R & R

In the spirit of helping you make the adjustment to St. Lawrence University and the North Country be certain you take time out occasionally for a little “R & R.” There’s lot to do and see here in the North Country, and here are a few of our suggestions. Do not consider this list exhaustive. For a more complete list of local events and activities tune to WSLU 89.5 FM for the Community Calendar which is run several times throughout the day. Alternatively, check out The North Country This Week (or online at http://northcountrynow.com ), a free publication found in most stores and restaurants in Canton and Potsdam.

Activities – There is lots to do if you like biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, camping, canoeing, kayaking. Your best bet is to contact the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) who will provide you with more detailed information and a map about the location of various hiking trails, camping areas, and canoeing spots. Phone: 315-265-3090 Web site: www.dec.state.ny.us You can also get information and rent outdoor equipment at SLU’s outdoor program office. (They also have a yearly equipment swap.) Phone 229-5016. Here are a few of our favorite biking, hiking, skiing, picnicking spots in the immediate vicinity:

Bowling

The local bowling alley is Gray Bowling Lanes. 1 Main St. Canton 386-3961. Check out the yellow pages for other local bowling alleys.

Biking & Rollerblading

There are many lovely back country roads for you to bicycle along. For the best advice on local bicycling routes, visit the Bicycle Post, which is located at 70 Main St. right in Canton (386-3756). The folks there are friendly, go out biking frequently, and have a relatively inexpensive map available with marked out bike routes.

The Canton Bike Club announces its meetings and activities in North Country This Week (or online at http://northcountrynow.com ). Between April and October, this biking group meets for 10-100 mile trips several times a week. The rides are a wonderful way to get to know the local area, meet some great people and get exercise. The Bike Club is low-key and relaxed: no racers! The members, currently around ten active, regularly participating people, are from all walks of life, so you also get to make friends off campus.

For those who want to expand their horizons and bicycle in the Potsdam area, visit the Tread Mill, at 2 Clarkson Avenue in Potsdam (265-5850). Again, these folks are helpful, knowledgeable about routes (as well as bikes) and will get you started on enjoying the many bicycling opportunities in the North Country. For those folks who are a bit more adventurous and like to occasionally travel crosscountry on weekends, head down to the Finger Lakes (around Ithaca, NY) region, where you will find spectacular scenery, miles and miles of paved road, and quaint local wineries and plentiful restaurants – the quintessential weekend get-a-way.

In the immediate Canton area there is a terrific 3-mile paved loop around the Partridge Run Golf Course, located at 70 Sullivan Drive (just off of State St. beyond the middle school-high school). The topography varies little, so those who prefer big hills or wide open runs of flat terrain are best to try back country roads in the area.

Local Golfing

  • St. Lawrence University Golf Course – located on Route 11, Canton Phone: 386-4600
  • Partridge Run Golf Course – 70 Sullivan Drive, Canton Phone: 386-4444
  • Potsdam Golf & Country Club – located on Route 56, Potsdam Phone: 265-2141
  • St. Lawrence State Park Golf Course – Riverside Drive, Ogdensburg Phone: 393-2286
  • Cedar View Golf Course – Route 37C, Massena Phone: 764-9104
  • Massena Country Club – Route 131 Massena Phone: 769-2293

Local Hiking, Camping, Canoeing & Picnicking

Call the local DEC for more specific information 265-3090.

  • Postwood Park – located in Hannawa Falls, off route 56.
  • Lampson Falls – Within 15 miles of Canton, this scenic spot is frequented by students and faculty alike. Head out of town on Park St., proceed to the first stop sign, take the middle fork, go past the Brick Chapel to Waterman Hill. On the hill take the right fork, go ~4 miles to stop sign. Cross intersecting road, proceed past Claire town barns (located on the right), where you will then drop into a little valley. Pull off for Lampson Fall is on the right, ~2 miles. Hike into the falls is ~1/2 mile.
  • Indian Creek Nature Center – Rensselaer Falls. Take route 68 north towards Ogdensburg for approximately 12 miles, watch for sign indicating a left-hand turn to the Nature Center.
  • Stone Valley Trail – located in Colton. Route 68 south takes you to Colton (where 68 intersects with route 56). Take a left at the end of 68 and a right onto Main St and proceed over the Raquette River. Right after the bridge take the next left, onto Mill St. This road will come to a dead end which is the parking area. There are extensive trails systems on both sides of the Raquette River, ideal for picnicking, no camping allowed. Wolf
  • Lake State Forest – Located just outside of Edwards, the area contains three fresh water glacial lakes – ideal for swimming. Wolf Lake, Huckleberry Lake and Moon Lake all have camping areas. Good local get-away.
  • Higley Flow State Park – Camping, canoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking opportunities abound.

