Editor’s Note: This post is written by a member of LTV’s sponsored content team, The Leisure Explorers. Do you own a Leisure Travel Van and enjoy writing? Learn more about joining the team.
In my last two articles, I shared some of our favorite discoveries while exploring New York’s Adirondack Mountains—from quiet boondocking sites and scenic mountain drives to hidden fishing spots and small towns that are often overlooked by travelers. After spending several weeks exploring the region, it was time to continue west toward our next destination.
This leg of the journey took us from the Adirondacks to western New York and into Ohio. Along the way, we discovered an outstanding campground on a trout stream, spent an evening exploring Niagara Falls, made a mandatory stop for buffalo wings at the restaurant where they were invented, and checked another National Park off our list. By the end of the trip, only three National Parks remained.
A Final Stop Before Leaving the Adirondacks
Our last campground before leaving the Adirondack region was West Canada Creek Campground near Poland, New York. It turned out to be an excellent place to spend several days and one that I would happily return to.
The campground is family-owned and exceptionally well-maintained. Sites are spacious, with a good mix of partial and full hookups. Many of the full hookup sites are shaded, while several of the partial hookup sites offer more open skies, giving campers options depending on whether they prefer sun or shade. We stayed at site 31, a shaded full-hookup site with strong campground wi-fi that worked well enough throughout our stay that Starlink never came out of storage.
For anglers, the campground’s biggest attraction is West Canada Creek. Three access points lead directly to the river, and just across the bridge is one of the area’s stocked trout sections. I spent time talking with several campers who fish there regularly, and more than one told me they catch trout almost every day during the season. Just upstream is the creek’s catch-and-release trophy section, where larger brown trout are common, while the stretch nearest the campground provides excellent opportunities for stocked fish. Whether you fly fish or use spinning gear, it’s one of the better campground fishing opportunities we’ve found.
The campground also offers tubing trips during the summer, transporting guests upstream so they can float back to the campground. Families will find plenty to keep everyone busy, including a swimming beach, playground, volleyball court, basketball area, pedal carts, cabins, tent sites, and a small camp store.
One unexpected highlight sits right at the campground entrance. An old caboose has been converted into an ice cream and pizza shop that has become a local favorite. After seeing the steady line of customers each evening, we had to stop. The homemade strawberry cheesecake ice cream in a homemade waffle cone was worth the wait. For more pictures of the campground, check out my reel review on Instagram.
Lakeside State Park–a Convenient Base for Niagara Falls
From West Canada Creek, we headed west along the southern shore of Lake Ontario to Lakeside State Park. Located about an hour from Niagara Falls, it makes an excellent base camp for exploring western New York without dealing with city traffic or expensive accommodations near the falls.
The campground is large and divided into several loops, some designated as dog-friendly and others pet-free, so it’s important to pay attention when making reservations if you’re traveling with a dog. Most of the sites are heavily wooded, creating a quiet camping experience, though dense tree cover can make satellite reception challenging. Electric hookups are available on many sites, and the campground includes a dump station, playgrounds, laundry facilities, and a camp store.
On our way to Niagara Falls, we made an unplanned stop at a local farm market just outside the campground. Fresh produce, homemade baked goods, locally made ice cream, and a small food truck made it a great place to stretch our legs before continuing west.
Another worthwhile stop before reaching Niagara is Whirlpool State Park. The overlook provides a dramatic view of the Niagara River as it narrows into the gorge, creating powerful Class VI rapids and the famous whirlpool downstream. The bright emerald-green water and steep cliffs make it one of the most scenic viewpoints in the area and one that many visitors skip on their way to the falls.
Exploring Niagara Falls
No matter how many photographs you’ve seen, Niagara Falls is difficult to appreciate until you’re standing beside it.
