New York’s Finger Lakes give Napa Valley a run for its money at a much lower price point

Overview: The Finger Lakes are a group of 11 long and narrow lakes located in central New York. The area is best known for its wine and beer trails, waterfall hikes, farm-to-table food and lake activities.

Recommendation: Highly recommended, especially for outdoor, wine and beer enthusiasts.

Trip details: 7/17/19 - 7/20/19; 3-night stay.

Travel Info: The southern part of Seneca Lake (the largest of the lakes) is a 4.5 hour drive from central Connecticut. If you’re flying, there are two options nearby — Rochester International Airport (ROC) and Syracuse’s Hancock International Airport (SYR).

Accommodations: One of my favorite things about the Finger Lakes is how quaint and charming it is. You won’t find big chain hotels, and you won’t pay the big name price tag either. There are a variety of options available on Airbnb and the Finger Lake’s Tourism website, with many around $100 per night.

We stayed at a great Airbnb in Montour Falls, a village on Seneca Lake just outside of Watkins Glen. It was the perfect location to explore everything the Finger Lakes has to offer — 5 minutes from downtown Watkins Glen, Watkins Glen State Park and amazing local wineries and breweries on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.

Must-Sees: There is so much to do and see in the Finger Lakes that you could easily make it a week long trip. Here are some of our must-sees:

WINERIES:

The Finger Lakes are one of the top wine destinations in the United States. The region specializes in aromatic whites like Riesling and Gewurztraminer and cool-climate reds like Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir. Most wineries are open year-round from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (some have extended summer hours; see Atwater below) and reservations are not needed for groups of seven or less. Tasting fees are very reasonable ($2 - $5 per person) as are glass and bottle prices across the board.

There are nearly 120 wineries across Seneca, Cayuga and Keuka Lakes, with the majority on Seneca (78). We visited five — four on Seneca and one on Cayuga — and they did not disappoint.

Atwater Estate Vineyards (Seneca): Atwater has a gorgeous back deck with unobstructed views of the vineyard and Seneca Lake. On Thursdays - Sundays during the summer, Atwater has extended hours; offering wine and champagne by the glass and charcuterie boards. There is no better place to kick back and watch the sunset.

Fox Run Vineyards (Seneca): On summer Friday’s, Fox Run offers an amazing two-hour food and wine experience. It starts with a glass of chardonnay and a tour of the vineyards and winemaking facility. Then Chef Holland serves a plate of six incredible bites with wine pairings in the barrel room — a restored dairy barn from the 1800s. At only $45 per person, this was an absolute steal.

Lakewood Vineyards (Seneca): Lakewood has a beautiful outdoor patio at the base of the vineyard and countryside. After a tasting, order a glass of your favorite and enjoy the view with meat and cheese purchased on-site.

Lamoreaux Landing (Seneca): Rose fans — this is your spot. The 2017 and 2018 varieties were excellent, along with their Cab Franc. Lamoreaux has a small outdoor balcony, but the property is best experienced by walking through the vineyards right down to the lake.

Sheldrake Point Winery (Cayuga): Sheldrake is known for its ice wine — a dessert wine made from grapes that were frozen on the vine, resulting in a more concentrated and very sweet (but smooth) wine. Grab a glass and head across the street and enjoy on the picnic tables directly on the lake!

BREWERIES:

With 132 breweries and brew pubs, the Finger Lakes’ beer game is just as strong as its wine. We visited two great breweries:

Two Goats Brewing: Perched on a hill above Seneca Lake and right next door to Atwater Vineyards, the views from Two Goats’ wrap around deck are incredible. The inside is eclectically decorated with old local signs and dollar bills all over the ceiling. Come here for happy hour, great live music and free popcorn (!!!), and then walk over to Atwater for sunset.

Grist Iron Brewing Company: Directly across the street from Two Goats (and set back from the lake) is Grist Iron Brewing. It has a nice outdoor patio, huge indoor bar and a full food menu. Grab some food and a drink here after Two Goats or Atwater.

RESTAURANTS & CREAMERIES:

GRAFT Wine + Cider Bar: GRAFT was incredible…so good that so we went there two out of the three nights. It had an eclectic menu of farm-to-table dishes that changed nightly. Unfortunately, GRAFT’s owner is moving the restaurant to Philadelphia later this summer, but there is a new restaurant taking over that is said to be equally as good. Only time will tell!
Nickel’s Pit BBQ: When strolling down the streets of Watkins Glen, you’ll be hit with smells of BBQ ribs and pulled pork from Nick’s. They have a huge indoor/outdoor bar with live music and a huge menu with options for the whole family.
Seneca Harbor Station: You can practically touch Seneca lake from SHS’s outdoor patio. With live music on the weekends, it is a great place to watch a sunset and catch some good tunes. You can also take a boat cruise right from the harbor (we ran out of time, but it’s on our list for next time!).
The Elf in the Oak: Half restaurant, half creamery. The back deck has an awesome view of Seneca Lake and the breakfast sandwiches are the perfect hangover cure after a weekend of winery and brewery hopping (not speaking from experience, I swear).
Berta’s Café: Everything at this hole-in-the-wall is scratch made with local ingredients. Give yourself some extra time because it can get pretty busy, but it’s worth the wait.
The Colonial Pottery & Creamery: Skip the Ben & Jerry’s across the street and go to Colony for homemade Italian ice cream. They have a ton of unique flavors including Biscoff cookie. Order it in a freshly made waffle cone…de-licious.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ON SOUTHERN SENECA LAKE:

Watkins Glen State Park (2-4 hours): You'll feel like you’re straight out of a scene of Jurassic Park when exploring the beautiful rock formations and waterfalls of Watkins Glen State Park. The Gorge Trail is 1.5 miles out and back featuring 200-foot cliffs, stone tunnels and 19 waterfalls. Every step is a picture perfect photo opportunity and something that must be seen in person. Aim to go before 9:00 am or after 4:00 pm to avoid large crowds and wear comfortable clothing that you do not mind getting dirty.

Waterfalls (1-2 hours): In addition to the 19 waterfalls at Watkins Glen State Park, there are dozens of beautiful waterfalls within a few mile radius to explore.
Clute Memorial Park (up to a full day): Clute Memorial Park has a lifeguarded swimming area, picnic tables and grills to enjoy the beauty of Seneca Lake.
Seneca Lake Pier (1-2 hours): Top off your Finger Lakes trip with a stroll to the Seneca Lake lighthouse at sunset. You won’t be disappointed!