Summer nights at Art Park

Last time I mentioned one of the walks through Art Park.  Then we had a spate of overcast weather and I did not get to take good pictures of the gorge trail.  Since then Art Park has released their 2013 season schedule.  This is a special season celebrating their 40 year anniversary.  Rather than list all the concerts and events of this special year I just borrowed the link to the article written by Josh Maloni for Niagara Frontier Publications ( http://www.wnypapers.com/artpark-2013-schedule ) in hopes you will check it out.  This weekend we have the promise of "picture taking" weather and I promise to get out to a few of our little known gems to tell you about.  These pictures are of the Tuesday Night concerts from previous years.

A Walk on the wild side at Art Park

Most everyone knows about the concerts and plays at Art Park,

 but how many know about the nature trails?  There is one along the gorge that opens for the season with a  nature guide this Saturday, you can find out more about times and sign up by calling 716-282-5154.  There are other trails at the park though, and Madison and I took part of the Oak Hill  hike today to get some pictures for you (though she had little patience with me when I wanted to stop for one in focus!) 

interesting tree base, a fairy doorway maybe?

There are some interesting tree and rock formations along the trail and you can see the rock foundation of the old 1834 mansion that was named Oak Hill.

Madison on the trail to the mansion

This mansion, commissioned by Seymour Scovell for his family, was also known in later years as the Starkweather Mansion after Scovell's three Starkweather) granddaughters.  These three women were considered "strange" by the locals and apparently also by one of their visitors, the play-write Joseph O Kesselring.  In April of 1974, The Buffalo Evening News identified the women as the inspiration for Kesselring's play "Arsenic and Old Lace". The family, however, will be quick to inform you there were no bodies buried in their basement!

The trail also passes the old railroad bed, an Indian Burial Mound and is a favorite of bird watchers.  We enjoy our hikes here and know you will as well.

Extend you day into night at Niagara Falls State Park

The Falls are lit up every night

weekends there are fireworks over Niagara Falls

Just because it is getting dark, you needn't think Niagara Falls State Park is closing for the day.  Most evenings the falls are lit by a rotating spectrum of colors. However, on special nights they remain all one color, such as blue for autism awareness, pink for breast cancer awareness, and green for Untyes - Donate Life awareness.  As beautiful and breathtaking as the rushing water is by day, seeing it colorful at night is the icing on the cake!  Summer weekends are extra special when the display is capped with fireworks.  If you arrive early you can claim a spot out on the observation tower where the explosions appear to be almost straight up over the center of the gorge.  If you are close enough to the railing of the observation tower or any of the overlooks below, you can also see the colors reflected in the swirling waters below.  Almost like having the fourth of July celebration every Sunday night. In Lewiston we can hear the fireworks as they echo down the gorge!  Something to work into your plans if your stay includes a Friday or Sunday evening.

Yet another hidden treasure

Hidden on a side street in Lockport, just off the Erie Canal, is the First Presbyterian Church with the most marvelous Tiffany stained glass windows.  I had the privilege of being able to tour the building and see the windows from the inside on a bright sunny day.  All I can say is "WOW."  I grew up going to a church with stained glass windows and spent many a dull sermon wondering at the time it took to make those windows and enjoying the beautiful colors.  Not even memory can make them look as special as these do.  And you can tour this church yourself!  There are 10 upper and lower windows, two side by side and the Chancel window, the only one done in conventional stained glass but one commissioned with scenes of Lockport in it.

Lower 7 window "Suffer the little children to come unto me"

Chancel Window

 Be sure to stop in when you go see the locks and the caves and the boats when you visit Lockport.

A second oft' missed site in Western New York

looking south towards the Whirlpool Bridge 

Often times in your hurry to get to see Niagara Falls State Park and the Falls themselves you drive past the parks along the Niagara River.  One of those parks is Whirlpool State Park. There is a small museum here open during the late spring and summer seasons that explains the history of this phenomenon, as well as some pretty gardens. Take a short walk to the edge of the gorge for a view of the whirlpool.  On the Canadian side there is a Spanish cable car that goes over the whirlpool itself, but they do not have our land view.

The whirlpool changes direction during the year with the change of water volume in the Niagara River.  If you are adventurous you can walk down to the rapids, in fact you can usually see people fishing from the rocks down there.  Bring your hiking shoes and plan on hiking in the gorge, you won't be sorry.

looking into the south end of the whirlpool itself

Oft' missed places to go in WNY

This is the Crows Nest at Niagara Falls.  Everyone takes and posts pictures of the American Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and the Hurricane deck at the Cave of the Winds, no one seems to post pictures of the Crows Nest.  You can access the path to this walk from the observation tower, same elevator you would use to take the Maid of the Mist boat ride.  Here you can walk right up to the American Falls under Prospect Point, get lost in the mist and feel the roar.  A great place to cool off in the summer.