Last week, my husband and I went on a mini vacation through Upstate, New York. Those who have been reading LOLZ blog long enough, know we both went to college in Upstate. While we have both been to New York since neither of us had been that far north since graduation. When we left last Sunday, we had no plans and played everything by ear. After getting home from the Run the Bridge 10k, we just packed the car and drove north.
First, we drove to Lake Placid. I hadn’t been there since January of 2011. Last time I went to Lake Placid, it was -30 (not an exaggeration). This time it felt like the Caribbean and was between 30-40.
Lake Placid and the Adirondacks are beautiful. My husband and I both miss it so we spent a day hiking.
We went to the Adirondack Loj and spent time hiking there. It was much colder in the mountains, and I was glad to have mittens, a hat and winter jacket. We even saw snow on the ground. 
After spending a couple of days hiking in the Adirondacks, we headed west to our alma maters in Potsdam, NY. It’s crazy to think over five years ago, I started LOLZ blog in Potsdam. 
A day in Potsdam was enough. Honestly, I’m four years out of college, and my friends have graduated, so there isn’t a whole heck of a lot up there for either of us. A day was enough.
We headed down to Syracuse and spent the day enjoying that and meeting up with one of my closest friends (and well known “interneter” (is that a word?) Heather. We met up at one the local breweries, Empire. I’ve been to Empire several times and have had a positive experience every time.
From there we relaxed and ran in one of my favorite Upstate, NY parks, Onondaga. I’ve run several races there, most noticeably, the Lake Effect Half Marathon where I was able to raise 2500 dollars for Ophelia’s Place as well as win. That race still holds a lot of memories for me and is one of my favorites. I’ll eventually get back there to do it one year.
The trip was such a great time. My husband and I enjoyed visiting. Upstate New York will always have a special place in my heart. It’s where I went to college, met my husband, began to love running and made many of my adult friends.
It feels like such a blur since living in both Potsdam and Oswego. Even though it has only been three years, it seems like a different lifetime ago!
Questions for you:
Where did you go to college? Have you been back to visit?
Has it snowed yet where you are?
Looks like a (cold) fun time! You guys are such a cute couple. 😍 When I was really young we lived in Syracuse for a bit but I think that’s about as far north as I got.
I went to Rowan and live down the street so I’m not far at all. I actually love running around the campus and feel safer there because it’s slower speed limit and security posts.
I’m currently living at the Ontario/New York border and I want to go and travel soon! SNOW THOUGH!?! too soon for that!
I went to school back in Nova Scotia and my family still lives there so I’ve been back but not actually to the school itself.. in fact, they are destroying it next year.
They are destroying and removing the school? Woah, what is the reasoning?
This is so great! I love the idea of just packing up the car and heading north!! My brother and his family live near Saratoga and we have a special place in our hearts for upstate NY!! But the snow? OMG no!!!! I’m not ready!
I’ve followed your blog for years but never commented. I don’t have a lot of experience with running in the north. I live in North Carolina and the farthest north I have gone is NYC. So no, obviously no snow here yet. It has finally dropped in the 60’s just this week. Fall has arrived! Keep running, I love reading your race recaps.
Thank you for reaching out Laura, I really appreciate it.
Where in NC do you live? I’ve been to Charlotte a bunch and always enjoyed running there.
I went to Boston College and live 1.5 miles away now 🙂 It is on the Boston Marathon route and a great area to run.
Great adventure for you!
I’ve love to visit upstate NY. I’ve only ever been to NYC, and that was like… 25 years ago? Lol. But I’ll make it back some day. And we actually got a little sprinkling of snow last night which managed to stick. We’re usually buried in snow by now, so I’m not sure what’s taking it so long.
Beautiful photos! I just got back from a trip to NYC, but I’ve never been upstate. It looks like I’m missing out. I only live about 30 minutes from where I went to college, but I still don’t really go back and visit.
Upstate is definetely a whole different world. It should honestly be it’s own state.
I went to college in northern NJ, Ramapo. Since I’m only about an hour south, I still have many friends that live in the area and visit them often, but not necessarily the campus. I did stop at the campus maybe two years back (I graduated 12 years ago LOL), and my oh my how it had grown! So many more dorms than when I left. I have been back to stop at the Ramapo Reservation and hike with a friend who still lives in Mahwah though.
I went to school in upstate NY too! SUNY Geneseo. 🙂 it’s such a pretty area, sounds like you had a great trip!
I am from WNY. I love hearing about people going to Upstate NY. I haven’t been back in a few years. I won’t go back anytime soon until all the snow is gone, lol.
Gorgeous pics! Thanks for sharing.
Good ole Upstate! So happy you were able to make it to Lake Placid. The last time I was there during the fall/winter (basically not the summer for triathlon purposes) was senior year of high school for a basketball tournament. We did a little exploring, but obviously playing those games was the top priority so we didn’t get to hike, explore, etc. I’m heading back to Syracuse Wednesday for Thanksgiving! 🙂