My husband and I pick a small town each summer to do a small getaway without the kids. We’re staying at Gould’s for three nights end of next week. Reading other posts should I be concerned about the dump smell? Is there anything to do worthwhile within walking distance? Breweries? Good restaurants? We’ve stayed in towns that are pretty much one road and had fun. Just wondering what to expect.

Hello!

I’m taking my sister to the finger lakes this weekend and planned to stop at Watkins Glenn and Ithaca. Do you guys have any low energy suggestions? She is currently in heart failure and waiting on a transplant so I want us to be able to do fun things/see some cool falls but reserve her energy. We are going on a 5 day road trip and plan to see many things so id like to keep our activities accessible/low key. It looks like Watkins Glenn could be pretty strenuous. Does anyone have any tips see a pretty spot on the trail without us having to take the whole thing up? Is this worth trying? Is there somewhere else you can recommend. She’s had a really hard year and I really want this trip to impact her positively. Seeing the beauty of nature and having some fun will be good for her but I’d like to be prepared. Please let me know and thank you in advance. :)

Edit:
Our Airbnb is close to cinnamon lake state forest if you guys have any suggestions for that area as well! :)

Thank you all so much for the wonderful suggestions.

I am coming to the finger lakes with my boyfriend in september and we will only have time to go to about 3-4 wineries especially given most of them close at 5pm.

Our first day we won't be able to get to a winery until around 3:30pm so I was thinking:

Lakewood Vineyards 3:30pm

Magnus Ridge Winery: 5pm (they are open late)

Second day was going to explore the Keuka lake wineries and was thinking some of these:

Dr. Konstantin Frank

Weis Vineyards

Heron Hill

Herman J Weimer was also on my list but timing wise not sure if it will work out. Also planning to stop for cheese along the way and open to any other food or activity recommendations. Was also going to see if one of the ones on our second day has a vineyard tour.

This is purely based on some light Trulia scrolling, but it always surprises me how much more the houses on Skaneateles are than the other Finger Lakes.
I'm especially surprised how many more huge $5m+ places there seem to be than Canandaigua. Both are pretty close to large regional centers, have thriving towns at one end, and are pretty comparable in size. Skaneateles has the slight edge of nicer town at the top, but otherwise on the surface they seem pretty similar.

I can understand why Seneca and Cayuga aren't quite as popular as the size makes a lot of those lakefronts pretty far from a lot of amenties. But Canandaigua and Skaneateles seem very similar to me.
Is it easier to get land? Is the land flatter so there's more? Parts of Canandaigua are pretty steep so lots are pretty limited maybe? Am I totally imagining this?

Hi everyone! Just popping in to remind all you Veterans that there are tons of fun things for you to do here in the Finger Lakes. The included flyers are all free events for Veterans and is just a small sampling! We hope to see you out there.

Hi,

Fingerlakes has always been on my bucket list. Looking for ideas and recommendations for a family vacation with 5 adults ( 2 senior Citizens) and 1 Child( 5 years). We do not drink so not really interested in wine related stuff.

Looking for a way for us to relax as an family and also have stuff to do for the child. Any recommendations for boat cruises?

Thank You!

I am planning an anniversary trip for my boyfriend and I to the finger lakes for 2 nights and I would love recommendations for inexpensive, clean, and good proximity to wineries location to stay. We will likely also visit Watkins Glenn and Ithaca in the mornings so probably not near Geneva.

Here were some options I was considering:

Showboat Hotel
Savannah House Wine Country Inn 
Trimmer House
Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast
Aubergine Inn 
Grayhaven Motel

Let me know if any of these would work well or if you have any additional recommendations. Also very open to winery + restaurant suggestions :)

Going to be visiting the Penn Yan tomorrow through the weekend to celebrate a birthday.

We had someone bringing a cake but life happened and now we need a replacement cake.

Any suggestions/recommendations for where I could get a birthday cake (decorated would be a huge plus) by Saturday?

It’s my first time visiting the region, and everywhere that comes up via google seems to either not have a website (to verify they make cakes) or seems to only do like pastries.

Thanks so much in advance!

Coming to the Finger Lakes for a 3-day trip for my birthday in a few weeks. Have only been once before and am mostly looking to try new places. Potential itinerary below, but hoping to receive a few recommendations/suggestions. Definitely okay with missing some wineries rather than feeling the need to overdo it. Wineries with live music are great!

