driver services and custom tours can be
arranged, some directly from the airport,
to create a worry-free experience.
ENJOYING THE PLEASURES OF
CORNING — AMERICA’S MOST
RELAXING SMALL TOWN.
It’s easy to spend a day marveling at the
work of centuries of glass-making at
The Corning Museum of Glass. Guests
can view demonstrations of present-day
glass-making, and are encouraged to step
into the studio behind the museum to
have the opportunity of making a piece of
glassware themselves. It is a good idea to
make a reservation. Be sure also to visit
the newly opened Contemporary Art and
Design Wing.
From the museum, it’s a scenic and
leisurely walk — or shuttle — to the
Historic Market Street area in the Gaffer
District of quaint downtown Corning.
‘Gaffer’ means glassblower, so this is a
fitting name for this area where glass-
making has been part of the community
for some time. This district has over 100
studios, restaurants and stores, a great
deal of historic architecture, and many
events and festivals taking place.
The Rockwell Museum is also in the
neighborhood at 111 Cedar Street, in the
gorgeously restored 19th century Old City
Hall. The museum welcomes sightseers
to “experience art about America —
the people, land, and ideas that shape
America through the eyes of American
artists.” The collection includes a mix
of contemporary and traditional Native
American art. A helpful Visitors’ Center
is around the corner from Centerway
Square where locals and tourists gather
for a diverse calendar of live music and
entertainment, in the middle of Market
Street by the big clock tower.
EXPLORE WATKINS GLEN
STATE PARK
many waterfalls. Watkins Glen State Park
has a gorge trail with nineteen waterfalls
dotted throughout the park. Approachable
from the Watkins Glen Marina at the
s outhern tip of Seneca Lake — where an
assortment of boat tours are also available
— the park’s entrance is built around a
waterfall as it enters Glen Creek.
There is an easy climb that leads to
many areas great for hiking, to cliffs, to
cavernous nooks and to a wide variety of
waterways. Jacob’s Ladder is a 180-step
pathway that gives you a chance to climb
quickly. The park has many camping
sites, picnic tables and pavilions, food,
playground, a gift shop, pool, dump
stations, showers, recreation programs,
tent and trailer sites, fishing, hiking,
hunting and cross-country skiing. The Park
is very popular among photographers.
Wagner Vineyards
Farm Sanctuary
GET TO KNOW THE FARM
SANCTUARY
Home to over 500 rescue animals, the
Farm Sanctuary is a 175-acre refuge
located next to Sugar Hill State Forest,
west of Watkins Glen. The sanctuary
started with the rescue of Hilda, a cow
who was sadly discarded on top of a
‘death pile’ at a meat farm facility in 1986.
Founder Gene Bauer welcomes visitors
with hands-on guided tours, education,
and special events throughout most
of the year. The largely volunteer and
donation-based haven for abused animals
offers visitors a chance to hear stories of
each animal and their recovery process.
Watkins Glen State Park
If you’ve ever wanted to cozy up to a
cow, rub a piglet’s belly, watch goats
frolic freely, or are curious to hear a
sheep named John Stewart say baaaa,
a visit here is necessary. Four Farm
Sanctuaries, including this one, are
supported in the state, with a fifth set to
open in 2018 in New Jersey — thanks to
talk-show host, John Stewart.
The Finger Lakes area is known for its
GETTING THERE
DULLES INTERNATIONAL has daily flights into Syracuse or Rocheter on United Airlines.
REAGAN NATIONAL has flights into Syracuse or Rochester on American Airlines.
AUTUMN 2017 23 FLYWASHINGTON.COM