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A Cross Country Ski Program Designed For Women, Taught by Women!
Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center will host a women’s-only ski program Saturday, January 25 from 9:30am – 2:30pm. Pre-registration is required.
The popular five-hour ski program, “Lapland Ladies Love to Ski”, is geared to beginner and intermediate skiers. Focus is on classic ski technique.
Cost for the program is $40 or $55 if participants need rental equipment. Included is a day-long facility use pass, instruction, lunch with equipment & clothing discussion, social group ski with instructors, group wrap-up, hot beverage and equipment discount coupon. The program is led by Lapland Lake’s PSIA-certified instructors Susan Henriksson and Jan Mares.
“Come learn to classic ski or come to improve your skills in our supportive, non-competitive environment. This program is ability grouped and taught by women, for women,” according to Susan Henriksson.
A complete cross country ski and snowshoe facility in its 36th winter season, Lapland Lake offers fully equipped rental and retail shops, a comfortable two-story warming lodge with snack bar and trailside Tuulen Tupa Grill. The trail system has 50km of trails for all ability levels. 38km are marked, mapped and snowcat groomed with trackset and skating lanes; 12km are ungroomed, marked, mapped snowshoe trails.
In addition to cross country skiing and snowshoeing, other resort activities include ice-skating, tubing on two junior hills, wilderness ski touring and visiting with the resort’s resident reindeer!
Lodging is available in private rooms and 10 private housekeeping cottages. Lodging packages include use of trails each day and evening including days of arrival and departure, use of the Finnish wood burning sauna and 50% off one regularly scheduled group ski lesson per person. Attractive lodging discounts are offered non-holiday Sunday through Thursday nights.
Lapland Lake has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors through the years including the Tourism Partner Award by the Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council’s Private Sector Tourism Partnership Award; Best XC Ski Resort in the Mid Atlantic Region and Best XC Ski Resort for Families, Best XC Ski Resort Poll; and Top Ten XC Ski Resort Catering to Families, xc ski resorts.com.
Located in the south-central portion of the Adirondack Forest Preserve, Lapland Lake is just over an hour’s drive from Schenectady; only 60 miles from Albany and Utica; four hours from New York City and Boston.
Lapland Lake may be contacted at 518-863-4974, vacation@laplandlake.com and online at www.laplandlake.com.
New Website To Promote Historical Tourism in Mohawk Valley Region
The Mohawk Valley played a pivotal role in the American Revolution and a new website will not only spotlight its significance but also promote the region as a premier, historically-themed travel destination.
The Mohawk Valley Region Path Through History recently launched its website, MohawkValleyHistory.com, featuring information on Revolutionary War forts and battlefields, colonial-era structures, and Native American cultural centers, in an easy-to-use, educational format.
MohawkValleyHistory.com ties historically and culturally significant places, people, and events throughout the Mohawk Valley Region together in one story—as “American’s First Frontier.” The project is part of the statewide tourism venture, New York State Path Through History.
MohawkValleyHistory.com will be a hub for visitors to plan trips using themed itineraries and an events calendar, view the Region’s complete listing of Revolutionary War-related historic sites, and locate nearby merchants, including restaurants, shopping, and lodging.
“I am very excited to see the project launch its website,” stated Gina DaBiere-Gibbs, Fulton County Director of Tourism and MVPTH Committee member. “The Mohawk Valley’s role in the Revolutionary War was significant and the website will allow the Region to tell its story to the world.”
“The Mohawk Valley Region houses a plethora of historical assets which are now connected in a large scale marketing project to highlight their significance to each other and drive tourism to the Region.” DaBiere-Gibbs continues, “Previous to the Path Through History project, each site and the individual counties would market similar experiences separately from each other. The joint effort, which includes the website, allows travelers to access regional information in a central location built specifically to put the spotlight on our abundant history.”
The MVPTH Region is comprised of Oneida, Herkimer, Otsego, Fulton, Montgomery, Schoharie and Saratoga Counties. MVPTH plans to collaborate with other regions across the state as new projects and historical themes emerge.
