[Road trip] North Country?

So this may be a bit early, but it's really only a month and a couple weeks now...

I was wondering on who is planning on making the trip to the nearly Great White North for the games on the 4th/5th of January. I'll be home in Ct and with nothing better to do on Winter Break, I was going to make the trip with a college hockey fan friend of mine (though not a Cornell fan). So I was just curious what kind of contingent to expect.

I also wanted to see if there were any Cornell-specific plans, as well as people's advice on what to do / where to stay in up there. TBRW?'s info is kinda sparse, but it makes it sound like the Best Western is *the* place to stay for both days. Any backups? Bars? Other things not to miss during the days for my first (and perhaps only) trip up there?

Oh, and, tickets over break shouldn't be a problem right? specifically through the Cornell box office?

-Fred

When Judy and I went we took our passports and stayed roughly 30 min north in a small town in Canada. I got to have Tim Hortons and go shopping for Ketchup chips. It was awesome! That made it one of my fav trips. However, there was very little to do in Potsdam or Canton - and everyone in the Dairy Queen (yes - it was a full joint with burgers and stuff - yay!) looked at us like we were coneheads or something - way out of place. Still it is a trip every die hard should do once. If you enjoy scenic routes you might enjoy the relatively long drive. With sunset it is really beautiful.

Question tossed out to the masses: How long do you think it'd take to get to the North Country from Albany and what would be the best route?

DeltaOne81 '03,

My brother (Adam '04) and I will be there for both nights. We're staying at our place in the 1000 Islands so I have no ideas on a place to stay. . .and yes there is NOTHING to do in Canton or Potsdam, nothing!!! - Bring a good book

Really? Nothing? I mean I figured there wouldn't be an amusement part or a museum or anything, but is there really nothing? Nature trails? Craft stores? I'll take anything. Just to say I did something in the area. Like Melissa's Tim Horton's experience or something (I'll drive half an hour if there's really nothing closer, but come on, nothing?!). Decent restaurant?

Someone I know at SLU says there are 4 bars, while the Hitchhiker's says the only night life is the Best Western, so there appears to be more than meets the eye, though probably not much .

Via Albany route information would also be appreciated here .

hey you could always do what the students at SLU(t) and Clarkson do, get some beer
and drink your way out of Canton and Potsdam . . .works for them, should work for us.

I'm planning to be there, but be warned, there is often a poor turnout during intersession, and the band's absence makes a big difference.

There's a Comfort Suites practically next door to the Best Western in Canton. It's newer, and slightly nicer, but it doesn't have a lounge or anything that is open in the evenings. The CS does have a decent continental breakfast, and the lobby area is pretty nice if you need a place to hang around waiting for game time.

There are also small (non-chain) roadside motels in the Canton/Potsdam area, but I can't really give you any details. And there's always the Clarkson Inn, but it's rather pricey.

As far as things to do, on your first visit you can probably keep yourself relatively occupied between games by checking out the two towns and the schools. If you find anything really interesting to do, please let me know! I've been there many times and have yet to find anything. I can't say I've noticed many (any) craft stores, but maybe I was oblivious. In Canton, there was a shop that sold hockey cards etc., but I think it was gone last season.

For an example of the kinds of nothing we're talking about, you can check out the following site: [northcountrynow.com]. When I looked, there was something about a basketmaking class in the local events section.

There are a few good Pizza/Italian joints.

Try to stay in one of the name brand hotels if you can. We got a reservation at one of the little motels one year. When we showed up, the clueless and unfriendly woman at the desk basically said, "Sorry we don't have your reservation and we're full. Good bye." This on a pleasant 5 degree Januray night in Potsdam. So we ended up crashing with people who'd had the sense to make reservations at a real hotel...

You want something to do? How 'bout sit in your hotel and watch the NFL playoff games? I've done that before in the NC

I've stayed at the Chalet Motel (on Route 11 a few miles outside Potsdam, 315-265-8400) on a number of occasions and never had any problems. It's also dirt cheap.

