Howe Caverns Eliminating The Picnic Area

As my daughter, Tara gets ready to go away to Messiah College later this month, I've been reflecting on many of the things that we've done together. One of my favorite memories is our trip to Howe Caverns.

Get our free mobile app

Taking the 15 floor elevator ride down and taking a boat ride in the second most visited natural attraction (behind Niagara Falls) in New York. The story behind the discovery of Howe Caverns is fascinating and people come from ALL OVER THE WORLD to visit.

It is a wonderful place to visit but not enough people are respecting this natural wonder of the world in our backyard. Because of the disrespect for Howe Caverns, they have removed the picnic area.

Trash Left Behind At Howe Caverns

Howe Caverns

The last straw was on Tuesday, August 8th, when yet another group left food, paper, and garbage EVERYWHERE in their picnic area. After a long day of entertaining, instead of going home to their families for food and rest, they are cleaning the mess that others have left.

It took an hour and a half and it wasn't the first time that it's happened. The really sad part is that there were trash cans only 10 feet away and they were empty. Because of the irresponsibility of a few, every one will now pay the price.

The picnic area is gone and groups will no longer be allowed to bring ANY outside food onto the property. Food will have to be purchased in their cafe and eaten in the designated dining areas ONLY. The lack of respect for their property is UNACCEPTABLE and I don't blame them for taking this action.

If you're looking for some other different places to visit in New York, check out these oddities below.

9 Upstate New York Oddities

Upstate New York; a place filled with nature, culture, community, and of course, a few oddities and roadside attractions thrown in as well.

What's fun about a completely normal, cookie-cutter place? Nothing.

Bringing the odd, confusing, and fun, here are 9 Upstate New York Oddities!

Keep reading

LOOK: Stunning vintage photos capture the beauty of America's national parks

Today these parks are located throughout the country in 25 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The land encompassing them was either purchased or donated, though much of it had been inhabited by native people for thousands of years before the founding of the United States. These areas are protected and revered as educational resources about the natural world, and as spaces for exploration.

Keep scrolling for 50 vintage photos that show the beauty of America's national parks.