Great Lakes Seaway Trail
The Complete Great Lakes Seaway Trail Itinerary

Departure:	Elk Creek Access Area/Erie Bluffs State Park, Pennsylvania
Destination:	Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center, New York
Time to allow:	4 days

From Pennsylvania's Lake Erie Coast to the northern reaches of the St. Lawrence River, this itinerary highlights the best attractions in both states.

Day 1

• Start: Elk Creek Access Area/Erie Bluffs State Park

  

  Fishing at Elk Creek or exploration of Pennsylvania's newest state park, Erie Bluffs State Park, are two great activities for outdoors types. Elk Creek is the largest and most popular Lake Erie tributary stocked with steelhead and brown trout. Erie Bluffs is the largest undeveloped stretch of Lake Erie in the state with a mile of shoreline and 90-foot bluffs.

• Stop 1: Battles Museum of Rural Life

  

  From previous stop:	10 minutes / 3 mi (4.8 km)
  Directions:	From the byway, take Route 18/Rice Avenue south to US Route 20/East Main Street in Girard, go left on to US Route 20/East Main Street and right onto Walnut Street. Museum is at 436 Walnut Street.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour 30 minutes

  The Battles Museum of Rural Life is a 130-acre complex consisting of two historic houses (the R.S. Battles Farmhouse and the Charlotte Elizabeth Battles Memorial Museum) and farm, owned and operated by the Erie County Historical Society & Museums. The mission of the Battles Museums of Rural Life is to preserve and interpret the agricultural methods and lifestyles of Northwestern Pennsylvania and its surrounding region from the 1840's to present. The site consists of 50 acres of farmland, 80 acres of woods and hiking trails, and two historic homes.

• Stop 2: Waldameer Park and Waterworld

  

  From previous stop:	20 minutes / 15 mi (24.0 km)
  Directions:	From Battles Museums of Rural Life follow Walnut Street north to US 20/East Main Street, go left on US 20/East Main Street, and right on Route 18/Rice Avenue, take a right onto the Great Lakes Seaway Trail and follow it to Peninsula Drive in Millcreek. Take a left onto Peninsula Drive, Waldameer is located near the entrance to Presque Isle State Park
  Suggested time at this stop:	2 hours 30 minutes

  A must-see attraction, this historic amusement park and water park has more than 75 rides; parking and admission to amusement park are free (fee for rides), fee for Waterworld; picnic areas, concessions, midway, fireworks, daily events. Established in 1896 as Hopkins Grove picnic area later, it became an amusement park; it is the fourth oldest such park in Pennsylvania and the 11th oldest in the nation.

• Stop 3: Presque Isle State Park-PA

  

  From previous stop:	2 minutes / 0.5 mi (0.8 km)
  Directions:	From Waldameer Park and Waterworld proceed north on Peninsula Drive into Presque Isle State Park.
  Suggested time at this stop:	2 hours 30 minutes

  As a landform unique in all the world, Presque Isle State Park is a popular destination attracting four million visitors annually for passive and active recreation. This includes hiking, biking, running, birdwatching and boating. The park contains two historic lighthouses and important War of 1812 historic sites. The park is a National Natural Landmark, home to more rare, threatened and endangered species than any other area of comparable size in the state. Presque Isle Bay is the finest natural harbor on the Great Lakes. With six distinct ecological zones, it is a laboratory of natural and physical science. The peninsula sits along the Atlantic flyway and more than 320 species of birds have been inventoried there. The Stull Interpretive and Information Center in the park is a starting point for interpretation and educational programs about the ecology of the park. Recreational resources include sand beaches, more than 10 miles of trails, not including the paved Karl Boyes Multi-Purpose Trail. The park hosts the annual Erie Marathon, one of the flattest and fastest marathon courses on the East Coast. Free interpretive pontoon boat rides are available; a water taxi runs between the Park and Erie’s Dobbins Landing; the Lady Kate offers tours of the Bay; and canoes and kayaks may be rented at the boat livery. Fishing, swimming, windsurfing, waterskiing and picnicking are all summer activities. Bicycle rentals are available. Winter activities include ice fishing, ice boating and cross-country skiing. No admission fee.

