Letchworth State Park

My boyfriend and I recently took a day trip to Letchworth State Park in Upstate New York. Characterized by its expansive cliffs, Letchworth is often called the "Grand Canyon of the East" because of its beautiful scenery.

The Genesse River runs through the park, and three waterfalls cascade between the gorges. About 66 miles of hiking trails stretch throughout the 14,000 acres of land. People also visit Letchworth to bike, fish, hunt, and ride snowmobiles in the winter. 

The three hours that Jake and I spent in the park wasn't nearly enough time to see everything, but I still managed to take some beautiful pictures. Here are my favorites:

Some of  the cliffs reach heights of 600 feet

 Middle Falls is the largest of the three waterfalls in Letchworth

We discovered a full rainbow over the river

A working railroad bridge runs over Upper Falls

This carving, which we found on stone steps, was etched in 1930

The Lower Falls were smaller, but accompanied by a scenic gorge background

Water trickles over stones and rocks

Life Update: College Graduation and the Job Hunt

Summer 2016 is the season of change. 

Since my last Life Update post in February, I've been knee-deep in the job hunt with plans to move to New York City. My brother got accepted into a university in Florida, and he starts summer semester classes next week. My sister decided to relocate to the West Coast, my parents are swapping my childhood home in Ohio for a beach house in Florida, and my boyfriend is pursuing his Master's degree. Pretty soon my family, who have lived in the Midwest our whole lives, will be scattered across the country. 

Even though I'll miss my family like crazy, I'm ready to embrace the change in my life. In the words of Many Hale: "Change can be scary, but you know what's scarier? Allowing fear to stop you from growing, evolving, and progressing." 

On that note, here's what I've been up to in the last few months:

I graduated from Syracuse University with a magazine journalism degree!

My younger brother graduated from high school.

My sister and I took a day trip to Cedar Point, an amusement park in Sandusky, Ohio, where we suffered through many hour-long waits to ride some of the biggest roller coasters in the world.

My boyfriend and I took a day trip to Letchworth State Park in Upstate New York. Expect a blog post soon! 

I learned that New York City is beautiful even in the rain.

Book Review: Confessions of a Murder Suspect

Today I'll be reviewing the Confessions series by James Patterson by Maxine Paetro, which includes four novels:

• Confessions of a Murder Suspect
• Confessions: The Private School Murders
• Confessions: The Paris Mysteries
• Confessions: The Murder of an Angel 

The series is aimed at young adults. Like many of James Patterson's novels, it can be classified as a mystery thriller. 

Overview: 

The Confessions series centers around the wealthy and secretive Angel family.

Malcolm and Maud Angel own a pharmaceutical company in New York City. Their four children boast unnatural abilities: Tandoori (Tandy), the 16-year-old narrator, has an off-the-charts IQ. Her twin brother, Harry, is a musical prodigy. Ten-year-old Hugo harbors the strength of a grown man, while Matthew is a star football player for the New York Giants. The Angel children are unemotional and extremely damaged, which they attribute to their parent's emphasis on perfection.

But soon Tandy learns that Malcolm and Maud are dead of an apparent murder. She and her three brothers are the prime suspects. As Tandy works to solve the crime,  many dark and dangerous family secrets begin to unravel. She suddenly questions everything she knows  – including her own innocence.

The four books in the Confessions series follow Tandy and her brothers as they dig deep into their family's past, discovering corruption, love, and betrayal along the way. 

Opinion:

Although I'm an avid reader, Confessions of a Murder Suspect is my first James Patterson novel. I really enjoyed the entire Confessions series.

First of all, I love the eccentric characters. I've never encountered a protagonist quite like Tandy. She's clever and strange, and she experiences immense character development throughout the series. Tandy talks directly to the reader at many points in the novels. I've read several reviews that criticize this literary device because it "interrupts the flow" of the plot, but I didn't mind it. I actually think it allowed me to better connect to Tandy. The other Angel children (Harry, Hugo, and Matthew), as well as the other characters introduced throughout the series, are equally as quirky and intriguing.

