A Weekend in the Adirondacks: DAY ONE

Working or living in New York City over the Summer can feel like you're trapped in a hot stew of cars, bodies and noise. Thankfully, upstate New York is home to some of the coolest spots for a laid back, private and secluded weekend away from the city. New York's Adirondack Park, situated within the greater Adirondack Mountains, is home to 6.1 million acres of space as well as more than 10,000 lakes, 30,000 miles of rivers and streams and a wide variety of habitats, making it bigger than some of the largest national parks and the ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

My next three posts on Road Trip NY will highlight the ideal long weekend road trip (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) and getaway to the Adirondacks with a special emphasis on some of the must see hikes and activities. 

Day One:

1. After getting up bright an early for the five hour drive, use Waze to escape from New York City via I-87N, heading to The Wild Center and Wild Walk in Tupper Lake, NY as your first stop. Make sure you have plenty of snacks and tunes packed along for the ride. The 115-acre Wild Center is an all-day indoor and outdoor experience, from playing with live river otters to walking an elevated trail over the treetops, The Wild Center allows visitors of all ages to get closer to nature. There are trails, guided canoe trips on the river that runs by the Center and a staff ready to show you around and talk about the wild world of the Adirondacks, making it the ideal first stop to ask questions and familiarize yourself with the area. 
2. After exploring The Wild Center, continue on to Whiteface Mountain's Cloudsplitter Gondola for a more laid back adventure, as you ride the gondola fifteen minutes to the top of Whiteface Mountain, from Main Base Lodge to the top of Little Whiteface. During the ride, you’ll get an unparalleled bird’s eye view of the mountains, ski trails, streams, rock faces, and forests, that you will spend the weekend exploring. As well as a spectacular view of Lake Placid itself and your next stop: the village that bears its name. 

3. To finish up your first day, head into Lake Placid for food and somewhere to stay. If you're drinking age, I suggest the Great Adirondack Brewing Company to finish your day with a flight of craft beer and snacks. If alcohol isn't your preference or if you're looking for a larger meal, head over to Smoke Signals for live music and BBQ. As for places to stay, there are a wide variety of choices from hotels to bed and breakfasts to various types of AirBnb. As the next two days of the trip are focused around camping in the seclusion of the Adirondack wilderness, you may prefer a warm shower and bed for your first night, so check TripAdvisor or AirBnb for a place to spend the night that meets your budget and criteria. 

Check back tomorrow for the next day of our weekend getaway! Make sure to bring your sunscreen, bug spray and swim suit as we'll be venturing even further into the expansive outdoor offerings of the Adirondacks!

An Interview With AirBnb Superhost Shelly Johnson

Spending an extended amount of time on the road means finding new and interesting places to stay along your journey. My favorite place to look for fun, unique accommodations is AirBnb. AirBnb allows anybody to create a listing on their app, offering people a place to stay in the form of entire homes, single rooms, guest houses, apartments, cabins, yurts, shipping containers, tents and in this case, repurposed vans and buses.

By far the most unique AirBnb experience I have had, was during a recent road trip through New Mexico where I stayed in a repurposed 1970's Volkswagen bus outside the town of Madrid (pronounced MAD-rid as opposed to the Spanish city mad-RID), high on a mesa thirty minutes south of Santa Fe.

The owner of this incredible space, called Shanti Community, is Shelly Johnson, an "off-grid, yurt dwelling, artist and musician" (according to her AirBnb bio) whose AirBnb listings are frequently featured among the top places to stay in the area. Her space has been featured by top photographers on Instagram, ambassadors from Google's #TeamPixel and countless curious road travelers. I caught up with Shelly to find out what goes into creating such a special place for road travelers to come together.

hanging with Shelly (left) during bang practice

What made you decide to share your amazing space on AirBnb? 

"As soon as I visited the land I knew it had a special energy. For me, the most inspiring thing about the land is how it brings these people together, a lot of times people who wouldn't otherwise cross paths. You have the central area for getting together and preparing food, and my favorite thing is when everyone comes out of their busses and gathers together to eat and drink and talk, people who are total strangers that I am privileged enough to have brought together. It's my favorite thing in the world."

a nearby canyon on Shelly's land

How has AirBnb helped create this opportunity for you?

