Laura & Robert
Things To Do
Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail
The Canandaigua Lake Wine Trail is comprised of a diverse group of wineries - large and small - restaurants, wine tasting centers, and unique shops, providing visitors with a full Finger Lakes experience. The wine trail has been around since the mid-1990's and is on Canandaigua, the smallest and most scenic of the Finger Lakes, making it "just right" for a 1-day trip. The Sip and Savor tour by Crush on Canandaigua offers a full day of tastings at 5 different wineries as well as a luncheon at the renowned New York Kitchen for $144 + tax per person. We are planning to check out the wine trail the Thursday before the wedding - we'd love for you to join us!
Heron Hill Tasting Room at Canandaigua Lake
Heron Hill Winery's tasting room south of Canandaigua on the Canandaigua Wine Trail is the former South Bristol Cultural Center, housed in a renovated 100-year-old barn. The location features a beautiful open space with high ceilings and original hand-hewn wooden beams. Immense windows overlook vineyards of Cabernet Franc and Riesling. Wood-fired pizza and live music every Saturday in the summer. Standard tastings are $5 per person; reserve tastings are $10 per person.
Arbor Hill Grapery & Winery
In 1987, Arbor Hill opened in just 1 building. Now, it sits in a complex of antique buildings (including the original), in a wonderful, warm New England country setting. The Brahm family takes great pride in the fact that they produce their products on the premises. In their country complex, they have several buildings; one is the retail shop, another is the restaurant: Brew & Brats at Arbor Hill, and two barns serve as the wine cellar and the food production area. Daily tastings in the tasting room are $5 for 6 wines which is refundable wit hthe purchase of 3 bottles of wine. Private wine tasting in the wine cellar is also available for $12 to $15 per person depending on the size of the group.
Twisted Rail Brewing Company
Whether you are thirsty, hungry, or both, they have you covered. Their tasting rooms offer a great selection of their fresh craft beer, wines from Heron Hill Winery, and spirits from Black Button Distilling. In addition to their beverage selection is a hand-crafted pub menu that is always evolving to meet and exceed the expectation of their patrons.
Finger Lakes Food Tours
Located in the heart of The Finger Lakes leisurely, guided food tours are the perfect way to sample exceptionally food offerings from area restaurants, specialty shops, and trendy hotspots in the region. The Uptown Food Tour is a 3-hour walking tour with a cost of $65. This tour sounds so great that I want to go myself! I'm really hoping someone partakes so I can live vicariously through you.
Monica's Pies LLC
Naples is considered the Grape Pie Capital of the world and Monica has been making them here since 1983, at which time they only made grape pie for 6 weeks during the grape harvest and sold them out in front of the house on the honor system. Over the years, they have branched out and currently make more than 25 kinds of pies including their very popular chicken pot pie. They also have 25 kinds of local fruit jams and jellies, grape pie filling, grape pie kits, and various other gift items.
Canandaigua Farmer's Market
The Farmer's Market is an association of farmers and small-scale food processors consisting of approximately 30 vendors set up shop to offer fresh produce, honey, maple syrup, jams, baked goods, organic meats, flowers, and more. It is Ontario County's only farmer-run market. It is about a 20-minute drive from Bristol Harbour.
Kershaw Park
This park features 9 acres of land on the north shore of Canandaigua Lake. Redeveloped in 1996-1997, the park improvements include a sidewalk on both sides of Lakeshore Drive, lakefront walkways, a new beach area, new bathhouse, a new children's playground, a new small craft launch area, a new public dock equipped wit ha boat pump-out station, improved landscaping, and shoreline protection. Picnic pavilions and an open-air gazebo are also a part of the grounds. Admission to the beach area for non-residents is $5 per adult and $2 per child (cash only).
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park
Sonnenberg Gardens is a historic estate showcasing nine formal gardens, an antique greenhouse complex, and a Victorian mansion. It is a gift to the community from Frederick Ferris and Mary Clark Thompson. Sonnenberg (Sunny Hill in German) was their Victorian summer home. It is now a beautiful summer escape visited by tens of thousands of people each year. It is distinctive for its extraordinary collections of period architecture, garden statuary, themed gardens of the world including a Japanese Garden and Teahouse, and a Lord & Burnham Greenhouse Complex. Admission prices are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $7 for students.
Roseland Waterpark
Roseland Waterpark is the largest waterpark in the Finger Lakes Region with 56 acres of aquatic adventure and 9 unique attractions for the entire family. Sparkling heated water, certified lifeguards, free parking, rental lockers, concessions, and plenty of deck space for relaxing make this the hottest spot to get cool on Canandaigua Lake. Regular admission is $30 in the morning ($15 refund at exit) and $20 in the evening ($7 refund at exit).
Bristol Mountain Aerial Adventures
This recreation-based, family-oriented outdoor activity is set within the forest canopy. It includes the Zipline Canopy Tour which offers 7 zip lines over 5,000 feet, 4 bridges with spectacular views of the Bristol Valley, 2 off-road rides in exchange for your leap of faith! Also part of the adventures are the Aerial Adventure Park, a series of challenge courses interwoven within the forest canopy, and the Kids Adventure Park, made up of 2 courses specifically designed for kids age 4-7. Prices range from $25 for the Kids Adventure Park to $50 to $100 for the other parks.
CMAC Performing Arts Center
In 1983 the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center was founded and in 1983 it opened on the Finger Lakes Community College campus by Marvin Sands, founder of Canandaigua Wine Company, and other community leaders. Marvin founded CMAC (Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center) because he realized the important role that arts and culture play in the quality of the community. In 2006, this $13.5 million facility is the result of a privately-funded undertaking through the sale of 54 VIP boxes. Constellation Brands secured the naming rights. This state-of-the-art facility nurtures the arts for our community and provides the ultimate venue for music and entertainment. CMAC features 5,000 covered seats and lawn seating for up to 10,000 guests. There currently isn't an event scheduled for the weekend of the wedding - but check back for event postings as the time draws near!
City Pier
Take a walk or a short scenic drive down the City Pier. Located adjacent to Kershaw Park and the New York Kitchen the Canandaigua City Pier is photo ready with breath-taking views, unique festivals, and historic boathouses. Snap away!
New York Kitchen
Their mission is to educate, engage, and excite their visitors by celebrating and showcasing New York's finest in wine and craft beer by offering you an array of inviting experiences in a setting that proudly showcases food and agriculture. Whether you have 30 minutes or an entire day, the Kitchen highlights the natural beauty, rich history, and agricultural bounty of New York States. Through supportive partnerships with area farmers, winemakers, artisans, and entrepreneurs, the New York Kitchen brings you the best of New York from the northern shore of Canandaigua Lake. Most cooking classes are between $50 to $100 per person. Check out their website for all the different options.
Ontario Pathways Trailhead- Waterfall Area, Phelps NY
If you're feeling outdoorsy, this is a 21.8 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail and rated as moderate. The old railroad bed offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail. Looking through the hiking options, this seems to be one of the best.
Wineries, Breweries, Cellars, Oh My!
I could go on and on about the many wineries and breweries in the area but you can easily find more information on them via a quick Google search if that's your vibe; this is just to get you started!