Best Labor Day Picnic Sites in Central New York

Three People Tested Picnic Areas for Your Summer Finale

Nora Beane
New York State, despite the metropolitan congestion of New York City, has lots to offer vacationers in terms of open woodlands, lakes and mountainsides. You can understand why state travel promotions feature the slogan "I Love New York" there is plenty to see and do in New York and its not all in the city. If you live in or are finishing up your summer vacation in New York State, you can wish summer good bye with a wonderful family holiday picnic at one of these great sites for a Labor Day picnic in Central New York.

Delta Lake State Park. The Delta Lake State Park is located on one of the more interesting land forms you will find in the state. You will discover Delta Lake State Park uniquely located on a peninsula which extends out into Delta Reservoir about 5 miles from Rome, NY., in the Central Region of New York State. Because of its location, most of the land in the park tends to be flat but it is also well forested which gives you the feeling of being almost on an island.

At Delta Lake State Park you will find lots of available and pleasantly placed picnic sites. There is nothing fancy or high tech about Delta Lake State Park, but if you enjoy the great outdoors and want to enjoy every last moment of summer in the fresh air, Delta Lake State Park has just what you need. There is a good sized beach here for those who want to add swimming to their Labor Day picnic . But the water of Delta Lake State Park is also perfect for boating or if you like, enjoy some end of summer fishing along the water's edge.

Sitting down for lunch at the picnic tables will give you a great view of territory that is found in the foothills of New York State and also might entice you to some land based recreation after ( or before ) your picnic. There are a number of hiking and nature trails to be found here as well as a playground and trails suitable for dirt bikes. If you want your last memory of summer to be of a beautiful day spent in the great outdoors enjoying nature, try Delta Lake State Park, a great Labor Day picnic site in Central New York.

Verona Beach State Park Also located in the Central New York Region is Verona Beach State Park. There seems to be pretty universal agreement that Verona Beach State Park is well equipped to be a superior Labor Day picnic site in Central New York. In 2007 Verona Beach State Park was named as one of the top 100 campgrounds in the U. S. Guidebooks call it "a picnicker's and campers delight. But you will need to explore its features yourself of course to be thoroughly convinced.

The central feature of Verona Beach State Park is Oneida Lake but the park also includes Black Creek , extensive cattail marsh lands and swamp areas. This is a park with a great deal of diversity in the animal habitats it provides and the chances of spotting wildlife are good.

At Verona Beach State Park picnic tables are distributed in such a way as to provide picnickers with an excellent water view. Before or after your Labor Day picnic you can enjoy participating in recreational activity options that await. Verona Beach State Park contains a beach area, nature trails, hiking routes for on foot activities. There is also the option to bike, fish, use the playground or travel the bridle paths on horseback. Verona Beach State Park is a popular draw among locals for good reason. You can count on enjoying this Labor Day Picnic site in Central New York.

Gilbert Lake State Park. If you want a view of the Catskill Mountains as you settle down for your Labor Day picnic in Central New York, then head out for Gilbert Lake Sate Park in Otsego County . This is an active and well developed site. It is not the simple setting of Delta Lake or the wildlife area that one finds at Verona Beach. Gilbert Lake State Park seems to take interest directly in providing recreation activity for those come here.

A Labor Day picnic at this site in Central New York means finding a picnic table in a shaded area, checking out at least some of the 12 miles of hiking paths , stopping by the Gilbert Lake State Park Visitors Center and Museum, watching your kids on the apparatus at the playground. For those who enjoy water activities Gilbert Lake can accommodate those who want to swim, boat or fish . What is unusual about Gilbert State Park is that it offers more than just a boat ramp to get your craft in the water. It also provides boat rentals for those who want to take small craft out onto Gilbert Lake but don't own a boat themselves.

During Labor Day Weekend there is scheduled musical activity held in the park pavilions on both Saturday and Sunday evening. You may want to consider having your Labor Day picnic on one of those days in the late afternoon or early evening and then stay around for the musical offerings.

There is no way to change the eventual disappearance of summer and the onset of cooler temperatures and shorter days. But by choosing one of these Labor Day picnic sites in Central New York , you can enjoy the kind of summer finale that will leave you with great memories to carry you through the winter to come

Published by Nora Beane

I am a former high school history teacher and Director of Religious Education with a total of 27 years of active experience as teacher and administrator. I am now a semi retired freelance writer. I have two...  View profile

  • The Central New York Region has a collection of Labor Day picnic sites.
  • At Gilber Lakes State Park you have a boat rental option.
  • Delta Lake State Park is located on a peninsula
Verona Beach State Park was named in 2007 as one of the top 100 campgrounds in the U. s.

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