If it’s autumn, it must be time to travel south of the border to experience and enjoy an enchanting escape. Or so it was. Years ago, when we called Cobourg home, our favourite mini-vacations took us just a few hours east and south across the border into upstate New York, destination — the picturesque Finger Lakes Region. Looking back through my archives this morning, I realized I was also sorting through my photographic history with frames captured first on my Nikon D7000, then my D500 and ultimately my D850. This trove of images reminded me of why these three-day getaways hold such a permanent magic for us.
The sheer joy of exploring this region begins the moment you summit a hill and see the landscape unfold. The roads crest the high ridges, offering sudden, breathtaking glimpses of the long, deep glacial lakes shimmering under blue skies, with quiet valley towns nestled peacefully below.
The rolling hillsides are quite literally “clothed” in agriculture. Rows of sprawling vineyards drape across the landscape like corduroy fabric, stretching downward toward the water’s edge, catching the autumn sun in neat, green ribbons.
Then, of course, there are the parks. The region is famous for its gorges, where you can stand in the cool, mossy shadows and feel the damp mist on your face. I’ve always preferred the smaller, quieter corners over the crowded tourist hubs. There is a beautiful contrast between the grand, roaring curtains of water slicing through ancient stone shelves and the quiet, weeping trickles of water dripping off an emerald, moss-covered ledge.
Stepping away from the shoreline, the small historic towns are a delight to wander. You can walk down a single street and find striking, stately columns on an historic courthouse side-by-side with wonderfully quirky shopfronts sporting vibrant colors and giant handmade sunflowers in the window.
And a vacation isn’t complete without indulging a bit. Anyone who knows my hubby, Cam, knows about his infamous sweet tooth—so you can imagine our (his!!!) delight when our explorations led us directly to the window of a local bakery that practically had his name written all over it! Finding “Cameron’s Bakery” felt like a special little signpost just for us.
We ended our days by the water. This quiet view of the shoreline at dusk in Skaneateles is a scene I love so much I had it printed on canvas for our home. Watching the twilight turn the water into a pink satin mirror, with a solitary bench waiting on the leaf-strewn grass, is the very definition of a favorite vacation. It is a reminder that the best trips aren’t about how far you go, but the quiet, beautiful memories you bring back home with you.
Thanks to Terri for continuing the weekly Sunday Stills prompt. You absolutely must visit her site today — her memories of their river cruise and the magnificence of her European photography are not to be missed, trust me on this one:
Sunday Stills: Favorite #Vacation Places —The Beginning of A Rhine River Adventure
’Til next time, y’all…
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