Syracuse.com - Outdoors writer says late July, early August is best time for vacation in Central New York

[HuntingNY-News]

That's the warmest, and often sunniest time of the summer.

Many in Central New York take their vacations each summer when it makes sense for their work and family schedules.

Others plan it around events or activities they enjoy.

Me? As an outdoors writer and with more than two decades of family camping/fishing vacations under my belt, I've learned to look at two big factors - the weather and the bugs.

We've camped in June, July and August. We've had our share of rainstorms and cold snaps. We've dealt with swarms of black flies, mosquitoes and deer flies. It comes with the territory.

When's the best, most comfortable time to be outdoors in Upstate New York?

Hands down, I'd say the end of July and beginning of August. I've taken time off during that time the past few years and have been rewarded with great weather and relatively bug-less weather.

Dick Blume | [email protected] 

I chatted recently with Dave Eichorn, staff meteorologist for syracuse.com/The Post-Standard and was surprised to learn that's when he takes his vacation each year to be at his camp in the Adirondacks.

"Each year, the warmest part of the year in Syracuse each year is right around the third week in July," he said. "Going into August, it starts going down around the beginning of the second week."

Eichorn said that's why he takes off during "those last two weeks of July, or the early part of August. The odds are stacked in your favor."

Dave Lassman |[email protected] 

Eichorn added that with the warm temperatures, the water temperature in local lakes and rivers is the warmest at this time of year, making for the most comfortable swimming and fishing time during the summer.

Eichorn pointed out that while July is the sunniest month of the summer, it usuallty has the most total rainfall but also has the most rain.

"That's because in July the rain comes in the form of thunder showers, so it dumps quite a bit for a very short period of time, and then you'll go through 3-4 days of nothing."

But what about the bugs? I talked to two entomologists, asking for their recommendations about when to take my vacation.

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"Try January," joked Jody Gangloff-Kaufmann, an urban entomologist with Cornell Cooperative Extension.

"Actually, it depends on what time of the summer you're talking about. You'll always have (blood-sucking) bugs to deal with," she said.

Gangloff-Kaufmann and Kim Adams, another Cooperative Extension entomologist, noted the early, mid-spring is time for black flies and ticks, with the later continuing to be a bother all summer long.

"Actually, the black flies usually come out strong on Memorial Day weekend, particularly on bright, warm sunny days," Adams said. 'And the deer and horseflies will be out in a couple of weeks, and typically get worse in July and into August.

As for the mosquitoes, "It seems you always have to deal with them" Gangloff-Kaufmann said.

I asked both. Knowing what they know, when they'd recommend taking off for vacation.

"I usually got camping in late July and early August in the Adirondacks," Gangloff-Kaufmann said. "It's usually less buggy in the mountainous areas."

Adams said she'd opt for mid-June (when the black flies are dying down and the horseflies and deer flies are just beginning), or in late August.

"That's when it starts cooling down and the insects aren't as bad," she said. "Either way, it's a crap shoot."

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog