nature hikes
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Scenes From a Yellow Wood
It was a crisp October Sunday. One might say it was the Platonic ideal of a fall day in Central New York — the kind of day that makes me feel a little guilty if I don’t spend at least part of it outdoors. If Mother Nature is going to provide an autumnal paradise, you Continue reading
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Clark Reservation State Park
Memorial Day is the traditional kickoff for summer, so my family took the opportunity to visit one of the many New York State Parks we plan to hit over the course of the season. Today’s destination was Clark Reservation State Park located in Jamesville, a suburb of Syracuse. The park’s webpage describes the place as Continue reading
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Irresolute
I am writing this on the first day of 2025. I kicked off the year with a couple of my New Year’s Day rituals. First, Jen and I completed a short “First Day” nature hike at Sterling Nature Center. We tromped through drizzle and high wind gusts, guided by a naturalist. The weather could have Continue reading
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Green October
Fall 2024 has been a rough-weather period for large swaths of the United States. At this writing, parts of Florida sit devastated in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton and significant portions of the Southeast are still reeling from Hurricane Helene. Meanwhile, my little corner of upstate New York is playing the part of a meteorological Continue reading
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New Year’s Hike
I started 2024 off with a hike at Beaver Lake Nature Center. I can’t say it’s a full-blown tradition, but it’s something I’ve done on a few past New Year’s Days and will continue in the future as weather permits. A nature hike seems as good a way as any to celebrate the new year, Continue reading
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Beaver Lake Nature Center: Deep Woods Trail
October in upstate New York is for leaf peeping. You can drive around and view the foliage from a distance along the roadside, or you can go straight to the source. On this particular crisp Saturday morning, I chose the latter with a trip to Beaver Lake Nature Center’s Deep Woods Trail. The Deep Woods Continue reading
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A Secluded Beach
One of my favorite local places to walk is Sterling Nature Center. It’s just over the county line in Cayuga County, about a 20–25-minute drive from my house. (It took a bit longer to get there today as the nature center is just down the way from the local RenFaire, which is now in full Continue reading
About Me
Researcher. Marketer. Teacher. Father of adult children and dogs. 20th Century holdover. Central New York native. Long-suffering Buffalo Bills fan. History nerd. Traveler. Vintage advertising enthusiast. Hat wearer.
a.k.a. V.J. 