"Oh AirBnb is the best. It's so cool. I've been lucky enough to feature right there on their front page for listings for the Madrid area and even Santa Fe, and when I make it on that trending page I see a lot of bookings come through and I get lots of messages. I think people see the pictures and in their mind it's exactly the sort of thing they are looking for on a road trip. I also use Hipcamp and Glamping Hub to get even more views on my listings, they also have some pretty cool stuff on there." 

How did you decide on Madrid, New Mexico? 

"About twenty years ago I was doing my own road trip through a bunch of New Mexico's artist towns. I rolled through town in my baby blue VW bus (photo above) and I knew right away. It just had this incredible energy from all of these different people who had settled here in an otherwise forgotten town, but it was clear that there was something special here and I think thats starting to show."

By all accounts, it is starting to show. Since Shelly settled in Madrid, the town has been featured in the movie Wild Hogs as well as a feature on CBS Sunday Morning, making it an increasingly popular tourist spot between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. To any travelers or road trippers in that area, I can't suggest Shelly's space enough. It is an unforgettable experience. And to those who can't make it out to New Mexico, keep an eye on AirBnb for unique stays that can completely transform your road trip experience!

Wikipedia Follow-Up: Van Campens Glen Falls

A few weeks ago I made a blog post with some information on Wikipedia regarding Van Campens Glen Falls in the Delaware River National Recreation Area. On the Wikipedia page dedicated to the waterfalls of the Delaware Water Gap, there was no space dedicated to the well traveled and well known Van Campens Glen Falls, so I took it upon myself to add in the first Wikipedia entry regarding the popular waterfall and hiking spot.

I am happy to report that my addition to the page is still intact, and that my information regarding Van Campens Glen Falls has been given its own individual spot on the list of waterfalls in the Delaware Water Gap! My post reads: 

Van Campens Glen Falls is the terminus of the Lower Van Campens Glen trail hike near Walpack, NJ. The top of the falls features a deep, large pool that cascades down a slanted rock face. The areas surrounding the upper pool require extreme caution as this area has been responsible for numerous accidents and deaths in years past. ^[14]

Apparently, the lack of information regarding the spot has been acknowledged since my post has not been removed and the source of my information was confirmed. Today I decided not only to check on the status of my edits, but to expand on them further. I expanded on my original post, adding additional current info from my last trip as well as referencing the National Park Service website as my source. The updated post is as follows:

Van Campens Glen Falls is the terminus of the Lower Van Campens Glen trail hike near Walpack, NJ. The top of the falls features a deep, large pool that cascades down a slanted rock face. The areas surrounding the upper pool require extreme caution as this area has been responsible for numerous accidents and deaths in years past. ^[14] The trail itself features a densely covered hemlock ravine that hosts various delicate plants and species of wildlife. The root systems at the base of many of the hemlocks have been damaged due to high foot traffic in the area. This, in addition to storm damage and a lack of funding, has led the National Park Service and Department of the Interior to close the Lower Van Campens Glen trail indefinitely, due to public hazard, as of Spring 2019. ^[15]

I'll be keeping an eye out to see how my changes and updates hold up in the coming days. I certainly found it surprising how little information was available on Wikipedia regarding Van Campens Glen Falls, but I am glad to see that my contribution to the list of waterfalls in the Delaware Water Gap has held up so nicely!

Blog Response: Escape from New York! + Road Trip Rental Car Suggestion

One of the first blogs I ever followed regularly was scoutingny.com. On the site, blogger Nick Carr shared some of his favorite travel experiences during his time as a location scout for feature films and television shows. In addition to the massive log of locations he compiled in the immediate New York City area, he took an epic road trip in 2010 that he documented on his blog through a highly detailed documentary photo style journey.

In the introductory post, Escape from New York!, Nick highlights some of the basic essentials for a long cross country journey including how to get the best price on a potential rental vehicle among other things. He mentions:

"You’re not going to get very far on a road trip without a car, and as neither I nor my girlfriend own one, we had no choice but to rent. I spent much of last week researching the cheapest rental options in New York City, ultimately reaching the conclusion that if you want to rent a car, you do not do so in New York City. For a 2 week+ rental, you’re literally paying a $1,000 premium to drive out of Manhattan, and I was quite willing to travel great distances by public transportation to knock that down a bit.