• Stop 4: Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier Park

  

  From previous stop:	10 minutes / 3 mi (4.8 km)
  Directions:	From Presque Isle State Park continue south on Peninsula Drive and go left on West Sixth Street, the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, LEAF is located on West Sixth Street.
  Suggested time at this stop:	30 minutes

  LEAF offers an opportunity for respite from the road, with more than 225 varieties of trees it offers access for passive and active enjoyment as well as educational and interpretive programs. Amenities include free admission; multi-use trails; "virtual tree" gazebo; shade, flowering and evergreen trees; and urban stream valley.

• Stop 5: Historic Downtown Erie: History, Art, Childrens Museums, and West Sixth Street Historic District

  

  From previous stop:	10 minutes / 2 mi (3.2 km)
  Directions:	Continue along West Sixth Street east toward downtown Erie; in the West Sixth Street Historic District, stop at the Watson Curtze Mansion, 356 West Sixth Street. Continue on to the center of downtown Erie, park in the vicinity of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail and State Street -- you will find all three museums within a few blocks of one another.
  Suggested time at this stop:	3 hours

  The central location for the appreciation, exploration and enjoyment of the Seaway Trail’s historic resources. Watson Curtze Mansion and Planetarium, 356 West Sixth Street, is located within the West Sixth Street Historic District; Erie Art Museum, 411 State Street; Erie History Center, 419 State Street; expERIEnce Children’s Museum 420 French Street are centrally located in historic downtown Erie. Watson Curtze Mansion and Planetarium and West Sixth Street Historic District are located on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail. Three museums, the History Center, art museum and children’s museum are all located within a walkable block or two of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail at State Street in Downtown Erie.

• Stop 6: Port Erie's Bayfront District

  

  From previous stop:	10 minutes / 0.5 mi (0.8 km)
  Directions:	From the museum district, continue north on State Street cross Bayfront Parkway and immediately find parking on Dobbins Landing; to reach Liberty Park by car, at State and Bayfront, go left on Bayfront, Liberty Park is on the right.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour

  Recreation and history come together on the waterfront at the Port of Erie. At Dobbins Landing, the Bicentennial Tower features spectacular views from the deck 187 feet up where interpretive panels help set the context for geography and history; the 8.5-acre Liberty Park features a playground and the Liberty Park Amphitheater on the water and is the site of community programming.

• Stop 7: Erie Maritime Museum, US Brig Niagara and Blasco Public Library Complex

  

  From previous stop:	5 minutes / 0.25 mi (0.4 km)
  Directions:	From Dobbins Landing, go left on East Front Street.
  Suggested time at this stop:	2 hours 30 minutes

  Erie Maritime Museum is homeport to the US Brig Niagara and includes multi-media and interactive exhibits, and tours of the Niagara when she is in port. This is an important and fascinating destination for exhibits and interpretation of the War of 1812, Great Lakes maritime history and ecology of the Great Lakes. Museum shares a former power generating plant with Blasco Public Library.

• Stop 8: Port Erie Lighthouses

  

  From previous stop:	10 minutes / 3 mi (4.8 km)
  Directions:	From the Erie Maritime Museum go left on Bayfront Parkway, following the Seaway Trail on the Eastside Connector taking a left to continue on the Seaway Trail on Route 5A. Take a left onto Lighthouse Street, lighthouse is at the foot of Lighthouse Street.
  Suggested time at this stop:	15 minutes

  Lighthouse buffs won't want to miss Erie's three lighthouses. Two of them you have already seen on Presque Isle State Park: Presque Isle Lighthouse, located on the north side of the peninsula, was originally commissioned in 1873 and remains in service. It has an attached keeper’s quarters, and for many years the keeper of the lighthouse was the sole resident of Presque Isle. Before electrification, the keeper had to service the light every four hours. Another, older light, this one known as the North Pier or Erie Harbor Lighthouse guards the narrow opening to the Bay. This one was commissioned in 1857. The lighthouse exhibit at the Erie Maritime Museum, 150 East Front Street, includes a lens used in the North Pier Lighthouse. Unique Erie Land Lighthouse, foot of Lighthouse Street, Erie, two blocks north of the Seaway Trail, completed in 1867 by the federal government, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places; a lighthouse first entered service here in 1818; shares distinction of first Lake Erie lighthouse with Buffalo lighthouse; current structure is third to be built at this location; property includes 1858 Keepers House; lighthouse permanently decommissioned in 1899, restored in 1989 and 2004.

