A Trip Out West

It’s crazy to think the last blog post I have on here is from March of this year. Life has been crazy and I haven’t had the time I’ve wanted to spend on my blog or sharing content. But today, I’m back and I’m sharing a special trip I took with my sister, Amber, back in August. It was our first sister trip and our first time going to a National Park. I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors and being in nature and since Covid I find the time I enjoy the most is when I’m outside and not being connected to technology.

Upper Emerald Pools Trail

Amber and I flew into Vegas and took the short drive to Utah and spent a majority of our trip in Springdale, where Zion National Park is. We did do a day trip to Bryce Canyon National Park which was cool to experience. The two parks are so opposite of each other. We were there for 4 1/2 days excluding travel days and I think if we had another day we could have fit in at least one more National Park but there’s always next time.

While we both went in with expectations of the park being overcrowded to our surprise it wasn’t that bad. We went the last week of August heading into Labor Day weekend and what we had on our side was the extreme heat, and going in the middle of the week. We woke early and were on the trails by 7am, 7:30am the latest and by the time we finished hiking the trails we wanted for the day we saw more people heading into the parks. We spent the mid afternoons by the pool relaxing and soaking up the sun and exploring the shops in the small towns.

It’s hard to say which trail was my favorite because each one offered a different challenge, a different experience and different views, all of which were beautiful. Bryce Canyon was a very cool experience but definitely more challenging for me. While there was descent on the trails there was also ascent and the drop offs at some points definitely challenged my fear of heights but it was so worth it in the end to say I accomplished that.

Amber and I at Bryce Canyon National Park

Before we even left to come home I was already telling Amber I wanted to start planning our next trip. I never thought I would have enjoyed Utah as much as I did, to be quite honest I never even had Utah on my list of places to go until I started researching National Parks to visit. It’s funny how life can surprise you with things you don’t necessarily plan for yourself.

Until next time.

-B

Zion National Park - Trails we hiked:

• Emerald Pool Trails -

  • Lower

  • Middle

  • Upper

• Watchman Trail

• The Grotto Trail

• The Narrows - we started this trail late morning after completing a different trail. It was a great experience but we only hiked 3-4 miles out of the 9.4.

Bryce Canyon National Park - Trails we hiked:

• Sunrise Point

• Sunset Point

• Inspiration Point

• Queen Trail

Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy

I’m a lover of all things outdoors and my love for the parks grew stronger this past year when all I felt comfortable doing during the pandemic was taking walks and hikes. Give me some fresh air + green space and it just fuels my soul, calms my nerves and gives me some peace + clarity.

Fast forward to the Fall of 2020 when I came across a social media post from Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy (BOPC) looking for young professionals in the community to join their new initiative - Young Professionals for Olmsted Parks (YPOP), I immediately applied hoping that I would be accepted into the program.

In January of this year 50+ young professionals came together (via zoom) with the BOPC staff to meet for the first time. Through this new initiative, we are able to support the Conservancy's mission to care for Buffalo's Olmsted Parks. YPOP members are involved with activities like park tours, volunteer events, networking sessions and fundraising initiatives. It’s been four months and I’ve met a lot of great people and have learned so much about our Buffalo Parks.

With Spring officially here, people heading outside and Earth Day next week I wanted to share more information about the organization, what you can do to help support and sustain our Olmsted Parks and learn more about the creative Development Team who are always finding innovative ways to engage with the community.

The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy is the first nonprofit in the nation to manage and operate an urban park system.

The Conservancy cares for 850 acres of Olmsted-designed parks, parkways, circles and smaller spaces and has more than 1 million visitors each year. From BPOC’s website:

Frederick Law Olmsted believed the purpose of green space was to “refresh and delight the eye and through the eye, mind and spirit.” Upon touring the City of Buffalo in 1868, he convinced the city’s leaders that not one park – as in New York City’s Central Park – but multiple parks would better serve Buffalo’s needs.

The Buffalo Olmsted Park System is composed of six parks, seven parkways and eight circles and have a talented and dedicated team of individuals that maintain and operate these spaces all year round. Another division of the team helps sustain the Conservancy by donor cultivations, fundraising initiatives, marketing and more and that’s there Development Team. This team consists of Catie Stephenson, Director of Development + Communications, Sarah Larkin, PR + Events Coordinator and Zhi Ting Phua, Marketing Communications Specialist. Learn more about them and the work they do below.

photo’s courtesy of Sarah Larkin, BOPC

What's the most unique/one-of-a-kind thing about your position? 

