Leaf Gazing in Western New York

The children are back to school, there's a chill in the air. Autumn is nearly upon us and along with it, the once yearly spectacle of color it provides. What better way to spend a day then to gaze at the abundance of color - crimsons, mustard, deep violets - in the hills and valleys of New York State?

One of the fun things you can do to enjoy the autumn scenery is to take a train ride. In the Western New York area, there are a few of them you can board, and this way you can sit back and relax and not worry about the gas pedal, or the gas prices. The Finger Lakes corridor is a beautiful place to begin. The Finger Lakes Scenic Railway (http://www.fingerlakesscenicrailway.com) offers many exciting excursions centering on themes such as music, wine tasting, and Fall Foliage. There are even a few Halloween themed excursions at the end of October. Boarding locations vary around the area and length of the tours run anywhere from one to three hours.

The Medina Railway Museum (http://www.railroadmuseum.net) in Orleans County offers many events at the end of the year. The Winery Train in September offers a scenic trek along the Erie Canal, a tour of the Medina Railroad Museum, wine tastings at wineries, along with lunch and music on board. They offer exclusive Fall Foliage tours and Costume Parties in October. They even offer a Santa Train in December where the kids can meet Santa on board!

If you'd rather stretch your legs to enjoy the Autumn bounty, there are plenty of paths in Monroe County to follow. Mendon Ponds Park, Seneca and Durand-Eastman Parks all offer lovely views of the changing Autumn leaves. The Genesee River Gorge offers spectacular scenes (http://www.ici.rochester.ny.us/index.cfm?id=649). There are also guided tours offered along the Genesee River between October 10^th-12^th, better known as the Rochester River Romance Weekend. The Genesee Valley Greenway offers 52 miles of trails between Rochester and Livingston County.

Festivals abound in and around the Rochester area this time of year. The Naples Grape Festival takes place September 27-28. They take great pride in their grapes in Naples and grape products are offered in abundance, most especially grape pie. Naples is in the heart of the Finger Lakes allowing beautiful views of the hills as well.

A short drive from Naples is Bristol Mountain. The "Comet Express" is provided in the fall, where the ski lift is converted into a chance to see the scenery from among the highest points in the area. The Letchworth Arts and Crafts Show and Sale is a place to enjoy the trails or just take in good music and scenery.

Why not take a boat ride? Most boat operators offer tours until the end of October. The Sam Patch or Mary Jemison charter services along the Erie Canal. While The Canandaigua Lady offers special Fall Foliage tours through October on Canandaigua Lake. The Esperanza Rose, a small yet quaint boat glides over Keuka Lake where fall colors burn like fire.

Or if the traditional style for drinking in the beautiful colors is more your speed, take a drive through the Finger Lakes area. There are places to go antiquing and to visit wineries. Bed and Breakfasts abound in this region, so call ahead and book your stay now. The season is well known to be just as busy as summer.

For more information on the peak foliage updates, visit http://www.iloveny.com, or call 1800-225-5697.