After viewing the cliffs at Chimney Bluff State Park, we’ll take a scenic 45 minute drive to Fair Haven Beach State Park. Fair Haven Beach is a great place to take your family. It’s clean Lake Ontario beaches are among the best in Upstate New York and the hilly woodlands above offer excellent hiking. Inland you’ll find Sterling Pond which is surrounded by campsites and cabins that are available for rent. Along with swimming, the pond offers very good fishing and has rowboats, canoes and paddle boats for rent. The park also has playground and picnic facilities as well as sports playing fields. Finally, waterfowl hunting is allowed in designated areas during the open seasons.

Next we’ll travel another 35 miles to the historic City of Oswego. Oswego is the home of Fort Ontario. The original fort was built in 1755 and was a British outpost during the French and Indian War. The first fort was destroyed by the French in 1756 and rebuilt in 1759. The second Fort Ontario was destroyed by American forces during the Revolutionary War. The British reoccupied Oswego in 1782 and built the third fort which was given to the United States in 1796. The third fort was attacked and destroyed by the British during the War of 1812. Between 1839 and 1844, the final Fort Ontario was built in response to the threat of another and a possible British invasion from Canada. Between 1944 and 1946, Fort Ontario housed victims of the Nazi Holocaust. In 1949, New York State began restoring the fort as a State Historic Site. Fort Ontario is now open for tours from early May until the middle of October on Tuesday – Sunday from 10:00 – 4:30. There is a minimal admission fee.

Today Oswego is one of the most important ports on Lake Ontario. In the springtime, Oswego Harbor’s sheltered waters offer some of the best steelhead and brown trout fishing in the Great Lakes. In the summer, many fishermen focus on the fine walleye and bass populations. In Oswego Harbor, fall is coho salmon season. Large numbers of the big fish school in the harbor in preparation for the fall run. The local charter captains can brag about their customers who have hooked giant fish including a 33 pound coho in 1998 and a 33 pound brown trout in 1997. What ever the season, pack your favorite spices in your picnic backpack don’t forget your grill tools because you will be catching and grilling some great fish in Oswego Harbor.

In our next article we’ll spend a little longer in Oswego and then continue along the Seaway Trail to Pulaski. Stay tuned!