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Hiking the Finger Lakes Trails: Trees and Gorges in Wine Country

Program Number: 12667RJ
Start and End Dates:
6/9/2013 - 6/14/2013; 10/6/2013 - 10/11/2013; 10/20/2013 - 10/25/2013;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: Corning, New York
Price starting at: $735.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Walking/Hiking Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 14; 5 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 5 Dinners    
Meal Options: Low Fat; Vegetarian; Low Salt    

Known for its pristine forests and decadent local wineries, the Finger Lakes region offers much to be seen and savored. Join us for a unique hiking adventure that explores the gorges, hills and waterfalls of this scenic area, and stop to sample the flavors of some of New York’s finest vineyards. With expert naturalists and foresters, learn about the geologic wonders of local state parks — as well as the waterfalls in Watkins Glen and Ithaca — and hike on trails around Keuka, Cayuga and Seneca Lakes.




Highlights

• At a vineyard along Seneca Lake, learn about its grape harvest and savor some of its most popular wines.
• Learn about Iroquois culture during presentations and field trips to the Letchworth Museum and the home of Mary Jemison, the "white woman of Seneca."
• Hike along the famous gorge at Watkins Glen State Park and view the spectacular waterfalls of the lower Gorge.



Activity Particulars

Hiking 4-6 miles per day on moderate to hilly terrain. Sag wagon offered at mid-point of each day's hike.




Date Specific Information

6-9-2013

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10-6-2013

Peak fall foliage week!
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10-20-2013

Peak week for fall foliage!
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.



Coordinated by Watson Homestead Conference and Retreat Center.




Corning

The southern gateway to the Finger Lakes region in western New York, Corning is a charming and historic community best known for the world-renowned Corning Museum of Glass, as well as nearby glacial lakes and gorgeous panoramas.
Accommodations
Conference center on nearly 400 acres of unspoiled land with heated indoor pool.
Meals and Lodgings
   Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
  Painted Post, NY 5 nights
 Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Type: Conference Center
  Description: Watson Homestead has been an Road Scholar super site since 1982. Comprised of over 500 acres, the site is located 15 minutes (8 miles) west of Corning. It was established by Thomas J. Watson (founder of IBM) on his birthplace - hence Watson Homestead.
  Contact info: 9620 Dry Run Road
Painted Post, NY 14870 USA
phone: 607-962-0541
web: www.watsonhomestead.org
  Room amenities: Heat and AC, some rooms feature an outside patio and are located one level below the dining room and classroom level - via stairs. Since we are a retreat center, individual guest rooms do not have television sets. There are television sets in three lounge areas available for guests.
  Facility amenities: Amenities on site and at no extra charge to participants include indoor heated pool, hiking trails, daily group newspapers, wi-fi capable in classroom and lounge areas, chapel, coffee/beverage, free parking and snacks.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Additional nights prior: $85 Add-a-room accommodations for participants may be available, depending on availability. Please inquire.
  Check in time: 3:00 PM
  Additional nights after: $85 Add-a-room accommodations for participants may be available, depending on availability. Please inquire.
  Check out time: 10:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
3:00 PM registration You will be staying at Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center that night.
  End of Program:
10 AM You will be staying at Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
At no charge at the site.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Painted Post, NY
  Nearest city or town:  Painted Post, NY
  Nearest highway: Interstate 86 (also called NYS Route 17)
  Nearest airport:  Elmira-Corning Regional Airport
  From End of Program
  Location: Painted Post, NY
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

ELM

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Hotel Shuttle
Watson Homestead
phone: 607-962-0541
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$25
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

thirty minutes 
 

Distance:

 

25 miles
   

Watson Homestead staff are available to pick up participants from the Elmira-Corning Regional airport (ELM) with prior reservations. Airlines serving ELM include USAir, Delta and Continental.
 

Corning

 

From Bus Terminal

 
 

Service:

 

Hotel Shuttle
Watson Homestead
phone: 607-962-0541
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$10
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

15 minutes 
 

Distance:

 

8 miles
   

Watson Homestead staff are available to pick up participants from the bus terminals in Corning or Gang Mills with prior reservations. Bus companies serving these two cities are Shortline (www.coachusa.com/shortline) or NY Trailways (www.trailways.ny.com).
 