• End: Port Erie

  From previous stop:	same location

  Find lodgings in Port Erie for your first night.

Totals for Day 1

Total Distance Traveled:	27.25 miles / 43.6 km
Total Travel Time:	1 hour 17 minutes
Total Stopping Time:	13 hours 45 minutes

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Day 2

• Stop 1: Lake Erie Winery and Grape Growing Region

  

  From previous stop:	40 minutes / 20 mi (32.0 km)
  Directions:	From Shades Beach, go south on Bartlett Road and rejoin the Great Lakes Seaway Trail by going left onto Route 5. To reach Presque isle Wine Cellars, go right on Moorheadville road to US 20, West Main Road, go left on US 20/North Main Road, Presque Isle Wine Cellars is on the left. After this stop, continue on US 20/Main Road through the Borough of North East (see next stop on the itinerary). Arrowhead Wine Cellars and Heritage Wine Cellars are both located just east of Dewey Road on US 20/Main Road. To reach both Mazza Vineyards and Penn Shore Vineyards, go north on Dewey Road and rejoin the Great Lakes Seaway Trail/Route 5 by going left. Mazza and Penn Shores are both on the left.
  Suggested time at this stop:	30 minutes

  With its shallow waters and temperate climate, Lake Erie’s southern shore is an ideal grape growing region. Grape growing started here in the mid-19th century and the first winery was founded in 1863. Now, the grape growing region is 30,000 acres in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York, making it the second largest grape-producing region in the nation after California. Concord grapes for table and juice are predominate, but the region’s wine-making industry is growing. Five wineries in eastern Erie County comprise Pennsylvania portion of the Chautauqua Lake Erie Wine Trail. They are: Arrowhead Wine Cellars, 12073 East Main Road, North East (www.arrowheadwine.com); Mazza Vineyards, 11815 East Lake Road, Route 5 North East (www.mazzawines.com); Penn Shore Vineyards, 10225 East Lake Road, Route 5, North East, (www.pennshore.com); Presque Isle Wine Cellars, 9440 Buffalo Road, North East (www.piwine.com); and Heritage Wine Cellars, 12160 E. Main Road, North East (www.heritagewinebiz.com).

• Stop 2: North East Borough Historic District

  

  From previous stop:	15 minutes / 5 mi (8.0 km)
  Directions:	From Penn Shore Winery, continue east on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail to Route 89/Freeport Road, take a right on Route 89/Freeport Road to the borough.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour 30 minutes

  A quaint downtown with shopping, restaurants and beautiful architecture. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, it is roughly bounded by Division, N. Lake, Eagle, N. Pearl, and Gibson Streets. The commercial area historic district includes Greek Revival, Italianate and Queen Anne styles of architecture. Attractive and quaint village atmosphere is conducive to walking, and many shopping and dining options are available.

• Stop 3: Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail

  

  From previous stop:	40 minutes / 20 mi (32.0 km)
  Directions:	The Lake Erie Wine Trail connects the New York and Pennsylvania Sections of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, running 20 from North East in Pennsylvania to Barcelona in New York.
  Suggested time at this stop:	3 hours

  As you explore this part of the Great Lakes Seaway Trail corridor, it is evident that this is productive ground. Centuries of working the land have shaped the rural landscape and provided for its residents needs. The vineyards lining the Great Lakes Seaway Trail are testament to this heritage. The region is the world's leader in the production of Concord grapes thanks to a microclimate along the shore of Lake Erie. The Welch Company, based in Westfield beginning in 1897, uses most of these grapes in juices, jellies, and syrups. A law passed in 1976 allowed grape farmers to establish small “Estate Winery” sites, meaning that the entire wine making process from grape growing to pressing to bottling happens on the property. The Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail is a scenic drive among these wineries, many of them offering tours, tasting and sales to visitors. Of course, grapes aren't the only crops grown here. As you head to your next stop, patronize one of the roadside stands for fresh local produce, or for a real treat, visit Webb's Candy factory in Mayville and sample some goat's milk fudge.

