Finger Lakes

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The Finger Lakes is a region of New York state south of Lake Ontario. One of the major viticultural areas of the United States, this is the east coast answer to the Napa Valley region of California. Waterfront attractions are also popular; in addition to the eleven Finger Lakes themselves and Ontario to the north, the Erie Canal and the Genesee River run through this region. The city of Rochester, New York's third largest, offers urban attractions and amenities.

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[edit] Understand

Most of Upstate New York and certainly the Finger Lakes Region is historically rooted in American Indian heritage. Watch for the common Indian names, like Skaneateles Skan-e-at-las which means Long Beautiful Lake in Iroquois.

[edit] Talk

English is universal in this region, with the dialect resembling that of the Midwest more than New York City or New England. Small pockets of German-speakers, mostly the older generation, can still be found. Place names are heavily influenced by Iroquois languages; some are veritable tongue-twisters. Give pronunciation your best shot and you'll get a friendly correction if needed.

[edit] Get in

Fly, take a bus, or take a train into Syracuse or Rochester and explore. The Finger Lakes region is only a few hours from New York City by car or bus, or only an hour by plane.

[edit] By plane

The region has only one international airport, in Rochester, but Syracuse is close by and easily accessible. Flights to both cities are primarily from hubs such as Chicago, Atlanta, Washington, Philadelphia, and New York; actual international flights are now rare. Ithaca has a regional airport, as does the Elmira-Corning area (just south of the region).

  • Greater Rochester International Airport (IATA: ROC), 1200 Brooks Av. Rochester, Phone: +1 585 464-6000, [1].
  • Syracuse Hancock International Airport (IATA: SYR), Colonel Eileen Collins Blvd. Syracuse, Phone: +1 315 454-4330, [2].
  • Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (IATA: ITH), 72 Brown Rd. Ithaca, Phone: +1 607 257-0456, [3].
  • Elmira-Corning Regional Airport (IATA: ELM), 276 Sing-Sing Rd. Horseheads, Phone: +1 607 795-0402, [4].

[edit] Get around

Most travel in this area will be by car. Unless you are traveling on an organized trip and transportation is already arranged, you will want to drive or rent a car.

[edit][add listing] See

Stop in and see the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls.

Cornell University is in Ithaca.

In the summer, the Finger Lakes are home to many great music and arts festivals, including the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance.

Also, check out the Rochester Folk Art Guild, a local community of craftspeople who have been creating fine art for over 35 years.

Skaneateles Village is a must. It's a "cute-as-a-button" StoryBook Village perched on the edge of the lake. The Creamery local historical society can tell you all about the "teasel" and the Lightning Class Sailboat. Watch for their Wooden Boat Show, Chamber Music Festival and Charles Dickens Christmas.

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[edit][add listing] Do

Nestled among the glacial valleys of the Finger Lakes, only a few miles from Canandaigua lake, is a thriving regional hand crafts community: the Rochester Folk Art Guild. The guild has been producing fine art for over 35 years. It hosts a small crafts gallery; as well as the ceramics, woodworking, sewing and weaving workshops located there. 1445 Upper Hill Rd, Middlesex (New York), +1 585 554-5317, [5].

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

Fantastic wine can be had from wineries. The Cayuga Wine Trail has a flavorful and educational tour every spring featuring herbs and food at each wine tasting stop. The Seneca Wine Trail is the most active of the wine trails, boasting the biggest lake, most reputable wineries, and most activities.

  • Bully Hill Winery provides a most entertaining wine tour and tasting.
  • Fox Run Vineyards provides informative and free guided walking tours and tastings, as well as an opportunity for a cafe style lunch on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

  • Kingtown Beach Lakeside House, Cottages and Yurt Rentals,[6]. 607-387-5688
  • Finger Lakes Premier Properties - Keuka/Seneca Lake (Open 24 hours, 7 days a week), 142 Lake Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527, ☎ 1-888-414-LAKE (5253), [7]. Finger Lakes Vacation Rentals (mini-weeks, full weeks, extended stays) and real estate. Specializing in lake front properties. edit
  • Finger Lakes Premier Properties - Canandaigua/Honeoye, 22 Lakeshore Drive, Canandaigua, NY 14424, ☎ 1-888-414-LAKE (5253), [8]. Finger Lakes Vacation Rentals (mini-weeks, full weeks, extended stays) and real estate. Specializing in lake front properties. edit

[edit] Stay safe

If traveling in this area during the winter months, be aware that heavy snowfalls are possible. Lake effect snow has been known to drop four feet of snow in a weekend, or more. It is not unusual during heavy storms for it to come down at a rate of one inch per hour.

[edit] Get out

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