An Outdoors Enthusiast's Paradise
Picture a serene and protected harbor, nearly
as pristine today as when it was first discovered by European explorers nearly 400 years ago. Imagine a
small harbor “commercial district” consisting of a combination bait, tackle and souvenir shop, two bar/restaurants,
a few pleasant, small motels, a tiny post office and a deli with an upscale gift shop, all within short walking distances
from each other. You’re only 25 minutes from the nearest mall and big box store, but when you’re
here, you feel hours away from traffic, noise and bustle. What you’re picturing is beautiful Henderson
Harbor, New York.
Discovered by French navigator Samuel de Champlain
in 1615, Henderson Harbor is perhaps one of New York state’s best-kept secrets, just waiting to be rediscovered by outdoor
enthusiasts of all kinds. Those who make the short detour off NYS Route 3 onto Harbor Road find a tiny paradise that remains
relatively unblemished, and come back to visit year after year.
Anglers enjoy the bountiful fishing, where limit catches are the norm rather than the exception. Cyclists breeze down a main road where the
speed limit for motorized vehicles is 25 miles an hour, making the thoroughfare as safe for them as for those who walk their
dogs along the road’s edge. Sailboats and powerboats coexist peacefully on the water, where a nearly constant breeze
keeps the temperature a good ten degrees cooler than the nearest inland town. Bird watchers travel from
around the world to witness one of the best places in the Great Lakes to see migratory birds.
