Thousand Islands and Erie Canal

Erie Canal Cruising. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff.
Erie Canal Cruising. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff.
Rating
4.6/5

It was time to head out of Dodge again to the Thousand Islands and Erie Canal. This time, it was a two-night adventure to Herkimer, New York, and Watertown, New York.

In Herkimer, New York, we took an Erie Canal Sightseeing Cruise over a 5-hour drive from New York City.

Erie Canal Cruises. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

Erie Canal Cruises. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

I learned that the Erie Canal was one of the most important transportation routes in the early history of our country. Construction began on July 4, 1817, in Rome, New York, and it was completed about eight years later. The canal ran about 363 miles from the city of Albany to the city of Buffalo and, in 1918, was expanded and joined the 525-mile-long New York State Barge Canal.

It was a lovely day for a lunch cruise. Learning about the Erie Canal was fun and educational!

Lunch at the Waterfront Grill.

Dining on Erie Canal Cruises. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

Dining on Erie Canal Cruises. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

We didn’t eat until 3 p.m. and were so famished that I forgot to take a picture of the main chicken dish. I did catch the dessert.

Dessert on Erie Canal Cruises. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

Dessert on Erie Canal Cruises. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

We arrived in Watertown, New York, for a two-night stay at Hotel Best Western. I’ll let you decide whether it lived up to its “Best” name when you stay there.

This was scary. Another woman from the trip and I decided to walk around Watertown that evening on a Saturday night. The town was practically deserted, and we only saw about six people on the street. It was like an image out of The Handmaiden Tale.

This was only one view similar to any other.

Downtown Watertown NY. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

Downtown Watertown, NY. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff

After breakfast, we went to the Thousand Islands Winery for a wine tasting.

Thousand Islands Winery. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff.

Thousand Islands Winery. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff.

It’s a lovely 40-acre property with delicious wines.

Wine tasting at Thousand Islands Winery. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff.

Wine tasting at Thousand Islands Winery. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff.

I normally do not carry wine or other heavy items when traveling but I couldn’t resist buying a jar of Champagne Garlic Mustard. It should be great with pretzels!

Champagne Garlic Mustard at Thousand Islands Winery. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff.

Champagne Garlic Mustard at Thousand Islands Winery. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff.

We took a tour of The Thousand Islands that was both fun and interesting.

Uncle Sam Boat Tours. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff.

Uncle Sam Boat Tours. Photo credit: Sora Vernikoff.

Canada and the US share these waters, but you do not need a passport while on a boat.

However, if you drop your anchor, you need a passport.

Next was the favorite part of this adventure – visiting the Bailiwick Animal Zoo located in Catskill, New York.

It was fun feeding and greeting some of the animals in this very open and friendly environment.

Here are a few of my favorite moments…

Bailiwick Animal Zoo. Photo credit: Sora Vernkoff

Bailiwick Animal Zoo. Photo credit: Sora Vernkoff

Bailiwick Animal Zoo. Photo credit: Sora Vernkoff

Bailiwick Animal Zoo. Photo credit: Sora Vernkoff

Bailiwick Animal Zoo. Photo credit: Sora Vernkoff

Bailiwick Animal Zoo. Photo credit: Sora Vernkoff

Bailiwick Animal Zoo. Photo credit: Sora Vernkoff

Bailiwick Animal Zoo. Photo credit: Sora Vernkoff

Bailiwick Animal Zoo. Photo credit: Sora Vernkoff

Bailiwick Animal Zoo. Photo credit: Sora Vernkoff

All in all, it was a pleasant adventure. My heart belongs to those gentle, lovely animals. Even the bear enjoyed the fun.

Readers may enjoy our other travel reviews, like Weekend in Vermont, Morocco, and The Sahara, Williamsport and Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon, and Hotel Zaza Houston.

Thousand Islands and Erie Canal

PLEASE COMMENT & SIGN UP

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

More to explore...

The home of Electric Lemon at 33 Hudson Yards, New York NY. Photo by Sora Vernikoff

Electric Lemon at Hudson Yards

The Electric Lemon restaurant is located at the top of the five-star Equinox Hotel in Hudson Yards. The rooftop bar boasts an 8,000-square-foot rooftop garden with a monumental Jaume Plensa sculpture. It overlooks the Hudson River and the city skyline. They possess a wide range of food and drinks, from light bites to seasonal offerings at dinner and rooftop brunch on the weekends. It’s open all year round because of the sleek and expansive dining room and fire-pits on the al fresco terrace.

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Photo from the official trailer. Public Domain

Breakfast at Tiffany’s

I suppose that the title of my blog post, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, is a little misleading because it turned out to be Dinner at Tiffany’s, or more accurately, Dinner at the Blue Box Café. This Cafe honors the romance of the 1961 film starring Audrey Hepburn. Tiffany’s of course was the romantic setting where the lovely Audrey Hepburn went each morning with a pastry and cup of coffee to have breakfast as she window shopped. You might add Breakfast at Tiffany’s to your movie viewing list if you’ve missed it. The song Moon River will have new meaning for you!

Josie de Guzman at The Green Room 42. Photo by Edward Kliszus

Josie de Guzman at The Green Room 42

Two-time Tony Award nominee Josie de Guzman performed her show “Back Where I Started” and enthralled listeners at The Green Room 42.The enchanting and vivacious de Guzman performed a musical biopic of her remarkable stage career. She spoke of the many fellow luminaries with whom she performed and collaborated. The amazing list includes Leonard Bernstein, Nathan Lane, Arthur Laurents, Jerome Robbins, Alan Jay Lerner, and Burton Lane, to name a few.

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x