As far as things to do, I can't recommend much in the way of daytime stuff, but for after the game, Potsdam does have a few decent college bars, FWIW.

Don't be surprised if some sort of make shift band is at these games.
Don't be surprised if there's no band either. I plan on going though. It's a long stretch between home games...

i went up last year for the pair of games but stayed with a friend who had graduated from SLU(T). students will be on break so even the bars will be pretty empty. seeing the campuses is a cool thing to do but i dont know how into that sort of thing you are. there was a track meet that i went to for a bit but that wont be happening that weekend either. I, personally would check out the snowboarding scene. there has to be a small cheap ski area in the viscinity. maybe not though. going over to canadia can be fun too. it might be pretty darn cold but it is right outside the adirondacks which are pretty sweet so i am sure that there is nature stuff to do.
we ate at an italian joint on the main road that links the two towns. cant remember what it was called but i think it is on the hitchhiker guide.
just dont go to the pizza hut!
hope you have fun!
I will look into the best route from albany. I would assume that the best way would be for you to go up the northway and then take 11 south all the way into potsdam (that is what yahoo says). interestingly yahoo says for going to canton you take 90 to 81 to 3 to 11. looks like 4-5hr trip to me. I would suggest that if you are west of albany to go the thruway to syracuse then up 81 and that if you are north of albany to go the northway.
when i drove up to the north country a couple times i did it this way:
from syracuse i took 81 of course
from placid to gloversville NY I took 30 S but from potsdam or canton i do not think that would be a great way to go...
i dont know, see what others say. you have a long drive regardless!

I'd love to go, but the crazy Saturday-and-Sunday schedule may make it impossible for me. (That was done to allow a little cushion time for teams coming back from holiday tourneys; getting the Big Red back from Florida proved a real problem one winter.)

If I'm not flying to California on Monday the 6th, then a slightly skewed away weekend seems like a fine idea. No doubt Potsdam's a hoppin' place on a Sunday night...

surely as "hoppin" as Ithaca...

Damn, I hadn't noticed the Sat-Sun thing. Would've been nice if the games were in the afternoon like they are this weekend.

I'm turning 21 January 2nd, so I will be in North Country and if there's nothing to do, I'm buying all the alcohol in Canton/Potsdams podunk little mom and pop store and throwing a party for all those wearing Cornell apparel. Hopefully, there will at least be a bar though.

GO BIG RED!!!

The St. Lawrence bookstore is delightful and not to be missed.
Watchout for the staff of both Appleton and Cheel...I've encountered particularly unfriendly student staffers at both rinks. One girl at Appleton threatened to kick us out if we kept on cheering. The annoying Knights in their yellow windbreaker jackets have given me and my friends particularly hard times both times I visited Cheel. (Cheer's to you, bro, if you're reading from Atlanta). This may be however due in part to my particularly abrasive former travel buddy, now graduated.

I definately agree its a trip worth making.

Maybe ya'll could have a party at Ugly Sweater Guy's house. Or kick the crap out of him for his Macho Man legacy. Either way.

I second that...

Allow 4 hours from Albany to Potsdam. I'll post directions and a helpful link (hopefully) later this evening.

what about those of us (or I guess just me) who are highly superstitious and won't wear red or anything cornell on game day???

Because I have so much else to think about over the course of the next three and a half weeks of final memos, finals, and midterms, I simply haven't even considered what to do with myself while I'm on break from Dec. 20 to Jan. 13. But if the weather is good, I would seriously consider a long drive up to the North Country for some good hockey.

For that matter, I would seriously consider a long drive down to Florida for some good hockey.

Beeeej

I generally don't do this, but...*bump*

Mainly because I'm hoping RichS (who has become more active again) might post those Albany area --> North Country directions. And also bc I want to confirm that Section D in Appleton is the main visitors section, having just gotten my tickets (Clarkson I confirmed on CHTG, but SLU has no such representation).