Driving Directions
  From Albany, Massachusetts & New England: Find your way to Interstate 88 (just north west of Albany, off I 90). Travel west on I 88 to Binghamton. Then go west on Interstate 86 (also NY State Route 17) to exit 42. At top of exit ramp, turn right onto Steuben Co. Route 26, Meads Creek Road. You will travel just over 3 miles to the Homestead entrance sign. Turn right on Dry Run Road and follow signs to the Main Lodge.
  From Canada and Buffalo: Take Interstate 90 East to Rochester, then 390 South. Route 390 T's into Interstate 86 (also NY State Route 17). Take I86 east to exit 42. At top of exit ramp, turn left onto Steuben Co. Route 26, Meads Creek Road. You will travel just over 3 miles to the Homestead entrance sign. Turn right on Dry Run Road and follow signs to the Main Lodge.
  From Jamestown and the West Travel east on Interstate 86 (also NY State Route 17) to exit 42. At top of exit ramp, turn left onto Steuben Co. Route 26, Meads Creek Road. You will travel just over 3 miles to the Homestead entrance sign. Turn right on Dry Run Road and follow signs to the Main Lodge.
  From Pennsylvania and South: Travel north on State Route 15 N (future interstate 99) from Harrisburg to Interstate 86 West (also NY State Route 17) at Painted Post. Take Interstate 86 West to exit 42. At top of exit ramp, turn right onto Steuben Co. Route 26, Meads Creek Road. You will travel just over 3 miles to the Homestead entrance sign. Turn right on Dry Run Road and follow signs to the Main Lodge.
  From the New York metropolitan area: Travel west on Interstate 86 (also NY State Route 17) to exit 42. At top of exit ramp, turn right onto Steuben Co. Route 26, Meads Creek Road. You will travel just over 3 miles to the Homestead entrance sign. Turn right on Dry Run Road and follow signs to the Main Lodge.
Elevation Note: 1700 feet is the highest elevation participants will experience.

Equipment Requirements: Bring gear that you like to have on the trail: binoculars, boots, hat, pack, insect repellent, etc.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Registration/Orientation
(Sunday, June 9)
   
 Afternoon: At 3 PM you will meet your host at the front desk for room keys and packets. Refreshments are available in the Dining Room. Pool will be open for swimming 4:30 to 5:30 PM Free time for hiking on the Watson Homestead trail system on the property.
 Dinner: Dinner is served in the Dining Room. We feature all-you-can-eat country-style buffet entrees with at least one vegetarian option and a full salad bar daily with each dinner.
 Evening: Orientation: we introduce the site, staff and week's program. Then we ask participants to introduce themselves to each other and mention any outstanding Road Scholar programs they have attended.
   
Accommodations: Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Morning hike on the Finger Lakes Trail to Watkins Glen. Tower Climb. Evening lecture.
(Monday, June 10)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in the dining room.
 Morning: The Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) System of New York State, comprised of the main trail, branch and loop trails, offers over 800 miles of hiking. Three program hikes will be on trails within the FLT System. After breakfast we trarvel by bus to Watkins Glen to hike a portion of the main FLT that parallels the famous Gorge at Watkins Glen State Park, with a cross-over site mid-way on the last leg of the hike for those who wish to view the spectacular waterfalls in the lower Gorge. Total morning mileage 4.1 miles, with a sag wagon mid-way for those who wish to do less mileage.
 Lunch: Lunch will be a picnic at the South Entrance (Watkins Glen State Park) pavilion.
 Afternoon: Seneca forester, Michael DeMunn will give a guided walk through one of the remaining "virgin growth" areas of the State Park. Then we will visit one of the wineries along Seneca Lake. Back at the Homestead, an opportunity to climb the 36' vertical tower at will be offered. Free time for hiking the trails on the property. The pool will be open 4:30 to 5:30 PM.
 Dinner: Dinner in the Dining Room.
 Evening: Presentation on Letchworth State Park - our hiking destinatation for tomorrow.
   
Accommodations: Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: FLT Hike at Letchworth State Park and Return to Site/Evening Program
(Tuesday, June 11)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in the Dining Room
 Morning: After breakfast we depart for Letchworth State Park and will hike three sections of the Flinger Lakes trail there. Also we will see the Mt. Morris Dam.
 Lunch: A bag lunch that each participant put together will be eaten along the trail.
 Afternoon: Afternoon completion of hike, relax at Glen Iris Inn and/or visit the Letchworth Msueum and home of Mary Jemison, White Woman of the Seneca. Return to Homestead.
 Dinner: Dinner in the Dining Room.
 Evening: A presentation by Jenny Monroe on the Iroquois will be offered in a storytelling format.
   
Accommodations: Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Hike in Treman State Park, near Ithaca. Free evening.
(Wednesday, June 12)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast in the Dining Room.
 Morning: Travel by bus to Treman State Park in Ithaca. Hike the FLT and Treman Gorge, 5 - 7 miles.
 Lunch: Pack lunch on the trail.
 Afternoon: Completion of the Trail. Return by bus to Watson Homestead.
 Dinner: Dinner will be served in the Dining Room.
 Evening: Free evening to explore Corning downtown.
   
Accommodations: Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Finger Lakes Trail hike in the Pleasant Valley section, near Hammondsport, NY / Complete hike and wine tasting/Hand-Crank Ice Cream Social & Campfire
(Thursday, June 13)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast is served in the Dining Room
 Morning: Depart by bus for Hammondsport Finger Lakes Trail near Keuka Lake. We will be hiking for 5 to 7 miles on the Pleasant Valley Trail of the FLT.
 Lunch: Pack Lunch on the Trail
 Afternoon: We complete our hike, Bus to Dr. Frank Vinifera for a wine tasting. Return to Watson Homestead.
 Dinner: Dinner is the Dining Room
 Evening: Just relaxing and making homemade ice cream - a Watson Homestead Road Scholar tradition, everyone gets a chance to help crank and then decide between hot fudge or homemade maple syrup.
   
