Summers in the far southwestern corner of New York come like summer camp for all ages, but with a little more style. It’d be hard to imagine camp with operatic performances and lectures given by Pulitzer Prize-winning writers, but that’s just what the region presents at the Chautauqua Institution, the Lily Daly Assembly, and at various festivals in Ellicottville and throughout the region. Yet between jazz performances, art workshops and winery tours, there’s still plenty of time and space to sit and watch the stars rotate across the sky with friends and family.

Southwest New York’s Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties present endless summer diversions, from hiking to swimming and from birding to painting. Victorian town squares and tree-lined vistas beckon visitors to become lifelong citizens.

Live and Learn
Chautauqua County lies on the edge of Pennsylvania and Lake Erie and is dotted with lakes itself, not least of which is the county’s namesake lake, which the Seneca Indians called “bag tied in the middle” for the shape of the lake.

The area was first settled toward the close of the 18th century. The entire region served as a door to the West, in particular to the Ohio River Valley, which led to New Orleans and beyond. During the French and Indian War, the area was hotly contested because of its importance as a trade route. Mills and shipping played an early role in the economy of the area. However, the area had a strong agricultural past. Today, Chautauqua County alone is home to nearly 2,000 farms and has more than 20,000 acres of grapes that are made into either juice or wine.

Chautauqua County’s main claim to fame is the Chautauqua Institution. Founded in 1874 as a Sunday school teacher’s program, the Institution today draws some 8,000 enrollees in its summer program and more than 140,000 to public events.

Former presidents have visited and spoken at Chautauqua’s lecture series as well as noteworthy writers, activists and scholars. Each year the institution presents a packed schedule for nine weeks during the summer. Plays, symphonic performances and operas are scheduled for matinees and evening showings, while morning lectures focus on religion, spirituality and contemporary issues. Popular entertainers and weekly concerts draw big crowds to the area.

Visitors can choose to stop by the institution for an afternoon lecture, stay all day or enroll in lectures and workshops all week. The Institution has programs geared toward anyone from children to seniors. Quaint Victorian cottages are available to rent on the Chautauqua campus and in the surrounding area.

A bit to the northeast on Cassadaga Lake, the Lily Dale Assembly offers more lectures and workshops on spirituality. The community is an epicenter for Spiritualism, a religious sect that includes mediums and healers, though the summer lectures bring in speakers from across religious disciplines.

Jamestown is the largest city in Chautauqua County and lies on the southern end of Lake Chautauqua. Jamestown, N.Y., is the hometown of beloved TV star Lucille Ball. In town, the Lucy-Desi Museum showcases costumes, props and personal items from the couple’s show. The Desilu Playhouse is home to replicas of sets from I Love Lucy.

The Great Outdoors
The Chautauqua-Allegheny region is a hotbed for outdoor activities, especially come summer. Swimming, boating and fishing are popular on the region’s many lakes. Lake Erie separates New York from Canada, and though the lake has served as a shipping portal, it’s also a lovely escape from the city. Campsites abound in all three counties.

Allegany State Park borders the Seneca Nation and the Allegany Reservoir. The park in Cattaraugus County is the largest state park in New York and boasts 18 hiking trails. There are even three paved trails in the park perfect for bicyclers. Visitors picnic lakeside and spend hot afternoons cooling off at area beaches.

Adventurous visitors enjoy getting out in canoes and kayaks on the region’s rivers and creeks. The Allegany is the region’s largest river, with a large portion navigable to human-powered watercraft. Cattaraugus Creek presents more of a challenge to rafters, while some of the county’s other creeks are perfect for a lazy roll down the river. Zoar Valley Paddling Club and Adventure Calls Outfitters are companies ready to outfit adventurers.

Ellicottville serves as a cultural capital of sorts for Cattaraugus County with multiple summer festivals. Art and music festivals create a good excuse to get outside.

On the Farm
Regional tourism boards have set up a couple driving trails to help visitors and residents find what’s unique to the area. The Chautauqua-Lake Erie Wine Trail crosses from New York into Pennsylvania and brings oenophiles to 30,000 acres of vineyards in the country’s largest grape-producing region in the East. There are more than 21 stops along the trail, highlighting the small business and agricultural spirit that makes the region unique.

The region is also well-known as Amish Country. Visitors can purchase handmade crafts directly from the Amish or at antique or corner stores. Learn to live life in the slow lane as you pass horse-drawn buggies and green- and-tree-lined vistas.

Agritourism is making way of late. Perhaps people want to get out of the city and back to their roots. The three-county region is brimming with farms and farmers who are more than happy to welcome visitors to their operations. Families who may not have hands-on contact with animals and produce can connect with farms and markets listed on all three of the counties’ Web sites. The area boasts tree farms, orchards, maple syrup operations, and a surprising number of alpaca and bee farms all ready to be explored.

No matter where you find yourself in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region, a lake in the woods and relaxation are sure to be your companions. Go back with your family to the days of summer camp, sitting near the fire by night and fishing for your dinner by day. Southwestern New York offers plenty of ways to remind you of how things used to be whilst making new memories for the future.

For more information on the area or to request a travel brochure, visit www.visitwesternny.com or call (800) 242-4569. For trip-planning assistance, contact your AAA Travel agent or visit AAA.com/travel.