Seaway Trail guided walks set in 5 towns
by James Schlett, Times Staff Writer
First published: Saturday, March 22, 2003
Seaway Trail Inc. will organize and promote guided walking tours for five communities
along the St. Lawrence River this summer to better acquaint tourists with areas such as
Waddington, Sackets Harbor and Clayton.
The $12,000 project will teach visitors about the histories of the three north country
communities and Westfield and Lewiston in Western New York and should also encourage
people to stay in those areas after finishing their 90-minute tour, said Seaway Trail
Director Teresa C. Mitchell. "If they feel more committed to the community, then
they're more likely to want to come back," Mrs. Mitchell said.
The 454-mile Seaway Trail is a highway route along scenic areas of the St. Lawrence River
and Lake Ontario. From June 9 through Oct. 17, local historians and community members will
walk people through downtown communities each day, Monday through Friday.
Mrs. Mitchell developed the idea for the walking tours after taking a trip to London,
where they are popular. While the London tours took tourists to various flower gardens and
areas visited by Jack the Ripper, the ones in the north country will introduce people to
places such as Northern New York's oldest church, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in
Waddington.
Guides will also tell stories, such as how former U.S. presidents Ulysses S. Grant and
James Monroe stayed at Sackets Harbor during their military careers. "It's nice with
a walking tour because the people have to get out of their cars and they'll have to
relax," said Nancy M. Putney, president of the Waddington Chamber of Commerce. While
Waddington years ago had self-guided map tours, Mrs. Putney said the Seaway Trail walks
that start at 5 p.m. will provide a way "to share our community with people in a
laid-back way."
Clayton two years ago hosted walking tours for visitors coming off the cruise ships that
docked near the riverfront community, but it has since reverted to the self-guided map
tour, said Clayton Chamber of Commerce Director Karen M. Goetz. "This really is a
higher level in providing a more complete experience for the visitor," Mrs. Mitchell
said.
To promote the tours, Seaway Trail will print 20,000 leaflets about them, include
information about them in its brochure and post signs in the five communities saying when
and where the walks begin, Mrs. Mitchell said. Seaway Trail plans to organize the tours
every year and more communities may be added to them in the future. "They are walks
through communities that have stories to tell," Mrs. Mitchell said.
E-mail: jschlett@wdt.net
Used with permission.