Lackawanna State Park, North Abington Township, PA

Date of Stay:  Friday July 18 – Monday July 21, 2014 (3 nights)

Rate:  $30/night

Website:  Lackawanna State Park (PA)
   1839 Abington Road (use coordinates 41*55’98” N, 75*71’67” W)
   North Abington Township, PA 18414
   570-945-3239

Description:  Near Scranton and not too far off I-81, this park is set amongst the trees on Lackawanna Lake.  The roads and sites are paved but in need of updating.  We were in site 23 which had a dip at the road and several bushy limbs that needed trimming before our slides could be extended.  It felt like we were actually in a tree house when we looked out the windows and saw nothing but green leaves.  We had 50A electric but fill up your fresh tank before setting your jacks.  The dump station is a bit small so we didn’t use it since we were on our way to a FHU campground.

Activities:  It was nice to relax under the trees and listen to the sounds of nature.  Travelling with D&T, we shared campfires and I joined them for a hike in the park.  We all took a ride around and stopped at Manning Farm Dairy which makes its own ice cream on site.  We visited an interesting sight in the area, the Tunkhannock Viaduct in Nicholson.  It’s also known as the Nicholson Bridge and is a concrete arch bridge spanning the Tunkhannock Creek.  It was built about one hundred years ago as a project of the Lackawanna Railroad to replace a winding, hilly route.

Trash and Recycle:  Each cg loop has a dumpster at the entrance and a recycle bin at the bathhouse that takes aluminum, metal cans, glass, and plastic bottles.

 

Site 23… yes the MH is hidden in the trees

 

Spillway of the dam at Lackawanna Lake

 

Hiking around Lackawanna Lake

 

Tunkhannock Viaduct in Nicholson

Wellesley Island State Park, Fineview, NY

Date:  Friday July 11 – Friday July 18, 2014 (7 nights)

Rate:  $28/night

Website:  Wellesley Island State Park (NY)
   44927 Cross Island Road
   Fineview, NY 13640
   315-482-2722

Description:  Large NY State Park (7 loops) on the St Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands area of NY.  All roads are paved with grass and gravel sites.  We were on site H33 in the Heron Loop with 30A electric.  There are water spigots around the loop to fill up your fresh tank before setting your jacks.  Large open sites with not much shade but it is the only loop that gets US Verizon service.  Marina on site along with a nice Nature Center and miles of hiking trails by the water.  Nice place to ride your bike with a few hills.

Activities:  We were travelling with Dan and Tricia so we all had fun together.  We all drove down to Cape Vincent to see the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse.  The town was hosting a French Festival and we arrived just a few minutes before the parade.  We were detoured several times and actually ended up on the parade route.  No one was at the Lighthouse so we just enjoyed relaxing at the picnic tables enjoying the view.  I joined D&T for a nice hike along the waterfront near the Nature Center.  This park is open year round so many of the trails are also open to snowshoeing and cross-country skiing during the winter.  We all took a scenic drive around the Island and ended up at the Boldt Castle Yacht House.  There were several beautiful antique boats there.  The next day, we took the Uncle Sam Two Nation Tour boat ride on the St Lawrence River amongst many exclusive houses on the 1000 Islands.  The best representation of the Gilded Age extravagance is Boldt Castle on Heart Island.  It is still being restored after having fallen into a state of disrepair over the years of abandonment.  We enjoyed a self guided tour of the Castle and grounds then returned to Alexandria Bay.

Trash and Recycle:  There is only one central area to take out your trash and recycle for this large park.  I wish each loop had a dumpster like Sampson SP.  The recycle does take just about everything though.

 

Site H33

 

Us as you enter Heron Loop                       Gin, Tricia and Dan cutting up

  

Driving up the Thousand Islands Bridge on I-81(toll)… the view… and at the top of the Bridge

 

Tibbetts Point Lighthouse

 

Nice views at Tibbetts Point

 

Wonderful place to relax

   

  G&S                  Spiral staircase in the Lighthouse             D&T

 

Voyageur Canoe                                       View at The Narrows

  

 

Beautiful views along the trails

 

Antique wooden boat and a couple of antique yachts

 

Huge yacht house and a view of the yacht house from the grounds of Boldt Castle

 

Our Uncle Sam Boat Tour boat                            Selfie before the tour

 

 

 

Many Island houses on the boat tour

 

Observation Tower in Canada                   MH on the Thousand Islands Bridge

 

Boldt Castle from the water

 

Alster Tower (Play House) and Boldt Castle Power House from the water

 

 

 

Some rooms on the Ground Floor of Boldt Castle

 

 

 

Some rooms on the Second Floor of Boldt Castle

 

Detail of the Ornate Skylight

  

Castle Details

  

Hennery                              Back of Boldt Castle                                  Side of Boldt Castle

  

Alster Tower (Play House)                    Bowling Alley restoration in process inside the Play House

  

The Arch                                                        Whimsical architecture of the Play House