watkins glen state park: is it worth the hype?

Last weekend, we packed up our hiking shoes and drove three hours to Watkins Glen State Park in New York. I’d seen so many gorgeous photos online—those waterfalls and stone bridges looked like something out of a fairy tale. When we finally got there, the parking lot was packed, and we ended up circling for almost half an hour before squeezing into a spot. The Gorge Trail was beautiful, I’ll give it that. The waterfalls really are stunning, and the stone steps make you feel like you’re in some ancient place. But honestly, the crowds were something else. We were shoulder-to-shoulder with other hikers, and every time we tried to take a photo, someone would walk right in front of the camera. At one point, I started wondering if the photos I’d seen online were just really good at hiding the crowds! I get that it’s a popular spot, but I was hoping for a little more peace and quiet. Has anyone else felt like these famous parks look better in pictures than in real life? Or maybe I just picked the wrong time to visit. If you’ve been, did you find any hidden corners away from the crowds? I’m starting to think the real adventure is finding a quiet spot these days. #WatkinsGlen #StateParks #TravelDilemmas #Travel