Blog 3: The Beauty of Utica

What you need to know:

1. A recent trip to Utica, New York, with close friends offered spontaneous adventure and connection with nature.

2. The scenic vacation explored downtown Utica and a serene mountainside home, surrounded by stunning natural beauty.

3. Unplugging from the digital world, the trip was full of memorable moments as we savored the joy of friendship, nature, and new experiences.

---

Over the long weekend, I had the opportunity to travel to Utica, NY with three of my close friends (Trevor, Jessica, and Aidan) for a mini vacation. I had never been to Utica before, and I agreed to go on the trip with little information about what it entailed. What I experienced during these three days was a rejuvenating, tranquil, and connection-filled adventure that I so desperately needed.

My friends and I began our journey at the Depew Amtrak station, where we boarded our train on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, we soon found ourselves delayed over an hour, leaving the four of us restless and anxious as we awaited our destination.

As we pulled into the Utica Amtrak station, we were greeted by Aidan’s grandmother, who welcomed us with a tour of the downtown area, where she detailed Utica’s history and latest ventures. The quaint city had, in recent years, been given several grants in order to restore and bring more life to the area, and this was apparent in the beautiful brick buildings, the lively restaurants, and the crowds of people walking through the streets. We even had the chance to see an artist as he painted a mural on the side of a building!

After our tour of the area, we arrived at Aidan’s grandparent’s home, which was situated in the mountains, completely surrounded by nature. Their large bay windows provided us with a gorgeous view of their yard, which was populated with fruit trees, vegetation, and sprawling green grass.

Following the four of us getting settled and unpacking, we ventured outside, where Aidan gave us a tour of their property on their golf cart. Though it was chilly, the weather did not stop us from venturing out and exploring the woods by their home. The landscapes here were so beautiful, especially due to the fact that the leaves on the trees were bright shades of orange and yellow.

Over the next two days, our little group visited a number of hiking trails–notably Root Glen at Hamilton College. This trail was sprinkled with informational signs about the different trees and wildlife found in the area, and included wooden bridges that overlooked the stream bisecting the park. We could have stayed there all day, if not for the rain shower that cut our hike short.

During this time, we visited a local cider mill, where we enjoyed different fall treats: hot apple cider, cider donuts, and baked potato soup. By the day’s end, the four of us were exhausted, but we stayed up into the late hours of the night playing pool, chatting, and sharing stories.

In today’s world, it can often be very difficult to get through a day without using our phones, but on my trip to Utica, I finally got a chance to unplug and enjoy what was right in front of me: friends, nature, and fun, new experiences.