Much of my responsibility for AAA involves driving to travel destinations, but not necessarily experiencing them. So, I decided to take a scenic drive trip in my territory with time to enjoy it. From New York City, I drove up I-87 and traveled the Route 17 corridor through the southern part of New York State, a route brought me through the beautiful landscape that is the Sullivan County Catskills. Along the way, I ventured off the highway to sites of interest.

The Wurtsboro Airport on Barone Road, just a few miles from Route 17, is the oldest operating glider airport in the nation. The views and soaring conditions are unlike anywhere else in the northeast. The airport is open to the public and offers hangar rentals, glider instruction, power instruction and scenic rides in antique planes. I decided to try my first gliding experience and it was one of the most exhilarating things I have ever done in my life. The instructor with me was very reassuring and once we lifted off, I wasn’t half as scared anymore, just enjoyed the quietness of soaring.
 
Located near the Bridgeville exit off Route 17 is the Holiday Mountain Ski & Fun Park. In the winter, Holiday Mountain features downhill skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing and ice skating. Summertime visitors find go-kart rides, bumper boats and bumper cars, a rock wall, miniature golf, a potato sack slide, and an arcade, though I looked more than I played.

The Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, located in Bethel just a short drive from Monticello, exit 104 on Route 17B. It includes a concert venue and The Museum at Bethel Woods on the site of the 1968 Woodstock festival. Visiting the museum was an immersive and captivating multi-media experience that brought me back to my youth, when Woodstock’s music and lifestyle were the rage. It combines film and interactive displays, text panels and artifacts to let you explore and relive it. Very cool…

Just off exit 96 in Livingston Manor, I stopped by the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum, situated on 53 scenic acres bordering the Willowemoc River.  If you are a fisherman, the museum has angling equipment exhibits from around the world, art and displayed in a way that explains the traditions and techniques of dry fly fishing.  I’m not a fisherman and I got the idea that it’s not as easy as one might think. Seems to involve a lot of finesse. Too bad they did not offer fish sandwiches, I was pretty hungry.

History and culture abound in the Sullivan County Catskills. The Forestburgh Playhouse, which is the oldest running equity theatre in New York State, and the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance provide frequent exhibits of local and national artists and performers are just two of the many wonderful cultural venues to be discovered and enjoyed here.  

As I continued west along Route 17, I began to come upon the rolling hills, lush valleys, fertile vineyards, of Corning and the Finger Lakes. A 4½  hour drive from New York City and 2 ½  hours from Niagara Falls, the area is known for world-class art, award-winning wine, spectacular scenery and exceptional food. 

I really enjoyed visiting one of the most famous glass manufactures in the world. The Corning Museum of Glass, also one of New York State’s most popular attractions, is a place of extraordinary art and adventure.  I was encouraged to experience the wonders of glass from every angle, watched master glassmakers transform molten glass into works of art, discovered the remarkable ways glass changes the world in hands-on exhibits,

The museum is home to the world’s most comprehensive collection of glass, spanning the globe and encompassing more than 3,500 years of human ingenuity. The collection showcases everything from an ancient Egyptian glass pharaoh head and Roman innovations, to delicate glass masterpieces and huge contemporary glass sculpture.  There were people from all over the world visiting when I was there, all ages and all types, it was a very fun and visually fulfilling experience for me. Those in the know are aware that Corning might be a small city, but it packs quite a punch when it comes to the arts. In addition to studios and galleries showcasing nationally acclaimed local artists, another exceptional museum is the Rockwell Museum of Western Art, featureing a diverse representation of traditional and contemporary Western and Native American.
 
About 45 minutes north of Corning off Route 17, in the charming village of Hammondsport, I discovered the aviation history of the region at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum. I turns out that  he was a modest man whose thirst for speed, and later for flight, led him to become the “world’s fastest man,” the first man to fly off water, and “Father of Naval Aviation.” There were fascinating exhibits of vintage airplanes, motorcycles, automobiles, and other local history.
 
Hammondsport is also where I had some great wine, believe it or not, at the Pleasant Valley Wine Company, the first bonded winery in the U.S. and oldest winery in the Finger Lakes region. I took a guided tour that explored the  historic buildings and caves used to store sherry and champagne. After the tour, the wine tasting was a lot of fun and darn good -- especially the  award-winning Great Western champagne in a unique European atmosphere. 

After the wine I needed to stay overnight -- there are AAA Approved and Diamond rated accommodations in hotels, B&Bs, and historic country inns all around the area in Corning, Painted Post, Bath, Hammondsport and Hornell.

Near the end of my drive trip I decided to see a place all my racing fan friends always talk about. Just north of Corning, Watkins Glen is celebrating 61 years of American road racing that started on the downtown streets back in 1948. Over 20 years of NASCAR racing has established the multi-series weekend at Watkins Glen International as one of the largest spectator sporting events in New York State.

You could drive straight through this entire route in about 3 hours, but to really enjoy all this area has to offer you should plan a minimum of 2-3 days for this trip.

Click on the map image and zoom in to find and book AAA Approved accommodations along the route and to get directions and more information about the attractions.