange one-off experience. In addition to exploring the world, he also enjoys immersing himself in the worlds of languages, music, games, cinema, cooking, and literature. Follow him on Instagram at @sizemoves.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
18 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Michigan Discussing Kicking Off 2026 Football Season in Germany
Michigan is having discussions about kicking off the 2026 football season against Western Michigan in Germany. The school announced Friday on social media that it is seeking to play at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt on Aug. 29, 2026. It would be the first game the Wolverines would play outside of North America. Athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement this would be a "first-of-its-kind opportunity" for the Wolverines and their fans. "The University of Michigan is one of the few worldwide brands in college athletics and the interest in playing an international game would be unique," Manuel said. "This would be a great opportunity to teach 'Go Blue' to a new group of fans in Germany." Home to Eintracht Frankfurt of Bundesliga, the stadium features a retractable roof with a capacity of 55,000. Deutsche Bank Park has hosted five NFL games, including two regular-season games in 2023. Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said they're always looking for unique opportunities for their players, noting the program has been to Italy, France and South Africa over the past decade. The game would require a rescheduling of Michigan's home opener that's currently set for Sept. 5. "This game would provide another chance to grow our international fanbase," Moore said. American football isn't new to traveling overseas and this isn't the first time the college game has made its way overseas. There have been bowl games and annual Classics played overseas since 1976. Grambling State beat Morgan State, 42-16, in the Mirage Bowl in Tokyo, Japan. Grambling would return to Tokyo, defeating Temple in 1977, 35-32. The Mirage Bowl was an annual bowl game in Japan until 1993, featuring powerhouse programs like Notre Dame, Miami, Nebraska, USC, Oregon and Clemson. The Mirage Bowl was replaced by the Coca-Cola Bowl the following year and was shortly discontinued after two years. Japan wasn't the only place the NCAA traveled to promote the game. Dublin, Ireland has hosted collegiate games, most recently last season when Georgia Tech upset, at the time, No. 10 Florida State in Week 0. The first game to be played in Ireland was in 1988 between Boston College and Army. Boston College won 38-24. The collegiate game has traveled as far as Australia, when Colorado State took on Brigham Young University (BYU) in 1987. BYU won 30-26. The Sydney College Football Cup returned in 2016 and 2017; California trounced Hawai'i, 51-21, in 2016. In 2017, Stanford routed Rice, 62-7. The NFL has also made the move to spread the game overseas, in its "International Series", playing regular-season games in Europe, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Brazil. The first game was in 2007 between the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins. The NFL played five games in their "International Series" last season, spanning from Brazil to London to Germany. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Michigan Wolverines Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
Atlantic
2 hours ago
- Atlantic
Decent Airplane Wi-Fi Will Forever Be Just a Year Away
'Wi-Fi is available on this flight,' the flight attendant announced on a recent trip I took from New York City to St. Louis. She recited her routine by rote, and Wi-Fi is among the details that now need to be conveyed, along with explaining how to use a seatbelt and enjoining passengers not to smoke e-cigarettes on board. But when the time came to use the Wi-Fi, the service didn't work. Eventually, enough people noticed this that the crew 'rebooted' it, after which it still didn't work. A new announcement acknowledged that Wi-Fi was, in fact, not available on this flight (and offered an apology). This was the can't even access the portal kind of failure, but I've frequently encountered others, including can log in but not connect and so slow as to be worse than nothing. And then, at other times, the internet works great—as reliably as it does in an office building. For two decades now, in-flight Wi-Fi has occupied this limbo between miracle and catastrophe. Way back in 2008, on Conan O'Brien's late-night show, Louis C.K. told the story of a man who was complaining about the in-flight Wi-Fi not working mere moments after learning of its existence. 