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There are some other locations closer to Syracuse and in the Utica-Rome area that you may like too. Before you ask, if you are interested, look into Clinton, Cazenovia, Cicero, Sylvan Beach, Baldwinsville, Liverpool, Brewerton, Whitesboro/Whitestown, Fayetteville-Manlius area and New Hartford.
Also, in the immediate Rochester area, look into places like Webster, Irondequoit, Brockport, Fairport, Spencerport and the northern part of Greece, among others. Maybe even the Charlotte neighborhood in the city of Rochester too.
That’s also a great call. Oneida lake is the biggest lake with 100% of its shores in New York State…both Verona and Sylvan beach are quaint villages that would be a nice location for a summer home.Plus the amusement park in Sylvan beach is pretty lively but it’s not big enough to ruin the peace and quiet either.
This might sound a bit strange, but it you'll just bear with me...
I'm a semi-retired teacher who lives in SE PA, and I absolutely despise the summer heat and humidity << snip ..
Anywhere in particular I should start looking? Would you consider Syracuse or Uttica just as cool? I don't need much of a night life, just some good shopping in a nice area. Any ideas would be appreciated (also where to avoid).
Thanks so much
I live by the Lake Ontario shoreline, in the NW quadrant of the Rochester metro. I know of a family across the bay from me, from SE PA, who did the same thing that you are thinking of doing. They were commuting for a while from PA, but ended up moving into their Lake Ontario home permanently, because of the cooler climate overall, and because it's like paradise living by the Lake Ontario.
I also used to commute occasionally to work in an office near you. You live in a very nice area, but I used to look forward to getting home and opening up the windows to take in the cool lake breeze up in the summer.
You won't escape the humidity up here - there are bodies of water nearby virtually everywhere up here - but its not nearly as bad as downstate NY and the States further south.
The FingerLakes region - both near Syracuse and Rochester - are also a nice option for you to explore. Overall, we have more of a maritime climate here than inland regions like the southern finger lakes and central NY - so our temperature swings are more moderated.
The Buffalo area is moderated by Lake Erie, which is much more shallow than Lake Ontario. Lake Erie freezes over in the winter, so the lake effect annual snowfall is slightly less in Buffalo than in Rochester and Syracuse, and their sea breeze tends to be warmer than ours in the late summer.
South of Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo, the landscape gets much hillier, so there are countless little microclimates in the valleys close enough to be effected by each of the FingerLakes. The tempering effect also varies, depending upon the overall water mass (surface area and depth) of each lake. Heavily forested areas also have a slight cooling effect. Because of the complexity and variety of localized weather throughout the region, you should ask the neighbors near any home you are considering, to get an idea of what types of temperature ranges to expect.
I don't know anything about the price range you are interested in - but I have a "best bang for the buck" suggestion: consider buying or renting a house across the street from the Lake Ontario lakefront. You might consider taking a road trip up here, and traveling the lakefront along the south shore. There are several nice small towns along the shore, like Sackets Harbor, Oswego, Pultneyville, Sodus, Huron etc., Webster, Irondequoit to the east of Rochester Harbor. To the west, Greece and Hilton, and there are several small neighborhoods along the various exits off the Lake Ontario State Parkway (Seaway Trail) - each one having lower priced homes across the street from the lakefront homes.
Real estate is a bargain here relative to SE PA- but our property taxes are relatively high. Houses across the street from the lakefront homes are often a steal, and they have lower property assessments, hence lower taxes, but they have the full benefits of the cool lake breezes in the summer.
Also - a word of caution. I have lived by the Lake most of my life, and we have seen many "landlubbers" move into homes near the Lake that have drawbacks - such as past flooding history that undermined foundations, water damage that has been covered up by renovations, seawalls with wave damage .. etc.
If you do plan to take a look at some of the homes near the lake, send me a private message, and I can offer to either give you information about the history of the specific community, or take a look at the house you are considering to uncover for any potential drawbacks that the realtor might not bring up. Most homes are well-built and conditioned to handle Lake Ontario's storms - but there are a couple of neighborhoods to avoid because of their low elevation and exposure to open water.
Seaweed and algae, due to the #%$^&! lawn chemicals and farm fertilizers, can temporarily accumulate more in some shoreline areas than others, dependent upon open-water exposure or protection, shoreline features, prevailing winds and currents etc.
Don't let that dissuade you, however. Algae is a problem all over the Northeast, but its not that bad in large open bodies of water like Lake Ontario. An occasional strong south wind causes Lake Ontario to "turn over" - which brings crystal clear cold water from the deep in to the shoreline when that happens periodically during the late summer.