• Stop 4: Chataqua Institution

  

  From previous stop:	same location

  This National Historic Victorian village features lecture series, museums, art and cultural centers, and a great view of Lake Erie.

• Stop 5: Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society

  

  From previous stop:	2 hours / 80 mi (128.0 km)
  Directions:	From the Chataqua Institution, take Route 394 west through Mayville and Westfield to Barcelona. Turn onto Route 5, and head towards Dunkirk, then continue along Route 5 until you reach Delaware Avenue in Buffalo. Follow Niagara street north to the entrance to Route 198, then take Route 198 east to Nottingham Terrace. The Historical Society Museum will be on the right.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour 30 minutes

  At the Buffalo and Erie County Historical there is a wealth of knowledge to be gleaned about the generations who’ve lived in western New York and what they’ve accomplished. The organization was founded in 1862 and is headquartered in the only permanent building erected for the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. That international fair was the largest showcase to date of the uses of electricity, and it celebrated the power of Niagara Falls. The society’s 100,000 artifacts explore the ethnic and cultural heritage of Erie County, the industry that defined Buffalo and its place in history. Yes, there’s also an exhibit about a blizzard.

• Stop 6: Darwin Martin House Complex

  

  From previous stop:	5 minutes / 2 mi (3.2 km)
  Directions:	From the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, turn right onto Nottingham Terrace, then right again onto Amherst Street. Turn right onto Parkside Avenue, then left onto Jewett Parkway. Proceed to the Darwin Martin Complex.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour 30 minutes

  This had to be an unbelievable commission: an unlimited budget, an unparalleled site and unwavering support from the client. With those three things, Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Darwin D. Martin House and brought his Prairie House concept to the East Coast. The 14,978-square foot home, built from 1903-05, was part of a complex that was the most extensive in Wright’s career. From the sweep of the horizontal lines to the 394 pieces of art glass, the Martin House is quintessential Wright. The complex is undergoing a restoration that will bring it back to its 1907 splendor.

• Stop 7: Maid of the Mist Boat Tours

  From previous stop:	40 minutes / 24 mi (38.4 km)
  Directions:	From the Darwin Martin house, turn right onto Jewett Parkway and continue for two blocks to Parkside Avenue. Turn right onto Parkside, continue for four blocks to the Scajaquada Expressway (Route 198). Go West on Route 198 to the city of Buffalo. Turn north onto Niagara Street, and continue on River Road. The Great Lakes Seaway Trail will follow the Niagara River, then join up with the Robert Moses State Parkway. Continue North until you reach the Niagara Reservation State Park.
  Suggested time at this stop:	4 hours 30 minutes

  No trip along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail is complete without a visit to Niagara Falls, and there is no better way to experience the power of Niagara than from the water. Since 1846, the Maid of the Mist travels into the mist at the base of Niagara Falls with passengers clad in protective slickers. The first trips on the Niagara River below Niagara Falls were more business than pleasure. As early as 1834, rowboats ferried both people and goods from one side to the other, but a bridge built in the late 1840s took a bite out profits. To compensate, one steamboat service renamed their boat the Maid of Mist after a Native American legend and turned to the more successful sightseeing business. At least 1 million people a year (the company won’t divulge the exact number) take the 30- minute trip to be doused by the Falls. Arguably one of the most photographed and best known attractions in the world, the three waterfalls made by the Niagara River tumbling over a cliff combine grace, beauty and power as over a billion gallons of water an hour pour over the edge. The Maid of the Mist departs from the American side of the Falls at Niagara Reservation State Park on the byway. Other activities at Niagara Reservation State Park include tours of Goat Island, situated in the middle of the falls. The Niagara Gorge offers excellent birding opportunities, as it is world-famous for its quantity and diversity of gulls and waterfowl, especially in winter. If you can come back in the evening, Niagara Falls are illuminated after 8:30 pm.

