DESTINATION: SYLVAN BEACH
QUICK TAKE
The village of Sylvan Beach has a population of 897 people. It was founded around 1840 but not incorporated until 1971. It has an area of 0.8 square miles.
Where to go
Oriskany
The Revolutionary War battlefield, part of the critical campaign of 1777 in which the colonists blunted a British assault, is a state historic site. Nearby Fort Stanwix is a national monument.
Herkimer
Become a prospecter at the Herkimer Diamond Mines and the Ace of Diamonds Mine. Spoiler: They aren’t diamonds. They’re double-terminated quartz crystals embedded in limestone. Sorry.
Utica
Photo by Johnida Dockens/Flickr
The Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute has a substantial permanent collection of internationally recognized works. And the Adirondack Scenic Railroad always offers a good ride. And scenic.
SYLVAN BEACH: MORE THAN JUST A BEACH
T
he saying has nearly become a cliché: “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.”
Some attribute it to Maimonides, a 12th-century Spanish philosopher, physician and Torah scholar. Some describe it as an ancient Chinese proverb. More modern, and credible, research gives the credit to Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie in her novel Mrs. Dymond. She wrote, “I suppose the Patron meant that if you give a man a fish he is hungry again in an hour. If you teach him to catch a fish you do him a good turn.” If it was her, it looks like a good copy editor came along behind her and cleaned it up. But we know where the following comes from — the Sylvan Beach website — and can imagine what it tells us about Sylvan Beach: “Teach a man to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.” OK, so Sylvan Beach is laid-back. And the fishing is reported to be excellent. Sorry, you missed the Walleye Tournament. But there’s plenty to do, as there should be for a community that had a reputation in the 19th century as a destination. Public transportation — railroads
and ferries — made it a desirable resort community. It was referred to as the “Coney Island of Central New York.” First, of course, there’s a beach in Sylvan Beach. And it has an amusement park, with a roller coaster, Ferris wheel, bumper cars, a spinning teapot ride and carnival games. The park will open the last weekend in June. Every Tuesday, the carnival moves into the streets. It’s Bikes at the Beach, starting at 5 p.m. Motorcycles flood the streets. People-watching heaven; what could be more entertaining? Perhaps a performance at the gazebo. All you need is a lawn chair or blanket and a cooler. This year, Pirate’s Weekend — when the men are men, and the women put up with it — is July 17-20. The weekend includes a concert by the Fabulous Ripcords, pub crawls, treasure hunts, crafts for kids, pirating lessons, bonfires and a sand castle competition. Arrrrrgh. SNT
Turning Stone
Hard to miss that tower off Thruway Exit 33. Even harder at night, lit in fluorescent colors. The resort has gambling (of course), shows, plenty of dining and several affiliated golf courses.
Cooperstown
Cooperstown is more than just the Baseball Hall of Fame. Don’t overlook the Farmer’s Museum, where you’ll find LaFayette’s own Cardiff giant.
Howe Caverns
It’s spelunking without the equipment or the training. The stroll along the underground stream and the boat ride on it are amazing but not for the claustrophobic. syracusenewtimes.com | 2014 S U M M E R T I M E S
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