Since we moved to Rochester, we have been taking little mini-adventures to explore things outside the city that are still close enough for a day trip. (Yes, it should be known we often decide to go places while we are still in our pjs drinking coffee on the weekend, so that might explain the distance criteria.) We have a map and mark all the places we have been. And last weekend, we took a little road trip to Sampson State Park on the east side of Seneca Lake.

It’s a HUGE park. It was a training base for the US Navy in WWII, then an Air Force training base during the Korean War. All the buildings that were part of the base are gone for the most part, but you can still see where everything was. And now you are left with a HUGE expanse of land right on the water that is there for public use. Frisbee, anyone?

There is a military museum right as you enter the park (where the old gate for the base used to be). The museum was closed for the season when we were there, but there are some relics out front that you can climb on, which is cool.

There are over 300 campsites (with electricity and without), 100 boat slips, a huge nature trail along the water and through the park, a super great playground, tennis courts, lifeguarded beach, store…. the works. We were only there for the day, but made good use of the playground, the trails, the stuff outside the museum and the waterfront. The lake is so wide compared to Canandaigua and Keuka that it reminded us of being on the Chesapeake Bay.

Looking for a day trip or a fun place to camp with lots of activities? Put Sampson State Park on your list!