The gorges and waterfalls of Letchworth State Park

I can only imagine how absolutely stunning this park would be in the Fall when the leaves are at its peak glory. Because of our seasonal school and business schedules, we always seem to travel upstate to visit family when its cold and bleak. When we left the city for Spring break at the end of April, the trees had just burst with green seemingly overnight, but as we drove further north, it was like turning the clock back on time into winter. The trees became bare again and the unseasonably cold weather and perpetual gray skies didn’t help. I kept exclaiming in the car how brown everything was. But this view right here, the middle falls of Letchworth State Park, was breathtaking. The evergreens and pines around this part of the park were such a contrast against the monotony of brown and it made me think of the landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. Hiking up along these gorges on the Genesee River must be gorgeous at the height of summer and fall when everything is lush and bursting with color. We could only see glimpses of it on our visit, but it wasn’t hard to imagine.

Seeking out these landscapes continue to inspire me – the textures, the grandeur of it all, the colors – even in the monotony of winter. What I’ve decided is this: if life keeps throwing you punches, you need to work that much harder to seek out and find the things that comfort and inspire you. I need to keep feeling alive. Sometimes it can be a lot of work or as simple as bringing home a bouquet of flowers, but I’m designing my entire summer with this in mind.