The temperatures were in the 30s this morning, so we decided that it was time for some indoor activity, so we headed to the Corning Museum of Glass, a little over an hour away. We visited the museum many years ago and weren't sure if we wanted to go back or someplace new. However, every place we were interested in was closed on Monday, so Corning it was.
And I'm so glad that we went because the place is spectacular. As the name suggests, everything in the museum pertains to glass. There were glass art exhibits, history of glass exhibits, and glass technology exhibits, as well as glass-making demos. We had hoped to make our own glass pieces, but the workshops were filled for the day.
After a few hours there, we headed back to Ithaca with a stop at Robert Treman State Park along the way, where we hoped to take an easy hike. Information on the trails in the park was sketchy, but we started out along another gorge trail with a plan to take the rim trail back as we had done at other parks. The plan worked out, except it was not the easy hike we had hoped for. I climbed many more steep steps from one trail to the other than I had planned. I describe this as a hike that is good for me because it forces me out of my comfort zone. I probably wouldn't have gone if I had known about all of the steps before I started. But once I was in the middle of it, I had no choice but to move forward, resulting in good exercise and views I wouldn't have gotten otherwise.
Back in Ithaca, we did a little more sightseeing while driving around Cornell University and the city center. An interesting drive during which we probably dodged more than 100 students. I know that the students have the right away, but it would be nice if they put their phones down every once in a while and look up while walking, she says like the old person she is.
We picked up dinner from a local Italian place to eat back at our cabin in the woods. Now everyone has spread to their respective corners of the house for some downtime after being together all day. Have I mentioned that we are a family of introverts who need our alone time?
A few pictures from the day.
Corning Museum:
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| Wally examining an exhibit in the stained glass section. |
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| The history of wine bottles with bottles dating back to the 1600s. |
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| These were casserole dishes showing how the glass transparency changed at different tempering temperatures. This exhibit explained the discovery of glass ceramics. |
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| A piece from the current art gallery. |
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| A family selfie taken in front of a thermal camera showing the effectiveness of different glass coatings and heat transmission. |
Robert Treman State Park:
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| It's hard to get perspective in these pictures. Lucifer Falls, shown here, has a 115' drop. |
That hiking area sure was pretty! But the stairs would have done me in for sure! I would have enjoyed the Corning museum. Places like that fascinate me.
ReplyDeletebetty
My calves are sore today from the stairs, but not too bad. I'm surprised that it wasn't worse. The Corning Museum was interesting and very well done. You can tell that they are used to handling large crowds, but I'm glad we we're there when there wasn't a big crowd anyway.
DeleteMy memory is hazy but I think we went to the glass museum about 10-15 years ago, and, yeah, spectacular place. I remember downtown Corning was a nice downtown area at the time. There are just so many cool places to see in that area. I've never been to Watkins or Tremain, but did get to similar Fillmore Glen in Moravia south of Owasco Lake, long ago. Geneva Seneca Falls, and Skaneateles are cool little towns, as is Canandaigua, but all farther away from where you're at. Just a fantastic place if you have the time and aren't rushed. My wife's cousin has a speed boat and he gave my girls a fantastic tubing ride with their cousins on Seneca Lake awhile back. They always remember what fun that was (probably not such a good thing for us "old folks in October" though). Anyhoo, great photos and glad you all are having a good time there.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't go much further than 1 1/2 hours from our home base on this trip. If we go back, we will pick another home base and venture out from there to some of the places you talked about. I saw one sail boat out on both lakes the days we were there. I think boating season is probably winding down - at least the tubing part of it. :)
DeleteI know what you mean about hiking trails that are more strenuous than you bargained for! This one has even prettier scenery--I find that's usually the payoff, getting to see more magnificent sights than you otherwise might have. Good for you for going and surviving.
ReplyDeleteThe Corning museum looks like it was fascinating. Love the bunny artwork.
I was pretty pleased that I held my own while hiking on this trip with the long-legged Wally and Theo and Ward, who is in excellent shape.
DeleteThe art exhibit was full of amazing things - too many for me to take pictures of and too many for me to post, but seeing them was quite a treat.
Brr! But, that's cold! Love that stained glass window and I was thinking that some of those old wine bottles would make some interesting molds for candles! Well done climbing all those steps! I'd have opted to stay on the lower hiking trail! :D Sounds like you are having a wonderful vacation, June. Thank you for sharing the photos with us.
ReplyDeleteThey would be interesting candle molds. However, I think you'd have a hard time convincing the museum director of that. :)
DeleteWow, the park and pathways beside the water are very beautiful. I think that glass museum would be so fun to visit.
ReplyDeleteThe area is know for its lakes which are beautiful, but I liked all of the gorges and streams better.
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