Top Things to do in Finger Lakes Wine Country
Top Hotels in Finger Lakes Wine Country
- 1. Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel
- 2. The Statler Hotel at Cornell University
- 3. La Tourelle Hotel, Bistro, Spa
- 4. Hilton Garden Inn Corning Downtown
- 5. Best Western Plus The Hammondsport Hotel
- 6. Hilton Garden Inn Ithaca
- 7. Keuka Lakeside Inn
- 8. Hampton Inn Penn Yan
- 9. Best Western Plus Vineyard Inn & Suites
- 10. Hampton Inn Ithaca
Countries
What to do and see in Finger Lakes Wine Country, Finger Lakes: The Best Budget-friendly Things to do
Discover the best top things to do in Finger Lakes Wine Country, United States including Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, Watkins Glen State Park, Corning Museum of Glass, Finger Lakes Wine Country, Skaneateles Lake, Farm Sanctuary, Cayuga Lake, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, Lakewood Vineyards, Seneca Lake Wine Trail.
Restaurants in Finger Lakes Wine Country
1. Glenn H. Curtiss Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 601 reviews
The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, bearing the name of Hammondsport's favorite son, is located on Route 54, one half mile south of the village of Hammondsport, New York. Dedicated to the memory of pioneer aviator, Glenn Curtiss, the museum contains a priceless collection relating to early aviation and local history. The museum also features a 75-seat theater, large open area for special events and a gift shop. In addition to motorcycles and aircraft, visitors will also see antique tools, toys, boats, home-furnishings, fire equipment and much more. Visitors are also welcome to visit the Museum Restoration Shop, talk with volunteer craftsman and watch them work on historic aircraft.
Reviewed By KMJackson60
We popped over to this museum on a rainy day. I knew very little about Glenn Curtiss and early airplane history. We loved it! Glenn Curtiss was a very creative, very interesting person who did a lot of inventing. It was fun watching his life and inventions play out, and the early air pioneers start the industry.
2. Watkins Glen State Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,539 reviews
The cascades of 18 waterfalls are the calling card of this state park.
Reviewed By marvi62 - Lafayette Hill, United States
We went to Watkins Glen (4th visit) on Tuesday, arriving around 11 am. The NY state Covid regulations in effect right now clearly state that masks are required, even outdoors, when passing within 6' of another person. These rules are posted at the entrance of the park, as is the one way direction for walking the Gorge trail right now. However, I would estimate 60% or more of park attendees did not put on masks when passing- and the Gorge trail is 2' - 3' wide in many locations. A number of hikers also ignored the one-way rule, coming back on the narrow Gorge trail instead of taking the designated trail back. It took us about 2-1/2 hours to hike the mile up the Glen, since my husband took a lot of photographs. The hike back down only took about 20 minutes. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes or good sneakers (the soles of your shoes will get muddy, even on a sunny day). There are bathrooms by the entrance, but none on the trail. Admission to the park is $8, payable by cash or credit card in a self-ticketing machine in the two parking lots (main lot plus 2nd lot across the street). Watkins Glen is an absolutely stunning gorge. I just recommend going really early to minimize close encounters with other hikers. The only park ranger I saw in our entire visit was the man in the Information Center near the park entrance.
3. Corning Museum of Glass
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,696 reviews
From children looking for an adventure to artists looking for inspiration, there is something for everyone at The Corning Museum of Glass. The world's largest glass museum offers the opportunity to browse 3500 years of glassmaking history in the collection galleries. See works ranging from a small Egyptian pharaoh head to enormous works by Tiffany and discover the wonder and artistry behind glassmaking. Explore the day-lit Contemporary Art + Design Galleries which house the best of the last 30 years in glass, and a 500-seat Amphitheater Hot Shop, a space dedicated to live glass demos and design sessions. See glass created before your eyes during a live, narrated Hot Glass Demo, and be inspired to experience glassmaking for yourself during a Make Your Own Glass experience, with projects for all ages for an additional fee (reservations available online). Best of all, kids and teens 17 and under are free! Advance tickets required. Tickets are valid for two consecutive days.
Reviewed By DEP3 - Binghamton, United States
If you love glass, this is the place for you.Beautifully laid out, with exquisite temporary and permanent exhibits. Lots of demonstrations of glassblowing, ability to make your own objet d’art, as well as a huge gift shop with Pyrex, Corelle, Steuben Glass, jewelry, trinkets,glass gift items, games, and more and more. A definite highlight of Corning, not to be missed.
4. Finger Lakes Wine Country
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 532 reviews
Reviewed By missys1960 - Norfolk, United States
Saturday was a beautiful, crisp fall day in the Finger Lakes ???? ☀️ and a Seneca Lake Wine Tour with American Limousine Company driver JP was the event of the day. H*A*P*P*Y B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y to me! Wineries visited: Wagner Vineyards, Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards, Leidenfrost Vineyards, Chateau LaFayette Reneau Note to self: Come back with more time & friends!
5. Skaneateles Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 554 reviews
This clean, serene lake is the easternmost of New York's Finger Lakes.
