Weekend getaway to Upstate New York (Finger Lakes District)
- Debbie Rogers
- Jun 5, 2020
- 5 min read
If you are looking for a quick weekend getaway in the new Tri-State area, look no further than Upstate New York. For many years I heard from colleagues and friends about different areas in upstate New York but hadn’t really been. So, when a friend of mine and I were looking for a quick getaway last Memorial Day weekend (2019), it seemed like perfect opportunity! (Please scroll all the way down for pictures)
Now, there are a lot of different areas and activities in upstate New York (see below), and this blog is going focus on the Finger Lakes district (mainly because we really wanted to go wine tasting 😉)
The main area attractions are:
Thousand Islands -The Thousand Islands and Seaway Trail by Great Lake Ontario are where a magical world of islands & castles, beaches, and romantic sunsets all come together.
Finger Lakes-Highlights around the resplendent Fingers Lakes include award-winning wine trails, Grand Canyon of the East, great camping and the exciting City of Rochester.
Adirondacks-the Adirondack mountains inspire you to love the outdoors. Year-round adventures include summer kayaking, camping & fishing, great winter skiing, and more.
Central New York-Central New York invites you to go recreating along the Erie Canal, explore historic places, and enjoy sightseeing in the many fun-filled canal towns.
Niagara-Western NY-the Western New York Area contains the Fun City of Buffalo as well as mighty Niagara Falls, One of the World's most Admired Attractions.
Chautauqua-Allegany- Located in South-Western New York State, you'll discover a world of bountiful vineyards, historic towns, and nature nestled among resplendent lakes & mountains.
Capital-Saratoga- Enjoy four seasons of entertainment, unique cultural attractions, summer horse racing, and culinary delights in a Region known for its fascinating history.
Hudson Valley- Leave the ordinary behind and explore the freedom & splendors of the Hudson Valley. Everything you Need for a Fun Weekend is Here - close to NYC.
The Catskills-Take in panoramic views of the famous Catskill Mountains where you'll find artists' towns, delicious culinary & brew, wildlife, and 4 seasons of recreation.
Great Lakes Seaway Trail-Travel along One of America's most Scenic Byways and explore various Lakeside Harbor Towns and Attractions from Western Pa to the St Lawrence River.
After doing some research and deciding where exactly we wanted to spend our time, we decided on a home base of Corning, New York.
Corning is the southern gateway into the beautiful Finger Lakes Wine Country and encompasses three rivers – the Tioga and Cocohton Rivers, which meet to form the Chemung – historically significant as these waterways were used by early settlers to send lumber downstream.
Also known as the “Crystal City,” this small city sparkles with its large population of fine arts, from local glass artists and painters to famous works featured in the galleries and museums like the renowned Corning Museum of Glass, which houses and displays the world’s best collection of art and historical glass.
Day 1-Saturday
We left around 10 am on Saturday morning, and got there around 1:30. To our pleasant surprise, we found out that Corning was also having a weekend festival (Glass Fest Festival), so that was an added bonus. Corning downtown is fairly small, and we were booked at a Holiday inn right next door to the Corning Museum!
Visiting the Museum doesn’t take more than a couple of hours, and definitely get a brochure that shows you the various events including demonstrations. You also have an opportunity to make your own glass, but they fill up quickly! Also, you do need to leave it there at least for 24 hours, so keep that in mind if you are there for a short stay. You can get it shipped as well.
After our leisurely visit, we walked back to the hotel to relax and then get ready for the evening. There were fireworks scheduled for that evening, and we definitely did not want to miss that. While it was walkable, we drove since we did not have our “walking shoes” on. It was also supposed to rain, so we did not want to chance it. We got to see some of the fireworks from the hotel itself, and the rest from the downtown area. We ate at one of the local places and headed back to the hotel for our “big” day the next day.
Day 2-Sunday
Our agenda for today after breakfast was Watkins Glen and a few wineries. We felt we needed to “earn” our wine 😊
Watkins Glen was about a 45-minute drive from Corning. There is no fee to get into the park. If you choose to park in the lot across the street, it was around $8 (if I recall). We were there early enough, that we went down a few blocks and found side street parking.
Like many parks, there are numerous trails and waterfall options. There are more than 19 waterfalls and over 800 stone steps to the top, and many things to explore along the way. Rainbow Falls and the Gorge Trail are the more popular routes, and especially for photographers. Watkins Glen also has a shuttle ($5), so what we did was walked up, and took the shuttle down. Note: the steps can be slippery, so watch out for that.
I did not find the hike too taxing, and since there were quite a few people, it was not at a very fast pace. However, if you have bad knees or a bad back, please use discretion in doing the hike.
I would suggest budgeting 2-3 hours for Watkins Glen depending on how much you stop, crowds, and pace.
After our hike, we were off for wine tasting and lunch! After some research, we picked a few spots not too far from Watkins Glen and all mainly along the main road.
The Wineries
Our first stop was Fox Run Vineyards
This was one of our favorites. Decent size outdoor space in the back and a deck in the front, where you can see the lake. They also have a cafe where you can get food, so that’s a plus (before wine tasting!). I’m more of a white wine drinker, and one of my favorites over there is the Arctic Fox.
After a leisurely lunch, and wine, our next stop was White Springs Winery.
While this didn’t have a great (close)view of the lake, it had a lovely outdoor patio area, and live music! A nice way to spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon.
Our last stop for the day which the beautiful Belhurst Castle and Winery.
This is a very popular place, but we were able to get in for a wine tasting. The wines do tend to be a bit pricier here as well, but definitely worth a visit. The wine tasting is inside, but they have a beautiful outdoor space on the lake.
You can also enjoy dinner here with a few dining options:
Edgar’s Restaurant
Stonecutter’s Tavern
Food and Wine Pairing Dinners
It was a beautiful evening, and we opted for some snacks and drinks from Stonecutter’s Tavern and enjoyed it outside with a beautiful view of the lake. A walk around the lawn and castle is highly recommended as well!
We headed back to the hotel after this to change and get ready for dinner. Note: many places close earlier on Sundays, and we realized we only had a few options to choose from. Add to that, it started pouring as soon as we parked, so dinner was a sad, wet affair ☹
Day 3-Monday
Time to head home! (but not without some retail therapy 😉). If you have the time, take advantage of stopping at the Premium Outlets on your way back in PA. It’s a nice way to break up the journey, stop for something to eat, and shop!
I hope you enjoyed this brief trip to the Finger Lakes District. As you can see, there’s much more to see and do and you can easily spend a week or two exploring the different areas with plenty of nature, hiking, kayaking, wine tasting, and more!
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