Sarah: I’m able to think out of the box and create a brand new program like YPOP! But also, being able to just pop by one of the parks during the day to check in on a project or with the operations crew. To be able to break up the day at the office, it’s amazing that our other office space is our Parks.

Zhi: Being in the communications team offers me several opportunities to interact, learn and engage with staff from every Conservancy department. I hope to use my position to celebrate and acknowledge the hard work and talents of my colleagues as we work together to fulfill our mission to steward Buffalo’s Olmsted Parks.

What's something the public may not know about your position? 

Catie: I think there’s a perception that development professionals are 100% focused on asking for money. In reality, development is about building relationships with people who have similar values and interests. While finding funding to support our organizational mission is important, it’s equally important to connect with people on a personal level and find those connections that sustain relationships for the long term.

What does the Olmsted Park system mean to you? 

Sarah: A free attraction that’s open to the public 365 days a year. These parks are the true lungs to our city.

Zhi: Our Olmsted Parks are places we can find peace, solitude and comfort.

Catie: I love thinking about how the Olmsted Parks have served me throughout my life. When I was little, I played soccer in the parks. When I was in high school and college, the parks and parkways became a place to meet and spend time with friends. Now that I have my own family, they are spaces for my son to play and enjoy nature, and for us to spend time together. I’m so proud to work for BOPC and give back to these parks that have given so much to me.

What's your favorite thing about Buffalo/WNY? 

Sarah: Buffalo Pride. The amount of Buffalo clothing or house decorations I own that are Buffalo themed is not healthy, but I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. 

Zhi: I find so much joy walking/running the Olmsted parkways and savoring delicious food all around the city!

Catie: I love how Buffalonians make conversation with people we don’t know at any time, in any place. That friendliness and warmth gives me life!

Favorite Olmsted event and why? 

Sarah: The Olmsted Gala is kind of the culmination event of the park season. It’s a big celebration with our donors and the community to celebrate all that we accomplished during the park season. And also be able to celebrate with the Olmsted staff.

Zhi: Outdoor Family Movie Nights are one of my favorites! I love how we use our Olmsted green spaces to offer a classic, family-friendly and free activity to Buffalonians.

Catie: Any event that allows us to connect with park users be it a walking tour, a bike tour, or a fundraising event. I love meeting new people and sharing stories!

Most memorable moment of your job and why? 

Sarah: The kickoff of the YPOP Program. In 2019, an idea popped into my head of creating a young professionals program and it was pretty surreal to see it all come together and officially launch!

Zhi: Leading my first walking tour around Hoyt Lake was great fun! I am especially thankful to our volunteer historian Jim Mendola for his trust and guidance. Buffalo’s Olmsted Park System turns 153 years old in 2021, and I am so glad to be able to share the stories of our historic greenspaces and structures, especially when these spaces mean something different to everyone.

Catie: There are so many memorable moments – the 150th celebration of Olmsted, FLOmingos, Wednesdays with Olmsted, team volunteer projects – too many to choose from!

What advice can you share with people that they can take and apply/help our parks? 

Catie: Parks need people. Olmsted designed these spaces not just for Buffalo in 1868, but for the Buffalo of today. His vision was extraordinarily innovative and we need people to sustain and advocate for our parks to ensure they are available for the next generation.

What are some fun ways the community can get involved with Olmsted Parks as we head into the warmer months? 

Zhi: Follow the Conservancy on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! Our social media handle is @bfloparks. There will be a mix of virtual and in-person engagement opportunities, and we would love to have you!

Catie: Volunteer! We are always looking for individual volunteers or volunteer groups to help support the care and maintenance of these spaces.

Can you explain the work that goes into getting the parks, parkways and circles ready for the spring and summer months? 

