This 500-mile Road Trip Is One of the Best Ways to See the East Coast-With Castles, Waterfalls, and Cute Coastal Towns

"Stretching nearly 500 miles along the shores of Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River, the Great Lakes Seaway Trail is among the most scenic drives in the U.S. This National Scenic Byway traces a path through charming waterfront towns and quiet stretches of shoreline, with most of it winding through New York State. Whether you embark from Massena, New York, or Erie, Pennsylvania, the route offers endless opportunities to discover local history, experience unique cultural attractions,"

"Starting in Massena, travelers can explore the region's Indigenous heritage through cultural programs and exhibits offered by the Mohawk Nation at Akwesane, then head to the nearby St. Lawrence Seaway Visitor Center for a front-row view of ships navigating the Eisenhower Lock. In Ogdensburg, New York, the Frederic Remington Art Museum celebrates the works of one of America's most renowned Western artists,"

The Great Lakes Seaway Trail stretches nearly 500 miles along Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence River. The route passes mostly through New York State and connects waterfront towns, marinas, state parks, museums, and historic sites. Massena features Indigenous cultural programs by the Mohawk Nation at Akwesane and the St. Lawrence Seaway Visitor Center with views of the Eisenhower Lock. Ogdensburg offers the Frederic Remington Art Museum. Alexandria Bay provides sailing, a River Walk, and Gilded-Age estates including Boldt Castle and Singer Castle. Clayton, Sackets Harbor, Oswego, Chimney Bluffs State Park, and Rochester add arts, battlefield sites, lighthouses, sculpted bluffs, museums, and an amusement park.

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