Explore Genesee Valley

Home
United States
Birdsall, NY
Explore Genesee Valley

Your adventure starts here! Your one-stop-shop for events, great eats, stays, and adventures in the Genesee Valley Region.

06/01/2026

🗓 From kayak floats, to puppet festivals, to a once-in-a-lifetime view of a steam locomotive crossing over Letchworth State Park, there's plenty to do this June.

👀 Summer schedule here: bit.ly/43FnLDE

📸 1. Genesee River Wilds Kayak Float. Provided by organization.
2. Union Pacific's Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive. Photo from up.com.
3. A New York State Puppet Festival display at Arts Council for Wyoming County. Photo by Kat Kuo.

05/29/2026

🗞 EGV's June newsletter has landed in your (e)mailbox.
Read here: bit.ly/4dS1iZ0

Featuring...
🧀 History of cheese making + local modern makers
🤔 What to expect at the NYS Puppet Festival
💧 Stories behind the dams: Cuba and Rushford lakes
🎣 Fly fishing in the GV for newbies and veterans

📸 1: Turtle along Genesee Valley Greenway State Park in York, NY. Photo by Jules Hoepting.
2: Fishing. Photo by The Western NY Wilds.
3. Various types of cheese from East Hill Creamery. Photo provided by business.
4. Shanks Mare performing Cleansing Dance at the New York State Puppet Festival. Photo provided by organization.
5. Caneadea Dam on Rushford Lake. Photo by Jules Hoepting.

05/26/2026

⛺ Seeking a camping site near Letchworth State Park? We've got you covered.

👀 Local insights here: bit.ly/4dFgVTd

📸 1: Letchworth Valley Campground and Resort in Bliss, NY.
2: Silverlaken Estate, Glampground & Tiny House Village in Silver Springs, NY.
3: in Mount Morris, NY.
4: Silver Lake Campground in Castile, NY.
5: Houghton / Letchworth KOA in Caneadea, NY.
Photos from respective businesses.

05/24/2026

🧠 May is Mental Health Awareness Month!

🌳 From going on a hike and appreciating nature, 🧘 to taking a meditation retreat, 🚣 to paddling on a lake, 💪 to attending a yoga class, there are a plethora of ways to stay mentally fit in the Genesee Valley.

👀 More insider advice here: bit.ly/4drGSHj

📸 1: Inside a "cocoon" at the The Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park.
2: Exterior of the retreat center at Springwater Center for Meditation and Spiritual Inquiry.
3: A child kayaking on Canadice Lake.
4: New York State Yoga Festival at Letchworth State Park by Hikyoga.
Photos 1 and 3 by Sarah Keeler. Photos 2 and 4 from respective organizations.

05/21/2026

🏃‍♀️ Seeking a new running route? We asked local runners in Avon, Perry and Caneadea what their go-to routes were.

👟 Their answers included countryside rolling hills, rail-to-trails, lakeside views, and more!

👀 Full scoop here: bit.ly/4dVwbgb

📸 1: Kimberly Prins-Moeller, an avid runner who lives near Houghton University. Photo provided by Kimberly.
2: Bridge on the Silver Lake Trail in Perry, NY. Photo by Sarah Keeler.
3. Countryside views from St. Helena Street in perry, NY. Photo by Sarah Keeler.
4. Genesee Valley Greenway State Park gates in Caneadea, NY. Photo by Jules Hoepting.

05/18/2026

🌸 Have you visited the Tree Peony Festival at Linwood Gardens yet? It will still be “blooming” May 23-24, and 30-31.

🌼 The festival showcases a plethora of tree peonies on a historic estate overlooking a stunning view of the Genesee Valley. Celebrating its 30th year, it’s not hard to understand why the annual festival is beloved by many! Tickets must be reserved, and they go quickly.

📸 Photos by Jules Hoepting.

05/14/2026

🤔 Did you know there are actually 2 Mount Morris dams? The structures are 1 mile away from eachother!

💧 The better-known dam was built by the U.S. Army of Corps Engineers US Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District in 1952 to mitigate flooding downstream. The lesser-known dam was built in 1902 for a mill canal that no longer exists.

👀 Learn your dam history here! bit.ly/4tvIsfN

📸 1, 2: The 1902 Mount Morris Dam, during high water and low water.
3, 4: The 1952 Mount Morris Dam, during uninhibited river flow and with a reservoir.
Photos by Jules Hoepting.

05/07/2026

🪻The scenery is mesmerizing: beautiful bluebells blanket the forest floor. But the scene is temporary... making it ever more special.

💎 Aren't we lucky to have such wonderful landscapes, here in the Genesee Valley?

📸 Photos by Jules Hoepting.

05/04/2026

🍽 Peruse almost any dinner menu from our region and you’re likely to find Chicken French. The dish features a cutlet of egg-battered chicken breast finished in a silky lemon butter sauce.

🤔 And yet, visitors from outside of Western and Central New York are often puzzled by the dish. That’s because our beloved Chicken French has distinct roots in Rochester.

👀 Read all about the dish's orgin story, and the twists local restaurant put on it: bit.ly/4cYASUN

📸 1 & 2: Chicken French from Caledonia Village Inn, Caledonia, NY.
3: The Lumberyard Restaurant, Perry, N.Y.
4: The Yard of Ale in York, NY.
5: Fratelli's Restaurant in Avon, NY.
Photos from respective business pages.

05/01/2026

🗞 May's newsletter has popped into your mailbox
👀 Read here: bit.ly/4dgOcVQ

Featuring...
🍛 How Chicken French Became a Local Specialty
🏃‍♀️ Scenic Running Routes
💧 Double Dam: Two Mount Morris Structures
🌳 I Love My Park Day Volunteer Opportunities
🌸 Guided outdoor adventures, plus festivals, dances, lectures and workshops to add to your calendar.

📸 1. Hogsback Overlook in early May at Letchworth State Park.
2. Trimming along Genesee Valley Greenway State Park during I Love My Park Day.
3. Running in Houghton, NY.
4. Chicken French.
5. The smaller, older Mount Morris Dam.
Photo 3 by Kimberly Prins-Moeller. Photo 3 from Caledonia Village Inn page. Photos 1, 2 and 5 by Jules Hoepting.

Address

Birdsall, NY

Website

http://www.exploregeneseevalley.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Explore Genesee Valley posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Explore Genesee Valley:

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Birdsall?