I also enjoyed how Patterson and Paetro interwove the plot throughout the novels in the series. Something mentioned in the first novel could come back in the third or fourth book without feeling too forced. The plot kept me on my toes, although the ending of the books was a bit too predictable for my taste. I feel like the mysteries fell into two categories: ones that were too easy to figure out, and ones that readers could never figure out given a lack of clues. But although some of the mysteries ended in an anti-climatic way,  I'm happy with the conclusion of the series overall.

Another perk of these novels were the short chapters. Since each one was merely four or five pages, I constantly told myself, "Just one more chapter!" as an excuse to keep reading.

Rating: 5/5

I loved the quirky characters and unique storyline. I deducted one-half point for some predictable plot points and anticlimactic mysteries. Here is my rating of the four novels, from favorite to least favorite:

1. Confessions: The Paris Mysteries (Book 3)

2. Confessions of a Murder Suspect (Book 1)

3. Confessions: The Private School Murders (Book 2)

4. Confessions: The Murder of an Angel (Book 4)

This series is best for young adults (ages 15-25) who enjoy quick and easy mystery novels. I highly recommend it!

Photos from amazon.com 

A Day Trip to Skaneateles

Sometimes life calls for a day trip.

On a warm day in May, my boyfriend Jake and I hopped in my car and drove 30 minutes from Syracuse to Skaneateles Lake.  The body of water, which is one of Central New York's Finger Lakes, is characterized by its beautiful scenery, high altitude, and clear water. We drove around the 16-mile lake and grabbed lunch in the neighboring village of Skaneateles. In the midst of Jake's final exams and my job hunting, a relaxing day trip is just what we needed.

A quick Google search referred us to Doug's Fish Fry

We stuffed our faces with perfectly cooked fish and chips

We also made an unexpected pit stop at Anyela's Vineyards for a wine tasting

The water was unbelievably clear

Houses tucked near the lake had spectacular views

Country roads stretched for miles 

Book Review: Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

Today I'm reviewing Maria Semple's Where'd You Go, Bernadette? I listened to the audiobook version of this satirical fiction novel.

Overview: 

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? focuses on Bernadette Fox, a once-renowned architect who suffers from extreme anxiety and agoraphobia. She hired a virtual assistant from India to complete her basic chores to avoid communicating with others. Bernadette's 15-year-old daughter, Bee, excels in school. Her husband, Elgie, works as a top Microsoft executive, and he's practically married to his job.

After Bee finishes the school year with perfect grades, Bernadette and Elgie promise to take her on a family vacation to Antarctica. But the upcoming trip makes Bernadette's anxiety worse and, following a series of events, she disappears. But where did she go?

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? is told through a series of letters, emails,  FBI documents, and memos pieced together to form a story. Some narration by Bee is woven through the documents in order to clarify the storyline.

Opinion:

I didn't know what to expect when I started listening to Where'd You Go, Bernadette? I bought the audiobook on a whim because I remembered seeing the eye-catching cover everywhere a few years back. I was excited to learn that the author, Maria Semple, wrote the popular TV show Arrested Development. 

At first, I didn't like the epistolary format of the book The array of documents confused me, and I had a hard time figuring out the plot. I think listening to the audiobook made the confusion worse, since I couldn't go back to reference previous emails and memos. Once I figured out the system, though, I started to really enjoy the unique set-up. I've never read in a novel in an epistolary format before. I bet writing this way is extremely tough,  but Maria Semple pulled it off flawlessly.

As for the characters, they were so strange that you couldn't help but love them. Bernadette is hilarious, troubled, mysterious, and eccentric all at once.  Elgie's character is delightfully odd as well – imagine a tech whiz with an off-the-charts IQ and a wildly popular TED Talk who walks around the office with no shoes. Bee is a mix of both her parents. She's clever and sassy, but also incredibly smart.

At its core, Where'd You Go, Bernadette? is supposed to be a humorous satire about Seattle and its wealthy elite. Semple pokes fun at everything from private school parents to five-way intersections. But, honestly, I didn't laugh out loud while reading this book. Maybe I didn't understand the humor because I never visited Seattle, or maybe I don't connect to satire as well as other people.

Nevertheless I enjoyed the novel for what its worth. I especially couldn't get enough of the Antartica plot line – I mean, what other book takes place partly in Antarctica?