Lake Ontario can have wild storms with huge waves - especially during a 'noreaster. The deepest part of the lake is about 30-40 miles NE of Rochester harbor, and the open-water "fetch" is greatest to the NE of Rochester. The prevailing wind and wave pattern is out of the Northwest throughout the year. In late summer, the Lake can sometimes be as smooth as glass - especially around dusk, when the sea breeze shifts as the sun goes down.
Not sure if I would agree with the previous posters. Maybe the Finger Lakes would be cooler, but only if you live right on one of the lakes (in a $500,000 house). I would recomemnd anywhere within 1 mile from Lake Ontario. For instance in Greece you can feel it getting cooler when you cross over the Lake Ontario State Parkway. Not to many condos, however. There is the Lake Breeze condos in the Charlotte neighborhood in Rochester and you can easily walk to the beach an harbour area. You may find a bungalo to rent in Greece, Charlotte or Sea Breeze (Irondequoit). Sodus Point is worth checking, although I think they might be pricey.
iNTERESTIN...so many choices, a couple getaway trips must be in order. Again yesterday was CHOKING with low 90s and high humidity. Really and truly can't stand it - and the real summer isn't even here yet.
If you do plan to take a look at some of the homes near the lake, send me a private message, and I can offer to either give you information about the history of the specific community, or take a look at the house you are considering to uncover for any potential drawbacks that the realtor might not bring up. Most homes are well-built and conditioned to handle Lake Ontario's storms - but there are a couple of neighborhoods to avoid because of their low elevation and exposure to open water.
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Will do, and thanks for providing a wealth of highly important info in your post. So VERY kind of you - and all of you- to take the time to give me so many specifics.
Having no knowledge of the beautiful Lake Ontario, I suppose I should ask if people swim in it. So many lakes here in PA are available for boating and fishing, but not swimming. I am a typical SE PA, Jersey-shore vacationer and have always loved the ocean, but Jersey is just as hot as PA, and the properties near the water are obscenely expensive.
If you do plan to take a look at some of the homes near the lake, send me a private message, and I can offer to either give you information about the history of the specific community, or take a look at the house you are considering to uncover for any potential drawbacks that the realtor might not bring up. Most homes are well-built and conditioned to handle Lake Ontario's storms - but there are a couple of neighborhoods to avoid because of their low elevation and exposure to open water.
QUOTE]
Will do, and thanks for providing a wealth of highly important info in your post. So VERY kind of you - and all of you- to take the time to give me so many specifics.
Having no knowledge of the beautiful Lake Ontario, I suppose I should ask if people swim in it. So many lakes here in PA are available for boating and fishing, but not swimming. I am a typical SE PA, Jersey-shore vacationer and have always loved the ocean, but Jersey is just as hot as PA, and the properties near the water are obscenely expensive.
We swim in Lake Ontario regularly. The water can be a bit brisk until mid-late summer. The best time to swim is during early July to late September.
Of course, it's fresh water, so you won't be as buoyant as you would be in salt water, and there is no dangerous marine life.
Most of the lakefront neighborhoods off the Lake Ontario State Parkway have small semi-private beaches for swimming access for the residents. It is also common to have a deeded right-of-way to the lake if you live across the street from the shore.
If you make the move, you should get a boat or a jet ski. During the warmest days of summer, it's great to take the boat out a few miles on a calm day, and dive into the deep clear water.
We swim in Lake Ontario regularly. The water can be a bit brisk until mid-late summer. The best time to swim is during early July to late September.
Of course, it's fresh water, so you won't be as buoyant as you would be in salt water, and there is no dangerous marine life.
Most of the lakefront neighborhoods off the Lake Ontario State Parkway have small semi-private beaches for swimming access for the residents. It is also common to have a deeded right-of-way to the lake if you live across the street from the shore.
If you make the move, you should get a boat or a jet ski. During the warmest days of summer, it's great to take the boat out a few miles on a calm day, and dive into the deep clear water.
And no fear of SHARKS! A couple of years ago my niece and I were swimming a little too far out in the ocean, and lo and behold: we were surrounded by fins! They turned out to be dolphins, but I can't even describe the utter terror down my spine before we realized that.
I would strongly suggest renting a lakefront home somewhere for a few years before committing to purchasing a home....that way you can get familiar with the areas and make a better informed decision. I could be wrong, but I'm just not convinced that Rochester is a WHOLE lot less humid than SE PA. But I don't think Roc is very humid compared to most other places in the country.
it was 50 and cloudy today i wore a sweatshirt great june huh?
Haven't you left for Florida yet?
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Not strange - others have done the same
