Publisher’s Note: Congratulations to Susan Henninger for her award winning article from Parenting Media Association for Feature Travel. For more articles by Susan Henninger CLICK HERE
Nothing beats a spring or summer road trip! Sunny days are perfect to head west toward Buffalo and check out two of these great park discoveries.
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
Established in 1958 through the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (which protects migratory species), the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (INWR) has the reputation of being one of the best kept secrets of western New York. Located midway between Rochester and Buffalo, this 11,000 acre park, called “Alabama Swamp” by locals, is worth a visit by anyone who loves spending quality time off the beaten path.
Refuge Manager Tom Roster has twenty five years of experience in Fish and Wildlife Refuges, eleven of which he’s spent at INWR. Tom explains that there are 560 National Wildlife Refuges in the United States amounting to 100 million acres of protected land!
The western New York park has two primary purposes. “The main reason we’re here is to benefit the wildlife,” Tom explains. With its varied native habitats that include forested wetlands, grasslands, brushland, emergent marshes, and transitional area, the park is an ideal sanctuary for about 260 species of birds. Bald eagles, sandhill cranes, great blue herons, and egrets are some of the more unusual birds that you might run across during your visit.
The secondary purpose of INWR is to encourage public use for recreational activities, environmental education, and photography. The park is supported in this by a nonprofit organization, Friends of Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, Inc. These dedicated volunteers fundraise, sponsor nature-related events, and maintain the trails, along with many other essential tasks. “They’re our biggest asset because many of them are part of the local community,” Tom says. He adds that the Friends and other refuge volunteers log about six to seven thousand hours of work a year, in addition to supporting and advocating for INWR beyond its physical boundaries.
What to Do There
Your first stop should be the recently remodeled Visitor Center where you can browse through the exhibits, look at the Great Lakes Fish Tank, and get a general overview of the habitats and wildlife in the park. You can also pick up a trail map and checklist of things you might see, and borrow a pair of binoculars if you forgot to bring your own.
There are four main trails on the refuge. Feeder Road and Onondaga are basic in and out walking trails. According to Tom, Kanyoo is the most popular refuge trail for younger children and school groups because it has two loops of varying distance and interpretive signage. Swallow Hollow is his favorite hike because it meanders through several habitats and has an elevated boardwalk through the marsh, offering plenty of opportunities to see a diversity of wildlife. If you’re quiet and observant you’ll probably encounter ducks, geese, basking turtles, snakes, turkey vultures, and rabbits. If you’re lucky you may even spot a deer or a fox, he says. Life on the refuge tends to be quieter in the summer, but July and August are ideal months to see a lot of eagle activity around the nests where the immature eagles flex their wings as they learn to fly.
Long-term Benefits
A day trip to INWR is a great way for families to get out of the city and reconnect with the land around them. “We want to ensure that people now, and in future generations, have the opportunity to be exposed to nature and to enjoy it,” Tom asserts. He notes that encouraging young people to be land stewards and conservationists is key to achieving this goal. Spending time outdoors fosters an appreciation of plants and wildlife that translates into being more conscious of choices you make in your everyday life, he explains. Examples of this might be recycling rather than throwing everything in the trash, or not using pesticides that impact pollination. Another is coming to view the landscape around you differently. Some might look at the brush on the refuge and find it ugly but it provides an essential habitat for many creatures. “Not everything is a perfect green lawn,” Tom declares. Last but not least? “You may even decide to work for us!” he says.
Special Programs
INWR has regularly scheduled bird walks, owl prowls, and photography programs, all of which are designed to help people of all ages become familiar with native plants and species.
Other programs are the Youth Fishing Derby (all ages) held each June, the Young Waterfowler’s Program, and the Youth Turkey Hunt (ages 12-15). Additionally there’s an annual “Spring into Nature” celebration featuring children’s activities to “welcome spring back to the swamps.”
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
1101 Casey Road, Basom, NY
(585) 948-5445
www.fws.gov/refuge/Iroquois/
• Trails are open daily from dawn to dusk. The Visitor Center is open Monday-Friday from 7:30 am to 4pm
• Admission is free
Rock City Park
Unusual rock formations drew me to this park, located about an hour south of Buffalo. What I wasn’t prepared for was the rich vein of history that weaves through it. Dale Smith who, along with his wife Cindy, has owned Rock City for the past fourteen years, was quick to fill me in with the details. The park first became popular as a vacation destination in the 1890’s. Dale explains that there was an easily-accessible electric trolley system that ran the nearly hundred mile radius between New York and Pennsylvania, transporting guests to Olean’s glamorous Bon Air Hotel. The hotel sported a lecture hall, a shooting gallery, and a dance pavilion. Two of its more notable patrons included the last heavyweight champion of bare-knuckle boxing, John L. Sullivan, and John Phillip Sousa along with his band. With the arrival of the automobile and readily-accessible entertainment like movies, park attendance dropped until the 1950’s, when Rock City experienced a revival as a tourist attraction.
Having spent the majority of their working lives running the family hardware business, Cindy and Dale purchased Rock City when they retired as a way to relax and enjoy nature. “We meet interesting people every day,” Dale declares. “We get tourists from places like Connecticut, Tennessee, and Minnesota, and even Switzerland.” There’s plenty of local interest in Rock City as well, between school field trips and people who used to live in the area bringing their friends and family members back to see the unusual formations.
What to Do There
According to Dale, Rock City is the largest outcropping of a quartz conglomerate (a sedimentary rock with quartz pebbles in it) in the United States. “Some formations are as big as a house,” he says. “It’s a spectacular sight; kids love it!”
Stop at the main building and pick up a trail guide when you arrive. This is also a good time to check out the continuously-playing movie that features both a brief history of the park and a virtual tour of some of its highlights. The hike around the park is about a mile and not too strenuous, though you should wear comfortable walking shoes. Once you venture onto the outdoor trail, some of the formations you’ll see include the “Fat Man Squeeze” where you have to push yourself through two giant boulders, the “Dining Hall Pass” which is an open-ended cave, and “Map of New York” a rock formation that Dale says looks just like New York State. His favorite stop on the path is “Three Sisters.” “It’s the most eye-catching,” he says. “It’s a giant formation that’s very picturesque; a good place for family photos.”
Towering rocks may not be the only thing you see at Rock City. There are plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing as well. Chipmunks and native birds abound and many visitors have spotted rabbits and porcupines. If you’re more into plants, Dale says there are nice patches of mountain laurel to enjoy, along with sassafras trees. His grandson even makes walking sticks out of the sassafras limbs and sells in the gift shop. The shop also has semi-precious stones and fossils, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and various other souvenirs. There is a food vendor or you can bring a picnic lunch to enjoy after the hike. Leashed pets are welcome. The park closes in inclement weather, so call ahead if you have any doubts.
Special Events
Rock City Park hosts two events each year. Each spring there’s an Arts and Crafts Show. In October, they hold a Gem and Mineral Show which Dale says is especially popular with children. Kids are intrigued by the colors and shapes of the many rocks, minerals, and gems, but there is one activity that invariably thrills them the most. You can purchase a geode from a vendor who then uses a special tool to crack it open right in front of you. There’s something unique and surprising inside every one and Dale notes that the novelty never seems to wear off!
Rock City Park
505 Route 16, Olean, NY
(866) 404-7625
www.rockcitypark.com/
• Open May 1-October 31, 9am to 6pm daily
• Admission is $5/person, $3/children 6-12, five and under free
Sue Henninger is a freelance writer who enjoys writing about the unique people, places, and events that can be found in the Finger Lakes Region and beyond. Contact her at SueHenninger.com & via email at su*@**********er.com
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