'Everything is amazing right now and nobody's happy,' the comedian joked. The bit was never quite right—nobody was happy because services such as in-flight Wi-Fi were not yet amazing, actually. A chasm separated the service's promise and its reality. Today, 17 years later, I sense that same distance when I try to go online in the air. The matter feels more urgent now that more airlines, including JetBlue, Delta, and soon American and United, are offering free, purportedly better in-flight Wi-Fi (mainly to loyalty members so far). Air travel is neither a haven for offline delight nor a reliable place to carry out normal online life. Either option would be welcome, because each would be definitive. Instead, one is left to wonder if the hours about to be spent in flight can be filled with scrolling, shopping, Slacking, and tapping at Google Docs—or not. I set out to learn why. Is the issue technological? Are the airlines promising more service than they can deliver? Most of all, I wanted to know if this situation will ever be fixed, making airplane Wi-Fi feel as brisk and reliable as it does elsewhere. The answer, it turns out, is familiar: soon, any day now, probably next year. Because it's the thing they use most often and turn on directly, people use Wi-Fi as a nickname for internet access in general. ('The Wi-Fi is down,' your spouse or child might say.) But the Wi-Fi part of airplane Wi-Fi—the access points in the plane that appear as Delta Wi-Fi or whatever on your computer or smartphone—is almost never part of the problem. Instead, the problem is the pipe to which the Wi-Fi connects—the in-flight equivalent of the cable or fiber that delivers internet service to your house. An airplane flies in the air, and there are two ways to get the internet to connect to such a place: from above or below. At first, the only option was down. If you're old enough to remember the September 11 attacks, you might also recall the Airfone service on some airlines—a phone handset stuffed into the seatback. These phones used air-to-ground communication, meaning that the signal was sent from the plane to a relay on the ground. Airfone (and its competitors) were expensive, didn't work well, and few people used them. But that technology would be repurposed for early in-flight internet, offered via providers such as Gogo Inflight. Jack Mandala, the CEO of Seamless Air Alliance, a standards organization for in-flight connectivity, told me that air-to-ground works like your cellphone—the bottom of the plane needs a view (metaphorically speaking) of base stations from the air. That's why, for a time, you could use in-flight internet only over 10,000 feet. It's also why the service is unreliable. Just like your cellphone might hit a dead spot, so can your airplane. Air-to-ground bandwidth was limited, meaning that the service would get worse as more people on a plane used it. And finally, air-to-ground service operates extremely slowly when it sends data down to the ground—this is why sending an email attachment or texting an image from a plane can take an eternity, before possibly failing completely. Going up instead of down mostly solved these issues. Around the time of Louis C.K.'s Conan bit, airlines began offering internet service to planes via satellite communication. The improved speed and reliability allowed JetBlue to provide the industry's first free in-flight internet to commercial passengers, in 2013. According to Mandala, satellite services are easier to scale as more planes adopt them and more passengers use them. Satellite also has the benefit of being usable over water, in bad weather, and on the ground. The problem is that having viable technology is different from rolling it out seamlessly everywhere. Doing so requires investing in the equipment and service, and that requires time and money. In 2019, Delta, for instance, made a commitment to roll out free Wi-Fi across its entire fleet. Joseph Eddy, the airline's director of cabin and in-flight entertainment and connectivity, told me that Delta's effort is still ongoing. Unlike hotels or convention centers, Eddy reminded me, aircraft are highly regulated. Each type of aircraft needs to be configured differently, and a big airline such as Delta—or American, which told me it will also soon have 1,500 aircraft of its own with Wi-Fi service—requires some planning. 