A new adventure begins. During U.S. western expansion, new American families looked not to gated communities, elite school districts, or private parks, but to unknown lands and to the wild frontier. The concept of manifest destiny — a symptom of colonialism for sure, but nevertheless a means to the end we see today — was all that inspired young pioneers to pack everything into covered wagons for a long journey across the continent. The original Oregon Trail demanded grit, perseverance, and trust. Bands of pioneers and their families worked together as fellow countrymen to build a new world for their children and generations of Americans to come (even if it meant losing an occasional uncle or cousin to dysentery).

Here at Explore Conesus Lake, we’re ready to join the pioneers. Our covered wagon may have a lot more bells and whistles, but it keeps the coyotes at bay. So stay tuned for more adventures from the Finger Lakes, upstate New York, and beyond — and this time we really mean beyond. Subscribe, spread the word, and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit, or by signing up for the email list here: