Parks + Sights

Taughannock Falls State Park

Taughannock Falls State Park's namesake waterfall is one of the outstanding natural attractions of the Northeast. Taughannock Falls plunges 215 feet past rocky cliffs that tower nearly 400 feet above the gorge. Gorge and rim trails offer spectacular views from above the falls and from below at the end of the gorge trail.
Explore →
Watkins Glen

Known for its natural beauty, Watkins Glen State Park features a series of waterfalls and gorges that are sure to amaze anyone. An almost two mile hike will take you past 19 waterfalls and up over 800 stone steps.
Explore →
Buttermilk Falls State Park

Buttermilk Falls State Park takes its name from the foaming cascade formed by Buttermilk Creek as it flows down the steep valley side toward Cayuga Lake. The upper park has a small lake, hiking trails through woodlands and along the gorge and rim, picnic areas and playing fields. The lower park has a campground, natural pool and playing fields, beyond which is Larch Meadows.
Explore →
Robert H. Treman State Park

Robert H. Treman State Park is an area of wild beauty, with the rugged gorge called Enfield Glen as its scenic highlight. Winding trails follow the gorge past 12 waterfalls, including the 115-foot Lucifer Falls, to where visitors can see a mile-and-a-half down the wooded gorge as it winds its way to the lower park.
Explore →
Belhurst Castle

Standing on the shores of Seneca Lake in New York, Belhurst Castle is a historic landmark with a fascinating past. In the 1800s, it housed a glass factory before transforming into a grand residence built by Carrie Collins in the late 19th century. Construction, marked by legend and tragedy, resulted in a beautiful Romanesque Revival mansion. Over the years, Belhurst Castle has transitioned from a private home to a speakeasy, a casino, and finally, the luxurious resort complex it is today.
Explore →
Corning Museum of Glass

Established in 1951, the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York is a non-profit institution dedicated to everything glass. Boasting the largest collection of glass objects in the world, with pieces dating back over 3,500 years, the museum offers a unique look at the art, history, and science of this fascinating material. Visitors can explore how glass has been made and used throughout time, see live glassblowing demonstrations, and even try their hand at making their own glass creations.
Explore →

Finger Lakes Named No. 1 Wine Region in the U.S.

The Finger Lakes boast a rich winemaking history dating back to 1829, when the first vines were planted near Keuka Lake. Early on, the region thrived on native American grape varieties and became known for its sparkling wines. The introduction of hardy native grape varieties like Concord and Catawba initially fueled the industry. However, it was the visionaries like Dr. Konstantin Frank, a Ukrainian viticulturist who arrived in the 1950s, that revolutionized the region by successfully cultivating European Vitis vinifera grapes. This breakthrough transformed the Finger Lakes into a premier wine-producing area, gaining recognition for its high-quality Rieslings and other varietals.

Today, the Finger Lakes is celebrated as one of the top wine regions in the United States, attracting wine enthusiasts from around the globe. The region's unique terroir, characterized by the deep glacial lakes that moderate the climate and protect the vines from extreme temperatures, plays a crucial role in producing exceptional wines. The sloping vineyards benefit from excellent drainage, while the diverse soil composition contributes to the complexity and distinctive flavors of the wines.

Wine

Bright Leaf Vineyards

Cayuga Lake
Compared to many other Finger Lakes wineries, Bright Leaf, which put in its first plantings in 2014, is something of a young upstart. Winemaker Colleen Lukas and her team have already established a strong local reputation for its elegant French-style Chardonnays which benefit from the vineyard’s location on a limestone quarry that infuses the soil with minerality and smooth, earthy Lembergers and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Explore →
Hosmer Winery

Cayuga Lake
One of the oldest and most well-established wineries on Cayuga Lake, Hosmer Winery places major emphasis on conservation and sustainability in their grape-growing and winemaking practices. The Hosmer team believes that the natural Finger Lakes terroir, packed with silt and shale, should experience as little mechanical interference as possible, and they’ve been recognized by national conservation organizations for their efforts to reduce waste in their winemaking and packaging. Hosmer’s dry, semi-dry, and sweet Riesling, prove that sustainable wines don’t need to compromise on flavor, texture, or overall quality.
Explore →
Buttonwood Grove Winery

