Road Trip from Missouri to Upstate NY

[NaChase]

Hey all, I am leaving mid-Missouri for Upstate NY in a couple of weeks and am planning to drive through Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Washington, DC and NYC before heading up to Fort Drum, which will be my home for the next three years. While I am very familiar with DC, having lived there for a spell a couple years back, I am mostly unfamiliar with the other locations mentioned. I was hoping for some input as to cool spots to go shooting.

Thanks,

Nick

[Mike Ip]

I was stationed at Fort Drum for three years.
The winters are BRUTAL. If you have a rear wheel drive car, sell it and get an all wheel drive or at least a front wheel drive.

Summers are beautiful.

I lived in Sackets Harbor and it's really beautiful there.

Alexandria Bay is great as well - that's where the 1000 Islands are.

You are close to Kingston, Ontario - never been there though.

You're close to Ottawa and Montreal if you have a long weekend.

Very close to Syracuse.

Just throwing thoughts off the top of my head.

If you have any military specific questions, feel free to PM me.

Edit - I just browsed your public profile - and noticed you're a butterbar. You'll want to live in Sackets Harbor. That's where most of the single company grade officers live. There is a brewing company (Sackets Harbor Brewing Company) walking distance that has great food and beer.

[Phil_F_NM]

On the way between DC and NYC is always the birthplace of Liberty, Philadelphia. If you decide to stop here I'm sure a few RFF members could manage to come out and enjoy a tasty adult beverage with you.

And a few of us could chew the fat about military life (I was in the Navy.)

Phil Forrest

[NaChase]

Originally Posted by Mike Ip

I was stationed at Fort Drum for three years.
The winters are BRUTAL. If you have a rear wheel drive car, sell it and get an all wheel drive or at least a front wheel drive.

Summers are beautiful.

I lived in Sackets Harbor and it's really beautiful there.

Alexandria Bay is great as well - that's where the 1000 Islands are.

You are close to Kingston, Ontario - never been there though.

You're close to Ottawa and Montreal if you have a long weekend.

Very close to Syracuse.

Just throwing thoughts off the top of my head.

If you have any military specific questions, feel free to PM me.

Edit - I just browsed your public profile - and noticed you're a butterbar. You'll want to live in Sackets Harbor. That's where most of the single company grade officers live. There is a brewing company (Sackets Harbor Brewing Company) walking distance that has great food and beer.

Yup, I am a butterbar alright. Thanks for the advice, I have been trying to find an apartment in the area but am unlikely to really look until I go on PTDY when I get there. I have heard endless stories about the brutality of the Ft. Drum winter, and fortunately my car is front wheel drive (I bought it this past winter here at Leonard Wood, where it gets pretty frozen too). I am from California, so I imagine everything will seem that much more brutal, however, I am excited nonetheless.

[NaChase]

Oh, and Phil, I will be heading through Philly on my way to NYC, so I am definitely down for a bit of beering and gearing.

[Mudman]

pfff. Winters aren't that bad. It ain't cold til it hits -20. Anything above 30 is shorts weather, 0-30 sweater weather.

[rbelyell]

we live in upstate ny as well. truly, 4 wheel drive is a must. montreal is also a must, for photography and for food and atmosphere.
tony

[Phil_F_NM]

Originally Posted by NaChase

Oh, and Phil, I will be heading through Philly on my way to NYC, so I am definitely down for a bit of beering and gearing.

Start a thread (or I can) over at the Philly area club forum about when you're coming through. I'm pretty sure we could get at least 2 other people together if not more, depending upon the day.

Phil

[NaChase]

I have a clearer idea as to when I will be around in different north-eastern locales:
May 25 Pittsburgh
May 26-28 Washington, DC
May 29 Philadelphia
May 29-31/June 1 New York City
June 2- ? Fort Drum, NY

I have an arsenal of film and a couple hungry Ms to put it through if anyone wants to join me at any of these locations. I've got an old collapsible Summicron and a brand new Biogon f/2 if this somehow tempts any of you to come out.

[Phil_F_NM]

I'd be happy to join you on the 29th. There are some decent photos to capture here so long as the weather stays nice.

While you're in NYC, the 30th is the 10th anniversary of the conclusion of the WTC site cleanup. I'm gonna try to make it up there to shoot some spec. stories to keep my site at least a little current. Definitely going to be some good photos down there.

Phil Forrest

[Phil_F_NM]

I had an opportunity to come up to NYC a few days early so that's where I'm at now through the 10th of June. I'm up for meeting on the 29th and possibly some time on the 30th.

Phil Forrest

[Vince Lupo]

Well if you're in DC over this long weekend, you've probably noticed a lot of Harley riders in town for Rolling Thunder. I'd think a trip to the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial would yield some good shots.

In Philly, they just reopened the Barnes Collection in its new location, and the NY Times just did an article on it and said it was fantastic. So I'd definitely make an attempt to see that.

Upstate, if you're interesting in boating at all, you should go to Clayton, NY for the Antique and Classic Boat Museum.

[mabelsound]

If you like shooting street fairs and the like, the Ithaca Festival is coming up, here in ithaca...

http://www.ithacafestival.org/

Looks like you'll be passing nearby right around then.

[NaChase]

I just got to NY; I am staying at the Algonquin Hotel on 59 West 44th Street. If anyone wants to go shooting tomorrow let me know.

[Trius]

Someone mentioned Kingston, and it is worth the visit, along with other spots in the area. North of Kingston there are lots of small (and not-so-small) lakes, it's "cottage country", and very picturesque.

West of Kingston about about 45-60 minutes is Prince Edward County, a peninsula in Lake Ontario that is wonderful. Full of wineries, organic food producers and bucolic countryside, it's peaceful to the max. My wife and I go there every year for 4-6 days the week just before Labour Day.



The whole St. Lawrence river valley is great to explore, as well as 1000 Islands, of course.

To the east you have the Adirondacks ... you could spend your entire time there.

You won't be bored.

[mabelsound]

Originally Posted by NaChase

I just got to NY; I am staying at the Algonquin Hotel on 59 West 44th Street. If anyone wants to go shooting tomorrow let me know.

Have a bite at the Red Flame Diner, same block!

[Phil_F_NM]

I'm going to be heading into Manhattan some time tomorrow (the 29th) but I am at the whim of the US Postal Service as I have to wait for a package to be delivered. I expect it'll be here around late morning so I'm planning to go into the city probably early afternoon-ish.

Phil Forrest