Regional Hiking, Camping, Canoeing & Picnicking

For an exhaustive pamphlet which describes the various Forest Preserve and State Campground locations managed by the NYS DEC, call 518-457-2500 or access the descriptive pamphlet via their Website at www.park-net.com.

For a complete listing of favorite places to hike in the Adirondacks pick up a copy of the highly appraised book “Day hikes in the Adirondacks” found in the SLU bookstore. (Well worth your money!)

For additional premier camping, canoeing, hiking, biking, kayaking, and rock climbing spots make certain to visit The Adirondack Park. For additional information about the Park, contact either the NYS DEC (phone number listed above) or the Adirondack Mountain Club at their North Country Operations Office at: 518-523-3480 or you can reach their website at www.adk.org.

For those folks interested in the Thousand Islands region contact the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation at: 315-482-2593. Again, these folks can send out an exhaustive pamphlet that describes the various recreational opportunities in the Thousand Islands region.

Ice Skating

Canton boasts two ice arenas: The Pavilion and St. Lawrence’s own Appleton arena, home of the Skating Saints. The Pavilion hosts high school hockey games but also offers open skating and private skating lessons to the public. Call 386-3992 for specific information. Appleton arena hosts terrific Division I Men and Women’s hockey games and is the place to be on winter weekends when the Saints play at home.

There is an adult figure skating group in Canton. For more information contact faculty member Brian Watson at 229-5497.

Thursday nights are staff hockey nights! Contact faculty member Robin Lock for more information at 229-5960.

Appleton arena has open skating most week days from 12-1 and open hockey from 1-2.

The St. Lawrence Center Mall in Massena has recently opened an ice arena and it seems to be a great place for kids to skate while parents shop. Rentals available.

When the Rideau Canal in Ottawa freezes over, it is the site for outdoor skating. Rentals available.

Skiing

One of the great charms of North Country winters is the ease with which one can put on X-country ski gear and slip out your own back door and in many cases on this campus, your own office door. Groomed trails connect to the campus via the golf course and the Kip Trail. Ask your colleagues for the best lunch time route, or better yet, find out who typically heads out and tag along. If you don’t own X-country skiis, try Hackett True Value in the Canton Plaza (386-5266) or inquire about loans at the St. Lawrence Outdoor Program on campus 229-5016.

There are downhill ski facilities in Lake Placid (Whiteface Mountain) and Malone (Titus Mountain). Whiteface is a bigger mountain. Titus is closer. There is also down hill skiing at Tremblant - approximately 3 hours drive, north of Montreal (http://www.tremblant.ca/e/themountain/winter-index.html )

Swimming

For a $75.00 family fee the Best Western lets you swim in their outside pool. For more information call 386-8522.

Places and Events

Even if you are not all that interested in outdoor activities, do not despair. The North Country offers many other recreational opportunities. In fact, there are quite a wide variety of annual cultural activities happening in Canton and the surrounding vicinity.

Antiquing

For those who are into sipping coffee on the weekend and heading off on bike or in the car to scrounge the local garage sale scene and flea markets, looking for ‘golden oldies’, you’ve moved to the right place. The North Country is notorious for those odd one-of-a-kind antique finds. You may have to do a lot of sifting and scavenging through piles of junk but you’ll usually find some real treasures if you are persistent enough. Areas known to have bona fide open market/antique shops -- Crary Mills, DeKalb Junction, Norwood and Norfolk, Potsdam. Spring, Summer and Fall, check out the North Country This Week for local auctions.

