rock city park, Olean, NY

Mountain Biking.

       Here's just a quick post on Mtn. biking around WNY. As in any hobby this can get expensive or stay inexpensive depending how much you want to invest in it. I just bought a cheap mtn. bike and beat it up on the trails and am just fine with doing that. There's a few sites in this post to show local trails that have been established. Most are based on backwoods trails since finding scenic bike paths in the area isn't to hard to do.

       I'll start with the Holiday Valley race loop - Holiday Valley Mtn. Biking-. Here you can rent bikes if you don't currently own one and want to try it out. There's nothing saying you can't bring your own bike if you want to save the money and beat up on your own gear. I haven't been there yet but i really want to make time to get out there this year since I've heard about it. I snowboard and can only imagine how fun it'd be biking down through the woods. 

      Another place to find some more trail systems in at http://www.wnymba.org/. Here's a group that has established various trails in our area and maintain them as well. Currently I know they're working in Allegany State Park on a new trail. So if you already enjoy these trails and like to help maintain them you can find that here as well. This site has maps, along with GPS tracks you can use to insure your not getting lost out there. I found this site and it's what got me the itch to get out and try it.

     I have only been to Sprague Brook park to bike (pic. above). We had a blast that day my brother, his girlfriend and I. It was honestly easier than I expected overall. With the down hills you're more just coasting than peddling, but still a great workout non the less. I have stopped at hunters creek to walk around but need to get back with my bike this year. The trails look difficult and a bit more extreme in some places near the creek. I do love things that have a bit of edge and adventure to them. If I do I'll post a video like I've done in the past on our social media pages.

     So, if dirty adventurous backwoods biking isn't your thing there's plenty of other paved trails here in WNY. Anywhere from the north towns along the canal and Grand Island to the south towns near the lake up through the Riverside. The Amherst bike path is well used and quite extensive as well. There's many more out there so if that interest you just do a quick online search for bike paths. Well, I hope this might help just inform you of whats in our area if you're looking for something to do this year.

 

     If you want, feel free to join the conversation on various social media platforms to stay informed with various wny outdoor related stuff. At our Facebook page  twitter- @outdoorswny - on Google+,  Instagram at WNY_Outdoors or visit our web page at  http://besthikingdad.yolasite.com

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Farmers Markets and more.

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Backyard Camping

Backyard camping

         I'm sticking with my quick and easy ideas for getting you and your family outdoors in the WNY area. Again this is relatively free, kid friendly, and close to home activity. Understanding that this might not be an option for people living in the city, or people who do not own a tent.With that being said I do feel that this can be achieved by most family's in our area though. I'd suggest if you don't own a tent, ask around. I'm sure you could barrow a family / friends tent for a few days no problem. Just don't go wrecking the thing up on them. It's a tent to sleep in, not a fighting ring. Although kids might think it is. If you don't have the space or a a backyard, you might know someone who does and could spend the night camping out over there.

        A night out under the stars, a fire going, even in the backyard can make you feel like you are removed from the stresses of life. That's a key thing here people. Do not go and make it a stressful event. Perhaps if it's your first attempt have it over at someone else's house who has done it and can take the lead. Someone who might already have some flash lights,camping chairs, a fire pit or a grill. Then just set up your stuff, turn on some music and start up a fire before it gets dark. 

       We're talking backyard camping here! We're not planning on roughing it out there.  Start with setting up the tent and prepping it for the night with your pillows and sleeping bags/blankets. So it's ready when it gets late all you have to do is hop in get some sleep.Go grab a blow up mattress, crazy amounts of blankets, those memory foam things it seems everyone has these days. Run the extension chord out to light the tent. We've honestly as kids lugged the big square TV with the antenna and VHF knobs out there. Plan on a warm summer night with clear skies. Do what ever you think will make it easy and comfortable and most of all fun. 

       To add to it plan your dinner that night to be cooked up out on the grill. Perhaps plan ahead and get stuff to make s'mores, or look up tons of other ideas online. Not the cooking type just order some food but plan to eat it outside. For the tech. savvy people, there are free apps for you phones that show the constellations just by holding it up to the sky. Want to learn something new? There's animated knot apps you can get and shows how to make and the uses of different knots. Play card games, toss the Frisbee, do what ever you think its fun. Or best of all is when you start up the fire, bust out the comfy chairs, sit talk and just relax. 

       If you can't track down a tent just have dinner outside and start up a fire.  Look up at Gods amazing creation. Don't have a smart phone with the crazy apps? Just stare at the stars and look for a slow moving (what looks to be a star) going across the sky. That's a satellite. They tend to fade away into nothing and others will appear out of nowhere. I'm still amazed to this day how many people I have asked and said that was the first satellite they ever spotted. Then when it gets late head inside to sleep in your bed. Just don't leave the rip- roaring fire ablaze unattended. Make sure it's either out or smothered enough to be good on it's own.  Then call it a night.

       I'd hope with the warmer weather coming this inspires some people or families to get outdoors and spend some time enjoying it. As a kid i can almost assure you it's be something they'll remember. Even the small things that come along with camping can be memories that last forever. I always would loved to hear back from people with questions or just want to share their stories or pictures.

 

If you want, feel free to join the conversation on various social media platforms to stay informed with various wny outdoor related stuff. At our Facebook page  twitter- @outdoorswny - on Google+,  Instagram at WNY_Outdoors or visit our web page at  http://besthikingdad.yolasite.com

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Geocaching

Geocaching

Hello and welcome to WNY Outdoors blog

         I by no means consider myself a writer or a blogger. What I do feel is a need to share some of the GREAT outdoor activities I have discovered while living here in the Western New York area. I have always been a lover of the outdoors and wildlife spending many a days as a kid camping out. even if it was just a blanket fort in the house on our could wny winter days. Being a boy scout really furthered my knowledge and need for the outdoor adventures through my teen years. Currently I'm drawn more to multiple day backpacking trips, day hikes, water trails, snowshoeing, and mtn. biking; but will never turn down the random crazy adventures of white water rafting, rock climbing or skydiving. YES all these things are here right in our backyards!!! (under apx. an hour drive) 

 

       Add in the area of hunting and fishing into the equation ( if you're into that kind of stuff ) and BAM!!! there's no way you should be finding yourself bored with nothing to do. I myself am not a hunter but find myself fishing from time to time for some quiet relaxing. But hey, even if i don;t hunt doesn't mean I'd turn down blasting some shots off at a gun range to get the blood flowing.

        I'll be posting different things along this line going forward. I'll apologize now if it's not a consistent blog post since I find myself staying very busy with my life in general and not much time in front of the computer screen. If you want feel free to join in on various social media platforms to stay informed with various wny outdoor related stuff. at our Facebook page  twitter- @outdoorswny - Google+ or visit our web page at  http://besthikingdad.yolasite.com

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