Zhi: Every season of the year has its own needs and priorities. For example, in the winter, snow plowing and icing pathways throughout the park system is essential. To get ready for spring and summer (which we refer to as the “park season”), seed sowing of over 12,000 plants is a crucial project that begins at the end of January in the MLK Jr. Park greenhouse. This growing process lasts through May, when the plants grow large enough to be transplanted from the greenhouse to the flowerbeds in the Olmsted Parks. The operations team also tend to the green spaces catered for various park activities such as striping the soccer fields, preparing the golf greens for tee times and restoring the turf at areas with high foot traffic.

Catie: While the parks may seem quiet over the winter, the operations team never stops! When spring arrives, the team kicks into high gear assessing and fixing any winter damage, prepping beds for planting, coordinating full scale clean ups, preparing for mowing season, cleaning trails and pathways, and partnering with other departments to ensure we’re ready for a busy park season.

What impact does the Olmsted Parks Conservancy have on the City of Buffalo and on the community? 

Catie: The Olmsted Park System provides a one-of-a-kind space for health, wellness, and connection to each other and nature. Across the world, cities are trying to find ways to connect their parks with the exact parkway system we have in Buffalo. We have something special here in Buffalo and I hope it makes everyone proud.

Can you share your favorite spot at your favorite park and why? 

Sarah: My favorite spot is on either Lincoln or Bidwell Parkway and looking down at the lines of symmetrical trees. On a beautiful summer day with the plush trees, it’s just so satisfying to see that design right in front of you.

Zhi: I appreciate the parkways and circles as they represent a connective tissue in an urban and growing city, but I do have a soft spot for Cazenovia Park! If you are not sure why, you should take a walk at Caz to find out for yourself!

What is one of your most memorable or fun collaborations that you've gotten to work on? 

Sarah: I would say that for the Gala last year, when were pivoting everything to virtual, we partnered with WKBW on a 30 minute Olmsted special that aired the night of, what would have been, our Gala. I really got to put my creative producer hat on and work with everyone at WKBW to make the special our own. It was a really great feeling to see the end result and know how much hard work our team put into that project.

How did you get your start in the position you hold? 

Sarah: I have a background in Public Relations and Events. I’ve always been a planner and logistical queen, so I knew the event route was something I’d enjoy. My past jobs have included a mix of PR and Events at the Buffalo Bills, M&T Bank, Canalside and the NF Conference Center.

Zhi: I started as a photography volunteer for the Conservancy, somehow wiggled in as a Marketing intern and applied to join the d=Development and Communications department full-time.

What is one thing you have learned during your time with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy? 

Sarah: That you should love what you do for work. When you love what you’re doing daily, it doesn’t event seem like work. Everyone at the Conservancy is very passionate about the work that they do, which makes for a strong Olmsted family and amazing work culture.

Zhi: When you believe in the mission of your organization, it provides you with greater inspiration and motivation to work hard and excel. The Conservancy’s mission is so much larger than myself, it is multi-faceted and a huge undertaking. Yet, it all began in 1978 thanks to a group of young park advocates who had the foresight, urgency and courage to speak up for our green spaces. Isn’t this piece of history marvelous?

Are there other parks (doesn't have to be in WNY) that you look to for ideas, collaborations or inspiration? 

Catie: Yes! Over the last few years, we have worked hard to build relationships with other conservancies and parks organizations across the country. We even visited a few prior to COVID. It’s wonderful to have a group of people to brainstorm with and share ideas. Olmsted’s 200th birthday is coming up in 2022, which will be a national celebration with a good deal of collaboration.

If you could describe your co-worker(s) with a superpower, what would it be and why? 

Sarah: The Dream Team – we are all Wonder Women!

 Catie: The creativity and commitment of this team is unparalleled. I’m so proud to work with them!

Winter Activities

We are well over the halfway mark of the winter season (officially 23 days until Spring!) and while I can’t wait for the warmer weather to come back, I’ve tried to really embrace winter for all that it is this year. To be honest I don’t think we’ve had a really bad winter, the grey skies and cold temps can be daunting some days but we haven’t had unfathomable snow amounts.

winter walks at Front Park

Over the last few weeks despite the cold I set a goal for myself to get outside and get in as much fresh air as I can, even if it’s a short walk it can work wonders on my mental health. Below I share some of the places I’ve gone for walks and other winter activities I’ve done and things I’d still like to do before the season is over.

greenhouse at MLK Jr. Park

Walking/Visiting the Olmsted Parks. I’m part of a new young professionals group, YPOP for Olmsted, so when the idea was tossed out there to meet up at a park and network it was a no brainer for me to participate in as many of these meet-ups that I could. Not only have I met some pretty cool yp’s but I also walked around some parks I don’t get to visit that often. Some of the parks we walked were Cazenovia Park, Delaware Park, Front Park and MLK Jr. Park.

