One of my fondest childhood memories is a visit to a strawberry field in Maryland with my friend Ann. We rolled in on a Scooby Doo bus, tasked with filling buckets and pulling weeds. Little did they know that those weeds had nothing to fear from me, as I instead proceeded to test how many…
Pouring rain killed our plans to return to the Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course for another go at the ziplines. A few diehards were going the course anyway, but the combination of cold and wet rain dampened our enthusiasm. (Sorry, couldn’t resist the pun!) Instead, we headed to the indoor Fun Spot, in the nearby Lake…
It’s been years since my last road race, and I had no intention of starting up again with the Freihofer’s 32nd Run for Women 5K. I gave up running a long time ago, thinking that my knees have been good to me so far, and wanting to keep it that way. My fourteen-year-old daughter has…
Rocks and youthful energy make for an explosive mix, and the yellow shirt crew at Herkimer Diamond Mines goes all out to make the group programs a fun and educational experience for children. There are several outings scheduled throughout the year that are tailored to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, or homeschoolers. With two young friends…
The June schedule for Moreau Lake State Park, located off exit 17S of the Adirondack Northway, provided my son and I with a fabulous opportunity. We arrived at the lodge after paying the park entry fee and $3 for both of us to hike for a 10 am departure for the Red Oak Ridge Trail…
Little kids love to collect rocks, even if it’s just a piece of gravel. Even older kids get a kick out of working the gemstone mining station found at Howe Caverns, High Falls Gorge,?and other rockhounding sites. Why not capitalize on that intrinsic curiosity of nature to introduce children to geology while scoring some nifty…
Someone had scribbled “Bridge is out!” on the entrance kiosk map, but we were curious. The Natural Areas of Albany County guide promised: A brand new nature preserve…170 acres of protected wetland…two trails, one 1.5 miles round trip and the other 3 miles round trip…Solid wooden steps lead up the few steep slopes, with rope…
Observing a moment of silence on the Hudson River, Rensselaer County Girl Scouts took the time to appreciate the beauty around them: serene, sparkling waters, the warmth of the sun, and the sound of gentle waves lapping the sailboat. They were fortunate to have glorious weather and clear waters, on a river that has been…
My hometown, Albany, NY, has a Caribbean twin in the Bahamas, but they sure don’t look alike. Actually, that’s the point. Town twinning “is a concept whereby towns or cities in geographically and politically distinct areas are paired, with the goal of fostering human contact and cultural links.” Looking at the list of Albany’s Twin…
As many of you know, my husband and I like to take trips to places, on our vacations or days off, just to enjoy someplace new and being together. Yesterday (April 21, 2010) was one of those days. We went off to NYC again, and it was a beautiful day outside, a bit of chill…