Photo Vacation Routes to New York?

[ChristopherCoy]

I started thinking about planning a trip to the Eastman house, and how I can do it cheaply. My thought is to find the cheapest flight to the region, rent a car and drive the rest of the way to visit small towns etc. Ideally it would be about a 6 hour drive from wherever we land to Rochester, which would give us a full day of driving and stopping for photo ops.

I've never been to the NE portion of the US, so I have no idea what it's like in that region. Does anyone have suggestions for the best time of year to visit, and perhaps any nice routes from airports in that part of the country?

Just looking at a google map, I envision something like landing in Columbus, Cleveland, or Pittsburgh, and driving north.

 

[cowanw]

You could land at Buffalo and drive to the Niagara Scenic Parkway, then #18, then the Lake Ontario State Parkway, then Lake Ave.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

You could land at Buffalo and drive to the Niagara Scenic Parkway, then #18, then the Lake Ontario State Parkway, then Lake Ave.

Thanks! I'll check out flights to buffalo and see how they compare.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I'd check if it is open. This pretty time being the spring. Weather' nice - not too hot or cold. Fall is another time with the autumn leaves. Plus, more things might be open then after the virus.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

I'd check if it is open. This pretty time being the spring. Weather' nice - not too hot or cold. Fall is another time with the autumn leaves. Plus, more things might be open then after the virus.

Planning for the future. At least fall, or next spring.

 

[cowanw]

I'd check if it is open. This pretty time being the spring. Weather' nice - not too hot or cold. Fall is another time with the autumn leaves. Plus, more things might be open then after the virus.

I hadn't even considered that anybody would drive about for anything but the essentials, now. Fortunately the Eastman House is closed.

 

[Lee Rust]

Late September would be a nice time to tour through Western NY and the Finger Lakes region while on the way to Rochester. Photo ops include Niagara Falls, lakeside scenery and wineries, Letchworth State Park, Genesee Country Village and many historic towns. You could fly to Cleveland or Pittsburgh, but Buffalo would probably be the best choice.

By then the Eastman Museum might even be open for visitors. They were just starting a major construction project to build a new visitor entrance pavilion when the COVID struck and everything shut down. Completion date was originally set for early June but now September might be more likely. Today, 5/15, is the first day that NY state is allowing most construction projects to resume, so stay tuned. Online info at eastman.org.

 

[bdial]

For someone from Houston, the weather will probably be too cold between October and May.

 

[ChristopherCoy]

For someone from Houston, the weather will probably be too cold between October and May.

LOL. We do the mountains of Colorado for Christmas every year. We go hiking in the snow, and snowmobiling in Winter Park.

 

[Inayat Noor]

East Aurora New York has lots of Arts & Crafts history and studios.

 

[Sirius Glass]

You could land at Buffalo and drive to the Niagara Scenic Parkway, then #18, then the Lake Ontario State Parkway, then Lake Ave.

+1 and the George Eastman house.

 

[MattKing]

I don't know that I would want to fly anywhere any time in the forseeable future.
Particularly to a destination like New York (or any other place with a high COVID 19 incidence).
Two members of my (very extended) family in New York have died from COVID 19. They were distantly related, through marriage, and were both quite old, and I never met them, but it still brings things home....

 

[Rick A]

There are loads of waterfalls and gorgeous state parks within one or two hours of Rochester, not the least of which is Letchworth State Park. You'll be on the northern end of the Finger Lakes Region, Google the area, so many decisions. My home in northern Pa is about two and a half hours from Rochester, I visit family there on occasion. Oh yeah, bring comfortable walking/hiking shoes. Let me know when you're going to be there, maybe I can figure a way to meet up somewhere in the middle, I'm bouncing between Emporium and our new house in the southern part of Pa.

 

[MarkS]

Might as well go straight to Rochester and take a day trip or two from there. I lived there from 1955-2010... lots to see there and nearby. As people mention, Niagara Falls, the Finger Lakes, etc. May 1- Oct. 15 should be your target dates, covid-19 willing. The GEM is a marvelous place, reserve a whole day (and a classic movie at night). And have fun in my home town!

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

If you're flying in, then Buffalo or directly into Rochester would be your two best bets. You could also fly into Albany or Syracuse. Syracuse is a bit of a pit, but you're just using it as a transit point, not a destination. That whole western half of NY is beautiful at any time of year, but once you're in your car, expect things to take longer between A and B than Google Maps would suggest because the roads are narrow, twisty, and they go up and down a lot. And unless you're on the major throughways, they go through little towns with red lights and cross traffic. And in the summer time, slow-moving farm equipment. As mentioned, there's the finger lakes and the associated towns - Geneva, Auburn, Skaneateles, Ithaca. Watkins Glen with the famous race track is there if you're into cars and car racing, and Hammondsport is the epicenter of the New York wine region (the oldest bonded winery in NY is located just outside, dating back to the 1850s).

 

[mgb74]

First, I'm not sure that being within 6 hours of Rochester allows a full day of driving AND scenic stops.

But I'd fly into Boston, Buffalo, Toronto, Montreal, or Portland ME and do a circle route that includes Montreal, the southern Maine coast, and Vermont. Or go further and include Quebec.

(If the border isn't open by then, I wouldn't get on a plane.)

 

[jvo]

There are loads of waterfalls and gorgeous state parks within one or two hours of Rochester, not the least of which is Letchworth State Park. .... .

and the the Grand Canyon of the East!

 

[winger]

I don't know that I would want to fly anywhere any time in the forseeable future.
Particularly to a destination like New York (or any other place with a high COVID 19 incidence).
Two members of my (very extended) family in New York have died from COVID 19. They were distantly related, through marriage, and were both quite old, and I never met them, but it still brings things home....

I'm sorry for your loss.
New York CITY is a loooong way from Rochester. New York State outside NYC has not had a very high incidence of the virus, though they are under the same rules from Albany.

I would suggest the fall for the foliage because the Finger Lakes area will be different from TX and CO. Syracuse to Rochester is only about an hour and a half. I'd suggest flying into Albany and driving route 5 west across the state. The little towns like Gloversville, Dolgeville, Little Falls, Mohawk, and such are very photogenic. There are plenty of cool towns along the middle of the state. I grew up in Little Falls, btw.