Exploring Upstate New York: RV Adventures from the Lucille Ball Museum to Watkins Glen State Park
- Craig Tidball
- Mar 7
- 3 min read
"The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper." – W.B. Yeats
Our fall 2024 RV escapade to Upstate New York kicked off with a delightful stop just east of Cleveland at a charming Harvest Host gem—Messenger Century Farm near Chagrin Falls. We rolled into their spacious gravel lot and our host met us to give us the lay of the land. They’d carved out a lovely path around a sprawling field. It was the perfect chance to stretch our legs and peek into their tapped grove of maples that serve their syrup operation. The next morning, opened their doors and offered a light breakfast on their enclosed porch! We couldn’t resist browsing their stash of local jams and syrups, snagging a few sweet treasures to savor later.
Before hitting the road east, we soaked up a soul-lifting morning of worship at Alistair Begg’s Parkside Church in Chagrin Falls—a perfect start to the day. Then, with the sun shining, we zipped north to tick another item off our checklist of exploring presidential history. Ohio is known as the birthplace of presidents and this trip led us to President James Garfield’s home in Mentor, Ohio, near the Lake Erie shore. He did a lot of campaigning from here and began technique of gathering in reporters for press conferences on his front porch. We weren't able to catch the 3PM tour (our schedule was packed!), but the photos of the home alone wowed us—stunning period furniture and jaw-dropping woodwork. The museum? A total win! It brought Garfield’s incredible story to life, and we left buzzing with admiration for Ohio's native son.
Next, we cruised east along I-90, switching to I-86 as we crossed into New York, bound for Jamestown—the heart of Chautauqua Country and the stomping grounds of the one and only Lucille Ball! We parked our RV for the night at a trusty Wal-Mart, conveniently snuggled up next to an Olive Garden (hello, pasta dreams!). Downtown Jamestown charmed us with its classic Upstate New York vibe. And the Lucy-Desi Museum was worth the trip. It was a blast diving into Lucy’s story—her tough early days in Jamestown, her genius television innovations, and that razor-sharp business mind. Did you know she helped launch Star Trek? Yep, without Lucy, no Captain Kirk! It was fun to review once more the Vita-Veta-Vegamin routine and Lucy and Ethel operating the chocolate factory conveyer belt.
From Jamestown, it was a scenic three-hour jaunt to Watkins Glen State Park, our first of several New York State parks. We snagged Site 64 in the Mohawk Loop for three restful nights. The site was roomy, surrounded by lush foliage that made it feel like our own private oasis. Towering trees, a sturdy picnic table, and a fire ring begging for s’mores—perfection! The showers were just a quick woodland stroll away, and our only hiccup was leveling the rig. Our ramps gave us four inches of lift, but we could’ve used eight. No biggie—we slept like champs anyway, and plenty of nearby sites looked perfectly level for next time.
Now, the real star of Watkins Glen? The Gorge Trail! You could access it from the campground which sits on the rim of the gorge, but we opted to drive to the main pavilion entrance for the full experience. This must-do hike is a two-mile out-and-back wonder, and we were grinning the whole way. Waterfalls, stone bridges, and sheer beauty—a natural masterpiece. We looped back via the rim trail which offered a peaceful stroll that dropped us right at the parking lot.
Afterwards, we treated ourselves to some tasty pizza at the little shop behind the Italian restaurant in downtown Watkins Glen. This tourist-friendly town is a gem, packed with tasty eateries and a stellar shoe store on the main drag that’s a must for active explorers like us. We didn’t have time to tackle more trails and the surrounding hills, but Watkins Glen’s unique charm has us hooked—we’re already plotting our return!
This is a special place and we hope our paths may cross yours at Watkins Glen Along the Pooka Trail.
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