If I had to sum up my vacation in one word, it would be, Magical. My friends pitched in and gifted me with a sweet getaway to a destination of my choice for my big birthday. I chose Corning, New York.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, we drove up there and it took us about 4 hours to reach. We booked rooms at the Radisson Hotel, which was minutes away from all the tourist attractions. I picked activities that would please everyone, like the Museum of Glass, hiking in Watkins Glen State Park and then wine tasting on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Thankfully the weather was pleasant all weekend long. Since there was a Glass Festival happening there that weekend, we had lots to see and savor. I love street festivals.
It was nice to walk through and find so many various kinds of art forms. A few that caught my eye were stands displaying jewelry made with glass beads, vintage pyrex, sculptures made with glass, metal and/or wax. My friend bought an interesting metal sculpture for his dad called Reading on Toliet. Check it out! I was moved by the artists' passion for their trade and how excited they were in engaging the visitors. In addition to the street vendors, there were bbq parties, a concert in the park and water fountains' sound and light show.
After lunch, we headed to the Museum of Glass for some interactive fun. I signed everyone up for Make Your Own Glass Workshops...it was the most fun I had in a while. Each workshop was about 40 minutes long and in that time they explained the procedure, the tools involved and safety precautions.
Check out my head to toe protective gear! I didn't waste much time and got right down to business. Here's a shot of my finished project:
Beautiful, isn't it? Looks so professional. It was a proud moment for me when I picked it up the next day. After our sessions, we explored the rest of the museum. As you walk through the museum, you can get a sense of how glass making had evolved through the ages; specifically with the usage of tools. They also had live demos such as flame working, optical fiber, hot glass show and glass breaking. Pretty cool stuff!
The only thing left to do after a whole day of fun was to eat. We settled down at a nice spot in the park with pizza and beer and enjoyed the ambiance.
***Quick Tips:
- If you plan on making a trip over a holiday weekend, start early.
- AAA members get discounted tickets at the museum and hotel.
- It's a good idea to reserve the Make Your Own Glass workshops ahead of time; especially if you're planning to go on a holiday weekend and in large groups.
Over the Memorial Day weekend, we drove up there and it took us about 4 hours to reach. We booked rooms at the Radisson Hotel, which was minutes away from all the tourist attractions. I picked activities that would please everyone, like the Museum of Glass, hiking in Watkins Glen State Park and then wine tasting on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Thankfully the weather was pleasant all weekend long. Since there was a Glass Festival happening there that weekend, we had lots to see and savor. I love street festivals.
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| Corning Glass Festival @ Gafford District (Downtown Corning) |
After lunch, we headed to the Museum of Glass for some interactive fun. I signed everyone up for Make Your Own Glass Workshops...it was the most fun I had in a while. Each workshop was about 40 minutes long and in that time they explained the procedure, the tools involved and safety precautions.
Check out my head to toe protective gear! I didn't waste much time and got right down to business. Here's a shot of my finished project:
Beautiful, isn't it? Looks so professional. It was a proud moment for me when I picked it up the next day. After our sessions, we explored the rest of the museum. As you walk through the museum, you can get a sense of how glass making had evolved through the ages; specifically with the usage of tools. They also had live demos such as flame working, optical fiber, hot glass show and glass breaking. Pretty cool stuff!
The only thing left to do after a whole day of fun was to eat. We settled down at a nice spot in the park with pizza and beer and enjoyed the ambiance.
***Quick Tips:
- If you plan on making a trip over a holiday weekend, start early.
- AAA members get discounted tickets at the museum and hotel.
- It's a good idea to reserve the Make Your Own Glass workshops ahead of time; especially if you're planning to go on a holiday weekend and in large groups.
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