Getting High in the Finger Lakes of New York

By the photo above, you’ve hopefully figured out that this is not a post about marijuana. While I was growing up, my Mom had a job as a prevention educator (think D.A.R.E. officer). She encouraged a very different form of high — the kind of high you get from having new adventures and doing fun and exciting things outside of your comfort zone. So when I stumbled upon glider plane rides in the Finger Lakes, outside of our New York hometown, I jumped at the chance to go!

The Harris Hill Soaring Corporation is located in Elmira, NY in the scenic Finger Lakes region and is home to the National Soaring Museum. Harris Hill is the birthplace of soaring in the United States and originated here back in 1930! Today, pilots provide demonstrations to the public through glider plane rides and offer flight instruction to paying students. They also host and participate in national soaring competitions, including the longest running soaring competition in the US — the Snowbird contest, which is held each Thanksgiving weekend.

I decided on taking my sister here for her birthday and surprising her with a glider ride. We made the drive to Elmira and wandered around the National Soaring Museum, dreaming up all the places we would go in the hanging planes displayed and taking funny pictures of each other with museum props. We walked by a computer room where you could simulate your own flight, and we were shocked to see that we knew the people inside who were playing on the computers — our Aunt, Uncle, and cousins from OHIO! Turns out they were on their way to our grandparents house in Upstate NY and stopped here for my Uncle who loves planes! Small world!

After our random visit with our out-of-state relatives, I led my sister to the glider ride ticket booth. She was STOKED after I told her about the surprise and bought us each a ticket to soar! Passenger flights are sold as first-come-first-serve, are weather permitting, and last about 15-20 minutes. Your plane is towed to an altitude of around 4,000 feet above sea level where you fly above the beautiful forests, valleys, and rivers. On most days, Watkins Glen and the Finger Lakes are both visible during your flight. Your pilot sits in the seat in front of you and points out landmarks while informing you about soaring and piloting.

My sister and I each flew separately in an ASK-21 High Performance Glider. A Schweizer 2-33 Basic Trainer plane is also available to ride in for a few dollars less. It was exhilarating to be up there watching the other glider planes below us soaring in circles until they landed! I definitely won some best-birthday-present credits with my sister, and it was such a thrilling and unique New York experience! We went in summer, but I would highly suggest visiting Harris Hill in the fall when all the leaves change color. Click the links to either learn more about glider rides and pricing or about learning to fly yourself!