Happy June! If you live in New York State, summer is officially upon us and the end of the school year is in sight! In honor of the freedom and flexibility that will soon be in our grasp, I have created a flexible and fun Get Outside Like Minna (GOLM)!
Minna and her family spent most of their free time outdoors. Minna and her daughters not only hiked, they maintained trails that many other people explored and enjoyed. So, this month I am encouraging you to spend more time outside and go on a longer half or full day hike!
June Get Outside Like Minna (GOLM): Hiking in New York State
Step 1: What to wear aka the Department of Environmental Conservation Fashion tips
- Dress in layers- if it is cooler wear wool or fleece layers for insulation and then an outer shell that protects against rain or wind
- Avoid cotton- go for a synthetic moisture wicking fabric.
- Waterproof sturdy shoes or boots- leave those flip flops at home!
- Wear thick socks to prevent blisters- bring extras in case they get wet!
- Sunglasses and hat
Step 2: What to pack
- Flashlight
- Compass
- Map
- Swiss Army Knife
- A lot of water- it is recommended to 1 litre of water or 33.8 oz per person for every 2 hrs of hiking
- Snacks- trail mix is great!
- A small notebook and pencil/pen to record thoughts
Step 3: Where should I go and when should I start?
- Decide how far you think you can hike round trip
- Check with the local hiking organizations for trail suggestions. The Finger Lakes Trail Conference is an amazing resource for those of you who live in the Finger Lakes region or want to visit us!
- Check the weather and find out when the sun sets. You want to be off the trail before darkness so when deciding on a trail make sure to leave yourself enough time to make it round trip before sunset.
Step 4: Get out and enjoy nature
The list of places to visit are endless. Here are just a few suggestions:
- Finger Lakes National Forest– Did you know we had a national forest in New York State? I sure didn’t! Go enjoy 30 miles of trails between Seneca and Cayuga Lake and send me pictures!
- Tanglewood Nature Center in Elmira has a children’s sensory trail.
- North Country National Scenic Trail– it connects really interesting parks throughout Central New York. The Stone Quarry Hill Art Park sounds fascinating!
- Letchworth State Park– the waterfalls are incredible!
- Ithaca– Treman, Buttermilk and Taughannock, three incredible parks, each one has something to offer!
For the families traveling with the 5 and under crowd check out:
- Saratoga Spa State Park
- Meadowbrook Nature Preserve (Note, there aren’t any bathrooms in the preserve- Eek!)
- Moreau Lake State Park
THE ADIRONDACKS
I would be remiss if I did not mention the Adirondacks. It is a combination of State Parks and Forever Wild and State Forest Preserve. If you have never been, you are missing out.
Check out The Adirondack Parks !
And don’t let strollers or mobility issues get in your way. Check out at the Adirondack Park site for information on Handicap accessible trails! There is fun for everyone!
While you are hiking, make sure to record what you see and here, just like Minna did. Join the e-mail list to get a special sneak peek of pages from Minna’s trail book. She wrote EVERYTHING down!
Make sure to share with us in the comments below your favorite place to hike! Help our community find new trails to explore!
Until next time, happy exploring and make sure to Get Outside Like Minna!
~Becky
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