Seniors Discover Watkins Glen

So what makes Watkins Glen, NY up in Finger Lakes Wine Country a cool choice? It isn’t easy.  Competition is keen. Cool towns must have a population under 10,000 and needs that indescribable something: independent shops, a sense of energy, an epic backyard, culture, delicious coffee. In other words, cool doesn’t necessarily mean quaint: Budget Travel selections want towns with an edge and senior visitors will discover that Watkins Glen has heart and more.

“Coolest” City Choices

So what are some of the other cities that fit the “coolest” category? Here is the map with their selections. Little Lititz, PA won the overall choice and you’ll find a blog on that town in the near future.  Let’s go explore Watkins Glen and find out the attraction.  It’s not big. (Population: 1,859) Perhaps the most noteworthy thing about New York’s Finger Lakes region isn’t that it’s home to stunningly beautiful and, yes, finger-shaped, bodies of water, but that there is so much else for senior travelers to see and do. Award-winning wineries, awe-inspiring gorges and waterfalls, and a racetrack that draws senior visitors to auto-racing events are also front-and-center.

If you want to spend a day (or two, or a week) in nature, Watkins Glen State Park offers a series of jaw-dropping waterfalls, and the Finger Lakes National Forest (the only national forest in New York State) is heaven for the trail-happy senior hiker. Watkins Glen International Racetrack draws crowds to NASCAR races and other auto events. To get a taste of the vineyards of Watkins Glen and its neighboring communities, set out on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, which includes 50 local wineries, many renowned for their light, crisp Rieslings.

Watkins Glen, in Schuyler County, was incorporated in 1842 as Salubria, then “Jefferson”, but was renamed Watkins after Dr. Samuel Watkins, for his contributions to the community. The Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce  has been in existence for more than 100 years. Watkins Glen State Park is the most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks, with a reputation for leaving visitors spellbound.

Variety of Attractions Catch Senior’s Attention

Senior visitors will find things to see and do in the area. If you are an animal lover, you will find in Watkins Glen’s rolling green pastures, the Farm Sanctuary, nestled in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region. This 175-acre shelter is home to more than 500 rescued farm animals. Watkins Glen is also the home to the World Famous Gorge at Watkins Glen State Park, hosting a series of 19 waterfalls, hiking, camping,vineyards and more.

Flip through the Watkins Glen Guide and you’ll discover why it’s so cool. Enjoy your time in Finger Lakes country and getting acquainted with the great state of New York. jeb