Fulton County historical sites featured on MohawkValleyHistory.com include Johnson Hall State Historic Site, the Drumm House, and Fulton County Museum. Montgomery County sites include Fort Plain Museum and Historical Park, Fort Klock, National Kateri Tekakawitha Shrine and Mohawk Caughnawaga Indian Museum, and the Arkell Museum, among others.
“The Mohawk Valley Path Through History website helps to tell important stories about the region’s history—stories that can only be experienced first-hand in the Mohawk Valley and creates a compelling incentive to choose the Mohawk Valley as a travel destination,” explains Jacki Meola, Economic Development Specialist for the Montgomery County Business Development Center. “While Montgomery County itself is filled with historically and culturally significant sites and events, this website helps link us with other historic resources in our area, and allows the traveler to experience the places and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past.”
Additional interactive features and social media tools for MohawkValleyHistory.com are slated to be unveiled in Spring 2014. Currently MVPTH can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/mohawkvalleyhistory; on Twitter, twitter.com/MVPTH; followed on Instagram as #mvpath; and Pinterest, pinterest.com/mvpth.
Holiday Open House at Johnson Hall
In conjunction with the City of Johnstown’s Colonial Stroll holiday activities, Johnson Hall State Historic Site will hold an Open House on Friday, December 6 from 5pm to 8:30pm.
Johnson Hall’s first floor will be decorated for the holiday season, where music of the 18th century will be performed by Ron Burch and Olof Jansson, members of Liaison Plaisantes. Refreshments will be offered in the historic butler’s pantry. The museum shop will offer 25% off for holiday shopping that evening. Horse-drawn wagon rides of the mansion’s south lawn will be available to visitors between 6pm and 8pm.
In addition, between 6pm and 8:30pm, a shuttle van will loop between Johnson Hall and a shuttle stop on Main Street in front of the park.
The evening’s event is free and open to the public. Donations will be gratefully accepted and will be earmarked for the continued restoration of Sir William’s bedchamber.
Johnson Hall’s Open House is part of the area’s Heritage Holidays in the Mohawk Valley, a collaboration of holiday celebrations taking place three weekends at eight local historic sites. Pick up a passport, visit at least three of the sites and be entered into a drawing for a gift basket.
This year’s event is co-sponsored by Johnson Hall, the Friends of Johnson Hall, Johnstown Historical Society, and Goderie’s Tree Farm.
Johnson Hall State Historic Site is located at 139 Hall Avenue in historic Johnstown, just off West State Street (State Highway 29 West). For more information, visit www.nysparks.com or www.friendsofjohnsonhall.org, or email darlene.rogers@parks.ny.gov to be placed on the Site’s emailing list.
Sports Card Show set for Johnstown
The 23rd Annual Thanksgiving Eve Sports Card & Sports Memorabilia Show will take place on Wednesday November 27th (5pm-10pm) at the Johnstown Moose Club, 109 South Comrie Avenue (Route 30A) in Johnstown. The show will feature 60 Dealer Tables full of Sports Cards & related Sports Memorabilia from Baseball, Football, Basketball, Hockey and NASCAR from the late 1800’s up to the 2014 Releases. Single cards, sets, autographed items and collector supplies will be available. Admission to the event is $2 and will automatically enter you for free drawings of Sports Memorabilia and 20lb Turkeys throughout the night. Also, the Twin Cities Autograph Raffle will be taking place featuring numerous items signed by sports stars & hall of famers, with the Grand Prize being an autographed Ted Williams Lithograph. For more information, visit the event website at www.tcsportspromotions.com or contact Mike Hauser at 518-725-5565.
Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center’s Annual Open House
Lapland Lake Nordic Vacation Center will host its two-day annual Open House Saturday and Sunday, November 23 and 24 from 9:00am – 4:30pm each day. Visitors are invited to tour the Finnish-style four-season vacation center which is celebrating its 35th anniversary year.
Open House is free of charge to all. Facility use fees will be half-price both days for those wishing to ski, snowshoe, tube and ice skate (conditions permitting). If there is no snow, visitors are welcome to enjoy complimentary hiking on the resort’s 50km trail system.
