Centered 90 miles north of Manhattan in the Hudson Valley, the prehistoric Shawangunk Mountains were described by the New York Times in 1876 as "one of the most remarkable bits of scenery in the world."
A global climbing destination since the 1930s, the white granite "Gunks," surrounded by farmland, historic villages and the magnificent Mohonk Preserve, remain perpetually enchanting. Aside from the legendary Mohonk Mountain House, no area host puts guests in the Gunks like the meetings-capable Minnewaska Lodge. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the tranquil, 26-room property foots the sheer 900-foot Shawangunk Ridge.
"Groups come here for fresh air, flexibility and freedom," says the lodge’s adventure concierge Gunter Spilhaus, whose customized activities include a Tyrolean traverse across a waterfall and a mini-Olympics at nearby Lake Minnewaska for clients that have included the World Economic Forum and the U.S. Army Reserves. "From guided hikes to cross-country skiing to rock climbing, we can arrange an incredible range of outdoor options just minutes away."
The theme of outdoor plenty extends well into Upstate New York. Following are 10 invigorating ways for groups in the region to get outside and away from it all.
1. Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs
Encompassing some 2,200 acres on the edge of the Adirondacks, this National Historic Landmark is one of New York’s finest parks. Classical architecture distinguishes the park’s 85 structures, most built between 1915 and 1935. The park’s many escapes include the Roosevelt Baths & Spa at the landmark Gideon Putnam Resort, a legendary "watering hole" among the mineral springs that made Saratoga famous. The park offers a number of elegant, evocative spaces, most notably the Ice Cream Parlor, which once served guests in the Victoria Pool Complex. The historic Administration Building houses four conference rooms, including the Gideon Putnam Room, accommodating up to 100 conferees auditorium-style. Additional meetings-capable venues within the park include the Hall of Springs, Saratoga Automobile Museum, Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the National Museum of Dance.
2. New York Zipline Adventure Tours at Hunter Mountain, Hunter
In recent years, Hunter Mountain, the New York metropolitan area’s closest major four-season resort, has steadily enhanced its brand with additions like the luxurious Kaatskill Mountain Club. Now the resort offers North America’s longest and highest ziplines and canopy tour, in partnership with New York Zipline Adventure Tours (NYZAT). Groups of all ages can tackle the 60-foot Adventure Tower or embark on the two-hour Mid-Mountain Tour, a forest descent including six ziplines, four bridges and a rappel. For the ultimate experience, the longest of the SkyRider Tour’s five extreme ziplines sends riders 3,200 feet down the mountain at 50 miles per hour, 600 feet above the ground.
"One of our key program elements is dealing with the perception of risk," explains NYZAT’s Bradd Morse, a team development specialist with years of experience designing canopy tours around the globe. "We help clients foster the right attitude to overcome challenges."
3. Cornell Plantations, Ithaca
At Cornell University’s opening ceremony in 1868, an eminent naturalist remarked that "no other area could compete with Cornell’s surroundings in the opportunities offered for the study of natural history." In 1875, work began on what would become Cornell Plantations. Today, the 4,300-acre Eden encompasses Cornell’s botanical gardens, arboretum and natural areas, gorges and waterfalls included. Built to Gold LEED standards, the plantations’ striking new Brian C. Nevin Welcome Center is an "ultra-green" venue with space including a conference room for up to 12 and a flexible 100-seat multipurpose room. Marketing and retail coordinator Billy Kepner says that the center, now available for bookings, "is a state-of-the-art facility perfect for any meeting, cocktail party or dinner, with unmatched views of the botanical gardens." Other gathering options include the open-air Guy Nearing Summerhouse pavilion and a tent site in the 150-acre F. R. Newman Arboretum.
4. Delaware Park, Buffalo
A city of great architecture, Buffalo is also a great City of Trees, as celebrated at the 1901 Pan American Exposition. Credit visionary landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted with this lasting legacy, for it was here that Olmsted established his first system of parks and parkways, including the magnificent 350-acre Delaware Park, its meadows, lakes and forest nestled within Buffalo’s Museum District.
"Delaware Park offers a unique combination of facilities and parklands with a range of attractive meeting spaces," says Thomas Herrara-Mishler, president and CEO of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy.
The historic lakeside Marcy Casino accommodates banquets of 150, or cocktail parties of up to 1,000, with its adjacent Rose Garden also available for events. Other options include the recently restored Japanese Garden, live Shakespeare performances in the summer and cultural institutions like the famed Albright Knox Art Gallery.
