Things To Do
Niagara Falls
For our friends and family traveling by car from the Midwest, Niagara falls is a short detour north of Buffalo. See the falls, ride the Maid of the Mist, or hit the casino!
Rochester
Downtown Rochester and the surrounding suburbs have lots to do along with excellent bars, breweries and restaurants (especially Italian) featuring multiple regional delicacies. Reach out to us for some of our favorites!
Finger Lakes Wineries, Breweries, Cideries, and Distilleries
The Finger Lakes region of New York is a renowned wine region, particularly known for its cool-climate white wines, especially Riesling. The region's unique microclimate, created by the deep, elongated lakes, is ideal for growing a variety of grapes, including Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Pinot Noir. Alongside the wineries studding the finger lakes are an equal plethora of craft breweries, cideries and distilleries. While we could never put together a comprehensive list of the best of the best, below are some of our personal favorites! * = our favorite favorites
Canandaigua Lake
Star Cider - a wide variety of apple and other fruit ciders Twisted Rail Brewing Company - Crushable beers and great pizza, right by the water! Frequentum Brewing - Right in town. Great for fans of IPAs and Sours.
Keuka Lake
*Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery - Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery is the pioneer of the Eastern United States vinifera movement. Situated on the southwestern hills of Keuka Lake, it was here in 1957 that Dr. Konstantin Frank planted the first vinifera vines in the Eastern United States and ignited the “Vinifera Revolution”. This movement would forever change the course of winemaking in New York. We love their Rose! Keuka Springs Vineyards - A quaint tasting room with a great view and friendly staff (including the vintner's dog) *Weis Vineyards - Some of our favorite German varietals with two tasting rooms; a modern bar with floor to ceiling glass overlooking the lake, and a cozy old schoolhouse. Living Roots Finger Lakes - A chic, modern tasting room, and one of the best views on the lakes
Seneca Lake
War Horse Brewing/3 Brothers Winery - Three unique wineries, a brewery, and cafe all on one eccentric estate Grist Iron Brewing - Good variety of beers and foods Herman J. Wiemer - Known for great Rieslings
Cayuga Lake
All options below are in a beautiful area just north of the town of Ithaca and Taughannock Falls State Park *Buttonwood Grove - Beautiful grounds and a large deck overlooking the lake, with some of our favorite wines (try the Blanc de Franc!), and potential to catch live music **Finger Lakes Cider House - A wide variety of ciders from tons of apple varieties grown there on the farm, cocktails and mocktails made with in-season ingredients, and some of our favorite snacks (gotta get the cornbread!) Knapp Winery - A good option if you are looking to have a sit down lunch Liquid State Brewing - Big variety of beers and snacks
Letchworth State Park
Known as the Grand Canyon of the East, Letchworth is one of the most scenically magnificent areas in the eastern U.S. The Genesee River roars through the gorge over three major waterfalls between cliffs - as high as 600 feet in some places - surrounded by lush forests. Hikers can choose among 66 miles of hiking trails. Trails are also available for horseback riding, biking, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing. Letchworth offers nature, history and performing arts programs, guided walks, tours, a summer lecture series, whitewater rafting, kayaking, a pool for swimming and hot air ballooning.
Taughannock Falls State Park
Taughannock Falls is a prominent natural landmark located in Taughannock Falls State Park, just north of the town of Ithaca, and close to some of our favorite Finger Lakes wine trail stops. With a plunge of 215 feet - 33 feet taller than Niagara Falls - it's famous for being the tallest single-drop waterfall in the northeastern United States.
Stony Brook State Park
Stony Brook State Park features a rugged gorge in the rolling hills of Western New York. You can enjoy the park's rich scenery while camping, picnicking, swimming or hiking. The North Entrance for day use visitors features a picnic area with tables, grills, restrooms, playground, natural stream-fed pool, and entrance to the hiking trails. The park offers a variety of play fields that include: Playgrounds, Tennis Court, Baseball Field, Volleyball Court, and Basketball. Hikers can choose among 3 hiking trails which are all about 1 mile long with quite a bit of stairs making them moderately difficult. The park's beautiful gorge trail begins at our stream-fed pool in the North Entrance and passes by 3 major waterfalls. We recommend the Gorge Trail as the easiest and most scenic.