New York State’s Route 20 Scenic Byway stretches from Duanesburg (Schenectady County) to Lafayette (Onondaga County) with “discovery” scenic corridors along the route featuring unique businesses, communities, and tourist attractions. The detailed brochure, available at either www.nyroute20.com or www.facebook.com/NYSRoute20ScenicByway, includes many excursions. For example, there is a day trip starting in Duanesburg on Route 20 West to Duanesburg Churches Road. Turning at the historic Christ Episcopal Church, the traveler can continue on to the Schenectady County Forest Preserve and the Featherstonehaugh State Forest. The forest is named for George W. Featherstonehaugh, who served as the nation’s first geologist and agricultural commissioner and is considered the father of the steam railroad. He is also known for practicing crop rotation and scientific farming. Continuing west on Route 20, another corridor to explore is the Delanson Historic Village spur. The village was settled in 1861, when construction of the Albany-Susquehanna Railroad began. Route 30 North explores a loop that extends to Amsterdam, then along the Mohawk to the historic towns Fort Johnson, Fonda, and Glen before returning to Sloansville. The Route 30 South excursion includes the Old Stone Fort historic site, as well as a number of unique shops, antique centers, quaint restaurants, historic homes, and farms that offer fresh fruits and vegetables. Other points of interest are the railroad museum, a herbarium, the NY Power Authority’s Visitor’s Center/Lansing Manor, and the Gilboa Fossil Museum. A side trip from Route 20 to the Landis Arboretum welcomes new and returning visitors to our expansive site of horticultural and environmental interest, including our perennial gardens, a collection of plants native to NYS, ancient forests, 8 miles of hiking trails -- and much more. The Route 20 Association has as its mission “to protect, preserve, interpret and promote the assets of the 108 miles of the Route 20 Scenic Byway,” which also includes 6,500 square miles of extended “green” corridors. More than 50 municipalities and the Central New York Fresh program are actively involved in promoting one of America’s most historic, bountiful, and scenic roadways. Take a ride and enjoy the treasures of our Arboretum, our county, and our state!
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