Chenango Valley State Park is a Great Cheap Getaway

It's getting to be that crazy time of the year when Summer is fading but yet you want as much outside time as possible, before the temperatures keep us inside.  I'm not ready for that as there's still a whole lot of Summer in the Southern Tier.

When I was a 5th grader at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Binghamton, it was a big deal going to State Park on the big yellow bus.  And still to this day, one of my favorite places to go has to be Chenango Valley State Park, off i-88, in nearby Port Crane, New York.  For a nominal fee, you get over 15 miles of park to yourself, two kettle lakes, Lily and Chenango, 185 campsites with 24 cabins and golfers will appreciate the 18-hole Chenango Valley State Park Golf Course.  With me being the beach person I am, I like to swim in the beach area.  In fact, the State of New York invested $4 million dollars to upgrade comfort stations and cabins, new electrical systems, flood remediation, and a state of the art bathhouse.   One of the lifeguards I was talking with told me there are more beach upgrades to come, possibly taking out some of the concrete and replacing it with sand.

It truly is a great family getaway that more than 170-thousand people visit each year.  I had no idea but I guess the park gets quite busy for the holidays like the 4th of July and Labor Day.  My experience is the park is always easy to use, non-crowded and natually peaceful.  Feel free to bring your household pet, caged or on a leash not more than 6 feet, however, they will not be allowed in the bathing area.  In season, Gance's Catering has some yummy hotdogs and burgers.  A limited menu so you may want to pack your own lunch or snack.

Feel free to take the visual tour and have fun!   Let me know what you think of the improvements at State Park!

http://exploreamericasparks.org/ny/chenangovalley/vt/