Based on a central location, it looks like this a good place to meet our son and his girlfriend, for our summer (July) vacation. None of us have been there before, so are open to suggestions on lakes, towns, wineries, restaurants, hiking, etc.
this is where we stayed. It was very, very nice and welcoming
http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/ny-lodi-thefoxandthegrapes.html
or you can stay in a castle
http://www.belhurst.com/accommodations/chambers-belhurst-castle
this is one of the parks you must visit
here is the racetrack
http://www.theglen.com/?homepage=true
here is Seneca Lake
https://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGNI_enUS495US495&q=seneca+lake+images
http://www.senecalakewine.com/
here are the wineries
Awesome long weekend for us and 4 other couples. I would go again in a heartbeat.
Ithaca, on the bottom of Cayuga Lake, would be the largest of the towns with the most going on. I would suggest Geneva, though, as it’s a prettier town and more central to the region at the north end of Seneca Lake. Watkins Glen is the most famous of the gorge trails, must see if you haven’t been. Each lake will have a wine trail, fun but don’t expect too much from the wines.
ETA: I used to live south of Ithaca so mostly day trips, occasional weekends in Geneva or Canandaigua.
Watkins Glen State Park looks amazing.
Don’t expect much from the wines?! :((
In Seneca Falls you can visit the Women’s Rights National Historical Park.
Watkins Glen is pretty awesome. The whole area is beautiful. Don’t know how far afield you plan to go but the Otesage Hotel in Cooperstown is old, venerable hotel with spectacular setting. The lake is beautiful, summer opera/theater at Glimmerglass plus the Baseball Hall of Fame… very worthwhile if you have interest and have never been. The Fenimore Museum and Farm Museum are also worthwhile.
If you stay in or near Ithaca, you might want to attend some of the free public lectures or performances that Cornell offers in connection with its Summer Session https://www.sce.cornell.edu/ss/about/events/index.php . You might also want to see if anything interesting is playing at the Hangar Theatre http://www.hangartheatre.org/2015-mainstage-season.html .
We used to live in Canandaigua up to late 2007. Very cool area! Not sure how much things may have changed - Canandaigua Lady was the ferry boat that offered lake tours. There was also a water park very nearby the north end of the lake (there was talk of closing it though). Canandaigua also has a smaller racetrack (more of a dirt track) but draws quite the crowd.
I would recommend Canandaigua. It has a lovely main street with all kinds of shops, lots of cafes and restaurants. The Inn on the Lake is located right on the lake and is newly renovated with a nice dining room.
http://www.theinnonthelake.com/
Lots of excellent restaurants, in a variety of price ranges.
From:
to:
http://www.downtowncanandaigua.com/
Wineries, and culinary center -
http://www.fingerlakes.org/things-to-do/wineries-more/wineries-canandaigua-lake
Historical sites -
Antiquing -
http://www.ontariomallantique.com/
Performing arts -
http://www.cmacevents.com/ (too bad you won’t be there in June to see Ed Sheeran!)
Water park -
https://www.roselandwaterpark.com/
Beautiful scenery all around the lake and into the Bristol hills. I believe that Bristol Mountain has ziplines in the summer months.
Skaneateles is a beautiful small town that is an easy drive. Naples has wineries, too, but I agree that the wines from this region, although improved, are not great.
You can rent a lake cottage for the week. Find one with a dock and boat
http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rentals/new-york/seneca-lake/r8833
Oh, and Canandaigua has a horse race track if you end up going there
Make sure you check out Corning Museum of Glass http://www.cmog.org/
@3scoutsmom Toledo’s nickname is the “Glass City” because several glass companies started here. We have a beautiful glass museum, but I would love to see the Corning Museum of Glass.
http://www.cmog.org/visit/make-your-own-glass
Toledo, you guys can make your own glass objects at Corning. Check it out.
@Sax We did the make your own glass flowers when we were there. It was a great experience!
“don’t expect too much from the wines.” ???
Our experience, living in the region for 7 years, was the exact opposite. Many of the wines are terrific. We especially like Dr. Konstantin Frank’s, on the Keuka Wine Trail. Just south of there is the Glenn Curtiss Aviation Museum http://www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org/ which has an incredible collection of airplanes, boats, automobiles, etc. One of the most underappreciated museums in the country IMO.
Near the Corning Glass Museum is the Rockwell Museum of Western Art http://rockwellmuseum.org/ which has an amazing collection of paintings and artifacts. We visit it every time we are back there. You can get a combo ticket that covers the Corning Museums.
Taughannock Falls and Letchworth State Parks are also nice to visit, in addition to Watkins Glen.
If you get as far west as Rochester, the suburbs of Pittsford and Fairport have very pretty sections along the Erie Canal, with bike paths that run nearly across New York. There are often outdoor concerts in the evening. The CMAC outdoor concert venue in Canandaigua has the big acts - Peter Frampton will be there on July 11 and James Taylor on July 12 this summer.
Leichworth State Park is lovely too. Ah, Midwest Dad3 beat me to it!
I grew up around there and this thread is making me homesick. Upstate NY summers are glorious. The winters … oy.
Yes, to all the suggestions, especially the Ithaca ones. With a little driving, you can also go to Cooperstown (Baseball Hall of Fame), Howe Caverns, and depending on which way you want to go, Saratoga or Niagara Falls.
Not sure if anyone is into this, but the Mirbeau Spa and Resort in Skeneateles is beautiful. I’m told that the Krebs (a restaurant), and institution in town, has been renovated and reopened. I second the wine trail - I’m not a huge fan of central NY wine, but it’s a fun day. I remember great days in Canandaigua when I was a kid…fried mushrooms were a specialty up there then!
My mom ate at Krebs in the 1940s! It was her favorite restaurant as a teenager.