Herkimer Diamond Mines KOA, NY
The final stop in our week-long "New York Water Trip" is also near water, the West Canada Creek. This is a typical KOA with a few extras. There's a diamond mine across the road and a decent restaurant within walking distance.
The place was packed, partly because it's probably the last weekend for seasonal campers and partly because the Girls Scouts were here for their geology badge.
The diamond mine is pretty cool. Herkimer diamonds aren't diamonds but unusually clear quartz crystals that have a similar hardness and cut and polish like a diamond. For a few bucks you can go prospecting in the mine and keep whatever you find. There's a gift shop and small museum. The restaurant - Crystal Chandelier - is a little pricey but the food was good and a nice break on the last night of the trip.
Back to Cape cod to prepare for our escape south.
The place was packed, partly because it's probably the last weekend for seasonal campers and partly because the Girls Scouts were here for their geology badge.
The diamond mine is pretty cool. Herkimer diamonds aren't diamonds but unusually clear quartz crystals that have a similar hardness and cut and polish like a diamond. For a few bucks you can go prospecting in the mine and keep whatever you find. There's a gift shop and small museum. The restaurant - Crystal Chandelier - is a little pricey but the food was good and a nice break on the last night of the trip.
Back to Cape cod to prepare for our escape south.
