Wonders of Western New York's Southern Tier

Houghton Inn is a clean and comfortable place to stay. I found the building itself to be rather uninteresting - it looks like a large version of a ready-made house. The decorating is somewhat bland but tactful. Still, it is probably the best-kept hotel in Allegany County. Our room, and indeed the whole hotel, was very quiet. Parking is just outside, although the whole town is within walking distance. If you are bringing your son or daughter to Houghton College, this is the nearest lodging, but your best bet is to book early - the 17 rooms fill fast during busy times.

This gas station, just outside of Letchworth State Park's south entrance, may seem unremarkable at first glance, but on a summer afternoon or evening, you'll continually find cars overflowing the parking lot and lines of customers inside. The Citgo offers pizza and wing specials, a quintessential Western New York combo, as well as packaged snack foods and other camping necessities. However, the masses are overwhelmingly drawn out by one item and one item only: custard. The soft-serve frozen custard served at the Portageville Citgo is reputed by those in the surrounding counties to be the best in New York (at least), worth a long drive, especially with popular Letchworth Park close by. The Citgo offers vanilla, chocolate, or twist, and a small size cone is plenty to feed any hungry adult. I've never even seen someone attempt to order a large. Unfortunately, too few visitors to the park know about this gem, the perfect addition to a day of hiking and outdoor adventure.

The Glen Iris, also a quaint and charming inn, on the grounds of Letchworth State Park, offers visitors an option for more upscale dining. The menu is varied and surprisingly adventurous. White-linen tablecloths and a friendly and helpful wait staff create an atmosphere away from the ruggedness of the park. The gorgeous lower dining room with panel windows offers views of the Middle Falls. One great thing about the Glen Iris is the variety of customers who patronize the restaurant. Foreign or out-of-state tourists can be found alongside local residents celebrating a special day. During the warm months, there are often weddings outside catered by the restaurant. The cozy atmosphere and high-quality ingredients make this a good dining choice, and it is also family-friendly.

Letchworth State Park is a gorgeous wildlife preserve centered around the Gennessee River, which forms three grand waterfalls in the park (High Falls, Middle Falls, and Lower Falls). The park provides great trails and activities like canoeing, horseback riding, skiing, as well as monuments and a small museum commemorating the history of the area. The park seems to be popular with New Yorkers who like to enjoy time outdoors and also with the local people who bring friends and family here in hoardes to show off the beauty of their neck of the woods. We enjoyed walking along the riverbed on the path that is provided which gives a continual sceneic view of the river. The Middle Falls are the largest and most popular. The Glen Iris Inn is nearby, which offers fairly upscale lodging and a white-tablecloth restaurant where we got quite a nice lunch. The museum did not offer a whole lot to see, but was a nice break to a day outdoors. Up the hill, we were shown the monuments to the "white woman of the Genessee," who was apparently taken captive by the Seneca tribe and became a part of their culture. Two cabins are preserved nearby which showcase the culture that was once part of this area. Most guests seem to be attracted to Letchworth for the waterfalls, but there is plenty more to see.

The Hamlet of Wiscoy in the township of Hume, part of Allegany County, is home to a set of falls that is popular with the locals. The water first cascades over a dam, then creates no less than four falls as it travels 90 feet down in less than 1 mile. This is not a well-developed or well-publicized tourist destination, and this allows the visitor to have full access to the water. Trails run just alongside the falls and can be muddy and treacherous during rainy times, but provide a great location for a family hike. There is a significant amount of climbing to reach some of the higher falls, but nothing extremely dangerous. Although the water is freezing-cold for the majority of the year, during hot summer months, you can wade out into the river and dunk yourself into the falls. Be careful, as the current can be quite powerful and there are also large sinkholes every so often (look for aqua-blue patches). The abandoned mill near the road provides a beautiful photo opportunity and is the closest place to leave your car. Camping is also a popular activity here during the summer, so don't be surprised to run into other outdoor types, but the area is generally quiet and peaceful, a great place for a swim or a picnic.