The Finger Lakes Region, New York State

I can recommend this region to stay. You really need at least a month to take in everything. In the three days, I managed three beautiful walks in Taughannock State Park, Sapsucker woods (a delight for birdwatchers) and the Cayuga Nature Centre where I saw the deer. I have never had deer stamp their hooves and 'bark' at me before. Of course to the residents trying to protect their plants and veg they are a pest but it was lovely watching them try and hide from me behind the trees. I managed to visit a couple of wineries but these are so numerous around the Cayuga and Seneca Lakes that you would need to take more time for tastings. You can even take a limo around. I stayed in the Gothic Eves in Trumansburg. (www.gothiceves.com) Worth staying here if only for the breakfasts - all of which were excellent but the French Toast was out of this world. Very comforable and I am coming back. I dined at Simply Red which unfortunately has been bought out from under the owner and new chefs are opening another restaurant. The food here was so varied and tasty that I had dinner here three times. Hopefully they will open up somewhere else - check Rose's site above for any details as Simply Red can be found on that. The photos are of the walks I did. The Taughannock waterfall is the tallest in the eastern USA and higher than Niagra. I thought I would be done with waterfalls after New Zealand but they still manage to amaze me. On the walks in the Taughannock State Park you can really see the power of the water and how it has fashioned the gorge.

I missed the peak of the colours by a week and have come down south to see more. However, I think I am a week too early now. I have booked into The EJ Bowman House in Lancaster for 3 nights to tour around the Amish country and see Philadelphia before heading back to York, Maine.