Visit the Finger Lakes Region in central New York state for unspoiled natural beauty. Taste local wines on the winery trails, splash under cascading waterfalls and head to museums for a cultural education in everything from art to airplanes to women’s rights.
Experience scenic beauty in state parks and along the waterways leading to Lake Ontario. Hike through Watkins Glen State Park to see its stunning waterfalls, go boating in Erie Canal and watch birds from the Main Pool Observation Tower in Montezuma Wildlife Refuge. Other natural highlights include Taughannock Falls State Park in Ulysses, home to a 215-foot (20-meter) waterfall, one of the highest waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains.
Foodies will enjoy browsing the Ithaca Farmers’ Market, while children will go wild for the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse. Try your hand at glassmaking at the Corning Museum of Glass and admire photography exhibits at the George Eastman Museum in Rochester.
Taste the quality red and white wines produced in the region on the Canandaigua Wine Trail, the Seneca Lake Wine Trail and the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Stop at wineries along the way to learn about the winemaking process.
Seneca Falls was one of the hubs of the women’s suffrage movement in the U.S. Visit the National Women's Hall of Fame to find out more about this historic campaign. In Auburn, see Harriet Tubman’s home and learn how she helped hundreds of slaves to freedom.
Finger Lakes is easily accessible with two regional airports, two international airports and train stations in both Rochester and Syracuse. Most visitors arrive some time between June and August when the weather is the warmest, but don’t rule out the winter months for beautiful snowy landscapes and accommodations deals.
Arrive in Finger Lakes in any season and it will soon be obvious just why this region is such a popular escape for East Coast city dwellers. Choose to relax and unplug, or strap on your gear for an outdoor adventure.
