Exploring New York: The best things to see and do in Finger Lakes region

Finger Lakes region takes its name from eleven long and narrow lakes spread like fingers across the region, and it’s located within four to five-hour drive from metropolitan cities, such as Toronto, New York, Philadelphia, or Pittsburgh. Over thousands of years receding glaciers carved this landscape, giving place to an idyllic home to generations of people. No wonder why, as sparkling lakes, breathtaking waterfalls and rolling pastoral hills dominate the landscape, making Finger Lakes Region a hidden gem.

European settlers found one of the most powerful Native Americans Nations in this area, who believed that Finger Lakes were the fingerprints of the Great Spirit. It is said that the Great Spirit reached down and, in touching the earth, transformed this land into sacred ground. But the geological term finger lake refers to a long, narrow body of water occupying a glacially over deepened valley, and the most notable ones are Cayuga and Seneca Lakes. Within about 9,000 square miles, there are miles of lakeshores, countless waterfalls, and vineyards; from biking, hiking, boating, fishing, to visiting museums, or quaint towns and villages, there is an activity for everyone, you name it.

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Hitting the road again: Letchworth state park

Letchworth state park, renowned as the Grand Canyon of the East, is a 14,350-acre park in New York state, following for about 27 km the course of Genesee River. With three major waterfalls, lush forests, and a deep gorge, the park is one of the most scenically areas in the eastern U.S. The Genesee River is the essence of the park, and can be observed either roaring through the gorge on sudden drops, between cliffs as high as 600 feet in some places, or in a calm course along its winding way.

Letchworth state park
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Exploring Florida: The best things to see and do in Fort Myers

A gateway to the Southwest Florida region, Fort Myers is a major tourist destination on the banks of Caloosahatchee River. Established as a Seminole War Post in 1841, Fort Myers was known originally as Fort Harvie. Being transformed from a farming and cattle community in the late 1860’s into a commercial one, Fort Myers gained by the mid 1880’s a national notoriety for local recreational fishing.

From a small community, Fort Myers (nicknamed the City of Palms) has changed its look over time, new brick buildings replacing the original wooden ones. Today, the landscape of Southwest Florida has changed dramatically from what it used to be; however, the historic neighbourhoods and landmarks continue to bring some colour to the city.

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Strolling through Key West: a walking guide to the Southernmost city in the continental U.S.

Key West is the Southernmost city in the continental U.S., the point where the North begins: Mile 0. As the name suggests, Key West is also the westernmost of the inhabited islands, which, along with all the other keys located off the southern coast of Florida form a coral key archipelago, known as Florida Keys.

Mile 0, Key West
photo credit: Google
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CA, US: Around Huron Lake in 8 days

Canadians love outdoors. At least half of them, who can’t wait to get their outdoor belongings every weekend and scatter to various destinations.

Our excitement actually started when we began making plans to have a road trip around Lake Huron, one of the five Great Lakes in North America.

road trip 2017

Part of the UNESCO heritage, Niagara Escarpment goes through Tobermory. The escarpment that runs from New York through Ontario (Canada), Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois is mostly famous for the cliff where Niagara River plunges at Niagara Falls. But today I will talk about Tobermory, located right between Huron Lake and Georgian Bay, and which is the most northerly town in the Bruce Peninsula. Continue reading

US, Michigan: Best of UP – Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore – Grand Sable Dunes and Sable Falls – Grand Marais

Around Huron Lake in 8 days: Best of UP, Part 5 – Around Huron Lake in 8 days: Grand Sable Dunes and Sable Falls – Grand Marais

Coming from Munising on County Rd H-58, we passed by the famous Log Slide Overview. The location was used originally in the 19th century by the local loggers to slide the logs from the top of the dunes to the base of the banks, to Lake Superior, in order to facilitate the transportation of timber from this area. Now this place is a wonderful spot to admire the blue and to lose yourself in an ecstatic reverie.

Grand Sable Dunes view from the Log Slide overlook
Grand Sable Dunes – view from the Log Slide overlook

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