Fortnight of 1/17-2/1

Watkins Glen, NY

       Recently, on a road trip to Toronto, I had the privilege to stop and visit Watkins Glen, a small village in upstate New York. Watkins Glen sits at the southern end of Seneca Lake, one of the famous finger lakes of New York. Watkins Glen has its own State park and is surrounded by many natural recreation areas. Nearby Watkins Glen, one can also find the Watkins Glen International Raceway. This article will provide an overview of the Watkins Glen State Park and the Watkins Glen International Raceway, two of the most popular tourist destinations in this New York Village

Watkins Glen State Park

      The Watkins Glen State Park is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The movement of glaciers created a unique gorge which has been further eroded by the steep drop of a stream. This stream, which drops 400 feet throughout the canyon, has created 200 feet walls on this sides of the gorge. Visitors can choose to navigate inside the gorge, with the opportunity to view 19 different waterfalls, or they can walk on ridge trails to overlook the gorge in its entirety. The three trails all connect to New York's Finger Lakes Trail, an 800 mile collection of trails that run within the New York State.

The Gorge at Watkins Glen State Park 

Watkins Glen International

      Watkins Glen International is a famous racetrack located just Southeast of the Watkins Glen Village. This track has lots of history behind its current position, and it holds a major position in the Motorsports community. Founded in 1948 by a law student, the speedway was home to the Formula 1 American Grand Prix for 20 years. Famous names such as Mario Andretti and Bruce Mclaren have raced and won on this track, adding to its fame. It was acquired by the International Speedway Corporation and is home to many unique races. Visitors can view the SCCA majors super tour, an event where the best amateur race drivers compete in high stakes and high adrenaline racing. Visitors can also watch the "six hours at the Glen" race, which is a classic that has been taking place at this raceway since its opening in 1948. You can even take your own car around this racetrack during most days of the year!

Watkins Glen International