• End: Niagara Falls

  From previous stop:	same location

  Spend your second night in Niagara Falls.

Totals for Day 2

Total Distance Traveled:	151 miles / 241.6 km
Total Travel Time:	4 hours 20 minutes
Total Stopping Time:	12 hours 30 minutes

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Day 3

• Stop 1: Old Fort Niagara

  

  From previous stop:	20 minutes / 14 mi (22.4 km)
  Directions:	From Niagara Reservation State Park, follow the Robert Moses Parkway north to Lewiston. Turn north onto Route 18-F and continue towards Fort Niagara State Park.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour 30 minutes

  During the colonial wars in North America, the country that controlled access to waterways had the upper hand. For that reason, Fort Niagara has served under three flags, French, British, and American. The French built the earliest fort at the mouth of the Niagara River in 1679, and France, Britain and the new-born United States fought over the ground almost continuously until the end of the War of 1812. Whoever held the fort held a strategic advantage. The French Castle, the oldest building on the grounds, is the focal point of a self-guided tour and has been restored to its 1727 appearance. A storehouse, powder magazine and bakehouse are other highlights, while archaeologists continue to uncover foundations of buildings lost long ago. The site of historic battles, trading and conquest, Old Fort Niagara is an exciting place where the past lives on! Today's byway travelers can experience military reenactments, living history, and ongoing archaeological excavations.

• Stop 2: Cobblestone Society Museum

  

  From previous stop:	1 hour 15 minutes / 60 mi (96.0 km)
  Directions:	From Fort Niagara State Park, follow Route 18 east into Rochester, then turn south on Route 98 to find the Cobblestone Society Museum.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour 30 minutes

  The word unique is overused, cheapening its meaning, but it’s an apt description of Cobblestone structures. It’s believed that 90 percent of the 1,200 cobblestone buildings in North America are in the Great Lakes Seaway Trail region. The area had a wealth of the stones and the soil could be turned into mortar. A cluster of eight buildings, with the 1834 Cobblestone Church as the showpiece, comprises the Cobblestone Society Museum in Childs. This National Historic Landmark, the world’s only cobblestone museum, showcases the unique construction method using stones polished into cobble by glacial action. A close look at how the stones are placed in the mortar shows that building with cobblestones was an art form as a means of shelter. The museum offers guided tours of 7 buildings from the Cobblestone Era (1825-1860) including the oldest cobblestone church in North America, an 1849 schoolhouse, and the parsonage owned by abolitionist Horace Greeley.

• Stop 3: Strong Museum & National Toy Hall of Fame

  

  From previous stop:	1 hour 30 minutes / 50 mi (80.0 km)
  Directions:	From the Cobblestone Society Museum headquarters, turn right onto Route 104. Continue north towards Route 98, and turn onto the Lake Ontario State Parkway. Exit the Parkway and enter Lake Shore Boulevard. Cross the Genesee River, then turn right onto St. Paul Street. Turn left on Central Avenue, continue for one block, and then turn right onto Clinton Avenue. Follow Clinton Avenue to Woodbury Boulevard. Turn east onto Woodbury, and continue for one block to the Strong Museum.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour 30 minutes

  "Museum" may evoke the image of a serious place where you speak in whispers and look but don’t touch. Strong Museum, though, brings out the playful side of its visitors. Ranked among the nation’s top 10 for children by Child magazine, the museum also features the National Toy Hall of Fame, interactive exhibits, and a working 1950s diner. The museum's collection includes over a half million objects include the world’s largest and most historically significant collection of dolls and toys, America’s most comprehensive collections of homecrafts, souvenirs, and advertising materials. These personal, everyday objects help Americans to understand who they are, who they believe they are and why. The museum is undergoing a $33 million expansion that will double its size and add more hands-on activities for kids and families. While you are in Rochester check out the theater options: Auditorium Center, The Eastman School of Music, Garth Fagan Dance, Geva Theater Center, and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra all offer performances.