Another place that my niece, Savannah and I visited a couple weeks ago was the Charles E. Burchfield Nature and Art Center in West Seneca, even though the trails are short we made the most of our time exploring, rolling down snow mounds, looking at the art work and Savannah got to play on the playground for a little bit.

Tifft Nature Preserve has been another great winter spot where my niece, nephew and I have visited this winter season. Great all year round, its nice to visit and explore what’s around you.

The Niagara Wine Trail - last weekend a couple friends and myself did a day trip up to Niagara County. Spring Lake Winery was great, they offer smore’s, a glass of wine or beer (or non-alcoholic drinks) and a bonfire for an hour. Tickets are $12. This was great for the snowy day that it was. We then went to Niagara Landing, they are taking reservations for tastings which is nice because it wasn’t crowded. The last place we went was Arrowhead Winery, there space is so big that it was easy to social distance yourself from the other visitors and the view out the window was pretty nice.

Things I’d still like to do before winter is over:

• Snow Shoeing at one of the parks in the area. I hear Ellicott Creek Park may be good for this, suggestions are welcome!

• Cross Country skiing (I haven’t done this since I was in high school)

• Night Tubing under the lights at Peek’ n Peak Resort

Getting Outdoors & Catching Some Fresh Air...

Rock City Park. Olean, NY.

Over the course of these last 8-9 weeks I’ve visited some “hiking spots” around the WNY region. One of the only things helping me not spiral into a very deep depression is getting outside, getting some fresh air and being in nature. It’s really helped clear my head, not think about reality (even if its just for a few moments) and just be.

Some of these spots may be well known to most, some may not consider them real hiking places, and some may not be aware of any of these locations or have never been, regardless of any of those things, below I break down where I’ve been so far and my opinion of each place.

Hemlock Canadice State Forest. No Shoes. No Problem.

Hemlock Canadice State Forest (Canadice Haul Road Trail) - located in the Finger Lake region (about an hour and a half from Buffalo) this was a tricky place to find. There wasn’t one spot per say where you could enter and exit from a trail, at least not noticeably. I took my niece and nephew with me and we found a few spots off the sides of the road that seemed like they were hiking entrances but it didn’t look clear enough. After driving around for a little bit, we came to one spot where we got out and walked a short distance to the lake. I let the kids put their feet in the water and throw some rocks before we headed back to trying to find a more defined trail. Eventually, as I was just about to give up, we came across the Canadice Haul Road Trail, it was a nice trail, clean, quiet and not overly populated with people. We made it about 20 -30 minutes in before the kids said their legs were getting tired so we turned around. I have to remind myself they are kids and not adults.

Overall verdict, a little tricky to find a trail but once we found one it was worth it. It is a drive so I would plan this as a whole day trip, pack some water and snacks (especially if you have little ones you’re bringing with you). Another note - once we found the Canadice Haul Road Trail my cell service was very limited and spotty, keep that in mind as you plan ahead.

Rock City Park

Rock City Park - Located in the southern tier (Olean, NY) this park features an array of rock formations and hiking trail(s) that will leave every visitor happy. There is an admission to this park - $5 for adults/teens $3 for children 6-12 years old and hours of operation are 9-6pm daily (last admission to the park is 5pm). This place was easy to get to, about a hour and a half from Buffalo and was a lot of fun. My sister and I took my niece and nephew and they had a blast. For the most part adults and kids can crawl, walk, climb through, above, and in-between various rock formations that are throughout the trails within the park. They provide you with a trail map so you know what rock formations you are looking at and you get a little bit of history with each one. This is a great place to go whether or not you have kids. Its dog friendly too, as long as your dog remains on a leash. There are some steep steps and uneven, rugged terrain so if you’re looking for a nice, relaxing hike this may not be the best trail to walk.

