We've been by it countless times. Every time we zip by it, we grab a fleeting glimpse and wonder aloud to each other what is etched on it, what is it's significance, and why it is there.

I'm talking about the Skenandoah Boulder, on Route 5 outside of Oneida village limits.

Whoa! I was shocked to read this in my local online news:

ALBANY - State environmental officials say the recent snowstorm has increased the risk of avalanches in parts of the Adirondack Mountains.

The Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner is warning anyone who plans to visit the Adirondack back country to be prepared for avalanche conditions, especially in the High Peaks region.

Avalanche danger increases during and immediately after major snowfalls. Parts of the Adirondacks received more than a foot of snow over the weekend.

Visitors are being urged to take necessary precautions, including knowing rescue techniques and avoiding traveling alone.

More information on avalanche safety can be found on the DEC Web site at www.dec.ny.gov.

I'm continuing my Greatest Hits series of past travels. As I explained before, it helps tide me over until we can get out again. It also helps the newer readers who have missed out on all the fun! The first five Greatest Hits are here. Remember, you can click on any picture to view a larger version.

6. A Summer Weekend in Albany

This was so much fun! It was the first time I ever really made an itinerary for a trip; at other times I usually get a good idea and then "wing-it." My reason for extra planning was that we had to cram in as much as we possibly could in a weekend. I think we did all right, judging by the exhaustion experienced when we got home!

In a flurry of activity, we got up early Sunday morning to attend the historical Dutch Reformed Church of Pearl Street. When the congregation learned that we were from out of town and that we were interested in history, they gave us a first-class tour.

7. Canal Town Museum, Canastota, NY

Sometimes you just hop in the car and start driving and you never know what fun you're going to find. And sometimes you find a tour guide who just loves his job and gives the customer his best. And sometimes you get a really good deal on admission prices just because it's a good day. For our trip to Canastota, all three happened to us that day. What an unexpected, happy trip!

You wouldn't think that this squat little place would house the heart and history of Canastota and the gem of the Erie Canal, but it does.

Am I overexaggerating by saying that everything is in this building, and everything was invented in Canastota? Maybe... but only a little.

This is a place to bring the kids. Bring the field trips here. It was so educational that my kids are stil benefitting from it. And it was a lesson they loved to learn. Joe DiGiorgio, the curator, made learning so much fun! Our trip here remains dear to our heart and we remember it fondly. This is a must-see place. And if you see Joe, tell him Mrs. Mecomber says "hey"! Read more here.


8. Baron von Steuben Memorial Site

This was another off the cuff trip-- just a drive to the Adirondacks-- and we were overwhelmed with pleasurable surprise.

We are American history buffs, and had wanted to see Steuben's home and burial site for years. I don't know what took us so long to get up here! It is exquisite. I cannot relay our experience with enough justice here in a few sentences. I recommend you read about our trip and then go see this place. It is beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

Rest in peace, Baron von Steuben. More here.


9. Buck Mountain, Pilot Knob, NY

We traveled across the state to Lake George, NY. I was nearly faint from its beauty. Truly there is no place like the Adirondacks of New York State. Our journey to Buck Mountain began after we left Ticonderoga, NY. We drove all around Lake George and encountered a few setbacks (lengthier drive than originally thought, a long detour away from our destination, etc). At least the scenery was beautiful.

Buck Mountain is one of many state-owned parcels open to the public for hiking and exploration. It is a 3-mile hike to the summit that affords a spectacular view of Lake George below. Unfortunately, we didn't get to the summit! Yet the hike to the first mile and back was one we will treasure. And even though the hike was very strenuous, the kids absolutely loved it.

We have determined to return and we shall climb the mountain! More photos and narrative here.


10. Shako:wi Cultural Center, Oneida, NY

This is a lovely museum established by and about the Oneida Indian tribe (one of the Iroquois Six Nations) of New York State. They have done a spectacular job, and admission was free, too! The only downside was that I couldn't take photos.

The building is very impressive-- crafted by hand by the Oneidas of Adirondack White Pine. We were awed.

Inside were aftifacts both ancient and modern. Everything detailed the culture and history of the Oneidas. The Oneidas were the only Iroquois tribe to join the American side in the fight for independence from Britain in 1776. The treaties our nation made with these honorable allies are very precious. Many examples hang on the walls. Other displays depict the plight of the Oneidas when the state thwarted the terms of the treaties. These problems exist to this day. You can read more about this and our fabulous discoveries at the cultural center here.

There is the Top Ten Greatest Hits- at least in my opinion. I've blogged about dozens of visits; it was difficult to pick only 10. If you;d like to learn more about our travels, the archives to thr right have them all listed by year and month. Please be sure to stop by from time to time and offer suggestions or talk about the great places you have seen and visited! Until then, happy trails to you!

As promised, The Historian (my daughter) has penned a brief history of Fort Ticonderoga, the park we recently visited. Check out the great essay here, and read about our wonderful visit here!

There are numerous public trails and parks dotted up and down Lake George in the Adirondacks for the public to enjoy. Some are very strenuous, some mild. We chose the milder sort, Buck Mountain.

Lake George is an exquisitely beautiful lake nestled in the Adirondacks, at the far eastern border of New York State. We took a drive to the area in autumn, and the scenery was beautiful, in all of fall's glory!

We had a full day yesterday, and traveled all across the state to the New York/Vermont border yesterday. It was quite a day and I am eager to tell you all about it.

However, three of the four kids are writing research papers, and they need attention. I hope to get to discuss the traveling tonight, when I have some free time. For now, I will drop a few sneak previews of what's to come.