5. Cloudsplitter Mountain Guides, Keene Valley
At over 6 million acres, Adirondack Park is larger than Yellowstone, Everglades, Glacier and Grand Canyon national parks combined. Nestled within its High Peaks region is the village of Lake Placid, synonymous with its legendary Olympic venues. Woven with hundreds of trails, including those leading to New York’s highest point, Mount Marcy, and Lake Tear of the Clouds, the source of the Hudson River, the area is also a magnet for wilderness hikers, climbers and mountaineers. Located in nearby Keene Valley just steps from The Mountaineer—the region’s leading outdoor retailer since 1975—Cloudsplitter’s fully certified guides take small groups on customized outdoor programs such as rock and ice climbing, and backcountry ski tours.
"With cliffs and trails right on our doorstep, accessibility is our defining feature," say co-owners Jesse Williams and Emilie Drinkwater, both professional climbers with global credentials. "For Lake Placid and other area groups, unforgettable experiences are just minutes away."
6. Antique Boat Museum, Clayton
Located on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in the picturesque Thousand Islands village of Clayton, the Antique Boat Museum showcases the maritime and cultural history of the St. Lawrence River region and North America. The museum, set on a leisurely 4.5-acre campus, offers a unique waterfront venue for a range of corporate meetings and specialty functions.
"We provide an efficient, peaceful and private setting for meetings of up to 50 people," says Fred Schmitt, the museum’s executive director. "Our guests can enjoy an old-fashioned shore lunch or dinner by the St. Lawrence River and tour exhibits of the largest collection of antique boats in North America, and ride on one of our classic wooden boats among the beautiful Thousand Islands."
7. Silver Bay YMCA of the Adirondacks, Silver Bay
Founded as a YMCA retreat around 1900, this rustic Adirondacks escape, then as now, welcomes guests to a "sylvan fairy-land…invigorating as an elixir," as its owner described it at the turn of the 20th century. Hosting youth groups, reunions, weddings, retreats and other gatherings, Silver Bay offers an extensive outdoor program that includes adventure-based team building, leadership development and experiential learning.
"For over 100 years, Silver Bay YMCA has provided an idyllic spot on Lake George to renew, refresh and nurture the spirit, mind and body," says Conference Program Director Erin Grayson. "Our range of outdoor activities, including kayaking, hiking and climbing, create a dynamic conference experience."
Along with flexible lodging options, Silver Bay’s meeting spaces include the Boathouse, an evocative example of early Adirondack architecture, and historic structures such as the circa-1917 Fisher Gymnasium, the circa-1895 Paine Hall Rotunda, and the landmark Auditorium.
8. Oneida Shores County Park, Brewerton
Twenty minutes north of Syracuse off Interstate 81, this popular year-round getaway fronts New York’s largest inland body of water, Oneida Lake. Featuring a sandy beach and camping, fishing and recreational areas, the park is hosting the annual Iron Girl Syracuse Women’s Triathlon for the third consecutive year this summer. For business retreats, weddings and other events, the secluded Arrowhead Lodge, with complete kitchen facilities, is also open year-round.
"For over 30 years, Arrowhead Lodge has offered planners a unique venue, outdoor recreation opportunities and top-notch customer service," says Bill Lansley, Onondaga County Parks commissioner. "Combine that with the warmth of our fieldstone fireplace, wireless Internet access and convenient location, and your search for the perfect meeting space has ended."
9. Corn Hill Navigation, Rochester
Completed in 1825, the legendary Erie Canal, once declared the "eighth wonder of the world," opened up the North American continent to settlement and commerce and transformed New York into an economic empire. The original canal went through downtown Rochester. Groups can experience this singular feat of engineering via uniquely authentic public, charter or specialty cruises with Corn Hill Navigation.
"From the signature experience of canalling through a century-old lock to the spectacular vista of Rochester’s modern skyline, the decks of our two vessels provide unparalleled opportunities to get outside and enjoy the majesty of the Erie Canal," says Victoria Schmitt, president of the company.
The historic wooden Mary Jemison accommodates up to 60 passengers, while the packet boat replica Sam Patch has room for 40 guests. For larger groups up to 149 passengers, Colonial Belle in nearby Fairport is another local choice.
10. Otesaga Resort Hotel, Cooperstown
One of the Northeast’s last surviving grande dame resorts, the 136-room Otesaga celebrated its centennial in 2009 with the completion of a $42 million makeover. Unchanged is this regal event and conference destination’s location along the southern shore of Lake Otsego, the famed "Glimmerglass" of James Fenimore Cooper’s classic novels. Remarkably, that view remains virtually identical to the vista printed on the resort’s original 1909 brochure.
Then as now, the best way to experience this glacial lake, one of the state’s most scenic, is via canoe. Paddle off from the resort’s dock and head for the miniature Kingfisher Tower castle on the opposite shore. The views are as invigorating as the exercise.
Adjacent to the resort is the championship Leatherstocking Golf Course, one of the finest public courses in the Northeast. Another signature Otesaga experience is to simply rock away the day on the resort’s veranda.
Regular Meetings Focus East contributor Jeff Heilman frequently escapes to Upstate New York.