The Audiobook Experience:

The narrator of Where'd You Go, Bernadette?, Kathleen Wilhoite, nailed the gig. She switched between character voices flawlessly, and her voice held the perfect amount of emotional infliction. I would've enjoyed the book less with another narrator.

Rating: 4/5

I recommend this book for an easy, entertaining read – as long as you don't pick it up solely for the satire. I'd say the target audience is women in their 20s and older.

Photo from Amazon 

What I'm Loving: My Currently List

Here is what I'm currently...

Watching: My boyfriend, Jake, and I have been binge-watching the first season of "The 100" on Netflix. It's a science fiction/drama TV show set in a post-apocalyptic world. Life on earth has been destroyed by nuclear war, and the last remaining humans live on the international space station. After life-sustaining supplies on the space station start to run out, one hundred juvenile prisoners are sent to the ground to test whether earth is survivable. I love "The 100" because it has a bit of everything – romance, action, drama, and suspense. 

Reading: I just finished reading "Hush, Hush" by Becca Fitzpatrick (read my review here), and I started the sequel, "Crescendo." I'm enjoying the YA fantasy novel so far. I'm also listening to the audiobook version of "Where'd You Go, Bernadette?" by Maria Semple during long car rides. Expect reviews on my blog soon!  

Listening: I find all of Rachel Platten's songs extremely catchy, so they've been my go-to tunes when I want something upbeat. My favorite is "Stand By You," which plays on the radio every five minutes but I'm not complaining.

Drinking: Lately I've been craving bubble tea, a Taiwanese drink. I order a cold black tea mixed with milk and chewy tapioca balls. It's a delicious and refreshing treat. My favorite place to order bubble tea is Unique Tea House in Syracuse, although the best bubble tea I've ever had came from a street vendor in New York City's Chinatown. 

Eating: Jake and I have been trying new restaurants around Syracuse lately. We ate at an Irish pub called Kitty Hoynes last week, and we're heading to Byblos Mediterranean Cafe tomorrow night. Both of these places were featured on one of our favorite TV shows: Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri. 

Enjoying: I'm grateful that I get to visit Jake during his spring break. We've been apart for much of our relationship, thanks to internships and study abroad, so I value the all of the time we spend together. 

Wearing: For my 22nd birthday, Jake bought me a gold Pisces necklace from Anna Saccone's Zodiac Collection on Stilnest. I've been dropping hints about the necklace for a while, so I was ecstatic to receive it as a gift. The necklace is adorable and matches most of my clothes, so I've been wearing it nearly every day.  

Top photo taken in Prague, Czechoslovakia 

Book Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Today I'll be reviewing "Hush, Hush," a young adult fantasy novel by Becca Fitzpatrick. It's the first book in a series of four novels.

Overview: 

Nora Grey, a high school student from Maine, becomes biology partners with Patch Cipriano. Although Nora feels a romantic connection to Patch, she can't help thinking that he's a threat – especially since he seems to be stalking her. Eventually Nora learns the truth: Patch is a fallen angel with a dark past.

Before she knows it, Nora becomes immersed in a dangerous world of fallen angels and Nephilim (the offspring of humans and angels), with a side of forbidden love.

Opinion: 

I loved the basic premise of "Hush, Hush" – a love story between a human and a fallen angel. The plot line was dark and suspenseful, which drew me in from the start. And you can't ignore how gorgeous the cover looks!

That being said, I had a couple of problems with this novel:

1.) It's eerily similar to "Twilight."
Don't get me wrong, I loved "Twilight" back in middle school. However, Fitzpatrick seems to borrow heavily from the popular vampire romance series. First off, Patch and Nora meet in biology class – just like Bella and Edward. Patch is mysterious and brooding, and he has a dark secret – just like Edward. And, finally, Nora knows that Patch is a threat but she can't seem to stay away. Sound familiar?

2.) The writing could use improvement
I understand that Fitzpatrick is writing for a younger audience, but some of the sentence structure and punctuation seems a little off. Some sentences don't flow together well, and others simply don't make sense. For example: "His eyes looked like they didn't play by the rules." What is this supposed to mean?

3.) Patch is creepy
Some of Patch's flirtatious remarks really creeped me out because they verge on harassment. He's manipulative and violent with stalker tendencies, but Nora is still fascinated by him. No wonder she finds herself in many life-threatening situations.