Accommodations: Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Departures after breakfast and checkout. Museum vouchers for the Corning Museum of Glass and/or The Rockwell Museum of Western Art, both in Corning, will be distributed.
(Friday, June 14)
   
 Depart From: Watson Homestead
 Breakfast: Breakfast in the Dining Room
 Morning: Vouchers for the Rockwell Museum of Western Art and/or The Corning Museum of Glass will be distributed.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Painted Post, NY Corning
Corning is the southern gateway to Finger Lakes Wine Country and a busy tourist destination. Go to www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com or www.iloveny.com for complete regional information. For additional information, visit www.corningny.com
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


Glenn H. Curtiss


Author: Kirk W. House & Charles R. Mitchell


Description: Glenn Curtiss beat even the Wright brothers (who sued him bitterly) to get pilot's license No. 1 in America. He teamed with Alexander Graham Bell, helped develop the moving wing part known as the aileron, introduced tricycle landing gear, made the first airplane sales, and turned aeronautics into a multimillion dollar business. His innovations ranged from the Curtiss Pusher to the hydroaeroplane, the flying boat, and the Curtiss Jenny. Curtiss, his engines, and his airplanes dominated the world of early aviation on this side of the Atlantic. Glenn H. Curtiss: Aviation Pioneer charts Curtiss's breakneck course across two continents, North America and Europe, setting speed and distance records, experimenting with military applications, always striving for a safer, faster airplane. Fostering both water flyers and shipboard landing, he became the Father of Naval Aviation. But even the skies were not wide enough for the busy brain of Curtiss. Glenn H. Curtiss: Aviation Pioneer also tracks his dizzying ride from a village bicycle shop to record-smashing motorcycle races, futuristic travel trailers, and city building in the Florida land boom.



Sisters in Spirit: Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Influences on Early American Feminists


Author: Sally Roesch Wagner


Description: This groundbreaking examination of the early influences on feminism may revolutionize feminist theory. Distinguished historian and contemporary feminist scholar Sally Roesch Wagner has compiled extensive research to analyze the source of the revolutionary vision of the early feminists. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Matilda Joslyn Gage, and Lucretia Mott had formed friendships with their Native neighbors that enabled them to understand a world view far different, and in many ways superior, to the patriarchal one that existed at that time. This is the provocative and compelling history of their struggle to bring equality and dignity to all women, and the role played by the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) women who modelled the position women could occupy in society.



Take A Hike - Family Walks in New York's Finger Lakes Region


Author: Rich Freeman, Sue Freeman


Description: 68 Mapped Trails to Explore, Ranging from Half-mile Strolls to Full-day Hikes. Take A Hike reveals the little known places and hidden gems of the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. - Visit an old-growth forest. - Stroll along abandoned railroad beds and canal towpaths. - Hike the strenuous glacially sculpted hills. - Savor the vistas of wind and water sculpted drumlins overlooking Lake Ontario. - Gaze into a verdant lake-filled valley far below. - Ramble through a bog and a rich shrub fen. - Wander on winding boardwalks through swamps and wetlands. Walk the Finger Lakes Region with ease and confidence. Each trail is GPS mapped for accuracy. Directions and GPS coordinates are given for easily locating trailhead parking. With his guidebook you'll know the length of the hike, difficulty of the terrain, variety of uses allowed, type of trail surface, markings to look for, and even if your dog is welcome to hike with you for each of the 68 trails. This guide promises to reveal the undiscovered beauty of the Finger Lakes Region with many recently built trails.



The American West: People, Places, and Ideas


Author: Suzan Campbell


Description: Permanent collection catalog for the Rockwell Museum of Western Art in Corning, NY. This collection of American paintings, bronzes, firearms and Native American artifacts was assembled by the late Robert F. Rockwell, local businessman, and established as a museum in 1976. It is an unusually fine collection of mid-to-late 19th and 20th century art works documenting the westward expansion movement, the popular illustrations created about it, and includes contemporary artists, many who are Native American.



The Corning Museum of Glass; A Guide to the Collections


Author: Richard W. Price, editor


Description: Full color guidebook of the 3500-year history of glassmaking using color plates of significant objects with full descriptions, plus chapter overviews of the various technological advancements through the ages. An exceptional pre-visit view of the museum and its collections or souvenir memory collection. Much of the book's information and its images can also be found on the Museum's website at www.cmog.org.



The Finger Lakes Book


Author: Katharine Delavan Dyson


Description: Travel guide to the top sites in the 14-county western New York State region, the Finger Lakes. Good for adding pre- and/or post-program activities. Good photos and maps included.



The Maverick and His Machine


Author: Kevin Maney


Description: The latest biography of Thomas J. Watson, founder of IBM, and founder of Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center, on farm of his birth in 1879. Includes information about Watson and the Making of IBM. Author Kevin Maney of USA Today was the first biographer of Watson given access to the original boxes of personal and corporate ephemera that were sealed at his death in 1956.





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