We went to Lake George-- a first for all of us. What a beautiful area. I don't think I can properly express how stunning the scenery is here. We drove up the west side of the lake, first, along Route 9. We stopped a few times to snap photos.

The Mohawk Indians called it "Kauy-a-hoo-ra," or Leaping Water. Trenton Falls leaps no more, but it is still a grand site to see.

We'd been wanting to visit and pay respects to Baron Frederich Wilhelm Augustus Steuben, aka Baron von Steuben, buried on Starr Hill Road in Remsen, NY. He is known as the "drillmaster of the American Revolution," but affectionately known as "von Schtooby" to my history-buff kids. My daughter says (in a very good German accent) that any American desiring to learn the techniques of the bayonet must have asked himself "vhat vould Schtooby do." Our trip to his burial site was sobering and stunning. The property is gorgeous.

You can read more about our wonderful visit, at New York Traveler.net.

In the autumn of 2007, we took a drive up Route 28 to White Lake, NY, in the mid-southern section of the Adirondacks.



It is absolutely beautiful here. Read more about our trip and see the beautiful scenery at New York Traveler.net.

Update: I got an email from Robert Horr of the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, concerning fees for ferry passage to Boldt Castle:

Mrs. Mecomber,

Thank you for you interest in Boldt Castle. I also saw the News 10 piece. To get to Boldt Castle from the US you will either have to come via tour boat from Alexandria Bay or private boat. The cost varies depending on the tour boat operator and the tour duration. Uncle Sam Boat Tours has a dedicated shuttle which is around $7 for roundtrip tour to Boldt Castle. This is a separate cost from the Castle admission price. If you come by private boat there are plenty of docks available at no cost at the island. There are several tour boat operators in Canada that make routine stops as well. Thank you for your interest and hope you come visit us. I you have any questions; please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Besides a new boss, Fort Stanwix National Monument has... new programs and wants the public to get more use out of the National Park Service’s 15-acre landmark in the center of Rome. ...On Aug. 18, a new event will be held. "Futile Thunder, Fort Schuyler Under Siege," will be an artillery and mortar demonstration by the Oneida Nation’s Living History program.

The 31st annual Revolutionary War encampment will take place on Nov. 10 and 11. That draws about 100 re-enactors annually. Another big event at the fort, though it’s not run by the fort, is the annual new citizens’ induction ceremony. It will likely be at 11 a.m. on Sept. 13.

Thanks to a comment on one of my previous posts, I've discovered a fun new blog and a new-found friend, the Educational Tour Marm. The Marm's career is "Professional Educational Tour Planner and Guide." Wow! What a job! Imagine- traveling all across the country, studying and teaching history-- and getting paid to do it!!

The Tour Marm's itinerary plan includes a school bus tour of New York State (she's from Virginia, but the school kids are coming from California). The Marm, a gaggle of schoolteachers, and two bus loads of schoolchildren (yes, two) plan "a special tour of the Troy area to learn about the Industrial Revolution (which is part of their curriculum) and will be visiting the arsenal." Sounds like a 'blast,' heh heh. They also hope to see more of the state, including the City and Niagara Falls.

Of course, scheduling events and squeezing in multitudes of kids and teachers must be quite a feat. One problem the Marm has run into is trying to find places that will hold the California masses.

May I be so bold as to recommend the following:

Fort Stanwix in Rome, NY: Admission is FREEEE and the educational quality of the site is unsurpassed, IMHO. An outstanding visit. My blog version of our visit is here.

Herkimer Home in Little Falls, NY: I first visited this beautiful historic site on a school bus tour in 7th grade (we called them "field trips" back then). I was awed by the place. The tour guides gave my group a first-hand experience of Colonial life in Upstate NY by baking old-style pancakes, making beer with hops, and cooking colonial soup. Visiting this place remains one of my fondest memories as a kid.

Old Stone Fort and Museum in Schoharie, NY: Oh my goodness, we loved this place. You could spend hours looking at the heaps of stuff they have here. It is impossible for me to summarize our visit in brief-- check out the details here. Fun!!

Howe Caverns in Howes Cave, NY: Another place I visited as a kid, and as an adult. I have never taken my own children here-- not yet, anyway. It is a truly amazing place, and its sensational discovery, establishment, decline, and rediscovery are a history-lesson goldmine.

Fort Ontario in Oswego, NY: I don't know if they do large tour groups, but the place could certainly hold it. We absolutely loved the Lake views and the underground stockade. Check out our visit here.

You cannot visit New York State without seeing the Adirondacks. There is so much to do in this massive "forever wild" forest of New York... but if you cannot hike, fish, go birding, ski, bike, camp, or take the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, at least drive through this glorious forest of mountains. You will not regret it. Here are some helpful links about visiting the Adirondacks:

Adirondack Park Agency
Adirondack Museum
Central Park for the World
Visit the Adirondacks
Adirondack Base Camp (a fellow Upstate blogger who has a wealth of information and links)

A visit to the Adirondacks can also enhance Industrial Revolution studies. The Adirondacks were a prime source for the mining and logging industries of the Northeast during the 18th and early 19th centuries. The Adirondack Museum has more information on this.

As fellow New Yorkers realize, I have only scratched the surface of the historic sites and events our state sponsors. You can take a peek at my own itinerary this year for even more places to visit.

I'll look forward to blogging the Marm's updates as she and her group tour the Empire State. Stay tuned!

In October of 2006, we went to the Living History Weekend in German Flatts. Unfortunately, and predictably, it was pouring rain AGAIN. Nonetheless, we had a good time!

On August 19th, 2006, which was a serene road trip to the cusp of the Adirondack State Trail around Hinckley Lake.