Letchworth State Park

     Letchworth State Park in Upstate New York is known by many names: the Grand Canyon of the East, America's #1 State Park, and more. But in my heart, I will always remember it as the perfect park for a quintessential American hiking vacation. Easily accessible to all of the Northeast and full of beautiful vistas, there is no storage of activities to do. There are thundering waterfalls, fascinating historical sites, expansive overlooks, and many hiking trails that wind through the park's rich and verdant forests. And everywhere a touch of magic can be felt, palpable in the way hundreds of gypsy moths flutter about hikers' feet and timeless waterfalls cascade into the deep gorge. 

  Crown Vetch, invasive

Mary Jemison, White Woman of the Genesee

Upon leaving the park, forest fades to farmland dominated by acres of corn. However, this rather monotonous landscape is sometimes punctuated by another type of farm: wind farms with tall wind turbines.