'We need to make software upgrades. We need to make sure we have all the satellite coverage that we need to ensure that we have enough capacity and the experience is as good as possible,' Heather Garboden, American Airlines' chief customer officer, told me. But, hold up: American is the carrier I fly most these days, and I keep finding myself unable to use the internet. Garboden confirmed that American is still transitioning its regional jets to satellite service—many are still using air-to-ground. And that's exactly the kind of plane I was on from New York. Delta's Eddy told me that its regional jets and some short-haul planes, including the Boeing 717, are also still operating on air-to-ground service. In both cases, the airlines made a deliberate choice to invest first in the routes and planes that carry the most passengers—big, mainline jets. That means that if you're flying on a long flight across or between continents, or on an airline with fewer types of planes, such as JetBlue or Southwest, you might have a better shot at reliable internet. And if you're on a small or regional jet, chances are greater that the Wi-Fi won't work, or won't work well. Eddy told me that Bombardier CRJ regional jets have proved more troubling to certify for the satellite antennas that sit on top of the fuselage, because of the aircraft's rear-mounted engines. 'You can't allow any form of debris to fly off the antenna at all,' he said. If you board a plane and Wi-Fi isn't available on the ground, that's a sign that your aircraft is still using air-to-ground service. Good luck. * * * Beyond the technology itself, the expectation of always being connected is also driving flier perceptions of in-flight internet performance. Fliers are only now starting to take in-flight internet access as a given, rather than viewing it as a surcharged luxury. Eddy thinks the tide started to turn during COVID. Even though people weren't flying as much, everyone became more familiar with digital tools—Zoom, but also Slack, Teams, Google Docs—that might once have been lesser known. When travel resumed, those expectations made in-flight Wi-Fi 'significantly more important,' Eddy said. American Airlines' Garboden added that a younger, always-online generation is buying tickets now—26 percent of the airline's customers are Gen Z and younger, she told me. For both airlines, the evolution of in-flight entertainment has reinforced the need for internet service. American delivers its movies and shows directly to its passengers' devices; once those people are already staring at their phones, habit makes them expect to be able to switch to email or a social-media app. But Delta, which offers seatback screens on most of its planes, believes that having a television in front of you also now implies the need for internet. 'If you look at the younger generations, they're at home watching Netflix and they're playing on their phone. They're doing both almost constantly,' Eddy said, adding that 20 percent of Delta's Wi-Fi customers use more than one device at a time. Competition and passenger expectations may be the key to making in-flight internet work for good. After 9/11, the domestic airline industry devolved into pure carriage, stripping away all comforts in the name of safety—and profit. That appears to be changing. Nomadix, the company that invented the enter-your-name-and-room-number hotel internet service more than 25 years ago, told me that the quality of Wi-Fi is one of the top three factors in customer satisfaction at every hotel property. That's because hotels are in the hospitality business, and catering to customer comfort (not to mention facilitating work for business travelers) is core to their success. Airlines haven't been as concerned with making flyers content in the cabin, but both Delta and American admitted that in-flight internet service is transitioning from an amenity into part of the hard product. 'You would expect that your seat is there, right? Wi-Fi has become that for us,' Eddy said. Almost overnight, he told me, Wi-Fi went from having no impact on people choosing Delta to being 'more important than flight times and airports.' For now, consistency is the missing ingredient. This is what Louis C.K. failed to grasp: The issue has never been the flying public's unwillingness to marvel at the miracles of human invention, but rather, the fact that carriers appear to make promises and then fail to deliver on them. Now that customer expectations, technological feasibility, and airline investments all align, it should just be a matter of time before the air is as well connected as the ground. But how much time? Delta initially promised 'fast, free Wi-Fi' across its global fleet by the end of 2024, but now the airline thinks reaching that milestone will take until the first half of 2026. Garboden said American is on track for early 2026. United also plans to offer free satellite Wi-Fi across its entire fleet, but offered no projected date for full rollout. Like cabin safety or timely arrival, until every passenger on every flight feels confident that the internet will take off along with their bodies and their luggage, the service doesn't really exist, because it can't be relied upon. Internet in the air is both a concrete advancement that's mature and widespread, and a conceptual one frequently deferred into the future. That future may come, and perhaps even soon. Or it might not. Just like the Wi-Fi on your next flight.
