"The Charbor Chronicles": Letchworth State Park

Thursday, May 19, 2022

Letchworth State Park - Our Visit on May 18, 2022

We needed a break from the grieving process.

So we decided that a change of scenery was in order. There were a few options that were less than one hour from Hornell. Ultimately, it came down to two real options. Hammondsport was one option. It was a fairly nearby town, and apparently had some New England style charm to it. It is an old town, and

The other option was Letchworth State Park, which apparently is known as the "Grand Canyon of the East." This seemed like quite high billing. Admittedly, we generally were a bit skeptical that it would live up to that kind of lofty billing.

Still, we decided to go ahead and visit Letchworth State Park.

As it would turn out, we were all pleasantly surprised by just how beautiful this park was. It almost felt as spectacular as Niagara Falls. In fact, we all agreed that on some levels, it was actually better than Niagara Falls. That is not to say that Niagara is not worth visiting, or anything. It is just that nowadays, it is surrounded by a virtual carnival atmosphere that, if anything, detracts from the magnificence and natural beauty. Here, you get probably get at least as close, if not perhaps even closer, to the falls themselves. And you do not have to compete with tens of thousands of tourists. Absent is the gimmickry that unfortunately now surrounds Niagara Falls. There is no casino or wax museum or observation tower or enormous Ferris wheel, and no flashing lights. All you have here is the wilderness itself, both surrounding it and, when you focus on the falls, serve as a backdrop. It is quiet enough around to allow you to both feel and hear the power of the falls.

By contrast, the waterfalls at Letchworth State Park were enhanced and pronounced by the rather astonishing natural beauty that surrounds it.

This park was truly amazing, with some breathtaking views of spectacular natural wonders. I am not sure that it should be known as the "Grand Canyon of the East," but that is not an insult on my end. It is just that it is different. There are nevertheless some layers on rocks that can be seen, which indeed is similar to the Grand Canyon. But it is obviously also much greener. This is upstate New York, after all. Also, water is more prominent. There are stunning waterfalls of incredible beauty, and you can get at least as close to them as you can to Niagara Falls, if not closer. Plus, you also have some incredible views of the river circling around some bluffs, which reminded me of Paige, Arizona, which is right by the Grand Canyon and, in fact, can almost be considered as part of it.

Again, this place is different. Don't expect the Grand Canyon, or Niagara Falls. Just come here and appreciate this place for all that it has to offer, because it is considerable. Again, stunning views of waterfalls, and quite close at points. Amazing aerial views of a canon and surrounding cliffs. The smell of flowers and pine trees, which reminded me of Christmas. And just an abundance of incredible natural beauty. Here, you will find peace and tranquility in abundance. For us, it was just what we all needed. It was a break from the grieving process, and a return to the splendors of natural wonders and incredible beauty.

Not only is this place worth visiting, but it is worth visiting multiple times. We all agreed that we would be coming here multiple times in the future.

Also, we all agreed that my father would have loved to come here. Of course, by the time my parents moved to this area, his health was such a concern, that it might not have been possible to visit it. Certainly, it would not have been easy. But had we known just how wonderful this place was, had we known more about it, perhaps we would have emphasized it much more, and made it happen. Again, we all felt that he would have enjoyed it.

Visiting this place allowed us to get away from sadness, from the pain of loss. It also allowed us to enjoy the grandeur of the wilderness, to reconnect with nature in all of the splendor during the spring season. New life. The fragrant scents of flowers at some points, and at other points, the intoxicating smell of pine trees that always reminds me of Christmas. This day allowed us to inhale and breathe in some fresh air. It allowed us to restore ourselves a bit.

For once, we visited a place that actually not only lived up to the billing, but exceeded it. There was skepticism on our part, admittedly, that the place would somehow not be quite as magical or beautiful as those glossy photos of the travel brochures advertised in trying to lure people suggested. Often times, it seems that the pictures are taken from certain angles to make these places look either much bigger, or more remote or accessible than they actually are. But for the most part, this place actually was grander and, if anything, more beautiful than it was advertised. No wonder it was voted the #1 state park in the entire country.

We came for a break from grieving. But we promised each other to return, and probably to return often, at that. And whatever your motivations for a visit, you should come to this place if you can, as well. There is nothing like the beauty and serenity of getting away from the insanity of our modern world, and getting real reminders of how magical a place this world can truly be. And here, we were able to reconnect, if you will, with nature, with our roots. Here, in Letchwood State Park, we found even more than we had been looking for, if only for a day.

Highly recommended!