Canal Corporation Encourages Visitors to Experience Fall Foliage Along the Canal System

ALBANY, NY (09/23/2008)(readMedia)-- The Canal Corporation today encouraged visitors to travel to the Canal System and Canalway Trail to experience the fall foliage along the 524-mile network in upstate New York.

Carmella R. Mantello, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation, said, "With clear days and crisp nights upon us, it's certain that fall is in the air. As the leaves begin their transformation to vibrant colors, the Corporation encourages you to take an afternoon or a weekend to travel along the Canal System and Canalway Trail to experience the spectacular fall foliage. Glowing hues of yellow, orange and red line the waterway from the northern corner of the Champlain Canal all the way to the western tip of the Erie Canal."

During the first two weeks in October, leaves along the Champlain Canal, Capital Region, and west on the Erie Canal in the Mohawk Valley, Central New York and Finger Lakes, will be in their glory. Head north to the Oswego Canal for apple-picking adventures or continue west on the Erie Canal to finish up the foliage season for the last two weeks in October, being sure to stop at the fun-filled and family-friendly festivals along the way.

Several portions of the Canal System offer miles of multi-use paths for visitors to explore the foliage on foot or by bicycle. In the Capital Region and Mohawk Valley, the Erie Canalway Trail runs adjacent to the Mohawk River and offers breathtaking views of the changing leaves at sunset. At the western portion of the Canal System, the Canalway Trail resumes east of Rochester in Lyons and continues to Lockport, passing through such villages as Pittsford and Fairport which offer visitors many fine and casual dining options within footsteps of the Canal.

If being on the water is more your style, rent a kayak, canoe, or take a guided cruise. You can rent a kayak or canoe at the Boathouse on the Erie Canal in Niskayuna and head east on the Mohawk River and take in the foliage atop the cliffs above as you paddle by. If a guided cruise is what you're looking for, Champlain Canal Tour Boats, LLC in Schuylerville on the Champlain Canal, offers many options during the month of October. There are a plethora of water options and rental companies available throughout the Canal System. A complete listing is found on www.nyscanals.gov.

Even though the leaves are changing and the air is turning brisk, there are still many exciting events going on throughout the Canal System, such as:

• In Oswego on the Oswego Canal, enjoy the Central New York Great Pumpkin Fest during the first weekend in October (October 4&5)
• Stop by Seneca Falls on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal during Columbus Day weekend to enjoy Harvest Festival.
• On the Erie Canal, be sure to visit Schenectady on the Erie Canal for Schenectady County's Farm & Foliage Day on October 18, 2008. Also, Clyde will hold a Fall Harvest Festival on October 23, 2008.

The New York State Canal System is comprised of four historic waterways, the Erie, the Champlain, the Oswego and the Cayuga-Seneca Canals. Spanning 524 miles across New York State, the waterway links the Hudson River, Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the Finger Lakes and the Niagara River with communities rich in history and culture.

The Canal Corporation is a proud supporter of the 2009 Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial, a year long celebration designed to commemorate 400 years of progress in the Empire State. For more information on the Quadricentennial, please visit www.exploreny400.com.

For more information regarding events, recreation and vacation opportunities along the Canal System, please visit www.nyscanals.gov or call 1-800-4CANAL4.

The New York State Thruway Authority/Canal Corporation offers a free email service called TRANSalert to its customers via email or text messaging to inform them of major incidents and emergencies that may affect travel on the Thruway or navigation on the Canal System. To sign up for the Canal TRANSalert service, customers can visit the Corporation's website at www.nyscanals.gov/tas/. To sign-up for Thruway TRANSalerts please visit the Authority's website at www.nysthruway.gov/tas/.

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