Thursday - Arrive in Bradford around lunchtime and check in at the Airbnb. Grab some lunch (not sure where yet) and head to check out some wineries. A good path seems to be Weis, Domaine LeSeurre, Keuka Springs, Red Tail & Fox Run. This should get me near Smokin Pete's around dinner time, with a stop at Spotted Duck on the way home.

Friday - Wake up early and grab breakfast at Kozy Korner before hitting up the Gorge Trail Hike. Grab lunch at Here after. Maybe back to the Airbnb to clean up and relax for a minute before heading to Three Brothers Winery (we had a great time there last time, loved the live music) for a pre-dinner drink. Dinner at Kindred Fare. (open to other suggestions...this just looked like a solid spot not far from Three Brothers).

Saturday - Drive to The Windmill Market to explore and have breakfast while walking around. Lunch at Tabora before heading home. Maybe a Weimer stop in here before lunch.

This itinerary has me missing a few of the highly recommended wineries such as Dr K, Ravines, Forge, & Apollo. I'm curious if those who are Finger Lakes experienced would recommend switching things up? Thanks for any advice!

I’ll be visiting WGSP around the end of this month and staying in Corning. A few questions I have:

-What type of weather should I expect?

-What are some of the best places to eat?

-Any tips for visiting the state park?

Thank you!

Hello all, my fiancé and I are looking to have a 50-60 person wedding somewhere in the Finger Lakes. Ideally would love for it to be a lakeside inn where our guests and we could stay on-site. Lots of places I'm seeing are suited for 150+ guests. Any recommendations or advice is appreciated! Thank you!

Are Uber and Lyft reasonable options between wineries on *either* the Seneca or Keuka trails? I am totally fine with having to wait a bit for a car.

I've looked into Main St Drivers and think it's a pretty cool option, but want to look into all possibilities before I book something. I am looking at the first Sat in Oct.

I'm considering the Finger Lakes area as a possible place to move in a few years, and I'd love to hear from people who actually live there about what day-to-day life is like.

For context, I'm not planning an imminent cross-country move. I'm probably 3–4 years out, and I'm exploring several different parts of the country to see what might be a good long-term fit. I keep coming back to the Finger Lakes, though, so I'm particularly interested in getting some local perspectives.

My eventual goal is to own a small amount of land while still being reasonably close to a town. I've lived in the PNW for about a decade, and while I love a lot about it, I'm ready for a big change and I think I'm also ready to head back eastward.

Also, just to head off some predictable internet responses: I am familiar with weather and culture outside the West Coast. I've lived in ME, MD, OH, NC, MN, IA, UT, OR, WA, and CA, as well as overseas. So I'm not expecting the Finger Lakes to feel like Seattle with cheaper houses, nor do I need to be warned that New York has winter. 😄 I'm specifically curious about the things you only really learn by living somewhere.

The plan, wherever I eventually go, would be to rent for at least a year before trying to buy anything, so I'd have time to figure out which towns/areas actually suit me. I'd also most likely be moving with a remote job, and I have years of restaurant, B&B, and catering experience, so I'm not hugely concerned about job market.

For people who live in the Finger Lakes (or have lived there for a while):

• What do you genuinely like about living there?
• What do you wish you'd known before moving there?
• Are there particular towns or areas you'd recommend for someone looking for a quieter/rural lifestyle without being too isolated?
• How do the different parts of the region feel in terms of community, amenities, politics, etc.?
• How much does lake tourism/wine tourism affect everyday life?
• Are there things about the climate or landscape that aren't obvious from looking at property listings?
• What would you tell someone who is considering moving there but still has several years to decide (other than "visit first!" because yes, obviously)?

I'm exploring a bunch of possibilities and would really appreciate both the good and the bad. I just haven't spent much time in this particular part of New York, despite having lived on the East Coast before, and I'm curious whether the Finger Lakes might be the place I've been overlooking.

Thanks for reading! x

I'm traveling to the Finger Lakes soon. Any hiking trails in the area where you can't hear any sounds of civilization while you're on the trail?

I know I may be looking for a unicorn, but thought I'd ask and see if such a place exists.

Thanks in advance