Visitors may enter a door prize drawing for a choice of any pair of new skis in stock OR a 2013-14 Season Pass Membership. If the individual whose name is drawn has already purchased their 2013-14 Membership, his or her purchase price will be refunded.
During the two-day Open House all new cross country ski and snowshoe equipment will be discounted 30%. Rental ski packages will be available for purchase from $125.00 for juniors and from $175.00 for adults. Season-long equipment rentals ($75 – $180 plus deposit) will be available as well. Lapland Lake’s operator, former US Olympian Olavi Hirvonen, will assist with proper equipment selection and sizing.
Spencer Morrissey, author of the newly published book, Adirondack Skier, a guide to some of the best trails in the Adirondack Park for cross country skiing, will be at the resort’s Finnish Line Lodge Saturday from 11am – 3pm to meet with customers and sign books.
Lapland Lake Season Pass Memberships will be available at normally reduced early-season rates; regular season pass rates go into effect Saturday, December 1st. For the sixth consecutive year all children ages 17 and under will receive free memberships when at least one of their parents purchases a 2013-14 Lapland Lake Season Pass Membership!
Attendees may visit with Lapland Lake’s reindeer at his lakeside home and enjoy complimentary cookies, hot chocolate, coffee and tea at the resort’s Tuulen Tupa Grill.
Lapland Lake has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors including the Adirondack Regional Tourism Council’s Private Sector Tourism Partnership Award; Best XC Ski Resort in the Mid Atlantic Region and Best XC Ski Resort for Families, Best XC Ski Resort Poll; Top Ten XC Ski Resort Catering to Families, xc ski resorts.com and Fulton County’s Tourism Partner Award.
A complete cross country ski and snowshoe facility, Lapland Lake offers fully equipped rental and retail shops, a comfortable warming lodge with snack bar, a trailside restaurant and overnight accommodations in private housekeeping cottages. The trail system has 50km of trails for all ability levels. 38km are marked, mapped and snowcat groomed with trackset and skating lanes; 12km are ungroomed, marked, mapped snowshoe trails. Cross country ski lessons are offered daily by the resort’s staff of PSIA-certified instructors. Other activities include ice-skating, tubing, sledding, kicksledding and wilderness ski touring. A full winter Calendar of Special Events is also offered.
Located in the south-central Adirondacks, Lapland Lake is conveniently located just over an hour’s drive from Schenectady; 60 miles from Albany and Utica; four hours from New York City and Boston. Interested individuals may visit online at www.laplandlake.com or contact Lapland Lake for information at 518.863.4974 or vacation@laplandlake.com.
Fulton County Represented on State Holiday Tree
The Fulton Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce announces Fulton County’s participation in “Decorate the Empire State”, the New York State Capitol Holiday Tree.
Gina DaBiere-Gibbs, Director of Tourism for Fulton County, was recently contacted by Curatorial Services in the Empire State Plaza, the department coordinating “Decorate the Empire State”. According to the correspondence she received, “Every year, the New York State Capitol features themed Holiday Trees. This year’s theme is “Decorate the Empire State!” We are reaching out to each New York State county and requesting a donation of holiday ornaments that best represents their county.”
“With the short timeframe we were given, the Tourism Department was able to secure two ornaments to send for inclusion on the State’s Holiday Tree to represent Fulton County,” states DaBiere-Gibbs. “Joyce Teshoney, at the Adirondack Country Store in Northville, generously donated hand painted ornaments by Pam Ackerknecht.”
The Adirondack Country Store regularly stocks these beautiful ornaments along with many other treasures. On December 7, the store will host a Holiday Open House featuring Pam painting and personalizing her ornaments. Mulled cider and Christmas cookies and Holiday specials will also be a part of this annual event.
For more information about Fulton County events visit our calendar.
Fulton County Foliage Report: Week of October 23-29
I LOVE NY started their Fall Foliage Reports on September 11 and will continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November. Fulton County will also continue participation in this annual report.