Anyway... tickets bought, room at Comfort Suites booked... three more weeks to go .

-Fred

5?! It was 1 degree durn it...

Also, the Ithaca - NC route, if the weather is ok, is actually not long at all. You should be able to do it between 3 and 3.5 hours. I could swear I did it in under 3 last year.

Does that include the time it took to chat with the nice State Trooper?

(I know, I should talk....)

No, I was talking about going.

Albany->NC is pretty easy:

Northway to Exit 23 (Route 9 North)
Take Route 9 to route 28
Take Route 28 to route 30
Take Route 30 to route 56 (you might actually be on route 3 for a while if route 30 ends; hard to tell on Mapquest)
Route 56 will take you to Potsdam; you can fork off onto 68 if you want a shortcut to Canton and the weather is not too scary.

Check a map for the appropriate compass directions, but you're generally heading North and West. Ignore Mapquest and Yahoo which tell you to stay on the Northway too long.

Considering it's a hour to Syracuse, an hour further on 81 till you get to Rt 11, if you can get there in under 3 hours, I don't want to be on the road at the same time.

Jim Hyla '67 wrote:

Considering it's a hour to Syracuse, an hour further on 81 till you get to Rt 11, if you can get there in under 3 hours, I don't want to be on the road at the same time.

Warp speed Mr. Sulu!

Sorry guys...after being away a couple of days after Thanksgiving, I forgot about the directions.

Those are right on John so I'll just fill in a bit. The exit off the Northway is for Warrensburg, which you'll hit just a few miles up on Rt 9. That's where you'll pick up Rt 28 and I think you pick up Rt 30 making a right turn in Blue Mtn Lake...or is it Long Lake? As many times as I've made the trip, I can't keep these Lakes straight...except Lk Placid, of course.... And you don't hit LP following these directions as it's slower that way.

Right John, you do get onto Rt 3 for just a short while...yeah, I forget how many miles. Hard to believe I just made this trip 3 wks ago, eh? I think you pick up Rt 3 in Tupper Lake. Thats a good place to stop for gas at either of the two Mobils you'll pass since it might be the last open station you find before Potsdam, depending on the time of night. Allow about 50-60 mins from Tupper to Potsdam. Be alert for the right turn from Rt 3 onto Rt 56 as the sign advising of the turn is only about a quarter mile ahead of it. There are a number of tricky curves on Rt 56 before you get to within 5 miles or so of Potsdam. Be careful on these, esp if driving at night! I've never taken 68 to Canton but 56 takes you past SUCP-Potsdam, and into the center of town...Clarkson's famed Snell Hall is on the right at the traffic light. A left turn at the light onto Main gets you headed through town and to the hill campus, where Cheel Campus Center (containing Cheel Arena) is. If you're arriving just before game time you can follow the crowd once you've made the right into the hill campus. Parking can be tight so you may have to walk back a few minutes to Cheel after parking beyond it.

One word of advice...make as much of the trip as you can in daylight if possible, because if the weather is bad, the roads in the mountains can be nasty, especially at night! Eat before you leave the Albany area becuse there's not much along the way except for a couple of delis and Italian places in Warrensburg. After that, I'm not familair with anything but gas stations. The food at the Cheel center is decent and more varied now but with the game being on Sunday evening, I can't guarantee they'll be open.

As for lodging, I personally recommend Smallings Motel-South on Rt 11, all of about a 5 minute trip from Cheel, towards Canton on the left. It's newly remodeled in summer 2001 and I've been there a few times. The tel # is 315-265-0709. I think its the best by far of the handful of roadside motels in the area. The Smalling family that owns it, and another older motel on the other side of town, has been part of the Clarkson family for over 30 years at least, and that may account for their maintaining their regular rates on hockey weekends. I jut paid $49 a night incl tax and a AAA discount of 10% I think. Only 16 (?) units I believe so call NOW if you're interested.

