Chimney Bluffs and Green Lakes State Parks
- shimonsolof
- Sep 5, 2025
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 6, 2025
Day 1 – Wednesday
After loading the car with everything we’d need, we set out on our extended weekend adventure. Our first stop was Exxon in Monroe, which has a large selection of prepared sandwiches, salads, and hot food. We picked up a delicious lunch and headed to nearby Twin Lakes Park for a picnic and some leg-stretching. The kids had a blast running around and burning off energy before we drove a short distance to The Castle Fun Center.
At the Castle, we enjoyed kiddie go-karts, swings, and a roller coaster. The kids especially loved the indoor Ballocity, darting through the two-story jungle gym while firing soft balls out of cannons.
Alternatively, you can head to Ruach Hachaim Park, located across the highway from Monroe. The park is tremendous, with lots of options for children of all ages.
Afterward, we buckled back into the car for a longer drive to our next destination: the magnificent Recreation Park in Binghamton, NY.
This playground is enormous, with giant slides (even our 9-year-old loved them), swings, merry-go-rounds, climbing webs, and pretend boats and trains. It’s also wheelchair accessible. The kids had a great time climbing and swinging while the sun set. We capped off the visit with a delicious BBQ in the park, surrounded by nature, while the kids happily ran between the playground and our picnic table.
Finally, we got back in the car and drove on to our final stop for the night, Sodus Point, NY.
Day 2 – Thursday
After a hearty breakfast on our trusty griddle, we set out on the short drive to Chimney Bluffs State Park. The park may be small, but it makes up for it in stunning beauty. It’s immaculately maintained, with clean restrooms and well-marked trails.
We began by walking down the manicured lawn to the Bluffs Trailhead, which led us right to the waterfront. Lake Ontario took our breath away, its striking blue color felt more Caribbean than New York.
The packed-dirt trail winds through shady woods, with occasional wooden bridges and gentle slopes. It’s stroller-friendly, and our three-year-old alternated between walking and riding.
Early on, we followed a sign down to a pebble beach, where we admired the lake and distant bluffs. The kids happily tossed pebbles into the water. Back on the trail, they climbed fallen trees, searched for walking sticks, and even got to watch park rangers building a new bridge.
When the bluffs came into view, we were spellbound. Their razor-sharp spires towered dramatically above the lake, each one a different shape and size. While admiring them, we kept a close watch on the kids as the drop-offs can be steep.
Instead of tackling the 200-stair climb to the beach at the end, we turned back and enjoyed a picnic on the park’s lawn, complete with grilling stations and picnic tables.
Afterward, we drove to the Chimney Bluffs beach access for another perspective. The mix of sand and pebbles made for easy walking, and the views of the bluffs from below were breathtaking. Swimming is prohibited, but strolling along the shoreline was plenty rewarding.
On our way back, we made a quick stop at Wolcott Falls Park. This little hidden gem had two playgrounds for the kids to enjoy, plus a short but steep walk down to see the beautiful waterfall up close. It was the perfect add-on stop to let the kids run around before moving on.
On the way back to our Airbnb, we admired the landscape dotted with apple orchards and vineyards. By the time we arrived, the skies had opened, but our covered porch kept us dry as we grilled dinner.
Later that evening, we took the kids to Stone 8 Tap House Bowling Alley in Clyde, where bumpers and a slide ramp helped our youngest bowl like a pro.
Day 3 – Friday
We started the morning with a 35-minute drive to Wickham Farms. Rain gave way to clearing skies just as we arrived, and we enjoyed more scenic drives past endless apple orchards.
Wickham Farms is every kid’s dream. With 30+ attractions, including playgrounds, train rides, hayrides, a giant corn pit, bikes, jumping pillows, and bubble fun, our kids could have stayed all day. We picked apples in their vast orchard, and each child chose flowers from the garden to arrange in their own vase for Shabbos. The sunflower fields were spectacular; some blossoms were twice the size of a face!
We picnicked, explored, and played until it was time to head back and prepare for Shabbos. That evening, after a beautiful seudah, we were surprised with fireworks over Lake Ontario, a magical ending to the day.
Day 4 – Shabbos
We enjoyed a peaceful and relaxing Shabbos. The kids loved the park right by our property, running back and forth on their own.
In the afternoon, the village hosted a vintage car parade, and we marveled at the variety of old-time vehicles while picking our favorites. The day closed with a spectacular sunset reflecting off the distant Chimney Bluffs.
Day 5 – Sunday
After breakfast, we drove an hour to Green Lakes State Park in Syracuse. The park is stunning, with two crystal-clear emerald lakes, a large sandy beach, and an excellent playground.
We began at the no-swimming side of the beach, where we lounged on the sand and dipped our toes in the water. Later, we signed up for boat rentals at the boathouse (note: on busy weekends, the wait can be hours, so go early). While waiting, we hiked the perimeter trail around Green Lake, a mostly flat, shaded gravel path with scenic overlooks. The trail loops entirely around the lake, with the option to extend the walk around Round Lake, the smaller of the two lakes. Since our kids were getting hungry, we chose to skip that part and stick only to Green Lake. Round Lake isn’t very large, so if you have the time and energy, adding it on won’t take much longer. The ranger station at the start of the trail also offered a fun scavenger hunt for kids, and completing it earned them special badges.
After our hike and a picnic by the playground, we returned for our turn in the rowboat. The calm, clear waters and surrounding forest made for a magical hour on the lake.
Next, we drove 20 minutes to Chittenango Falls State Park. The short trail (with 162 stairs!) led us to the base of a 167-foot waterfall cascading in multiple tiers. The view from the footbridge was awe-inspiring.
After climbing back up, we enjoyed a BBQ in the picnic area while the kids ran around on the playground.
As a final surprise, we stopped at Funcity Adventure Park in Syracuse. With trampolines, climbing walls, obstacle courses, and a jungle gym, it was the perfect high-energy activity to end the day, and we practically had the place to ourselves.
That night, back at our Airbnb, we ended the trip with a cozy campfire.
Day 6 – Monday
After breakfast, we checked out and walked a few blocks to Martin’s Tideside Marina to pick up our pontoon rental. Cruising across Sodus Bay was the perfect finale, the calm waters let the kids take turns playing captain. (Rental boats aren’t allowed on Lake Ontario itself, but the bay is vast and beautiful.)
Before heading home, we stopped at Sodus Point Lighthouse and Beach Park, where the sandy beach and small waves were perfect for kids. The lighthouse itself was closed, but walking along the pier gave us wonderful views.
There is an additional lighthouse in the village; however, we chose to skip that one.
On the way back, we paused at Dorchester Park in Broome County, NY. With a lake, boat rentals, playground, and picnic areas, it made for a perfect lunch stop.
After that, we powered through the final stretch home, school was starting the next day!
Alternate return routes include visiting Corning’s Glass Museum (where you can even blow your own glass creation), or winding through the Catskills with stops in Saugerties or Hunter. We opted for the fastest route through the Poconos this time, but those options are worth keeping in mind for future trips.
Comments