This weekend, I recently found myself in New York, assisting my girlfriend in giving back her mom’s car in exchange for getting a family car (it had been in the shop for several weeks). This meant a free getaway from campus, and the awkward and hilarious encounters with her family.

The drive down provided interesting. Lake Bomoseen is located near Castleton, and is the largest lake that lies just in Vermont (Champlain is shared with New York). There are over 1000 homes on the lake, as well as some eateries. In the 20’s and the 30’s, the Algonquin Round Table would come to the lake on retreat several times a year. Driving VT 30 south towards Route 4 provides stunning views of the lake and the homes surrounding it.

Vermont beauty eventually subsides to the rugged environment of upstate New York. Towns like Fort Ann and Whitehall have significant Revolutionary War history. To me, the most interesting feature of upstate New York, to my food obsessed self, is a chain of convenience stores called Stewart’s. Every time I drive towards downsate, I usually make my family or friends stop for a milkshake at the location in Whitehall. They also sell gas and Flaming Hot Cheetos, so really this is the only place you need to go, ever.

The Taconic is a odd little highway. Stretching from the outskirts of Albany to Westchester, it includes a gian head statue visible from the highway. While providing a beautiful view of the Hudson Valley, it also winds through a number of pleasant, if small, towns. It lead us to out final destination, Westchester County. The county is interesting as the first home of suburban developments in the country. Besides exceptions like Yonkers and White Plains, many of the communities in Westchester are quite Cul-de-sacs punctuated by forested areas. Another fun fact: the town I visited was famous for housing an Elephant in a hotel. Exciting stuff.