New York Post
6 hours ago
- New York Post
Woman falls in love, marries hitchhiker she picked up from the side of the road
A woman fell in love with and married a hitchhiker she picked up on the side of the road. Maddy Kacmarcik, 27, met Travis Becker, 26, while she was travelling in Byron Bay, Australia. Maddy was driving back from a night out with her friend when she spotted Travis and his pal walking on the side of the road – trying to hail a lift. Maddy pulled up and offered them a ride, and all four ended up spending the rest of the evening hanging out – with Maddy and Travis, from Sydney, hitting it off. But the pair, who both work for a corporate wellbeing business, forgot to get each other's numbers and had to track each other down on Facebook. 7 Maddy Kacmarcik, 27, met Travis Becker, 26, while she was travelling in Byron Bay, Australia. Maddy Kacmarcik / SWNS They went on their first official date two weeks later and got engaged 18 months after meeting. Now celebrating four years married, the couple says they couldn't be more 'grateful' that they got to meet. Maddy, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, said: 'The way we met is wild in itself. 'I knew I was going to build a life with him. 'My marriage is my most prized possession. 7 Maddy was driving back from a night out with her friend when she spotted Travis and his pal walking on the side of the road – trying to hail a lift. Maddy Kacmarcik / SWNS 'If he'd have got one more drink or I'd have taken a different route, we might not have met. 'It makes you very grateful.' American Maddy was in Byron Bay, Australia, to study abroad in January 2019 when she met Travis. They were both on their way home from a night out when they bumped into each other. She said: 'I was driving us home from our night out, and him and one of his friends were trying to catch an Uber. 7 The pair went on their first official date two weeks later and got engaged 18 months after meeting. Maddy Kacmarcik / SWNS 'We pulled over to pick them up. 'They realized we were American and we realized our Airbnbs were in the same place. 'I said to my friend [about Travis] – 'he's really cute.'' The four ended up going back to their Airbnb and playing cards and hanging out. Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Maddy said, 'We were talking about all the things we had in common. 'We were so engaged in conversation, I didn't get his phone number or socials. 'I couldn't even remember his last name. 'All I could remember was that he was an electrician from Sydney. 'I went on Facebook trying to find him.' 7 Travis proposed in June 2020, and the couple tied the knot in a small courthouse ceremony in Milwaukee in January 2021. Maddy Kacmarcik / SWNS Maddy ended up finding Travis' friend on Facebook and messaged him to pass on her number. Travis and Maddy ended up meeting up the next day and went on their first date two weeks later. Maddy said: 'We haven't stopped talking after that.' In April 2019, Maddy moved in with Travis' family, but went COVID hit, they moved back to Byron Bay before heading back to America. 7 Maddy said she didn't tell her dad how she met Travis initially, but now her family couldn't be happier for her. Maddy Kacmarcik / SWNS Travis proposed in June 2020, and the couple tied the knot in a small courthouse ceremony in Milwaukee in January 2021. They had their big wedding celebration in Maddy's family's backyard in June 2022. Maddy said she didn't tell her dad how she met Travis initially, but now her family couldn't be happier for her. She said people are still 'shocked' when they hear their story for the first time. Maddy said, 'It's so normal for us. 7 Maddy said people are still 'shocked' when they hear their story for the first time. Maddy Kacmarcik / SWNS 'You get reminded that it's a crazy way we met. 'We're so lucky.' Travis said, 'I feel like my life would be completely different if I blinked and looked the other way that night. 'I think nothing in this world is a coincidence. I pinch myself every day. 'I feel like I couldn't even try to think of meeting my wife like this in my wildest dreams. This is 0.0001 % chance of it happening, and it did. 7 'I feel like my life would be completely different if I blinked, and looked the other way that night. I think nothing in this world is a coincidence. I pinch myself every day,' Travis said. Maddy Kacmarcik / SWNS 'One more beer or talking to someone for just enough time for me to be leaving and standing on the corner with my mate trying to get an Uber at 3x surcharge, so I thought 'let's try hitchhike' and within about one minute someone shouts out of a car and is pulling over. 'It was two girls. My mate and I were like what the – 'let's get in!'. 'Little did I know that it was my future wife driving. 'We hung out that night, and it just felt like we had known each other for years, our souls were in sync, and we just chatted all night.'
