Upstate New York Travels

Then we went to dinner at Little Venice, where we were introduced to a local specialty called “Riggies”. It was a casserole with chunks of chicken rolled in egg and bread crumbs, placed in a bowl of pasta with a white sauce and melted cheese. Only we found out that it was supposed to be made with rigatoni, but the pasta my husband got was large elbow macaroni. When we returned home, I made a better version of it with the correct pasta. A review of this restaurant can be found here.

When we returned to the B&B, we got a wine opener and two wine glasses from the guest kitchen and sat in the dining room to enjoy our “iced” wine.

At breakfast the next morning, Nancy and Wally did it up right. We had our tea with that black bread we had smelled the night before on arriving, and it came with a bowl of cut cantaloupe, blackberries, and strawberries. Then we had our choice of a tomato, basil, cheese omelet or blueberry pancakes. We had one of each.

It was another overcast day with some partial sunshine, so we headed out to see Taughannock Falls in the nearby State Park. The Falls plunges 215 feet past rocky cliffs that tower nearly 400 feet above the gorge. Gorge and rim trails offer spectacular views from above the falls and from below at the end of the gorge trail. But we stood at the lookout with a perfect view of the falls below us.

Although it doesn’t look like it from where we are standing, the water falls from thirty-three feet higher than Niagara Falls. The falls were framed on either side by sheer sharp-cut slate cliffs. We did not linger as it was a chilly and breezy, 45º F.

Next on the list was the Alpaca Farm at Cabin View Alpacas, just north of Trumansburg with a fantastic view of Cayuga Lake. The farm sits on an awarded land to the King family, because after the Revolutionary War, the federal government awarded bounty lands to soldiers as payment for serving their country. Robin with her mother and father work the farm. We arrived just in time to take the 11:00 tour. We learned about alpaca wool as being a high-grade fleece for clothing, but this herd of alpacas are shown at fairs, and had many blue ribbons.

We met the herd, all of them had names, and many were born that spring and were with their mothers. The babies to one year are called Crias, an adult female that has not given birth is called a Maiden. A mother alpaca is called a Dam, an adult male father is called a Sire, and once it is castrated, is called a Gelding.

We purchased two bags of feed and they ate from our hands with gentle nibbles. We were completely won over as to their placidness, cuteness and softness. We walked through their pasture, housing, nursery area, and then met two Polish chickens that kept the bugs down and had fun fluffy heads and feet. There was also Bert and Ernie, two donkeys, Patches and Teddy the two goats, and Thelma and Louise, their two cats.

Afterward, we went into the gift shop. I had to have a small white stuffed alpaca doll which my husband named Snowdrop. It was hard to limit pictures for this description, but here are more pictures and information. We had a thoroughly enjoyable time and learned a lot about alpacas. More information and photos can be found here.

The next thing we did was go to the Lively Run Goat Dairy that offered cheese tastings. Naturally, we ordered a tasting platter. Across the top of the long tray were six goat cheeses, soft, blue, a cheddar, and others. Across the bottom of the tray were six cow cheeses, and it came with crackers.

Then we went into the large goat barn next door and were able to pet different kinds of goats. More pictures, here. The cheese was a great appetizer, but we wanted lunch, so we went to the Ginny Lee Café at Wagner, which had a large picture window to view Seneca Lake.

Then it was back to our B&B to change into nicer clothes and change shoes, as some of the alpaca farm had come with us. We had reservations for dinner at Belhurst Castle, which is in Geneva on the shores of Lake Seneca. It is really a former private three-story residence, built in the Romanesque Revival style with medina sandstone. Rooms are available to stay at the castle, but they were very expensive, and dinner was one way of seeing part of the mansion. On the way, we passed two small, one-seater carriages, driven by what looked like Amish people. At first, we thought that it was locals dressed up to look the part for tourists, but then we realized they were authentic! We were in Amish country.