• Stop 4: George Eastman House and International Museum of Photography and Film

  

  From previous stop:	5 minutes / 1 mi (1.6 km)
  Directions:	From the Strong Museum, turn left onto Pitkin Street, continue for two blocks, cross the Inner Loop, then turn left onto East Avenue. The George Eastman House will be on the left.
  Suggested time at this stop:	2 hours

  The George Eastman House is a one-stop tour of a Georgian-revival mansion, a photography museum, an art cinema, and luscious gardens. Imagine living the life of the wealthy at the home of George Eastman, the founder of Eastman Kodak and the man who developed photography into a hobby for millions. Part of the mansion includes exhibits in the International Museum of Photography and Film. The Dryden Theater features classic films six nights a week. Horticulturists admire the gardens on the 12.5-acre estate, which can be explored at your leisure or as part of a tour.

• Stop 5: Sodus Point Lighthouse

  

  From previous stop:	45 minutes / 39 mi (62.4 km)
  Directions:	From the George Eastman House, head east and turn north onto Route 96. Continue north, then cross Irondequoit Bay on Empire Boulevard. After crossing the bay, turn left onto Ontario Street in Sodus Point. Continue to the Lighthouse.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour

  Climb 52 corkscrew steps, and then duck as you emerge into the lantern room of the Sodus Point Lighthouse for spectacular views of Lake Ontario and Chimney Bluffs. From 1871 to 1901, the lantern served as a beacon at busy Sodus harbor. The attached keeper’s house is a museum that depicts 19th-century life in the village plus exhibits on shipping, sailing and lighthouses. This National Register property hosts Sunday concerts in the summer.

• Stop 6: Chimney Bluff State Park

  From previous stop:	20 minutes / 13 mi (20.8 km)
  Directions:	Follow Ontario Street south from the lighthouse, then turn left onto the Great Lakes Seaway Trail (Ridge Road/Route 104-A). Follow Great Lakes Seaway Trail signs along Lake Bluff Road and Garner Road To the signed entrance to Chimney Bluffs State Park.
  Suggested time at this stop:	30 minutes

  The wind and waves create an ever-changing landscape along the shore of Lake Ontario, and one stunning example is Chimney Bluffs State Park. The reddish terrain looks part desert, part Mars. Hikers with good ankles can walk along the rocky shoreline and look up at spires that are the envy of a Gothic cathedral. The bluffs are actually a glacial drumlin – one of the distinctive rolling hills left by the last Ice Age that is characteristic of this part of the byway – that has been eroded by Lake Ontario to expose its interior structure. From a parking lot at the marked entrance to the park about three miles west, a trail leads to the top of the bluffs. You can climb pretty much straight up from a parking area at the bluffs, just a few feet from the lake. There is no railing at the top; the hike is not recommended if you have a fear of heights.

• Stop 7: Sterling Renaissance Festival

  From previous stop:	40 minutes / 27 mi (43.2 km)
  Directions:	From the park entrance, head south on Garner Road, then follow Great Lakes Seaway Trail Signs along Bluff Road and Lake Road. Continue through Fair Haven, then head east into Sterling.
  Suggested time at this stop:	4 hours 30 minutes

  As you follow the Great Lakes Seaway Trail into the hamlet of Sterling, your map may say Sterling, but your eyes tell you you’ve landed smack-dab in the middle of Warwick, England, in the year 1585. The Sterling Renaissance Festival re-creates Elizabethan England, right down to Good Queen Bess herself. Lords and ladies stroll the lanes in their finery. Merchants’ offer their wares and minstrels entertain. Jousters face off and knights rule the day. The actors stay in character, whether in rehearsed skits or comic improvisations that gives a visitor a chance to play the village idiot. The festival runs 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from July 2 to Aug. 14.

