Location
The great lakes seaway trail is a 518 miles scenic avenue that goes around the shores of Lake Erie, the Niagra River, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River in New York and Pennsylvania. It is the first road to be selected as a National Scenic Byway. The Great lakes seaway trail contains distinct ancient sites and cultural heritage locations as well as fascinating views and scenic prospects.
It joins distinct ports of call like Presque Isle, Niagra Falls, and the Thousand Islands, the cities of Erie, Buffalo, Rochester, and Oswego, and welcoming waterfront towns and villages. Adventure the scenic route on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail and experience an adventure of a lifetime.
Things to Do in Great Lakes Seaway Trail
New York City has never disappointed in places to adventure and explore. There are a lot of things to enjoy upstate. The great lakes seaway trail is acknowledged for its distinct landscape, scenic freshwater coastline, and historical importance.
The great lakes seaway trail has a well displayed directional road sign following the shores of Great Lakes Erie and Ontario, the Seaway Trails.
The place is full of welcoming sites, with stunning history and romantic areas. It does not matter whatever you are up to, may it be driving, RV’ing, or biking, the Great Lakes Seaway Trail is one of America’s most historic highways. Each part provides a distinct recreational experience unto itself.
Some of the things to do include:
#1. Massena
Massena is the eastern end of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, and a small town on the St Lawrence River. Hundreds of ships make thousands of trips through the St. Lawrence Seaway pass between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.
They all pass through the Eisenhower Lock in Massena. This is where the boats are either raised or lowered nearly 40 feet, which is determined by the direction in which they are heading to. You can view the lock system do its activities while the area tour guide explains the activities.
From the lock, you can also get to Robert Moses State Park through a tunnel under the Eisenhower Lock. The park has several trails through fields, forests, and wetlands, some of the best fishing in the Northeast, and some stunning sceneries.
Still enjoy some great sceneries from the observation deck at the NY Power Authority’s Hawkins Point Visitors Center on the St. Lawrence River. Stay one night in Massena and experience the beautiful nightlife like never before.
#2. Alexandria Bay
Alexandria Bay is located 70 miles away from Great Lakes Seaway Trail. Begin your adventure along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, ending in Ogdensburg, NY.
It is the dwelling place for Frederic Remington Art Museum. He is very famous for his bronze sculptures, and the most celebrated 19th-century painter and commercial artist who mostly used his favorite North Country as the reference point. Proceed to the west along the signed highway system experiencing the views of the St. Lawrence River and Thousand Islands to Alexandria Bay.
Aboard a boat to explore the islands and stop at Boldt Castle, and study the Gilded Age Love Story of George and Louise Boldt. Here you will also learn how this rich New York City hotel owner wanted to design a symbol of his love.
You will hear and watch what exactly happened. Here, experience the best nightlife ever if you spend a night there.
#3. Oswego
Oswego is approximately 85 miles away. Here you will be privileged to have a taste of some of the tastiest New York State wines. This wine is at one of the many wineries in the region, such as the Thousand Islands Winery, situated on a farm that was started in 1836, you can sample the Alexandria Bay Rosé and other fine award-winning wines.
At the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton adventure many sites including 1904 houseboat LaDuchesse among 200 distinct utilitarians to luxurious boats. You could also keep going and take a wooden skiff out on the river and get some exercise.
Continue west to Oswego to the Safe Haven Museum & Educational Center by Fort Ontario. 982 adult and child refugees from Nazi terror stayed at the site from 1944-46.
#4. Rochester
It is approximately 75 miles. If your visitor lands on one of the six weekends each summer for the Sterling Renaissance Festival you will think you are in 1585 Warwick, England. This is not the case but literally, you will be in Sterling, on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail. If you enjoy maritime history, see Sodus Point Lighthouse.
Sodus Point Lighthouse was built in 1871 to lead boats in and out of busy Sodus Bay, which is currently a sailing and fishing paradise. For an option adventure trek Chimney Bluffs State Park to watch the stunning landforms of rocky shoreline and solid spire bluffs. Proceed on to Rochester, which has a noble collection of sites to visit.
Try George Eastman House, a Georgian-Revival Mansion, a photography museum, art cinema, and luscious gardens. The National Museum of a Play at The Strong includes an indoor butterfly garden and will dazzle kids of all ages.
#5. Niagara Falls
It is approximately 100 miles. Take a walk around and count the quilt blocks on the Country Barn Quilt Trail starting in Kenall at Partyka Farms. Cobblestones were collected to construct buildings from 1825 to 1865. Currently, the Cobblestone Society Museum in Childs displays a collection up close.
Follow Lake Ontario west along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail to where the Lake meets the Niagara River and see Old Fort Niagara with its French Castle dating to 1727. No trip to Niagara Falls would be refreshing without venturing up close to experience the magnificent power of the falls on the Maid of the Mist.
#6. Buffalo
It is approximately 20 miles. Plan a ride on an old-fashioned carrousel in North Tonawanda at Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum in the world’s only carousel museum. Instead of driving, biking, or kayaking around Erie Canal Harbor and experience Buffalo’s role as “Gateway to the West”.
Climb aboard the ship at the Naval & Military Park to see the country’s biggest inland floating history museum. Proceed west along Buffalo’s skyline and the Great Lakes Seaway Trail to see Darwin Martin’s country home Graycliff designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