Parking can be one of the biggest challenges for RV travelers, but we found that one of the New York State Park lots accommodated our Unity with little difficulty. None of the off-site commercial parking lots allow RVs. Save yourself some time and head straight for lot two or three in the state park. My LTV fit nicely in lot two, but if you’re towing a vehicle, your only choice is lot three.
Once parked, the park is very easy to explore on foot. A network of paved walkways connects Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls, allowing visitors to experience each from a different perspective. Along the way, you’ll pass overlooks, gardens, viewing platforms, and the entrance to Cave of the Winds.
We chose to spend most of the late afternoon walking in the park before staying into the evening to watch the falls illuminated after dark. If you’ve never experienced Niagara at night, it’s well worth planning your visit around the lighting schedule. The colorful lights transform the falls into an entirely different experience.
Although the American side offers excellent close-up views, photographers looking for sweeping panoramas should also consider spending time on the Canadian side if their travel plans allow.
A Buffalo Tradition
Before leaving western New York, there was one more stop that simply couldn’t be skipped.
Anchor Bar in downtown Buffalo is widely recognized as the birthplace of the Buffalo wing. The restaurant embraces its history, with memorabilia covering the walls and visitors arriving from around the world to try the original recipe. Whether you believe they’re the best wings you’ve ever eaten or simply appreciate the history behind them, it’s a fun stop that adds another memorable experience to the trip.
Using Kissimmee Lake RV Campground as a Base for Cuyahoga Valley
Our next destination was Ohio, where we stayed at Kissimmee Lake RV Campground, a Thousand Trails property located within easy driving distance of Cleveland and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
The campground is large, with spacious full-hookup sites, two fishing ponds, a dog park, playgrounds, and plenty of open green space. As Thousand Trails members, it provided an affordable base camp for several days while we explored the area.
Exploring Cuyahoga Valley National Park
Unlike many National Parks, Cuyahoga Valley isn’t centered on a single spectacular viewpoint. Instead, it stretches for miles through forests, wetlands, rivers, farms, and small communities between Cleveland and Akron.
That layout makes it one of the most RV-friendly National Parks we’ve visited because you can explore it in sections. There are 15 different areas to explore, all about a 10- to 15-minute drive from each other.
Our first stop was Brandywine Falls, the park’s most photographed waterfall. A short boardwalk leads to multiple viewing platforms overlooking the 65-foot cascade, making it accessible for visitors of all ages. Parking can become crowded during weekends, so arriving early is recommended, especially for RVs.
From there, we visited Beaver Marsh, one of the park’s most popular hiking and cycling areas. Wide crushed-stone trails, extensive wetlands covered with giant lily pads, and excellent wildlife viewing make this a relaxing walk. We spotted turtles throughout the marsh, although the resident beavers remained hidden during our visit.
Another favorite stop was Kendall Lake, where easy walking trails circle the shoreline. The park is exceptionally dog-friendly, allowing Kona to accompany us on most of the trails—something that isn’t always possible in National Parks.
One feature that makes Cuyahoga Valley unique is that eight working farms still operate within the park boundaries. Several maintain seasonal farm markets selling fresh produce, honey, meats, and baked goods. We visited one of the larger farm markets during our drive through the park and found everything from locally grown strawberries to fresh vegetables picked that morning. Every Saturday, they hold a large farmers’ market where everyone participates.
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad is another popular attraction, offering visitors a different perspective on the park. Combined with more than 125 miles of hiking and biking trails, it’s easy to spend several days exploring without running out of things to do. To see pictures of all the sites we visited, check out our Instagram reel.
Looking Ahead
Checking Cuyahoga Valley National Park off our list leaves just three National Parks remaining to visit.
The next leg of our journey will take us north to Indiana Dunes National Park before continuing toward Isle Royale National Park, two destinations we’ve been looking forward to exploring. From there, we’ll continue west to attend the LTV Fall Rally in Winkler, where it’s always exciting to reconnect with fellow Leisure Travel Vans owners, tour the factory, and share stories from the road.
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