However, pushing those criticisms aside, I really did enjoy reading "Hush, Hush." I constantly wanted to know what happened next. The slow-paced beginning gave way to a fast-paced ending, and I stayed up late into the night finishing the novel.

Rating: 3.5/5

Although "Hush, Hush" had some problems with writing style and character development, the interesting plot makes up for the shortcomings. I plan on reading the other three books in the series – "Crescendo," "Silence," and "Finale" – very soon.

Photo from Amazon. 

New York City Apartment: Bedroom Inspiration

Since I'm moving to New York City to pursue a career in magazine journalism, my mom and I have been obsessed with planning and decorating my future apartment. She's an interior design whiz who sees the potential in every space. I'm an organizing freak who taught myself about home decor through my favorite blogs and HGTV shows. Together we're trying to convert a tiny NYC apartment into a cozy and functional living space.

Of course I'll share updates once we start the actual decorating process, but today I thought I'd talk about my interior design inspiration for my future bedroom.

A cozy feminine bedspread
Picking out the perfect bedspread is always the hardest part of the bedroom decorating process for me. I have some strict requirements: it has to be plush and cozy with a not-too-busy pattern in relaxing neutral shades. My search led me to this Martha Stewart Collection Regal Filigree 22-Pc. Comforter Set, which I found at Macy's for $85 (it's originally $400!). The set comes with a comforter, bedskirt, curtains, valences, throw pillows, and more. As soon as I saw it, I knew it suited my tastes perfectly. We nabbed it for less than 25% of the original price, and now I can't wait to decorate my bedroom around the beautiful gray-and-green pattern.

Soft paint colors
When it comes to paint, I'm drawn to soft colors on the cool end of the spectrum. I find that these calming shades help me relax, and they look pleasing in most rooms. My two favorite paint colors at the moment are Sea Salt and Comfort Gray by Sherwin-Williams. How cute would they look on my bedroom walls when paired with the above comforter?

Complementary furniture

Given my cool-toned bedspread and paint colors, I decided that my furniture should be some shade of grayish-brown. My mom recently painted her bathroom cabinets in Urban Bronze by Sherwin-Williams, and we both fell in love with the results. I want to paint my headboard and bedroom furniture in the same hue. Urban Bronze would look great with Sea Salt and Comfort Gray, and it's incredibly similar to the shade of my throw pillows and curtains.

Unique decor 

I'm a sucker for whimsical artwork, vintage clocks, and one-of-a-kind trinkets. I haven't picked out any decor items yet, but I've been eyeing the city prints by Ork Posters because they add a bit of personality and charm to your living space. I might buy this Berlin poster (since I studied abroad in the city for four months) or this Queens poster (since my apartment will probably be in Queens). 

I also like the idea of New York City-inspired wall art; I just have to ensure I pick one that's not too tacky or tourist-y. My favorites so far are this three-piece painting from Wayfair, this digital watercolor print from ArtPrintsVicky on Etsy, and all of the NYC artwork from ClareCaulfield on Etsy.

Life Update: A One-Way Ticket to NYC

I'm back! It's been a solid three months since I last blogged because my life has been a complete whirlwind. I graduated from college a semester early, started the job application process, and prepared to move to New York City. Pretty soon I'll be trading my suburban town in Ohio for the Big Apple. I couldn't be more excited to start this incredible new chapter.

To make up for lost time, I decided to post a photo-heavy life update on the blog today. Prepare for more of my typical lifestyle content in the future – especially NYC restaurant reviews, book and TV show recommendations, day-in-the-life posts, DIY project ideas, and healthy recipes. Enjoy!

The beautifully quiet streets of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

Typical New York: Modern buildings and yellow cabs in Midtown Manhattan

The bright lights of Times Square on a chilly January night

My second time at Otto Enoteca e Pizzeria – the Romana is amazing!

The ice skating rink at the Rockefeller Center is a winter wonderland in the middle of NYC

My Currently List

Here is what I'm currently...

Watching: I'm halfway through the second season of Orange is the New Black (I know I'm a bit behind), and I'm loving it! I understand why every Netflix user is addicted to the series. After I'm finished with OITNB, I plan to start watching Scandal and The Originals.  

