A good friend of mine is on a trip to visit the Bad Lands and the Black Hills of South Dakota. He's had some hiking adventures, and the photographs he sent back make me envious of his experiences. I've never been to the Dakota states, but after seeing his pictures, my effort to get there should move on to my priority list.

Hiking and exploring new areas intrigues the wanderlust in many people. Still, one doesn't need to venture far from our Chenango County home to experience new and never seen before sights and sounds. There's plenty to do nearby, and many of our attractions are free.

First on the list of fun things to do close to home are the museums that should soon be open; the County Historical Society Museum and Northeast Classic Car Museum, both on Rexford St in the appropriately named Museum District. Also close to home are the Farmer's Museum and Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

All museums in New York State are included in Phase 4 of the COVID-19 reopening plan, which should allow for visitors sometime in July. Watch the news or museum internet pages for details. Each of these museums has an admission fee of some form or another, but well worth it.