Chautauqua-Lake Erie Art Trail

Twenty Chautauqua-Lake Erie area artists and galleries have combined forces to offer an Open Studio Tour, May 23-24. To download an art trail brochure and map, visit ChautauquaArtTrail.com. This new website and brochure also list other local art events throughout the year.

Here's a quote from one of the regional artists in the Art Trail group [Tom Malinoski]:

" We live in and find our inspiration in one of the most beautiful, picturesque regions of New York State. As you travel to visit us, see what we see every day--verdant vineyards and fields, lush forests, rolling hills, and a spectacular Lake Erie shoreline".

To plan a visit to the area or to see a complete events calendar, visit TourChautauqua.com.

Roger Tory Peterson Birding Festival

The Roger Tory Peterson Birding Festival will take place in and around Jamestown, NY from June 4-7, 2009. This is the first in a series of annual festivals intended to honor the legacy of Dr. Roger Tory Peterson.

The focus of the Festival will be Eastern North American Warblers on the Allegheny Plateau. 25 warblers are known to breed in the area so the goal for participants is to visit every habitat that is likely to hold singing males on territory. Field trips will be from early morning until noon with afternoons spent in bird related workshops. Workshops, meals and keynote addresses will be held at Jamestown Community College whose campus is contiguous with the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.

To register, download the registration form and mail it to Birding Festival, 311 Curtis Street, Jamestown, NY 14701. You can also download a schedule of events and a checklist of the birds of Chautauqua County.

Snowmobiling Chautauqua

More than 200 inches of snow and still counting!! This year is shaping up to be one of the best snowmobile seasons in years.

Official snow reports from the Chautauqua County Snowmobile Federation are available by calling 800-242-4569, then selecting 2 for Chautauqua, then 5 for snowmobile report.

Prior to visiting, be sure to have a valid NYS snowmobile registration, available through the NYS Dept. of Motor Vehicles. This is very important as snowmobilers can no longer purchase a temporary registration at area hotels and taverns/shops. The Dept. of Motor Vehicles office will be open Saturdays until Feb 14, from 9a-3p in Mayville at the Hall Clothier County Building. For detailed registration suggested and links, go to TourChautauqua.com.

Remember, you can save about half the cost if you are a member of a local club. The clubs groom and take care of the trails so that everyone can ride. They do a great service for everyone:

• Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club, chautauquasnow.com


• Cherry Creek Snow-Goers, cherrycreeksnogoers.com


• Ellery Sno-Cruisers, ellerysnowcruisers.org


• Lake Effect Trailbreakers, trailbreakers.com


• Sunset Drifters, sunsetdrifters.com

For local visitor and lodging information or to request a travel guide, check out TourChautauqua.com.

Birding Highlights

There are several great locations in the Chautauqua Region for bird watching. Here is a recent quote by a couple from Towson, MD:

"The birding site information in your travel guide enabled us to spend a lovely day on the Ralph C. Sheldon & Laurie A. Baer sections of the Rails to Trails. Our finding a Sedge Wren and Connecticut Warbler on the Sheldon Trail were the highlights of a very pleasant visit to western New York."

Currently representatives of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute and the Aubudon Nature Center (both in Jamestown, NY) are working on information about several new birding sites. We will have that information included in the 2009 Chautauqua County Travel Guide & Map.

Click here to view current birding location information.

Subaru Road Trips

Drive Magazine, "the magazine from Subaru" recently showcased Chautauqua Institution and the Chautauqua region in its summer 2008 issue. The four page article was written by western New York native Christine Smyczynski, who also maintains a regular blog on things to do in New York.

The magazine is provided to everyone in the nation that owns a Subaru and suggests road trip ideas for recipients. The article focuses on Chautauqua Institution, the historic Athenaeum Hotel, the Chautauqua Belle steamboat cruises, the Lucy-Desi Museums in Jamestown, the Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail, Peek'n Peak Resort & Spa, and the Amish Country in the Chautauqua area.

To check out the full article, check out Subaru Drive Magazine

Also, check out Christine's Explore Western New York blog

Cycling Chautauqua

Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau has just added several cycling routes to TourChautauqua.com. Each suggested route has been developed by a local cycling organization, club, or race organizer. The routes range between 25 and 100 miles in length. The information posted on our site includes a map and description of each route, in a printable PDF format. Some of routes will also be included in the 2009 Chautauqua County Travel Guide.

Cycling in the Chautauqua region of New York is increasing popular due to wide, pave shoulders, beautiful and varied scenery, and plenty of spots for stocking up on essentials.

Link to the Cycling Routes and let us know what you think.