Reading: I just finished The Witness by Nora Roberts. I highly recommend this romantic suspense novel. Expect a review on the blog soon!

Listening: Spotify has taken over my heart – I love how the service allows users to make playlists of their favorite songs. Also, have you heard Selena Gomez's new song, "Same Old Love?" It's so catchy that I've been playing it on repeat. 

Eating: It's apple season in New York, and you better believe I'm taking advantage of it. I love buying new varieties of apples at the store to test out. My current favorites are Honeycrisp, Cortland, Macoun, and Paula Red. 

Drinking: So I recently noticed that coffee exaggerates the symptoms of some digestive issues I have. As an alternative, I've made the temporary switch to black tea. The subtler taste isn't nearly as comforting, but it'll do for now. 

Enjoying: Boots, sweaters, warm beverages, colorful leaves, and everything else about fall!

Wanting: Since I'm at college, I haven't actually carved pumpkins or roasted pumpkin seeds for years. I miss that fall family tradition! 

Wearing: It's that time to year to break out the riding boots and army-inspired jackets – like my favorite gray one from Target. 

Story Time: A Lockdown on Campus

Happy Saturday! I'm ready to lounge in bed with Netflix and some popcorn after a crazy week full of midterms and projects. 

And also a campus lockdown.  

Let me explain. While I was at a meeting for a campus publication on Wednesday night, everyone's phone started to vibrate and ring. Texts, emails, and phone calls from my school flashed across our screens, warning of a safety threat in the area. All students were advised to remain indoors and avoid Oakwood Cemetery, which borders Syracuse University's campus.  Naturally, the other students and I freaked out about the vague message – especially considering the recent string of school shootings in America. My thoughts turned panicky. What? Is this really happening?  

The other students and I remained in the classroom, trying to stay calm in spite of the confusion. Our eyes never left Twitter, constantly stalking the site for updates about the lockdown situation. Even though our campus media tried to keep students informed as much as possible, many details remained vague and unconfirmed at this point. 

From what we gathered, the incident seemed to be drug- or gang-related. Although Syracuse University has a beautiful campus, parts of the surrounding area are notoriously unsafe. But what had happened? A drug deal deal gone wrong? A police chase? A brawl that turned violent? Countless rumors floated across my Twitter feed, and my anxiety heightened with every minute of not knowing the truth. 

Eventually, as we remained trapped in the classroom, the safety precautions on campus tightened. Students living in dorms that bordered the cemetery were advised to turn off their lights. A professor at my journalism school locked the members of my meeting in a windowless classroom, and he eventually moved us to the building's auditorium with nearly 100 other students. Faculty wanted everyone in the journalism building in the same place, just as an extra precaution. 

In the auditorium, students continuously perused Twitter for updates, refreshing the feed over and over again. A livestream of campus news played on the big projector screen. Why couldn't anybody confirm the facts? How dangerous was the situation? 

Finally, after being locked in my journalism school for two hours, the police department lifted the "shelter in place" warning at around 10:30 p.m. and allowed students to return home.

Only then did I really find out what happened. A drive-by shooting two miles off campus left one teenager dead and another injured. The police responded to the shots and began a car chase with two suspects, which resulted with the suspects running into the cemetery. The police lost track of the men and worried they might try to escape by cutting through Syracuse's campus. The shootings had nothing to do with Syracuse University or Syracuse students; however, the campus police issued the lockdown to ensure the safety of students and faculty. The police never caught the suspects, but law enforcement thoroughly surveyed campus before lifting the shelter and declaring the area safe for students. 

This incident showed me that a "bubble" surrounds my university. Although I'm knowledgeable of most campus-related events, I'm pretty clueless about what goes on in the greater Syracuse area. Apparently 20 homicides happened in the city this year, and I only knew about the one that came too close to the university for comfort. I think all college students should make an effort to understand the city in which they live – after all, it is your home for four years. 

Has anyone been in a similar situation? I'd love to hear about it. 

The Five Senses of Fall

Over the last few weeks, blog posts about fall have completely taken over my feed.  I can't blame the bloggers, though, because I'm equally obsessed with the season. Autumn just strikes me as being cozy and comfortable – maybe it's all of the warm knit fabrics and hot spiced beverages.