• Stop 8: Safe Haven Museum and Educational Center

  From previous stop:	25 minutes / 13 mi (20.8 km)
  Directions:	From the Sterling Renaissance Festival grounds, continue on Farden Road, then turn left onto Mac Neil Road. Continue for 1 mile, then turn left onto State Route 104-A. Continue eastward through Sterling and into Oswego, then turn left onto 7th Street and continue to the Safe Haven Museum.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour

  An old army base near Fort Ontario became safe haven for 982 refugees from Nazi terror. In 1944 President Roosevelt instructed his emissaries to bring refugees to the United States, and the Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter housed these children and adults from August 1944 to February 1946. After the war, they were to go back to their homes, but they had none. President Truman allowed these refugees to immigrate and truly begin new lives. While the barracks and many other buildings were demolished, the memories are preserved in the former administration building that houses the Safe Haven Museum. Time permitting, check out the only floating national Historic Landmark, the LT-5, a tug used in the Normandy invasion docked near the H. Lee White Marine Museum. Oswego hosts the region's local Seaway Trail Guided Walk each Thursday.

• End: Oswego

  From previous stop:	same location

  Stop in Oswego for your third night.

Totals for Day 3

Total Distance Traveled:	217 miles / 347.2 km
Total Travel Time:	5 hours 20 minutes
Total Stopping Time:	13 hours 30 minutes

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Day 4

• Stop 1: Antique Boat Museum

  

  From previous stop:	1 hour / 48 mi (76.8 km)
  Directions:	From the Safe Haven Museum, turn south, pass beneath the railroad, and meet up with East 7th street. From Oswego, follow Route 104 northeast, watching for Great Lakes Seaway Trails signs through Routes 104 B, 3, 180, and 12 E and enter Clayton on State Street. Turn left onto James Street and look for the Antique Boat Museum.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour 30 minutes

  Living on an island in the early 20th century must have been great. Rowing to the mainland daily to pick up the mail, on the other hand, was probably a drawback. The Antique Boat Museum preserves a traditional way of life through a collection of more than 200 boats. The collection includes utilitarian St. Lawrence skiffs used by 19th century guides to ferry their “sports” to the River’s best fishing spots, to the luxurious La Duchesse, a 1904 houseboat owned by George Boldt, sporting a Tiffany skylight, bronze and marble fireplaces and mahogany cabins. Boat rides, boatbuilding classes, a research library, children’s activities, and exhibits help inlanders understand life on the river. After viewing that display of wealth, a little shopping in Clayton is in order, whether for some great aged cheddar at Gold Cup Farms, some authentic Thousand Islands Dressing, or some local wine.

• Stop 2: Frederic Remington Art Museum

  

  From previous stop:	1 hour / 48 mi (76.8 km)
  Directions:	From the Antique Boat Museum, turn left onto Mary Street, right onto James Street, and then left onto Route 12. Follow the Great Lakes Seaway Trail signs eastward along Route 12 and Route 37 Follow Great Lakes Seaway Trail signs west ward along the St. Lawrence River Route 37, then 12 into Clayton, turn right onto James Street, left onto Mary Street for the Antique Boat Museum 750 Mary Street on your right.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour 30 minutes

  The Great Lakes Seaway Trail is far from the Old West that Frederic Remington captured in his paintings and sculpture. But he was as much at home along the banks of the St. Lawrence as he was in Big Sky country. The artist lived in Ogdensburg as a boy and painted in his studio on an island in the St. Lawrence River. Although more famous for his western art, he painted many scenes from the Great Lakes Seaway Trail and northern New York. The Frederic Remington Art Museum displays works from all aspects of his career, along with tools of his trade. The building, once a mansion owned by a friend of Remington, was where his wife lived for a time after his death in 1909. An interactive children's exhibit brings the art – and Remington – alive for young visitors. The museum is at 303 Washington Street and is open daily from May 1 to Oct. 31, except major holidays. Just a short drive north along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail will bring you to Waddington, one of the Seaway Trail Walks communities; stop on Friday at 5 pm from June thru September for a local guided experience. Waddington is also a great place to try your skill at carp fishing, and the necessary equipment

• Stop 3: Boldt Castle and the 1000 Islands

  