For breakfast in Potsdam in particular, I recommend McNamara's on Clarkson Ave at the foot of the hill campus. They are friendly, efficient, and very reasonably priced and the food is good. Have only had breakfast there. It's practically next door to the old arena, Walker, or Clarkson Arena as it was known in my day and taking a peek there is worth it...it may even be open on Saturday if you're lucky.

For events on campus, try www.clarkson.edu. Hope this helps and that you folks enjoy the trip...except for the outcome at Cheel, of course...

RichS wrote[Q]For breakfast in Potsdam in particular, I recommend McNamara's on Clarkson Ave at the foot of the hill campus. They are friendly, efficient, and very reasonably priced and the food is good. Have only had breakfast there. It's practically next door to the old arena, Walker, or Clarkson Arena as it was known in my day and taking a peek there is worth it...it may even be open on Saturday if you're lucky.
[/Q]While I heartily agree with the breakfast rec., I don't know about worth it. For old times sake maybe, but not many of us non-Clarksonians (?) were sorry to see it go.

Jim Hyla '67 wrote:

RichS wrote[Q] the old arena, Walker, or Clarkson Arena as it was known in my day and taking a peek there is worth it...it may even be open on Saturday if you're lucky.
[/Q]I don't know about worth it. For old times sake maybe, but not many of us non-Clarksonians (?) were sorry to see it go.

I'm sure the rest of the ECAC will say the same thing about Lynah when it's been replaced by the Andy Noel Campus Center.

John T. Whelan wrote:[Q]I'm sure the rest of the ECAC will say the same thing about Lynah when it's been replaced by the Andy Noel Campus Center.[/Q]You could at least put some sort of a smiley face after a statement like that.

Pretty good casino 35 minutes nort in Hogans burg.. (age is 18) God for a few hrs on Sun.

John T. Whelan '91 wrote:

I'm sure the rest of the ECAC will say the same thing about Lynah when it's been replaced by the Andy Noel Campus Center.

...which will feature steam-table turkey on its menu.

ken stillman wrote:

Pretty good casino 35 minutes nort in Hogans burg...(age is 18). God for a few hrs on Sun.

Since when are they holding lengthy church services in casinos.

Sounds like he'll be worshiping the Gambling gods...

Boy, did you two take the boot, I mean bait!

I can second Rich's recommendation of either Smalling Motel, and had only not said it before because I didn't want people to fill it my before I made my reservations. Unfortunately, it was irrelevant, because they both filled up a month ago.

As an alternative, some of us are staying in Ottawa, at the Days Inn Downtown (book online at [www.daysinn.com] ) if anyone wants to join us.

So does that mean the Cornell parties are gonna be up in Ottawa? ... should I bring my passport? (do you even need it to go to Canada, haven't done so in about 4 years)

Yes, either your passport or two forms of photo ID. . .otherwise expect to be at the border for a loooooooooooooooooooooong time.

Well, we drove through Ontario on the way back from the WMU trip, and had absolutely no problems. Crossed at Windsor and Lewiston. The Canadian customs agent joked with us, and even the US customs agent was friendly. No ID was necessary at either point. I'll still probably pack my passport just in case.

I'm also bringing my skates, in case there's a chance on Sunday to skate that canal that runs through the city.
[www.canadascapital.gc.ca]

I don't have a passport, so I'm not bringing one. I've never been asked for one at the Canadian border.

The Andy Noel Campus Center? Cringe. So now we know where that bloody $7/month is going.

the games are saturday and sunday right?

Yup, Sat & Sun @ 7 pm each

doh
that sunday game makes a trip to the north country impossible. oh well
thanks for the answer about the schedule

Actually, both games are going to wind up being impossible for me. It's official; I'm going to be listening online in California!

My one bad experience has been at Niagara Falls where I attempted to walk over with only a driver's license. Those damn Canadians (grrrr....) weren't too particularly welcome to the idea of letting an Asian girl across the border without a passport. But then that's just me...