Cayuga Lake
Cabernet Sauvignon is a grape that’s largely associated with warmer climates, from its homeland of Bordeaux to high-yield regions like Tuscany, Chile, and New Zealand. Therefore, it makes sense that wine tasters visiting the Finger Lakes might question the quality of Cab Savs from this (much cooler) area, but the team at Buttonwood Grove Winery is more than happy to chase those doubts away. Their Cabernet Sauvignon boasts serious dark-fruit flavor and a robust mouthfeel, and it’s in good company with Buttonwood Grove’s acclaimed dry Riesling, crisp Sauvignon Blanc, and French oak-aged Chardonnay.
Explore →
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery

Keuka Lake
If not for Dr. Konstantin Frank, a viticulture Ph.D who came to the Finger Lakes from Eastern Europe and started planting European vinifera grapes in the late 1950s, the Finger Lakes wine industry may never have truly launched. Dr. Frank’s championing of vitis vinifera grapes (instead of the hybrid grapes that were the previous standard in the region) pioneered the production of Old World-style wines in the Finger Lakes, and after several generations, the Frank family still maintains a lofty level of quality in the wines made at their Keuka Lake property. In addition to its celebrated Rieslings, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery is a leader in a growing (but still somewhat under-the-radar) trend in Finger Lakes winemaking: the production of Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines. Their Brut and Blanc de Blanc prove that the future of American sparkling wines just might be happening right now in Central New York.
Explore →
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard

Seneca Lake
Conveniently located between Seneca Lake and Keuka Lake, the tiny village of Dundee is a prime centerpoint for any Finger Lakes wine tour, especially because it’s home to Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, a destination-worthy purveyor of locally- and estate-grown wines. This vineyard’s namesake hailed from the Mosel Valley , so it stands to reason that Wiemer still focuses on expertly-crafted dry, off-dry, and sweet Rieslings. That said, they also dabble in Champenoise-style sparkling wines, well-rounded Cab Franc and Blaufränkisch, and even in Saperavi, a red wine from the nation of Georgia that’s becoming increasingly popular in the Finger Lakes. In addition to their single origins, Wiemer’s blends (like their bright and picnic-perfect Field White) are well-worth your attention.
Explore →
Kemmeter Wines

Seneca Lake
Kemmeter Wines, a tiny boutique vineyard and winery on Seneca Lake, is something of a local secret, due to the fact that Kemmeter only sells its very small-batch wines on-site (or online, for delivery to a very limited number of states). But visitors who make their way to the winery’s rustic barn and tasting room to participate in an intimate tasting with winemaker Johannes Reinhardt quickly discover that Reinhardt is doing something very special at his under-the-radar operation. Reinhardt came to the Finger Lakes from the German state of Bavaria, where he worked at family-run vineyards and gained an encyclopedic knowledge of Riesling. His wines burst with fresh flavors of citrus, stone fruit, and minerals, but are also substantial enough to undergo cellar aging. Another Kemmeter highlight is the Pinot Blanc, a delicate, perfectly-calibrated white with notes of green apple and white flowers.
Explore →
Ravines Wine Cellars

Seneca Lake
Morten and Lisa Hallgren, the husband-and-wife team behind Ravines Wine Cellars, passionately believe in the relationship between wine and food. Morten Hallgren studied winemaking in France and brought his Old World expertise to the Finger Lakes, where he’s become locally famous for his very dry Rieslings, earthy and complex red blends, and bright, zippy dry rosés. On the food side of the operation, Lisa helms Ravines’ tasting-menu restaurant and produces small plates to accompany wine tastings, and her focus firmly rests on developing and executing seasonal dishes that complement the flavors of Ravines’ wines.
Explore →
Red Tail Ridge Winery

Seneca Lake
At Red Tail Ridge, winemaker Nancy Irelan cultivates grapes that naturally thrive in cooler climates, like Riesling and Gewürztraminer, as well as Northern Italian varietals like Teroldego and Lagrein. Irelan eagerly plays around with blends and bubblies, creating multidimensional wines like 2019’s Rebel With A Cause (a blend of Teroldego, Cabernet Franc, Blaufränkisch, and Lagrein), Méthode Champenoise sparkling wines, and Méthode Ancestrale Pét-Nats. Red Tail Ridge’s airy, sunny tasting room near Seneca Lake makes an excellent environment for tasting your way through their impressive lineup.
Explore →
Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars

Seneca Lake
Renowned for their delightful Rieslings and unoaked Cabernet Franc, Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars crafts cool-climate wines that showcase the area's unique character. For over 25 years, they've prioritized sustainable practices while creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests. With panoramic views of Seneca Lake as a backdrop, Lamoreaux Landing offers year-round tastings, allowing visitors to savor their award-winning wines alongside breathtaking scenery.
Explore →