Waterport

Strictly speaking, Waterport is the tiny hamlet located at the spot where Route 279 crosses the Oak Orchard River at Lake Alice. The surrounding town is called Carlton, but since the post office is in Waterport, mail is addressed to that location, and residents throughout the township consider themselves to live in Waterport.

Unlike other Western New York villages with "-port" in their names, Waterport isn't on the Erie Canal. Instead, it's on the Oak Orchard River (also known as Oak Orchard Creek), just upstream from the dam that creates Lake Alice.

In 2013, Point Breeze was named the country's "Ultimate Fishing Town" by the World Fishing Network—just beating out Cape Hatteras. Sure, it's just an unscientific poll, but the designation is well earned. There's some outstanding fishing to be had, not just at Point Breeze but well upstream along the Oak Orchard River. Brown trout, salmon, and steelhead are among the most common catches.

• Breeze Inn Again, 928 Point Breeze Rd, Kent (Point Breeze), ☏ +1 585 297-7424. Su Tu W 6AM-2PM, Th 6AM-8PM, F Sa 6AM-9PM (Winter hours: F-Su 7AM-1PM). Opened in May 2015 in a spot that's been a restaurant for decades, the Breeze Inn Again is trying to recapture the neighborhood feel of its predecessors (including the popular "Breeze Inn"). To reach that goal, they're offering hand-crafted meals made in-house and a welcoming, familial atmosphere. As the unofficial headquarters of the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association, it seems they're well on their way. The nightly (Th-Sa) fish fry, build-your-own-panini, and the breakfast Breeze Inn Skillet are among the specialties, but look for them to add to the menu as they get more established. (updated May 2015)

The hamlet of Waterport itself has no lodging, but there are a couple of places to stay at Point Breeze.

• Captain's Cove Resort, 14339 Roosevelt Hwy (The Bridges), ☏ +1 585 682-3316, info@fishcaptainscove.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM. This small motel is attached to a popular bait-and-tackle shop and marina at The Bridges, a small hamlet at the spot where Marsh Creek empties into the Oak Orchard River. Eight larger rooms with kitchenettes sleep four; seven smaller rooms sleep two. Pets allowed with a deposit, but double-check that it's okay when you book. $69 or $99. (updated May 2015)
• Creekside Cottage, 1029 Point Breeze Rd, Kent (Point Breeze), ☏ +1 585 599-3731. A two-bedroom, one-bath fishing cottage, fully furnished with all of the amenities. Sleeps four. Open April through November. (updated May 2015)

In addition to the above listings, Childs has a nice inn, and there are a couple of motor lodges in Albion. Lakeside Beach State Park has camping and RV parking if you want to rough it a bit.

The local area code is Rochester's, 585, and most Waterport phone numbers are in the 682 exchange.

The Waterport ZIP code is 14571. The southern part of the area is in Albion's ZIP code, 14411. A few small parts of the area, like the east side of the river at Point Breeze, are in the Kent ZIP code, 14477.