Chautauqua, New York
Discover the beauty of Chautauqua County in your RV rental from RVshare! The westernmost county in the State of New York, the Chautauqua County comprises 2 cities, 27 towns and 15 villages. Rolling hills, a beautiful landscape, 6 beautiful lakes, and about 50 miles of Lake Erie shoreline makes it a very picturesque county with endless activities to enjoy. Named after the largest lake in the region, which also plays a significant role in the history of the region, Chautauqua is not your ordinary tourist destination and has been under the radar of travelers who gravitate to the more popular counties and cities in the state.
Why not explore Chautauqua the next time you travel to the state of New York? It will surely be a blast exploring the numerous attractions you never knew about. We would like to make it easier for you to learn more about this county, so we have put together a list, which we know will encourage you to visit Chautauqua soon in an RV rental Chautauqua NY.
Popular Tourist Destinations
Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and Center for Comedy
The Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum and Center for Comedy, located in the city of Jamestown, pays tribute to Lucille and Desi whose TV show “I Love Lucy” was one of the most popular television shows during the 1950’s. A survey conducted by ABC news and People Magazine in 2012, named the show as the “Best TV Show of All Time”. Although the couple did not have a fairy tale ending, their popularity has spanned generations. The museum and comedy center displays anything and everything from the show such as original costumes, never-before-seen footages, portraits, Emmy awards, and re-created sets. Aside from learning more about this entertainment power couple, it center has a lineup of comedy shows performed by seasoned comedians and performers.
Dunkirk Lighthouse & Veterans Park Museum
Located in the city of Dunkirk, the Dunkirk Lighthouse & Veterans Park Museum is not only a historical gem; it also affords travelers a breathtaking view of Lake Eerie. The lighthouse, built in 1875 replacing the original tower, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The 61 foot tower has about 55 steps and is still equipped with the original third order Fresnel lens. Aside from the lighthouse, you must also visit the lighthouse keeper’s home, which has been turned, into a veteran museum and where you will find an array of artifacts from the Civil War, World War I and II, and the Vietnam War. You can also take a walk along the lake and enjoy the breeze when you visit in an RV rental Chautauqua New York.
Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History
A heaven for nature lovers, Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History is an educational institution that provides amazing natural history exhibitions, photography exhibitions, wild life art, and the vast collection of Dr. Roger Tory Peterson, a native of Jamestown and a world-renowned ornithologist, naturalist, educator and artist. Established in 1984, the institute also hosts numerous exhibits and events throughout the year, which are geared towards imparting knowledge about the bird and animal kingdoms, nature conservation, and the environmental movement. If you want to learn more about the life and works of Dr. Roger Tory Peterson, you can purchase books at the institute’s gift shop. The Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History is open daily except Mondays and holidays.
Campgrounds and State/National Parks
Camp Chautauqua Camping Resort
One of the best campgrounds in Chautauqua County, the Camp Chautauqua Camping Resort is a family owned and operated campground which boats of a 2000 ft. of lakeside with docks. The campground has 250 RV sites with room for slideouts and equipped with internet access and cable TV. This family oriented campground offers a lineup of activities and events, which are meant to make your stay fun and entertaining. It is fully packed with recreational facilities including a heated pool, wading pool, marina, dock, recreational hall, game room and a playground. The best thing about this campground is you get to enjoy Lake Chautauqua! The campground is open all year round for your camper rental Chautauqua NY.
Hidden Valley Camping Area
The Hidden Valley Camping Area is just a short drive from the city center of Jamestown, which makes it your best option if you want to explore the numerous attractions in Jamestown and its surrounding areas. This full service campground has 225 RV sites with room for slideouts, and equipped with electricity, water and cable TV. Services and amenities include a pavilion, swimming pool, restroom and showers, hayrides/wagon rides, playground, horseshoes, camp store, and tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. Activities are planned throughout the season including bingo nights and live music. The campground is open from April to October for your travel trailer rental Chautauqua NY.
Chautauqua Lake KOA
Overlooking the northeast shore of Chautauqua Lake and nestled in a 180-acre hilly, wooded and quiet area, the Chautauqua Lake KOA is a perfect basecamp if you want to enjoy numerous activities in the lake and visit the numerous attractions that surround it. The campground has 246 RV spaces, which can accommodate all sizes of RVs. All its sites are equipped with 50-amp service, internet access, picnic table and fire ring. Like other KOA campgrounds all over the country, the Chautauqua Lake KOA is packed with amenities KOA campgrounds are known for such as a playground, swimming pool, miniature golf, basketball and volleyball courts, two dog parks, three laundry rooms, three bathhouses and a camp store. Activities are scheduled all through the season ranging from ice cream socials to outdoor activities. The camp is open from May to October for your motorhome rental Chautauqua NY.
Events
Festivals
The America’s Grape Country Wine Festival is a statewide wine festival that takes place annually at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk. The two-day festival is participated by more than 30 wineries all over the state. The festival starts with a Mardi Grass Kickoff Pre-Party, which is open to the public for a fee. The festival activities starts the next day, and features wine and food tasting, live entertainment, seminars and lectures from chefs and wine experts, and lots of food and crafts booths. It is best for you to Google the event to find out when the celebration begins this year.
An annual celebration held the first or second weekend of July; the Great Blue Heron Music Festival is a three-day festival featuring music of various genres including African, bluegrass, Cajun, reggae, zydeco, Americana, jam band, Irish music, and old time music. Thousands of music lovers all over the country flock to Sherman to enjoy the performances of more than 30 musical artists and bands, In addition, the festival offers dance lessons, instrument workshops, and numerous activities for kids and teens. Tickets for the festival are available by March.
An amazing county with so much to offer, Chautauqua will not disappoint. Take the road less traveled and explore Chautauqua.
Thank you for choosing RVshare for your Chautauqua, New York RV rental! Safe travels!