  From previous stop:	45 minutes / 37 mi (59.2 km)
  Directions:	From Ogdensburg, follow Route 37 to Route 12, then turn south east and follow the Great Lakes Seaway Trail signs until you reach Alexandria Bay.
  Suggested time at this stop:	1 hour 30 minutes

  From the magnificence of Boldt Castle to the barren rock of an uninhabited island, a cruise among the Thousand Islands captures the heart and imagination. The islands - there are close to 2,000 - run for nearly 50 miles in the St. Lawrence River, attracting sportsmen, tourists, and summer homes for the wealthy. George Boldt, owner of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, commissioned a Rhineland-style castle on Heart Island as a monument to his wife, Louise. When Louise died in 1904, however, the broken-hearted Boldt ordered work to cease. For decades, the 120-room, six-story castle slowly wore away, neglected and vandalized. Restoration of Boldt Castle began in the 1970s and today there are 6 impressive structures to explore plus a video exploring the lifestyle of the Boldts and the history of the 1000 Islands Region. Since then, millions have toured this symbol of the Thousand Islands. The castle is only accessible by boat. If you don’t have one, contact Uncle Sam Boat Tours (800-253-9229 or www.usboattours.com) or Empire Boat Lines (888-449-2539 or www.empireboat.com). They offer their services from May through October. Rates will vary and fees are separate from the castle admission. Also, Alexandria Bay hosts guided Great Lakes Seaway Trail Walks every Tuesday at 5 pm. The St. Lawrence is like a highway serving the islands, and a summer afternoon finds it full of all sorts of craft. Most of the islands, including the largest, Wolfe Island, are in Canada. On the U.S. side, Wellesley Island is a good place to launch an exploration of the islands, with several campsites and bed and breakfasts available. If you enjoyed your visit to Boldt Castle, Great Lakes Seaway Trail has a second island castle. On the way to the Remington Museum, stop in Morristown and go to Singer Castle built by Frederic Gilbert Bourne, president of the Singer Sewing Machine Company.

• End: Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center

  

  From previous stop:

  50 minutes / 40 mi (64.0 km)

  Directions:

  Start out going southwest on James St. toward Market St. and then turn left onto Church St. Turn right onto NY-12 S, and continue straight to go onto NY-12E / STATE ST. Continue to follow NY-12E for 42.7 miles along the coast, and then turn right onto NY-180. Continue for 5.1 miles, turn slight right onto NY-3. Continue for 2.5 miles, then turn right onto Sulphur Springs Rd. Continue for 1.4 miles to reach the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center at the corner of Ray St. & West Main St

  The Great Lakes Seaway Trail Discovery Center is the first stop along the road trip east or west along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail. This gracious limestone structure was originally built as a hotel on the Sackets Harbor waterfront after the War of 1812 and is now Great Lakes Seaway Trail’s fully handicapped accessible year round interpretation storefront. Nine rooms of exhibits begin with a scenic windshield video tour of the byway. One-of-a-kind wall murals depict the landscape and waterfront scenes prevalent along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail. Interactive sport fishing anglers and a natural history room test for your knowledge of byway plants and animals with interactive exhibits encased in half-logs. A surprisingly lifelike animated Ulysses S. Grant greets you; he was stationed at nearby Madison Barrack as a young Army officer. Today he details the famous people who lived, worked and invented on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail. In the maritime room, a scenic video features 23 historic lighthouses and an apothecary cabinet checks your facts and trivia knowledge of the War of 1812. The Great Lakes Seaway Trail "talking cow" is eager to tell you the places to look, stop, and stay to learn about the dairy industry, experience life on the farm, and enjoy farm fresh foods. Stop in the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Gift Shop to check out our guidebook series and byway products, such as hand-made Native American Akwesasne sweet grass baskets. On Wednesdays at 5 pm consider a 90 minute Great Lakes Seaway Trail (guided) Walk; they leave from the Discovery Center June through September.

Totals for Day 4

Total Distance Traveled:	173 miles / 276.8 km
Total Travel Time:	3 hours 35 minutes
Total Stopping Time:	4 hours 30 minutes