Museums & Libraries

  • St. Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright Museum – Located at 3 East Main St. in Canton. Located in original home of state governor (1844-46) Silas Wright. Building was restored in 1978 by the county historical association, and features rooms from the 1830-50s period. Adjacent structures house archival research material on history of the county. Open noon-4 pm, Tues. – Sat. Phone: 315-386-8133.
  • Crane Music Library – Potsdam State College houses the Crane Music Complex and includes a collection of music materials including approximately 12,800 books and periodical volumes, over 23,450 pieces of choral and instrumental music and over 16,200 recordings. Crane School of Music also hosts seasonal feature events. For more information call SUNY Potsdam library at 315-267-2451.
  • Akwesasne Museum & Library – Located on Route 37, Hogansburg, approximately 30 miles north of Potsdam. Museum is situated on the Akwesasne Mohawk Reservation and it preserves and perpetuates the best instances of Mohawk culture, with both contemporary and historic materials pertinent to Mohawk and Iroquois culture. Admission charged. Call for hours. Phone: 518-358-2240 or 518-358-2461.
  • Adirondack Museum – Located in Blue Mountain Lake and noted by the New York Times as “the best of its kind in the world.” The museum’s twenty-two indoor/outdoor exhibit areas tell the stories of how people lived, moved, worked and played in the Adirondacks. New exhibits, year-round programs, family workshops and special events combine to make this a “must-see” while in the North Country. Open daily 9:30-5:30 Memorial Day weekend until mid-October. Admission charged. Phone: 518-352-7311.
  • National Museum of Science & Technology – 1867 St. Laurent Blvd. Ottawa, Ontario. An easy 1.5 hours drive from Canton, this award winning science museum is sure to please both kids and adults. The children’s museum is a terrifically innovative environment for curious young learners. Great gift store and a reasonable cafe on the museum property. Cross the border at Prescott and proceed on hwy 16 to 416 into the center of the city. For more information and admission fee contact: 613-991-3044.
  • Antique Boat Museum – “The Antique Boat Museum is America's freshwater boating museum. There are other marine museums on freshwater, even a few that pay attention to recreational boat and boating; but the Clayton museum is pretty much the largest and most impressive collection of inland recreational boats in the world." Joseph Gribbins- Nautical Quarterly Magazine. 750 Mary Street - Clayton, New York 13624 -Tel. 315- 686-4104 - Fax 315-686-2775- www.abm.org/
  • Canadian Museum of Civilization - 100 Laurier St., Hull, Quebec, J8X 4H2, 819-776- 7000.
  • Biodome in Montreal-- 4777 Pierre-De Coubertin Avenue, Montréal, Québec H1V 1B3, Telephone: (514) 868-3000, website http://www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/biodome/ebdm.htm.

