**Days at Letchworth & Beyond**
I haven’t posted daily the latter part of this trip—it’s just been nice to relax and *be.* But I do want to record these days for memory’s sake.
**Wednesday**
We woke up early—around 7 a.m.—and went to breakfast at a local spot called *The Barn Restaurant.* It was such a cool place: furnished like a 60s diner, full of antiques and personality. They have what’s called a “Knowledge Table” (the old man table), where a group of older gentlemen meet virtually every day for breakfast and gossip. It made me grin ear to ear. The food and coffee were both great, too.
Afterward, we headed to Letchworth State Park. The woman at the visitor center recommended the Gorge Hike, and we decided to do it Thursday since we didn’t want to do a lot of hiking today. We drove through the park, stopping at overlooks and taking in the views—three waterfalls, the gorge, and just God’s beauty everywhere. We eventually realized that all the lookouts we visited were along the same trail we planned to hike tomorrow, so we basically saw it all without the effort. Bonus!
We went to the *Glen Iris Inn* for lunch and were seated beside a window, thankful for the air conditioning. The restaurant had a calm, charming atmosphere and a unique menu. When I saw “Thanksgiving Dinner” listed, I couldn’t resist—and neither could Jack. It was absolutely delicious. For dessert, we split a Harvest Pie made with mixed fruits and vanilla ice cream. Jack said he only wanted one bite, but I swear he ate more than half, ha! I almost ordered another slice but was too full to indulge.
After lunch, we found a couple of chairs overlooking the waterfall, grabbed a blanket from the car, and just sat reading for a while. It was peaceful and quiet—the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Back at the hotel, we napped and ended up staying in for the rest of the night. Jack made a Walmart run for shorts, while I read and enjoyed a lazy evening.
**Thursday**
Thursday was different—I planned *nothing.* I’d looked up a few ideas on ChatGPT, but that was it. Jack took that five minutes of research and turned it into a full plan, which was such a treat. It felt nice to let someone else handle the day for a change.
We started with breakfast again at *The Barn* (because why mess with perfection?) before heading out. First stop was Silver Lake. We sat in a little park surrounded by camper cottages, reading by the water. It was simple and peaceful.
Next, we visited *Beaver Meadow Audubon Center,* and oh, how I wish I’d had more time there. It’s miles of trails wrapped around a quiet lake—virtually silent except for the sounds of nature. We saw chipmunks everywhere, listened to the birds, and admired the serenity. They even had a “Fairy Walk” filled with tiny houses and “real estate for sale.” It was adorable. We only walked about a mile, but I’d go back in a heartbeat.
For lunch, we stopped at *Wolf Creek Deli.* We were the only ones there—mid-afternoon by then. The guy behind the counter was friendly, and the food hit the spot. I had a Philly cheesesteak that was a bit salty, but Jack’s root beer wings were good and unique.
Afterward, we visited *Conesus Lake Park.* It’s a pretty local park with benches and paved paths along the water. We found a bench near the lake, and I may or may not have taken a little nap while Jack read.
The drives between all these places were beautiful—fall colors everywhere, sunlight filtering through the trees. We stopped multiple times for pictures. By evening, we were back at the hotel, too relaxed to go out again. Jack grabbed some PB&J at the dollar store, and that became dinner.
**Friday**
We tried *Brian’s Diner* for breakfast today. The food was good, but it didn’t quite have the quirky charm of The Barn. Then we headed to *Stony Brook State Park* to walk the Gorge Trail. What a gem—small waterfalls, bubbling brooks, and lush green scenery everywhere. The walk wasn’t too strenuous, though the 187 wooden steps at the end were a bit of a cruel joke. They just lead to the parking lot with no new views—there really should be a sign before you start that climb! Still, it was breathtaking and easily a highlight of the trip.
Afterward, we returned to the *Glen Iris Inn* for another round of pie. Jack got a salad, and I couldn’t resist the Thanksgiving dinner again. Service was slower this time—our waitress seemed overwhelmed—but the food was just as good, and the pie was heavenly. I seriously need that recipe.
Back at the hotel, we took another long nap (about three hours!). Later that evening, we drove about 30 minutes to *Nashville’s,* a restaurant and dance hall. We had appetizers, listened to live music, and danced a few rumbas and hustles. The band—a Zac Brown cover group—started at 9:30 and was surprisingly good. Jack, ever thoughtful, brought our dance socks since my shoes wouldn’t let me spin. I love that man. When the band took a break at 10:30, we decided to call it a night.
**Saturday**
We got a late checkout at the hotel, and I’m writing this during that time. We fly home later today, so unless something wild happens at the airport, this will be the final post for this trip.
Overall, it was an amazing getaway.
**A few random fun things to remember:**
- Chipmunks are everywhere up here—and ridiculously cute.
- The “Knowledge Table” (old man table) at The Barn still makes me smile.
- I’d plan this trip differently next time: two days here first, then Niagara (with an extra U.S. day), and Toronto with one more day added on.
- Wednesday walked 5.17 miles
- Thursday walked 3.24 miles
- Friday walked 4.6 miles
**Jack’s Favorite Thing of the Day:**
Jack loved Stony Brook—the slow water running over the rocks and all the subtle details of the place. He also really enjoyed dancing at Nashville’s.
**My Favorite Thing of the Day:**
The freedom of having no plan—just going with the flow. Stony Brook was absolutely stunning, though. It felt like the perfect ending to a peaceful trip.
No comments:
Post a Comment