Lunch at Letchworth State Park, New York State, USA

The Middle Falls at the Letchworth State Park, NY, USA

On the third day of our Finger Lakes tour, we checked out from Ramada Inn at Painted Post at around 8:30a.m. after a nice free hot breakfast at the hotel. ( A decent place to stay)

This was the first time when all three of our cars formed a caravan and drove after one another.  It was not a long drive at all before we got to the Letchworth State Park.

The scenery at the park was breathtaking!

 We were, in fact, awed by the generosity of some of the wealthy Americans.

Glen Iris Inn - The former residence of William Letchworth

 This was the second property we visited during our tour, bequeathed to the government for the enjoyment of the American people.

Front Porch - Glen Iris Inn

The view from the front porch of the Letchworth house

Purchased in 1859,  this 1000 acre property was donated to the State of New York in 1906 by William Letchworth, an industrialist and conservationist.

Sitting on the front porch of Mr. Letchworth's former house, we admired and took in the magnificent scenery of the falls and its surrounding pristine woodland. 







Determined to preserve and protect the beautiful and fragile nature of the area, Letchworth made arrangement to deter  future commercial business on this property.







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The Vale of the Three Falls, the Middle Falls

Known as the " Grand Canyon of the East",
there are high cliffs, three major falls, namely, Upper Falls, Middle Falls and Lower Falls, plus numerous smaller falls in the park.

The Seneca people  believed that the great beauty of the Middle Falls inspired the sun to pause at midday to view the wonder of the falls.

Stone walled trail at the Letchworh State Park

There were much to do in the park!
It would be a great place for family and kids to camp at the site, hike the different trails, go rafting and fishing etc.
I wish we knew about this beautiful park when our children were young. It is only a few hours drive from Toronto. We could have gotten our kids here for a few weekend and enjoy all the park has to offer.

It would be great fun to come with our grand kids!

Visitor Centre at the Park

Due to time constraints, we only had two hours in the park, therefore we did not have much time to hike and explore the different trails.

Hiking in the park is a great exercise for boomers!

We did walk from the Middle Falls, along one of the stone walled trails up to Inspiration Point where we could have a good view at two of the three major falls.

Glen Iris Inn Dining Area

After hiking for a couple of hours, we needed to recharge ourselves with food and rest.

Entrance to the restaurant at the Glen Iris Inn

 We had reservations at the Glen Iris Inn Restaurant, a comfortable and an elegant place inside the park for lunch.

Visitors to the park can dine on the front porch

Should visitors prefer dining outside surrounded by this lush green natural setting, they could order food and enjoy it outdoor at the tables and chairs set up on this century old porch!

Well manicured ground at the Glen Iris Inn

The staff at the park and around the Glen Iris Inn have done a good job in maintaining the grounds and keeping the gardens beautiful!

 

Dining Room - Glen Iris Inn

 The restaurant was elegant and spacious, decorated with pictures and paintings depicting the astonishing beautiful scenery of the Letchworth  State Park.

It also served delicious food at a very reasonable price!

Here come the trouble makers - The Gang of Nine!

What better way to end our visit to the Finger Lakes region than enjoying a great meal in a nice eatery with friends and sharing what we have seen in the park?











It was a memorable trip with our friends and the fond memories will stay with us for a long time!

A lot of planning on my husband's part, but it was worth it when we saw the brilliant smiles on our groups' faces! 





R.T.
Letchworth State Park
New York State
USA