Ice ice baby

An extended string of consistent cold is giving a special chance to see the Niagara River and Lake Ontario in a beautiful way.

The Cave of the Winds is open in winter. Park in Lot 3 on the south end of Goat Island and walk north toward Three Sisters Islands.

Bring birdseed. Feed the chickadees and titmice. When we were there most recently, a cheerful ranger approached.

“You know it’s illegal to feed the birds?” she said. “There is a sign right there.”

We turned and immediately felt guilty.

“It’s OK. As long as you aren’t feeding the squirrels. We’ve had some trouble with that” she said.

She took off down the path leaving us to the birds. From there, you can either head across the street to visit Three Sisters Island or head down the path through the woods to the Cave. Cave Tickets are $8. The decks, trees and everything else are covered in ice. There are only two small platforms up for winter but it is still worth visiting. Bring binoculars and look out for the buffle head ducks diving in the water below.

Another great winter excursion is to head out toward Olcott. We stopped Saturday at Wilson Tuscarora State Park and walked out on Roosevelt Island, letting Gord roam free.

He charged off leash and immediately met a friend, also off leash. They greeted like old-time buddies before parting. We walked and checked things out and saw ice fishermen in the harbor. There were at least a dozen, and it was a beautiful day, but we didn’t see anybody catching anything. It might be harsh, but the only thing more boring than fishing is ice fishing in the cold.

Beth looked at her phone and saw a Schulze Vineyards promotional text that said to stop in for a free ice wine sample. Since we were in the neighborhood and they are dog friendly, we were all about that.

We had a nice visit, enjoyed a couple flights and came home with a bottle of Old Barn Red.

From there we headed to Krull Park in Olcott. The ice is frozen for a couple 100 yards off shore.

The beach there was even icier. If it was a windy day, it would have been colder and the ice volcanoes would have been spouting but even without, it was spectacular. Gord ran off leash like a madman, galloping with joy, charging ahead as he does, just out of sight, only to turn and charge back with equal enthusiasm. Typically Beth is behind, with her camera, I am ahead. Inevitably, his return sprint includes running past me to check on her, pivoting and heading back in the other direction.

We made it back to the car and headed to Savage Winery in Wilson, on the way home and also dog friendly. We went next door and ordered a woodfired Reuben pizza from Woodcock Brothers Brewing.

Whether you just go traipse around Goat Island and visit Celinda, Angelina and Asenath or take a drive east out the Lake Shore you can’t go wrong.

Bring the dog. Try the ice wine.