Sunday is not impossible. The drive back is not that bad. I know you may have to go to Bing. and not Syr., but it's about 4 hours. And as an aside I had season tickets all through my med school at U of Roch; it's possible.

Is there going to be a band (makeshift or alum) on this trip???

Probably should have thought about this earlier, but now I'm planning on making the trip up North.

Anybody have an idea what the ticket situation will be like? Anne posts that attendance will be poor due to student holiday, but I remember Appleton being full of North Country locals and Cheel having much of the same. Maybe the damn horn operator will be on vacation.

I'm staying up in Ottawa like the last time I went. The border patrol wanted to know the score of the game when I went through at 10 PM Friday, ok so this year it will be Saturday.

My understanding is that you can always get SRO tickets at Cheel.

So has the weather scared anyone off? Who's still planning on it?

Also, due to the weather, do you think Albany -> Syracuse -> 81 N might be better, since that'll be almost all interstates?

-Fred

for all who are making the trek:
drive safely and cheer loudly!

wish I could go...

I'm currently deliberating between I90->I81->11 N/E and I87->11 S/W., both of which keep one on the interstate as long as possible. The distance seems about the same, but the I90 route spends more time in the heart of the heavy total snowfall band, while the I87 route spends more time where the snow will let up last. So it's a tradeoff of more snow on the ground or more snow in the air. (Yahoo and MapQuest recommend the Northway to get to Potsdam and I81 to get to Canton.)

I'm also planning to get a very early start tomorrow; more driving before the storm lets up, but this way I get as much time as possible to make the drive.

FYI, as I say before any trip, Cornell home jersey (fake kind), '03' on the back. I'll be in the main visitors section both nights - feel free to say hi .

-Fred

I'll be up there with at least one (maybe two) friends

We're headed over to I81 (from Rome) and north from there. There is lots (11.5758748" of snow here, but they say it isn't as bad at points North of here.

I called SLU(t) today and they say they have 400-500 GA tickets they expect to sell at game time, because the students are on vacation, the ticket office opens at 6 PM (anybody know where it is, I forgot to ask).

Let's Go Red!

We're still planning to stay in Ottawa, anybody else up there who wants to meet up for beers after the game?

well it is not only the drive to bing but the problem is that my fiancee would need to go back to the albany area = we would take different cars which isnt a great idea. glad we didnt decide to go b/c of the weather and i can go boarding on the fresh powder sunday
also, i have to get up to start a new rotation monday - it isnt a good thing to show up to a new rotation with 5 hours sleep after driving
but it is all good.
hope you all have fun and drive safely

I had a number of patients come down from up north Friday and they said the roads were fine, that is 81 and11.

As it turned out, the only bad part was the Thruway within about an hour of Albany either way. One semi jackknifed, another in a ditch, and a third on the side of the road.

Although driving on a thin layer of uncleared snow on 13 on the way back wasn't exactly fun either...

Well, if you're gonna bitch about that, I need to bitch about my brilliant idea to get a head start on Thursday and drive from New Haven to Ithaca. At the very least I should have left earlier than 1:20. The roads weren't all that atrocious, but of course everyone had to drive 25 mph on 84. Eventually, traffic dissipated and things started moving along. Mistake #2 was to take 17. Again, the roads were fine, but there was a big pileup a couple miles ahead of me and they stopped everyone westbound for about 50 minutes. Then they turned everyone around, had us cross the median and left us to our own devices. So everyone had to get off at the first exit and take a 40 mile detour on roads that haven't seen a plow since the Reagan administration. All this to get to the very next exit down the road. Then, when I finally got withiin 17 miles of Ithaca at Richford, 79 was closed due to downed power lines and trees, so I had to go to Owego and take 96 into Ithaca. Total travel time: 9 hours, 11 minutes averaging 34 mph.

Imagine what it was like when 17 was a two-lane local road.