Today I thought I'd share my own list of things I love about fall, but I'm branching out from the crowd and categorizing my list by the five senses. Here are my fall favorites:

SIGHT: 
FALL FOLIAGE. I go to school in Upstate New York, where the fall foliage bursts with bright red, orange, and yellow hues.

TOUCH: 
COZY CLOTHES. I love pulling out my oversized sweaters and light military-style jackets. Something about bundling up in warm clothes on a chilly day never fails to comfort me. And let's not forget the riding boots!

TASTE: 
PUMPKIN. During the fall, I crave pumpkin-flavored everything – the flavor just works so well in bread, cookies, and pastries. Plus, ordering Pumpkin Spice Latte just feels right on crisp mornings.

APPLES. I can't experience fall in Upstate New York and not talk about the state's famous apples. Dozens of varieties stock row after row of shelves at the grocery store during this time of year. My personal favorites are Jonamac, Pink Lady, and Zestar.

SMELL: 
SPICES. When the air feel a bit nippy, no aroma pleases me more than cinnamon, nutmeg, and other seasonal spices. Also, the scent of coffee seems even more inviting than usual during the fall.

SOUND: 
WIND. Hearing the wind rustling through the brittle leaves on the trees constantly reminds me to look up and enjoy the foliage colors.

AND MORE...
Fall also brings back some great childhood memories. When I was young, my family visited apple orchards every year to ride the tractors, climb the hay barrels, and get lost in corn mazes. We'd pick a whole bag of apples from the trees to take home, and of course we'd eat one or two along the way.

I remember stuffing my face with warm apple cider and freshly baked donuts. Carving pumpkins and having "pumpkin goop fights." Jumping into leaves that my dad raked into a pile. Getting overly excited when my mom baked a fresh batch of pumpkin seeds. Dressing up in a costume to trick-or-treating around my neighborhood. The memories never fail to make me smile.

Do you love fall? What are your favorite things about the season?

Picture on top: Climbing trees in Copenhagen, Denmark

Book Review: The Girl on the Train

Today I'm reviewing The Girl on the Train by British author Paula Hawkins. The novel is a psychological thriller revolving around a murder case, and many have dubbed it "the next Gone Girl." What's more, it spent 13 weeks as the number one book on The New York Times Fiction Best Sellers of 2015 list.

I actually listened to the audiobook version of this novel, but it still counts, right?

Overview:
Rachel is an unemployed, divorced alcoholic in her 30's who pretends to take the London train to work during the week. One day, she sees something suspicious out of the train window. This occurrence lands her smack in the middle of a murder mystery case full of love, jealousy, and mystery.

The Girl on the Train  has three separate narrators: Rachel; her ex-husband's new wife, Anna; and the victim of the murder, Megan.

Opinion: 
For the most part, The Girl on the Train was exciting, suspenseful, and mysterious. I was completely drawn into the story and kept trying, unsuccessfully, to predict the results of the murder investigation. Since I listened to the book while driving, I actually found myself sitting in my car at rest stop parking lots because the plot was too good to turn off. That said, some pieces of the story were also dry and uninteresting. The first couple of chapters were especially hard to get through because they seemed to drag on.

In addition, all three narrators (Rachel, Anna, and Megan) are completely unreliable. I've never read a novel with so many unreliable characters, and it's a refreshing new angle that kept me on my toes. However, the unreliability made me dislike all of the characters in one way or another. I didn't feel emotionally connected with anyone, which made it hard for me to care what happened to them.

Another drawback is that the author jumped between characters and dates in order to advance the plot. In other words, the novel constantly went back-and-forth in time. This scattered timeline didn't bother me too much, but I read other reviews that said the skipping around confused them.

Finally, I never actually read Gone Girl (it's on my list!) so it to The Girl on the Train.

The Audiobook experience: 
I wanted to download an audiobook from Audible for a long car ride and decided on The Girl on the Train – partly because the plot seemed interesting, and partly because the 11-hour runtime would keep me occupied throughout the drive. Since the novel has three narrators, the audiobook has three separate speakers. Each one had a British accent because the novel takes place in England.

This was actually my first time listening to an audiobook, and I was quite impressed. My car ride flew by because the story managed to entertain me for hours. All in all, I had a nice audiobook experience.