Arts & Theatres

  • Richard F. Brush Gallery -- Located in the Griffiths Art Center on the St. Lawrence University campus. The gallery presents approximately 15 exhibitions per academic year of regional, national, and international historical and contemporary art. The Gallery maintains the University’s permanent collection of nearly 7000 art objects and artifacts, specializing in 20-th century American and British photographs, prints, and drawings. For Gallery hours and a list of yearly exhibits call: 315-229-5174.
  • Lake Placid Center for the Arts – Located in Lake Placid on Saranac Avenue, the Lake Placid Center for the Arts presents a variety of exceptional theater, dance and music events year round. For more information or a yearly calendar of events call: 518-523- 2512. Ottawa
  • National Arts Centre – Located at 53 Elgin (at Queen) in the heart of one of Ontario’s finest cultural centers. Call 613-996-5051 for general information and directions. Call 613-947-7000 to hear a listing of current events. Bi-lingual.
  • National Gallery of Canada – Located at 380 Sussex Drive, in Ottawa, Ontario. Cross the border at Prescott and proceed on hwy 16 to 416 into the center of the city. Plenty of wonderful cafes, art galleries and cosmopolitan flair within an easy walk of the museum. For more information and admission fee contact: 613-990-1985.
  • Frederic Remington Art Museum – 303 Washington St. Ogdensburg. 18 miles north of Canton. The museum is named after Frederic Remington, one of the foremost artists of the Old West. The Remington collection contains bronzes, oil paintings, watercolors and pen and ink sketches by Remington and much of his personal art collection. Telephone: 315-393-2425.
  • Pendragon Theater – Located at 148 River Street in Saranac Lake, the Theater provides professional theatre performances in the center of the Adirondacks featuring theater and music. For more information call: 518-891-1854.
  • TAUNY – located in Canton on the “island” on west side of town. Features work by North Country artists, including pieces of various media: clay, fiber, oil, pastel. Call 386- 4289 for hours.
  • Flynn Theater – located at 153 Main St. in Burlington, VT. Live performances ranging from rock to reggae, classical ballet to modern dance. Call 802-652-4500 for a current listing of events, show times, and ticket information. It’s well worth the drive – Burlington is a culturally thriving, vital hot-spot!
  • Cinema 10 – Film series run throughout the fall at the ROXY Theater located at 20 Main St. in Potsdam. Features quality foreign and independent films. Call 265-9630 for current listing.
  • Syracuse Stage - 820 East Genesee Street Syracuse, New York 13210-1508 – Administrative office phone: 315-443-4008 Fax: 315-443-9846 Box Office:315-443-3275 Fax: 315-443-1408 - website www.syracusestage.org/
  • Great Canadian Theatre Company - 910 Gladstone Ave., Ottawa, Ont - phone: (613) 236 5196 – website: www.gctc.ca/
  • A.C.E. Movies – Current movies are shown on campus in Gulick Theater throughout the school year. A number of faculty have recommended the 7pm showing over the 9 pm. Check the Student Activities listing on the SLU homepage, under Campus Life or contact Student Activities at 229-5757 for a complete listing of movies and other campus wide events and activities.

Music and Dancing

For musical events happening in the area check with the previously mentioned theaters (Lake Placid Center for the Arts & the Flynn Theater, or the Crane School of Music for their current listing). The North Country This Week also lists local music events. Check out their website at http://northcountrynow.com.

SLU hosts various music events and performances throughout the school year including a University Concert Series, Laurentian Singers, the Sinners & Saints, the University Chorus, and the Early Music Ensemble. Faculty and staff can participate in the last two groups. Contact the music department for more information. For a more complete listing of events, check the calendar of events located on the SLU homepage under Campus Life or watch for flyers and brochures that are posted throughout the Student Center.

  • For those folks who tend toward coffee-house ambiance, check out the periodic music at the JAVA House located on University Ave. right on campus. Or, for those who want an off-campus coffee-house try Strawberry Fields located at 2 A Market St. in Potsdam. Call 265-7700 for current listing of music events. They make exceptionally yummy desserts and a pretty good cup ‘a jo, too! During the academic year, Tuesday is open mic night. In the summer it switches to Thursday night.
  • The Norwood Village Green holds a summer concert series and the season’s featured artists are run in the local newspaper throughout the late spring/early summer. Weekly events can also be found in the local papers or tune into WSLU 89.5 FM for the Community Calendar.
  • The Syracuse Symphony Orchestra – ONCENER Civic Center, 411 Montgomery Street, Syracuse. The Syracuse Symphony performs more than 200 orchestral concerts each year in Syracuse and the surrounding area. For annual events listings call: 315-424- 8222.
  • Contra Dance Series- This dance is held on the second Saturday of each Month. Check out the North Country This Week for details.
  • Fifth Saturday Contra Dance- This dance is held during months when there are five Saturdays. The dance is held on the fifth Saturday in the Crary Mills Grange Hall from 7:30 til 11:00.

Sporting Events

Support St. Lawrence University athletics. You can pick up game schedules in the Augsbury PE center. Or check out SLU Athletics website at http://web.stlawu.edu/sports/sports.html. You can also check out Lake Placid Olympic Regional Development Authority - website for all winter sporting events in the area (http://orda.org/). There are some minor league baseball, football and hockey teams in the area that are listed below.

Baseball

Football

Watertown Red and Black (http://eteamz.active.com/watertownredandblack/index.cfm?)

St. Lawrence Valley Trailblazers (http://eteamz.active.com/trailblazers/index.cfm?)

Hockey

Ottawa Senators (http://www.ottawasenators.com/ )

Montreal Canadians (www.canadiens.com/english/)

The US National Women’s team trains and plays games in Lake Placid.