Sylvan Beach

Now for something totally different.

Today we switch gears from the recent themes of murder, sociopaths and vampires to talk about a nice little place to visit that's not too far from here.

Sylvan Beach at Oneida Lake (http://www.sylvanbeach.org/index.html) can be a fun little getaway that can be managed as a day trip, or longer. No matter what you're into, you can probably find some fun here. There is, of course, the beach itself, and all the things that go along with that: swimming, sunning, boating, fishing, etc.

Our little slice of beach behind our camp

Relaxing on the beach in sun, reading a book = the good life

My sister relaxing out where the back of the camp led onto the beach

There are many camps available to rent by the week during the summer season. Certain nights you can enjoy fireworks displays from the beach outside of your camp.

Hanging out behind our camp

The whole damn fam

Posing for a picture with Dad

My mom hanging out back with my son

Fireworks over Oneida Lake

There are nearly 15 bars. Every Tuesday night during a certain span of time in the summer is biker night, where motorcycles park on Main Street for free when their owners come for the live bands, food and drink.

All bikers welcome

 
Then there is Canal Fest, a weekend when free entertainment is offered, including crafters, vendors, and classic cars in the Village Park.

Sylvan Beach is home to plenty of good restaurants. The Canal View Cafe (http://canalviewcafe.com/) offers waterfront dining. One of my family's favorites is Yesterday's Royal (http://www.yesterdaysroyal.com/), which not only serves food and homemade ice cream, but houses a player piano and this neat thing:

Grandma will read your fortune

For a price...(just ask Tom Hanks)

At Yesterday's Royal, back when my son ate foods other than macaroni and cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

There are other ice cream shoppes, miniature golf, and more. And then, of course, there is the amusement park (http://www.sylvanbeachamusementpark.com/). I've never been there at Halloween time, but apparently the amusement park turns creepy for "Halloweekends at the Sylvan Beach Haunted Amusement Park."

Sylvan Beach Amusement Park

What cuteness!

Not too far from Sylvan Beach is Fort Rickey Discovery Zoo (http://www.fortrickey.com/).

Feeding the animals

Peeking at a peacock

Talking with a tortoise

Hi there!

And now, a look back at my husband and I relaxing at Sylvan Beach over the years.

2007

2008

We took a couple of years off when we had a young baby, but came back the summer he was 2

Which would have been 2011

At which time, Baby #2 was on board.