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Travel the Finger Lakes, NY
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items The Finger Lakes region of central New York is one of the best destinations for wine, waterfalls, and absolutely beautiful small town charm. This is one of my favorite road trip destinations!
Sections
6
Lakeside Towns in the Finger Lakes
Parks and Hiking Trails
Where to Stay
Finger Lakes Wine Tours
Historical Spots to Visit
General Finger Lakes Guides
Lakeside Towns in the Finger Lakes
There are great small towns on each of the lakes, so there are some fantastic places to eat, stay and explore. We especially love Canandaigua, Ithaca, Seneca Falls, and Watkins Glen.
Canandaigua Lake is one of the smaller and lesser visited. The town at the northern point of the lake has so many things to do and some great restaurants!
Canandaigua Lake, NY
Watkins Glen is one of the most popular towns in the Finger Lakes. We loved exploring the streets, with all the shops and restaurants.
Watkins Glen, New York
Ithaca is a great town with so many things to do, especially great food and arts scenes.
Ithaca, NY
Seneca Falls is a must-visit town if you are a history buff. It was a very important location in the women's suffrage movement.
Seneca Falls, NY – Birthplace of Women's Rights
Geneva is on the opposite end of the lake from Watkins Glen. It's a little less touristy and still has great shops, bars, and restaurants.
Geneva, NY
This one's on the northern tip of Oswasco, which is much smaller. If you're looking for a more off the beaten path destination, this is it.
Auburn, NY
Parks and Hiking Trails
The Finger Lakes is one of our favorite places to go for shorter hikes, and they have a lot of bang for your buck! There are waterfalls galore!
Letchworth is on the outskirts or just outside of the Finger Lakes region, but this park is so fantastic that we couldn't not include it. The waterfalls and the hiking trails are fantastic here.
17 Things to do in Letchworth State Park
If you're visiting the western Finger Lakes and Letchworth, make sure to stop by Stony Brook, also. It's smaller, but we absolutely loved the gorge hike and combined it into a fantastic loop. It can get busy on the weekends, but we didn't run into many other people on a Friday evening in the fall.
Stony Brook State Park: Waterfalls
We'd recommend visiting the Watkins Glen Gorge Trail very early in the morning. Then, head over towards Ithaca!
Waterfalls near Watkins Glen, New York
We'd definitely recommend hiking the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen. It's well maintained and there are plenty of waterfalls along the trail. While it gets busy, it is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Finger Lakes.
Complete Guide to Hiking Watkins Glen State Park (Spoiler: It's Stunningly Beautiful!)
Taughannock Falls has an accessible path to view the falls. This is a great spot to visit with kids or those with mobility issues who might need an assistive device.
The Most Beautiful Taughannock Falls Hike: Taughannock Falls Gorge Trail
We weren't sure what to expect with the Cascadilla Gorge, being right in the town of Ithaca and on the campus of Cornell University. This trail has similar vibes to Watkins Glen with those stony pathways! We'd also recommend exploring this one early ...
Hiking the Cascadilla Gorge Trail in Ithaca
If you want to avoid some of the crowds of Watkins Glen, head north along the east side of Seneca Lake to the FLNF. There aren't really waterfalls, but the hikes are much more peaceful.
Finger Lakes National Forest Hikes
Where to Stay
Whether you want to camp, glamp in a cabin, or stay in a lakefront hotel, these are our favorite spots to stay in the Finger Lakes.
Right on the southern tip of Seneca Lake. You can walk to shops and restaurants in town, as well as the Gorge Trail in the state park if you're up for an adventure. Book this one in the summer and enjoy an evening by one of the firepits with the sounds of the lake in the background.
Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
We camped in the Tuscarora Village loop and loved it. The campground is huge, but sites are spread out over 6 loops so it doesn't feel super crowded or overwhelming.
Watkins Glen State Park Six Nations Camping Area
This one is up on the hillside with stunning views of Seneca Lake. There is also a great onsite restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious brunch!
Lakeside Resort, Seneca Lake
The rooms are a little on the small side, but the service was great! The location is also extremely convenient.
The Dorm Hotel, Ithaca
This place used to be the Mayor's Mansion and the Duncan-Hines world headquarters. It's extremely comfortable and charming!
Argos Inn - Ithaca's Boutique Hotel
We spent a fantastic weekend at this lakeside house. It's great for groups and has 6 bedrooms.
Lakefront Canandaigua Home with Dock and Kayak
Finger Lakes Wine Tours
The Finger Lakes is an extremely popular wine region. This is a popular couples destination, and a popular spot for bachelorette parties and girls trips. We'd recommend scheduling a wine tour so you don't have to worry about choosing a DD.
There are so many winery options on Seneca Lake, that you really can't go wrong.
Seneca Lake: Wine Tasting Tour
Seneca Lake has the most options for wineries, but often the wineries are the busiest. The lake is huge, so we recommend hopping on a tour so you don't have to drive.
Seneca Lake South Wine Tastings Tour
Keuka Lake is a little less busy, and the views are absolutely stunning. Take this one at a little slower pace.
Keuka Lake Winery Tour
This tour covers multiple lakes, so you'll get a more broad overview of the Finger Lakes. Decide which ones you like best, so you can be more specific when you come back!
Grape Escapes Full-Day Wine Tour from Ithaca
Historical Spots to Visit
In addition to outdoor adventures and plenty of wine, the Finger Lakes are full of history. If you are a history buff, these are the spots you must visit!
Seneca Falls was important in the women's suffrage movement, and this is an NPS site!
Women's Rights National Historical Park
This camp is now part of the Finger Lakes National Forest. Park at the top and hike down to the shores of Seneca Lake, where this building still exists. The walk is down a service road, so not extremely difficult. We also spent some time relaxing by ...
Fossenvue Retreat Operated by Elizabeth Smith Miller
This mansion has some of the most beautiful gardens to explore during the late spring and summer, when everything is green + blooming!
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park
These are visible from from town and perfect for photo ops in Canandaigua.
Canandaigua Boathouses
General Finger Lakes Guides
Get a broad overview of the Finger Lakes region. These guides will help with the initial planning stages of your trip.
We wrote this guide to help you narrow down your itinerary. Get a general idea of the best things to do in the Finger Lakes to help narrow down your itinerary.
The 17 Best Things to do in the The Finger Lakes, NY
Literally everything you need to know about camping in the Finger Lakes. We'd recommend camping at Watkins Glen State Park!
Camping in the Finger Lakes: Everything You Need To Know
Most of the best state parks in NY are in the Finger Lakes! If you're road tripping to the region, you might be able to catch another one on the way by.
14 Best State Parks in New York You Can't Miss