This year my birthday happened to fall on a Saturday. So to celebrate L,  his parents, and I took a very long day trip.

We headed to Watkins Glen State Park to hike the Gorge Trail.

Being a very warm Saturday, the trail was crowded but as always worth it. We have had a very dry summer so far, and light winter, so the falls were not as full as normal, but still it is a beautiful place.

After our morning hike, we drove up to Ithaca to the farmer’s market for a late lunch. Mom-in-law was happy to find more than 6 stalls selling organic produce and was surprised to find a pre-made completely organic lunch of samosas and salad.

We picked up a few groceries, then roamed to see what options were available for lunch. At the table was a variety of food from a Sri Lankan curry to Momos all with local organic strawberries for dessert.

With full stomachs we got back in the car and headed to Cornell university. There we stopped at the botanical gardens welcome center and explored the gardens. After a nice walk through we decided we were ready for dessert. We climbed up the hill from the garden parking lot and over to Cornell’s dairy bar. We discovered all of this on our camping trip in Ithaca a few years ago.

The ice cream was just as good as ever, creamy, and just enough flavor and sugar. After enjoying our afternoon treat, we got back in the car and drove the Corning Plantations Arboretum drive passing ponds, orchards, and the student farm. Taking a break to look out over the plantations, we decided to take a short walk to a suspension bridge over looking some of the falls on campus. When we did we discovered even in the low water many people were out swimming in the heat.

Getting back in the car we headed down to r a local natural and organic food store to get Mom in laws dinner and a few groceries for their trip ahead. We then went to get Chinese food for the rest of us to-go.

With our to-go meals in hand we drove to Buttermilk falls on the outskirts of town. We found a picnic bench to sit and enjoy our dinner at while watching the falls. With how dry the year has been there was little to  water flowing over the rock but it was still a pleasant view.

A long last outing of our touring behind us, we drove back toward home. It was great day and I was happy to be able to spend it with family.