Ultimately, I discovered that not Connecticut or New Jersey but White Plains offered the cheapest deal on a compact – about $350 a week with Avis. If you want to paint a slightly more romantic picture, you could say the road trip actually began at Grand Central Station, where I boarded a 10:25 Metro-North train to White Plains to pick up the car – and is there any better place to begin a journey than Grand Central?"

I found this to be a great suggestion for any New York based road tripper. Everything in New York City is expensive, so being able to find the best price on one of the most expensive aspects of your trip  -  your car -  is extremely valuable and important information. Plus, he is right that Grand Central is quite a good starting point for any adventure. Nick's suggestion could help prospective NY  road trippers lock down a better rate on their vehicle, and give them and idea of where to start looking for an affordable rental car outside the five boroughs. If you are a road tripper based in or around Manhattan, try going up to White Plains to lock in an affordable ride for your upcoming adventure.

Follow Up: Panoramic Views in the Palisades

Earlier in the Summer, I hinted at an upcoming trip to The Palisades in a post about planning the perfect day trip. A short hop from both Manhattan and Fordham's campus in the Bronx, The Palisades are a collection of steep cliffs that run parallel to the Hudson River on the New Jersey side. There the average explorer will find their fair share of hikes, trails and scenic overlooks, providing not only a great workout but some of the coolest views of New York City, from one of the closest natural landmarks in the area. Once you finish your hike, there are plenty of nearby choices for a good meal.

The Palisades are directly on the opposite side of the George Washington Bridge from New York City and continue north for miles. The ready road traveler can head over the bridge and follow signs for Palisades Interstate Parkway, where there are plenty of scenic overlooks and trailheads. While there are over thirty miles of trails in The Palisades, the level of difficulty varies greatly. You can learn more about the different trails and figure out which level best suits your activity and interest level, here. 

                                               

After you soak up some views and some sun on your hike, hop back in the car and head for some food. For this trip, I suggest driving down to Rutt's Hut in Clifton, NJ, known for their iconic deep fried hot dogs called "rippers." Their menu and setup is super easy, with classics like chili, cheese fries and laid back counter-top eating. Make sure you lather your dogs in their special relish, and don't forget cash as they don't accept cards. You can find out more about the delicious and historic Rutt's Hut here. 

My favorite part about this particular trip is it's accessibility from the New York City area. With a natural landmark such as The Palisades so close, it couldn't be easier to plan your day around hiking and hot dogs. 

How-To do a Basic Oil Change on your Jeep Wrangler

An oil change is one of the most essential and regularly performed maintenance procedures on your average passenger car. If you are a regular road tripper, or planning a long trip, you'll want to make sure your oil level and quality is checked regularly, and you know how to do it yourself if need be. Below I'll cover the basic steps for changing the oil in my road trip vehicle of choice: my 2017 Jeep Wrangler.

1. Gather Your Supplies: The first step of your oil change is making sure you have the proper tools and supplies. For this job, you will need the correct oil for your vehicle and a plastic funnel, a high quality filter, a socket to remove the drain plug, a catch basin for the old oil and plenty of trash bags or old towels to protect the surface under your car. 
2. Drain Old Oil: Once you are all set up with your supplies, remove the drain plug and allow the dirty old oil to flow out into the catch basin while you prepare your other steps. Be careful that you have a large enough basin for your oil and that you protect the surface underneath you with newspaper, trash bags or towels. 
3. Replace Oil Filter: Remove the cover protecting your engine and unscrew the compartment containing the oil filter. Dispose of the old filter while making sure the new filter is fastened securely into its spot. 
4. Re-Attach Drain Plug: Slide back under your car and use one of the sockets to re-attach the drain plug before you fill your car with fresh oil. Make sure the bolt is fastened securely, so that no oil can leak out. 
5. Fill With Fresh Oil: Use a funnel to help pour the new oil into the car, keeping close attention to where you put it in, specifically removing the cap for "motor oil" or "engine oil" and steadily pouring the fresh oil in. 