Rating: 3.5/5
I enjoyed the idea behind The Girl on the Train, and the storyline completely engrossed me. However, I had problems with certain aspects of the book mentioned earlier: the unlikeable characters, the dull moments in the plot, and the skipping around between time and characters. I feel like the author could've told the same story in half of the amount of pages. Therefore, I give The Girl on the Train 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Have any of you read the book? What's your opinion?

Photo from Amazon 

Day Trip: Finger Lakes Wine Country

Breaking news: wine slushies are incredible.

Last weekend, my mom and I ventured to the Finger Lakes, an area of Central New York that boasts several long and skinny lakes, to test out some of the region's famous wine. More than 100 wineries are scattered along three of the picturesque lakes – Keuka, Seneca, and Cayuga – so the region naturally attracts a lot of tourists.

I go to school an hour away from the Finger Lakes but had yet to visit. The timing was never right, and I wasn't old enough to drink. However, when my mom came to Syracuse for the weekend, we thought the wineries would make a perfect day trip. What could be better than drinking wine all day? 

The Location:

My mom and I only had time to explore one of the Finger Lakes, so we chose Seneca – the largest and most popular. The Seneca Lake Wine Trail has 35 wineries, as well as a distillery and some breweries. Most of the wineries are located just off the highway and have great views of the water and green landscape. Not even the gray skies and continuous rain could hide the beauty of our surroundings. 

Seneca Lake is 40 miles long, and the vineyards are located on both sides of the water. Some closely neighbor each other, while others are spaced 5 - 10 miles apart. 

Three Brothers

The Wineries:

No two wineries on Seneca Lake are the same. While some feel more old-fashioned and proper, others remind you of a cabin in the woods. However, every single vineyard had a great view and friendly staff. 

Here are the ones we visited (in the order we visited):

1. Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard
2. Villa Bellangelo
3. Anthony Road Wine Company 
4. Fox Run Vineyards
5. Three Brothers Wineries and Estates

Fox Run

The Wine:

Each winery has a similar wine tasting deal: you pay $5 to sample five wines off of the menu. The bartender serves your choices from white to red, and driest to sweetest. That way, your tastebuds can better adjust to the differentiations between the wines. 

The samples are actually a decent size. Added together, the amount of wine you get at each place is about equivalent to a full glass. A full glass of wine for $5? I'll take it!  

Although each vineyard had a unique menu, a few wines made appearances everywhere. The most reoccurring options were whites like Riesling and Gewurztraminer, which are the speciality wines of the Finger Lakes. Actually, the Riesling and Gewurztraminer were my favorite wines of the day. I prefer my wine smooth, semi-sweet, and white. 

Wine Slushie:

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the wine slushie at Three Brothers Wineries and Estates. My mom and I visited this location last, and it ended up being my favorite place of the day. The wine tastings were divided up by type – you could either taste dry, semi-sweet, or sweet. Unlike the other wineries, you couldn't chose the specific wines you wanted to try, but rather chose one of the pre-chosen groupings of wine. 

My mom and I chose the sweet tasting, and we loved all five of the options! The wines were smooth, flavorful, and fruity. The tasting ending with a sixth sample –a wine slushie! The bartender mixed their "Scandalicious" wine with ice and a slushie mix, and the result was chilled, sweet, and delicious. Honestly, it tasted like a gourmet raspberry icee. The drink was so refreshing and great that we bought a full-sized one at the Slushie Stand outside! 

Three Brothers

Tips:

Are you visiting the Finger Lakes wineries? Here are a few tips.

• Go early! Most wineries close at 5 or 6 p.m., so make sure you give yourself enough time to explore the region.
• Most wineries don't offer meals, and only a few have meat/cheese platters. I recommend eating before going to the wineries.
• You can make the Finger Lakes a weekend vacation by booking a room in one of the hotels in the area. However, the hotels book up fast, so make sure you reserve a room early. 
• Most importantly, don't drink and drive! I noticed that many large groups rented a party bus or limo to hop between wineries, but you could also have a designated driver or someone who only drinks a little. You have to drive between wineries, so make sure you do it safely!

Have you ever been to a winery? What is your favorite wine?