GORGE-EOUS WATERFALLS: THE FINGER LAKES, NEW YORK

To celebrate Steven’s Belated Birthday, I planned a week of surprises among the Finger Lakes as we planned to attend our son Jacob’s graduation from Rensselaer in nearby Troy NY the following weekend.

Daily, near Ithaca NY, we hiked up a variety of fern filled gorges to duck under tall waterfalls…

…admiring the beautiful 1940s, WPA built masonry bridges and stairways crisscrossing the gorges. Most outstanding was Watkins Glen State Park gorge…

…followed by soaks in deep tubs en suite or out of doors, or enjoyed post-hike naps in serene surroundings.

After a visit to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY, Steven said he felt like a kid again visiting his childhood heroes all afternoon. He emerged as hungry as a kid exiting the ball field, so Chef Mel created a Farm-to-Table birthday repast at Mel’s 22 stopping by the table for a chat with the Birthday Boy. Never embracing the All-American Sport, I visited the Cooperstown circa 1800 graveyards…

…and created a candy wreath for our graduating computer scientist…

We got to meet the East Coast families that have hosted Jacob
for holiday meals in their homes over the years, and enjoyed a family reunion with our East Coast Martin Family, staying together in a big house in Troy for the three day Memorial Weekend.