Overall - fun, dog and kid-friendly, there is a cost to enter, definitely a place to go for those looking for an adventure.

Akron Falls - About a 35 minute drive from Buffalo this is a nice, big park and has a playground area (even though we didn’t go there). The trails are easy for the most part and the view of the waterfall is very nice. Only downfall I would say - the people crowding near the waterfall to take pictures, it made it hard to safely social distance. My niece and nephew really liked this location. The accessibility and ease of walking around I think they favored. The waterfall was a perk.

Knox Farms - About a 40 minute drive from Buffalo, this is a favorite of mine (and Harlie’s). The park is big enough to walk the trails, have a picnic or simply sit on a bench and just stare out at the beautiful scenery. Now that the dog park is open you can also let your best pal run around in the designated areas if you so choose. I like the ability to properly social distance yourself at this park. I also like the little reading library along one of the trails. My niece and nephew have been here a few times throughout the summer and they enjoyed it very much. Harlie loves when I take her for walks here, its one of the first spots I took her to as a puppy and she still loves it to this day.

Reinstein Woods - About a 15-20 minute drive from Buffalo, Reinstein Woods is bigger than what I thought it would be. it has multiple trails with beautiful lily ponds, its really forestry in a residential area where you may not think it would be and they have great directional signage at the main entrance so people are properly entering and exiting the trails and staying socially distanced. My niece and nephew liked this place up until they saw signs to be cautious of ticks and then they thought they were going to get one on them so it made it not so pleasant. No dogs are allowed here, but overall I thought it was a nice place, close to home and I would definitely go back.

Presque Isle State Park

Presque Isle State Park - Located in Erie, PA Presque Isle was about a two, to two and a half hour drive. My sister and I took my niece and nephew to go to one of the many beaches on site, but they have an abundance of trails that you can bike, walk, run or roller blade on and beautiful views of the Lake Erie. The kids loved the beach, even though it was one of those extremely hot days, they loved being in the water and playing in the sand. This was a great day trip, and cost next to nothing (outside of gas & toll money really). It’s definitely a place I’d go back to and spend more time at. As we were leaving the park a turtle was crossing the pavement and it was pretty cool to see it trucking along.

Buckhorn Island State Park - Located on Grand Island this park is about a 20-25 minute drive from Buffalo and borders the Niagara River. This park was another pretty cool spot with a handful of trails to walk around and some take you right up to the waters edge. Dogs are allowed and its a pretty easy walk, mostly flat in the areas I was. It goes close/alongside the Grand Island Bridge and some of the views are pretty cool to see. I saw some kids fishing and also saw some kayakers and people riding bikes while I was there.

Artpark - about a 45 minute drive from Buffalo, I’ve been to Artpark more times this summer than I think I have been in the last few years. First was to walk around and see the multiple art pieces they have on property, the second was for the drive-in movie series they are hosting this summer and the more recent was for an Art of Walking event where they incorporated a guided walk through the site with nature and creative art performance. It was pretty cool. This place offers not only a nice place to take a walk, but is a good place to take the kids and let your creative spirit come alive. The Public Art they have on display also provides good conversation points if you’re with someone else or with kids and if you’re not, it still offers your creative juices to flow.

Tifft Nature Preserve - located at Buffalo’s Outer Harbor, this is a classic spot for me. Not only is there so much nature, natural beauty and wildlife, but my niece and nephew enjoy this spot a lot. With the various trails they never seem to get bored and only want to explore more when they are there. The trails are easy to walk through and its a short drive from the suburbs. No dogs are allowed. They do offer nature programming throughout the year which is nice for anyone looking for something to do other than just walk around at your leisure.

Harlie posing at Chestnut Ridge.

Chestnut Ridge - Located in Orchard Park, another classic place to visit, I love the hills that the Ridge offers, provides for a good workout. I also enjoy the various trails you can go on. When I visited the park was pretty busy, there were outdoor fitness and rec classes, people watching the sunset and people just out for a leisurely stroll or jog. It wasn’t bad but I could definitely see where socially distancing may be hard to do in some areas when you’re passing by people. Harlie enjoyed her walk here.

There are still a handful of places on my list that I want to check out before the weather gets cold. What are some of your favorite hiking spots or places you like to go to get outside and get some fresh air?