Gloversville week of October 23-29
Fulton County Report for the Week of October 23-29:
Reporting station: Fulton County Tourism Department, Gloversville
Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend: 100%
Brilliance: Dull
Predominating colors: Rust, little orange, little yellow
Rating: Past Peak
This week will likely be the last leaf report for Fulton County in 2013. The weather forecast has some rain, possible snow showers, and high temperatures in the 50s and lows in the 20s. It is time to start thinking WINTER!
Of course for winter tourism to be successful and at its finest with 44 Lakes…44 Choices, we need cold temperatures to freeze our lakes for ice fishing and a lot of snow for snowmobiling, skiing, and snowshoeing. Call for a FREE copy of our snowmobile trails map!
1.800.676.3858
‘Fresh’ Look for Upstate Agritourism Launched Today
Central New York agritourism gets a fresh spin with a website and marketing campaign launched today.
Designed to draw tourists and spark economic growth, CNY Fresh invites guests to experience the “Flavors of Central New York” through produce, farms, markets, farm-to-table restaurants and food-related festivals across a 10-county region.
CNYFresh.com provides a definitive listing of agricultural destinations in Broome, Madison, Schoharie, Otsego, Oneida, Herkimer, Chenango, Montgomery, Fulton and Onondaga counties. In addition to its exceptional collection of fresh products, the region is steep in a long history of high-quality agriculture.
Farm experiences, pumpkin patches, orchards, breweries and wineries are among the attractions. CNYFresh.com also highlights hundreds of events happening across Central New York, including farmers markets and festivals. The website features a “Find Fresh” map that allows travelers to explore Central New York by county and plan their trip.
“This campaign will positively impact local and state sales tax revenue as well as occupancy tax receipts collected throughout the participating counties,” said Kelly Blazosky, president of Oneida County Tourism and chair of the Central New York Vacation Region. “This increases the overall economic impact of agriculture and tourism, further sustaining 34,090 tourism jobs and 17,754 agriculture jobs across the 10 counties.”
Syracuse-based ABC Creative Group created CNYFresh.com and will handle all advertising and promotion of the initiative made possible by a CFA grant received by Oneida County Tourism from Empire State Development, Division of Tourism.
Fulton County Foliage Report: Week of October 16-22
I LOVE NY started their Fall Foliage Reports on September 11 and will continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November. Fulton County will also continue participation in this annual report.
Gloversville week of October 16-22
Fulton County Report for the Week of October 16-22:
Reporting station: Fulton County Tourism Department, Gloversville
Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend: 100%
Brilliance: Average to Dull
Predominating colors: Orange, yellow, rust (many leaves have fallen)
Rating: Past Peak
The leaves are starting to lose their bright colors. While some orange and yellow remain, the color has changed to rust and is becoming dull. Many leaves have fallen and cover lawns and paths making for picturesque autumn scenery.
The temperatures have been mild this fall and the forecast looks promising for another beautiful weekend. Halloween events and harvest festivals highlight the upcoming weekends. Visit our calendar to learn more about all of the exciting happenings in Fulton County.
1.800.676.3858
Fulton County Foliage Report: Week of October 9-15
I LOVE NY started their Fall Foliage Reports on September 11 and will continue until the end of the foliage season, around the first or second week in November. Fulton County will also continue participation in this annual report.
Northville week of October 9-15
Fulton County Report for the Week of October 9-15:
Reporting station: Fulton County Tourism Department, Gloversville
Percent of trees predicted to have changed by the coming weekend: 90-100%
Brilliance: Average to Bright
Predominating colors: Red, orange, yellow, still some green
Rating: Peak to Past Peak
The Southern Adirondacks of Fulton County are splashed with an array of reds, yellow, and oranges. In the lower elevations many highlights of green are still visible. But the leaves continue to change each day. The forecast for the remainder of the week through the weekend is sunny making for the best light to see the vibrant colors of autumn.
As I have mentioned before, many trees are shedding their leaves lining roads, walkways, and yards with fallen leaves and pine needles. I believe this weekend will be the last chance to see the picturesque fall foliage if you have not done so already.
Visit our calendar for more fun in Fulton County!
1.800.676.3858