We are thinking about a last minute 4th of July trip to the Finger Lakes region. We understand that many things will already be booked, but I am trying to see if I can pull this together. We have never been to this area and it sounds like fun! I was wondering if anyone has done a similar trip and has any recommendations. We will be driving up from NYC and hoping to stay at one hotel and do day trips to different lakes and attractions. Thanks so much!
I think you’re right that you’ll find reservations difficult to come by. We have had a place in the Finger Lakes for many years and when friends visit they usually stay at the Holiday Inn Express in Canandaigua. Lots to do in the area, some great restaurants, and a beautiful lakefront. However, friends who planned a visit over July 4th tried to book several weeks ago and the hotel was already full. They had to book one further out, in Victor. The ones they tried in Geneva were also full.
If you are able to find a hotel, send me a PM and I’ll gladly recommend some restaurants, things to do, etc. Would a B&B work for you? I know of a nice one but not sure if it would have availability that weekend.
Thank you so much @alwaysamom. I sent you a PM
Ithaca is a nice home base - great downtown walking area, lots of parks, good farmers market and museums.
If you get as far north as Rochester, the Susan B Anthony house and the Strong National Museum of Play (geared mostly towards little kids but a great nostalgic display of toys and games) is fun.
We were at the Fingerlakes over Easter. We spent one night at Moonshadow B and B which has a nice view of Keuka Lake and excellent breakfast. The second night we spent at Tillenghast Bed and Brunch in Ovid which does not have a view of Lake Seneca, but if you walk down the road a way, you can get one. They charge separately for breakfast and the wife was called away on an emergency that weekend so we went to the local diner which had a good diner breakfast. Fox Run Winery had an excellent lunch, and you can drink flights of wine with it. I liked the blaufrankish wine at the Redtail Ridge Winery, Red Newt Cellars also had a very good lunch and I liked their Cabernet Franc. I thought all the wineries had surprisingly good roses as well. Watkins Glen State Park is small, but beautiful if you like a hike, or just want to look at the waterfall from the entrance.
We stayed at Miami Resort Motel, a smaller, funky, but fun motel. We drove around two different lakes, visiting all the wineries along the way.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g47405-d1069084-Reviews-Miami_Resort_Motel-Canandaigua_Finger_Lakes_New_York.html
I am from Watkins Glen - the heart of the Finger Lakes, we like to call ourselves lol. Right at the tip of Seneca Lake.
You will be fine with wineries and any kind of activities. There are all sorts of artsy shops and stuff in downtown WG, as well as along the roadside in Hector. Don’t miss the waterfalls - they should be pretty full thanks to all the rain.
I second the suggestions of Ithaca and Watkins Glen. Also, if you’re in the southern end of the Finger Lakes region, the Corning Museum of Glass is fabulous, and the Glenn Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport is worth a visit, too.
The art museum on the Cornell campus is a hoot. (I’m an architect, so I am happy to diss our sillier efforts.) It had several really nice visiting shows, and I really enjoyed the Asian art and the views on the top level. The campus is quite lovely too.