Reviewed By Besos43
We rented a house from Vrbo and were very happy with our experience. They had a dock and deck area for sitting and enjoying the beautiful lake. The water was very clear and clean. I was surprised that the temperature of water seemed warm for early July. We swam every day. Since travels were during Covid we did curbside takeout and were happy with food and service from Gilda's, Doug's Fish Fry, and The elephant and Dove.
6. Farm Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 147 reviews
This farm offers sanctuary and a home for abused farm animals, and helps to educate Americans about treating animals with respect and compassion.
Reviewed By ddallas1969 - Linthicum Heights, United States
Our guide was a guy that had only been there a few months he said, but he was awesome. We loved meeting all the animals and hearing of their journeys. I am hoping this trip may be the push my boyfriend needed to become vegan. So peaceful and such a happy place.....truly happy animals here! I only wish they had a small vegan cafe to show people how tasty vegan food can be.
7. Cayuga Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 384 reviews
One of the largest of New York's Finger Lakes, this area is used for swimming, boating, fishing and other outdoor recreational activities.
Reviewed By L8945JQdavidd - Philadelphia, United States
Spend an afternoon at Sheldrake and Luca Vineyards on lake Cayuga. Beautiful drive and beautiful scenery
8. Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 672 reviews
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery is one of the most prestigious and beloved wineries in the Finger Lakes. The winery's founder, Dr. Konstantin Frank introduced vinifera (classic European grape varieties) to the Eastern United States which ignited a winemaking renaissance in the region. Without the contributions of Dr. Frank, the Finger Lakes wine region would not be where it is today. The winery was established in 1962 and is now in its fourth generation of Frank family ownership. The winery's tasting room overlooks beautiful Keuka Lake and some of the oldest vinifera vineyards in America.
Reviewed By ekwestrein - Troy, United States
Summary: Best wines, breathtaking view, and the best history of any winery we visited. Can’t miss this one if you are taking a tour of this area! Wine: Absolutely fantastic wines! A bunch of cool varietals you don’t usually see from this area, plus some amazing blends (but with so many different kinds of fruit to work with, there’s really no surprise there!). Sweet, dry, whites, reds, roses, sparkling, and everything in between; really something for everyone. Ambiance/View: BEAUTIFUL lake views and a very nice tasting room. We were lucky that there weren’t many people visiting when we went, but it seemed like it’d have enough room to still get good service if it got busy. Another really nice thing about this place is that we were greeted by Steven as soon as we walked up! It was so nice to have someone to get direction from right off the bat. Plus he was so nice and welcoming! A definite plus. Education: The tasting room staff (our bartender Vinnie, and the other bartender Paul) were very friendly and knowledgeable about the wines and the history of the vineyards - and what a history it is! It was so cool to learn about Dr. Frank and his contributions; plus we heard his name pop up so many more times from other wineries in the area recognizing his contributions. We didn’t do a tour, but next time we come back, we will definitely try to get in on the tours - they seemed amazing and included food for the price.
9. Lakewood Vineyards
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 332 reviews
Lakewood Vineyards is located in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York. A working grape farm since 1951, the winery was established in 1988. Almost 2 decades later, with over 675 awards, we continually produce fine wines and mead, and present these wines in the inviting, friendly tasting room. We are family friendly and encourage you to enjoy the view of Seneca Lake while strolling through our vineyards or picnicking in our lawn.
Reviewed By TheSimpleTraveler - Bethlehem, United States
The Lakewood Vineyard Experience is one not to pass up if you're in the area. My wife and I called the night ahead to reserve a 12 noon tasting for the both of us. Our wine tasting host, Tracy, brought to the table enthusiasm, knowledge, humor and a deep appreciation for the wine industry, making for a most enjoyable and enlightening experience for my wife and I. For this we say Thank You Tracy! The store and grounds are well kept and the tasting areas apparently have been modified to keep all safe during this COVID 19 era. It was a relaxing experience for us as we spent several hours on their grounds, in the shade, snacking on cheese and crackers and drinking a bottle (or two) of their wines, which we found to be very, very good. And of course, we couldn't leave without bringing home a few bottles for our family! Although there is a plethora of wineries that I can experience in the Finger Lakes region, I feel as though I experienced the best here at Lakewood.
10. Seneca Lake Wine Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 637 reviews
Seneca Lake is known for its diverse offering of world-class wines. Our wineries are dedicated to increasing quality and serving as exceptional stewards of the land and lake. Seneca Lake Wine Trail members pledge to exceed your expectations when you visit to taste wine and experience the Finger Lakes. You don’t have to travel to far-away places to experience fantastic wines. They are right here on Seneca Lake!
Reviewed By 491cindyr - Harrisburg, United States
You have two options for this excursion. Wing it and stop at wineries at random or look up what they have to offer and plan your trip. We stopped at 6 wineries and bought at all but one so random worked for us. There are so many choices it’s mind boggling! We started at the wine center in Watkins Glen and got a handy map which was definitely worth it. Many of the locations now offer predetermined flights rather than tastings. If you are trying to get in several wineries this can be a lot of wine to drink. At some locations they allowed us to split a flight which we appreciated since we drove ourselves. The drive has great views of the lake. Very pleasant and we will go again.
