Traveling to Watkins Glen, NY is a breathtaking ride through some of the greatest foliage in the United States. I visited Watkins Glen with my grandmother when I was about 14. There are spectacular areas to hike and enjoy nature’s beauty along with a town that harkens back to an era when times were much simpler. It is the kind of downtown where everyone says hello and makes you feel as though you belong. A variety of shops catering to tourists including, apparel shops with local attractions on tee shirts, sweat shirts, hats and more, restaurants with a variety of foods including burger joints, bars, ice cream shops and excellent steak houses.

When I used to go when I was younger there always was a road race in the month of August. The town would fill up with racers, their crews and the fans that followed the race car circuit. The road course was mapped out so that you could travel it yourself in the days leading up to the actual race. There also is a waterfall that you can reach via a moderately difficult hike. I have made that hike several times and have always found something interesting along the way, whether it is wildlife, interesting flowers and plants or fossils.