Tour CNY
Why spend thousands on foreign tours when you can spend a day or more touring our own region?
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
CNY offers numerous options for guided tours that engage, entertain and enlighten. However you want to explore the area — land or water— CNY tour leaders have an option for you.
• Erie Canal Cruises in Herkimer as its name denotes, cruises the Erie Canal. Using a United States Coast Guard Certified vessel, the cruise has received more than 1,000 five-star reviews on TripAdvisor.
• Syracuse Pedal Tours in Syracuse requires six to 13 passengers and a sense of adventure to power a bike around the city. Book for a pub crawl, architecture tour, progressive dinner or dream up your own itinerary of what you want to see and do in the Salt City. The pedal-powered vehicle includes a bench for resting or for a member of the party who can’t pedal.
• The Preserve at Animal Adventure in Harpursville allows visitors to drive their own vehicles on a three-mile trail through 100 acres of themed areas: Aussie Eurasia, The Americas, Africa and Giants of Africa. Bring along the grandkids for an up-close encounter and memorable experience.
www.theanimaladventurepreserve.com
• Howe Caverns in Howes Cave brings out the spelunker in any adventuresome visitor. Explore caves via guided tours, 156 feet below the surface, including 1.25-mile walk with a 0.25-mile boat ride. The cave tour includes 139 stairs. Wear a jacket, as it’s typically around 55 degrees F., even on hot summer days. Check the website for additional tours, including spelunking, private tours and lantern-lit tours.
• Adirondack Scenic Rail Bikes offers railbike rides on decommissioned railroad tracks in Old Forge at Thendara Station and Tupper Lake. The rides last about two hours and each railbike accommodates four. Anyone capable of pedaling a regular bicycle is up for the challenge.
https://adirondackscenicrailbikes.com
• Adirondack Railroad in Utica, offers a variety of leisure trips including beer and wine rides and scenic rides. Check the website for holiday themed events as well.
• Glimmerglass Queen in Cooperstown operates from the Lake Front Hotel on Ostego Lake. The guided tour includes tidbits on local history and views of Otesaga Hotel, Clarke Tower and other historic sites.
www.cooperstownlakefronthotel.com/boat-tours
• Cooperstown Trolley, also in Cooperstown, to area attractions, like the National Baseball Hall of Fame, a block away from the Lake Front Hotel and Glimmerglass Queen.
www.cooperstownny.org/trolley-system
• Erie Canal Bike Tours in Syracuse and other locations books national bike tours, but also local trips. Cyclists can select from the Full Erie cycling the entire 363 miles from Buffalo to Albany in 12 days or the Half-Tour of either Buffalo to Syracuse or Syracuse to Albany, all while supported by a tour guide and crew.