Once you finish topping your car off with oil, make sure everything is screwed and fastened back into place and turn your car on, checking for any issues that may have popped up during the process. YouTube is a great resource for helping with handy tasks like an oil change, especially if you aren't a very mechanically intelligent person, so remember to search for instructions regarding your specific vehicle. With regular maintenance, you can take almost any vehicle on a great road trip! Good luck!

Van Campens Glen Falls: Missing from Wikipedia!?

Earlier this week my dog and I ventured out to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area for a hike at one of our favorite spots, Van Campens Glen Falls. While I found plenty of information online regarding the falls before our trip, I did not realize until later that info on the area was entirely missing from Wikipedia!

While this may seem somewhat unimportant to the average Wiki user, I found it particularly odd since Wikipedia has a page dedicated entirely to the waterfalls of the Delaware Water Gap and Van Campens Glen Falls wasn't on it! So I decided to take matters into my own hands. 

"Van Campens Glen Falls is the terminus of the Lower Van Campens Glen trail hike near Walpack, NJ. The top of the falls features a deep, large pool that cascades down a slanted rock face. The areas surrounding the upper pool require extreme caution as this area has been responsible for numerous accidents and deaths in years past."

Above is a look at the Wikipedia page before our addition...

and now a look after! 

Thankfully, we made our addition and are keeping a close watch to see if it is deemed worthwhile and remains in the coming days!

A Day Trip in Warren County: Waterfalls at the Delaware Water Gap

Today my dog and I ventured down interstate 80 for a trip to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to enjoy a day in the outdoors. Below is a recap of our trip as well as some suggestions for your own trip to the Delaware Water Gap!

One of my favorite parts of this trip is the drive, so I am going to share my preferred route to the trailhead, where you get off of route 80 and take back roads for the final thirty minutes of the drive. After flying down route 80 to exit 19 in Allamuchy Township, take a right off the exit and follow county road 612 to Johnsonburg, where you will be making a right on Johnsonburg Bypass Road. After you turn, continue on until you come to state route 94 and take a left, continuing on this road until you reach the Millbrook Historic Village site and eventually Old Mine Road, where you will officially enter the park. As you get close, you'll be treated to some pretty spectacular views of the area. 

Once in the park, it's up to you to decide what to do! While there are tons of options for hiking, swimming, fishing and other outdoor recreation, my dog and I opted for a hike in Van Campens Glen: an easy hike through a shady, forested gorge with some gorgeous waterfalls along the way. You can find details about the short two mile hike through Van Campens Glen, up to Van Campen Falls, here. 

Since this trip is a bit more remote, I suggest packing lunch, bringing a book, your camera and spending most of your day in the park. After your hike, you can cool off with a quick dip in the Delaware or by splashing yourself with some ice cold water from one of the waterfalls on the trail. 

Watch out for the potholes on the park road, it can be quite rough! We visited on a Monday afternoon and the park was very quiet, if you visit on the weekend it tends to be very different. Also, remember that certain sites in the park have a self service pay station, where you are supposed to leave ten dollars as an entry fee so keep this in mind. 

Otherwise, you are ready to spend the day exploring one of the most visited National Parks in the country! It's easy to trade New York City for the seclusion of a lush green National Park... you just need to know where to go! 

Tomorrows Road Trip: Waterfalls at the Water Gap

Tomorrow my dog and I will be embarking on a solo day journey to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Center for some hiking, eating, photography and most importantly, fetch. We'll be hiking on the New Jersey side of the river, at a trailhead known as Van Campens Glen, though there are an abundance of trails on the Pennsylvania side as well. 

To prepare for our own trip, I did a little research regarding what to expect, as a slightly longer trip really requires proper preparation. I made sure it would be alright to bring my dog, mapped out some backroads to hit on my way there, and finally, checked out the trail itself. Above is a video from NJ.com of the crown jewel of this short hike, Van Campens Falls, about a mile walk through a vast forested gorge.

Check back tomorrow for a full recap of our trip to Van Campens Falls, complete with full day itinerary as well as current tips and suggestions if you are planning on visiting the park in the near future. See you tomorrow for the next trip!