Category: Hiking & Trails

Finger Lakes Forest Immersion Offers Mindful Time in Nature

By Melissa Knoblauch on Oct. 25, 2017

Fall in the Finger Lakes is filled with the kind of majestic beauty that takes your breath away. Cool air signals a changing of season as trees and bushes transformed by color beckon you outside. So, get out and experience Ontario County’s natural beauty in an interesting new way. Sign up for a Finger Lakes Forest Therapy shinrin-yoku-inspired walk. Shinrin-yoku, also known as forest bathing, is a wellness trend gaining popularity in the United States, with 30 years of research in Japan showing the powerful emotional and physical benefits of being in the forest. It just may be the new yoga…

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Playing Pokemon Go & Making New Friends in the Finger Lakes

Oct. 09, 2017

“You see, sometimes friends have to go away, but a part of them stays behind with you."You may believe this quote is from a profound writer or compelling spiritualist, but it’s a quote from the Pokemon series’ main protagonist, Ash Ketchum.  That shouldn’t belittle this important message. In fact, Pokemon and playing games have a way of bringing people together. …

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Celebrate Earth Day: 7 Finger Lakes photos of our great outdoors

Apr. 21, 2017

There’s no better way to celebrate Earth Day (or any day) than to retreat into nature and hike in the Finger Lakes. Some of our Finger Lakes Visitors Connection staff are avid hikers and recently explored Rob's Trail near the Hemlock-Canadice State Forest. Here are seven great photos from their excursionin celebration of Mother Earth and the great outdoors…

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Free in the Finger Lakes: 10 terrific activities to do that won't cost you a dime

Mar. 10, 2017

Traveling on a budget? Or simply want to give your wallet a break? Ontario County has plenty of groovy things to do that are free (or pretty darn close). From art demonstrations and live music to yoga on a farm and Pilates in a castle, here are tensuper-fun Finger Lakes freebies. …

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The Finger Lakes Are for the Dogs!

May. 01, 2016

The Finger Lakes Are for the Dogs! When visiting the Finger Lakes, be sure to bring your fun loving, four-legged friend(s) along with you! The Finger Lakes Region was ranked #7 in the nation on the list of Top 15 Spring Break ideas for you and your dog on the I Love Dogs website. Don’t let the reference to Spring fool you or make you wait for Spring! Bring Fido along for the Finger Lakes fun, whether it is winter, spring, summer or fall…

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You are never too old for a field trip

Sep. 11, 2015

Everyone who works at the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection just happens to live in different parts of Ontario County. So we have a lot of collective home turf expertise. Earlier this week, we spent the day in the “twin villages” of Manchester and Shortsville, as well as a mid-day stop in Clifton Springs. For those of us who live in other parts of the county, the day was filled with a lot of “I didn’t know that” moments. Here are my favorites…

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Earth Day offers great news for these Finger Lakes

Apr. 24, 2015

Earth Day (April 22) came with two bits of great news this week, both of which center around Hemlock-Canadice State Forest, one of the most pristine and “forever wild” places in the Finger Lakes. No development is allowed here. First, a longtime resident of the town of Canadice in Ontario County sold 165 acres to the state Department of Environmental Conservation, so now the forest encompasses almost 6,900 acres…

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USAToday confirms the Finger Lakes have the best state parks in the country!

Apr. 02, 2015

The Finger Lakes are home to some of the greatest state parks in the nation. For the people who live in the region, we know this to be true. USA Today confirmed our insider’s knowledge with the announcement this week of the top 10 state parks in the ENTIRE United States of America. American voters have designated Letchworth State Park as the #1 in the US. And as if that wasn't enough, Watkins Glen State Park came in at #3! Finger Lakes Visitors Connection would like to extend our congratulations to our friends in Livingston and Wyoming Counties, home to the "Grand Canyon of the East", Letchworth State Park. Kudos to our friends in Schuyler County, home to Watkins Glen State Park, the oldest state park in the Finger Lakes region…

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