Finger Lakes Vacation
New York
Days 1 & 2
With our boys always going in different directions, this family vacation to the Finger Lakes was very much needed. Scott and I lived in Corning, NY for 5 years and remembered how much we loved the lakes area!
The Finger Lakes region is made up of 11 lakes surrounded by acres and acres of picturesque farmlands and vineyards. According to Native American legend, the lakes were formed by hands of the Great Spirit-when he/she blessed the land his/her fingers left imprints that filled with water…hence the name “Finger Lakes”. The lakes also resemble fingers when you look on a map. At the tips of the lakes, you can usually find a quaint downtown area filled with shops and restaurants. This was the perfect place to vacation for the week!
Day 1 As we neared our rental house and began heading south from Geneva, NY, we were treated to shades of blue water surrounded by sloping hills…our first views of Seneca Lake.
Hungry from our 5 1/2 hour drive, we stopped at Tabora Farm and Winery to pick up some made-to-order sandwiches prepared on freshly baked bread to eat on our deck. You can take their homemade soups, quiches, salads and grilled or cold sandwiches to go or eat on their Mediterranean inspired covered patio.
We had fun browsing the market, beautifully filled with picnic necessities: pastries, syrups, wine, olives, bread and cheese. Of course we left with goodies…glazed sticky rolls, strawberry apple pie, carrot cake cupcakes and chile lime mango jam to pair with our cheese and crackers for the week.
Next stop was our “home” for the week. We knew we wanted to be right on the lake and found an amazing Airbnb in Penn Yan right on Seneca Lake, 1223 Rockhaven Beach Road. Not only was the location ideal for accessing all we wanted to do in the area, but it had 2 decks-perfect for eating al fresco, reading or just enjoying the views of the lake and sunrise.
The house itself was immaculate with a spacious living room and huge windows facing east, framing the lake. From the home’s dock we launched our kayaks, relaxed on the bench and adirondack chairs and the boys jumped off to hang out in the lake. We spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing and having fun on the lake…I was quickly getting used to lake life!
Instead of leaving the house to eat out, we decided it would be more relaxing to order in pizza from Cam’s Pizzeria in Penn Yan (outstanding thin crust NY-style pizza) TIP: Careful when you order…the larges are HUGE!
Heading out to pick up the pizza I realized quickly that just driving around the area was a visual treat- a seemingly endless patchwork of farms with perfectly planted rows of grape vines, peaches, zucchini, lettuce and corn…lots of corn…surrounding rustic red barns and tall silver silos.
Along with the pizza, my Dad cooked up some just picked, out of this world deliciously sweet corn he found at Oak Hill Bulk Foods. My parents also bought an incredible apple and lemon meringue pie and strawberry fry pies…my new favorite treat…frosted pie crust turnovers filled with fruit and a sweet cream cheese filling…AMAZING!!! Between the goodies from Tabora and Oak Hill we had a nice assortment of desserts to choose from!
Even though the house was on the west side of the lake, perfect for catching the sunrise, that evening we kayaked towards the middle of the lake to see the sunset.
Day 2 Our second day started with this amazing sunrise we watched from our deck…
Watkins Glen State Park, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, is a must when visiting the Finger Lakes. Be sure to bring your camera- you’ll want to capture the incredible beauty of this narrow gorge’s walls of siltstone and shale, 19 waterfalls, beautiful rock formations and peaceful emerald green “pools”. TIP: I recommend parking at the main parking lot (971 N Franklin Street-$10) across from the Watkins Glen gift shop. Once you cross the street you are at the start of the trail.
We walked the 1.5 mile Gorge Trail up the glen, climbing over 800 steps by the time we reached the top. It was definitely a steady incline but we stopped numerous times to appreciate the scenery and of course take pictures, so it did not feel like a strenuous hike up.
Coming back from the top, we took the wooded 1 mile Indian Trail, a shaded leisurely trail beside the glen. TIP: I suggest starting your hike by 8:30 am before all the tour buses arrive. By the time we left at 11:00 am the parking lot was full and the trail was getting crowded.
Needing a little snack, we headed to Shtayburne Farm Creamery-one of my favorite places of the trip- a family owned working dairy farm that produces their own small batch artisan cheeses and ice cream. We LOVED indulging in their cheese and ice cream flight! You can choose 4, 8 or 12 cheese/ice cream flavors that are served on a beautiful wooden board with crackers for sampling the cheese and jelly for cleansing your pallet. TIP: Pay $1.00 for the waffle cone chips that pair perfectly with the ice cream! I think most everyone’s favorites were the kettle corn ice cream and the jalapeno jack and/or tomato basil jack cheese.
We thoroughly enjoyed this dairy dream under the pavilion with stunning views of the farm and lush green hills in the distance.
Lunchtime! We continued to eat our way through the Finger Lakes with a stop at Fox Run Vineyards. Turning into the vineyard, we were greeted with spectacular metal artwork at the entrance!
Since the vineyard is perched on a hill, we enjoyed a delicious al fresco lunch on the deck overlooking Seneca Lake…Riesling-braised bison FLX tacos, Fox Run signature club, house special vegetable quiche and sweet corn cesar salad. Scott and I also sampled some wine and I especially loved their Semi-Dry Riesling.
After spending the afternoon back at the house on the lake, it was time for dinner…yes, we ate a lot on this vacation! If you want a fantastic dining experience while in the Finger Lakes, I HIGHLY recommend eating at Ports Cafe…you will not be disappointed. TIP: You can make reservations online up to 10 days in advance.
We were completely blown away by the food and service! Our server, Liz, was so attentive- we were all entranced as she vividly described in detail her favorite dishes. The online menu is only half of what they offer…the chef prepares a full page of nightly specials as well! Our favorites were the burrata appetizer with fresh peaches, balsamic, micro greens and almonds (so good we ordered 3 for the table) and the house ricotta gnocchi with 10-hour braised short rib ragout-the flavor was incredible! We were so busy savoring our meals I completely forgot to take pictures!
With our bellies and hearts full from a busy day spent together, we ended with a sunset drive through peaceful farmlands.
