Many people don’t realize the diverse beauty of New York State. Everyone knows New York City and Niagara Falls, but the area in between has a lot to offer. One of my favorite places in New York is The Finger Lakes. This area in Central New York is known for beautiful waterfalls, gorge hikes, wineries, outdoor activities and its pristine lakes. Despite that pretty incredible list, The Finger Lakes region isn’t very well known.
This is my guide to the best things to do in the Finger Lakes, including where to stay in the Finger Lakes, the best places to eat, my favorite Finger Lakes breweries and wineries, plus the best hikes in Finger Lakes.
Breaking Down The Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes region got its name from a group of long, skinny (like fingers) lakes situated near each other. There are many beautiful lakes in the area but the five largest are Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga and Skaneateles. Each lake has a different vibe with charming towns and activities unique to the area. While the lakes are close together, driving between them can take a long time. You’ll likely spend most of your time near your home base lake.
Canandaigua– This is the westernmost of the major Finger Lakes. The lake is known for its shipwrecks, there are two at the bottom. The town of Canandaigua is a cute town with shops, restaurants and Young Lion, a great brewery.
Keuka– Many people call Keuka the prettiest lake. This lake is the best for fishing and is also one of the main wine growing areas. In fact, the top rated winery in the area is located here, Dr. Konstantin Frank. The charming town of Hammondsport is located at the south end of the lake.
Seneca– Seneca Lake is the largest and deepest of The Finger Lakes. It’s another popular winery lake, with many vineyards (and breweries too) dotting its shore, along the Seneca Lake wine trail. Watkins Glen is a major town in the region located at the south end of the lake. It’s home to The Watkins Glen Gorge, one of the area’s best hikes. This is a nice, central location to base yourself.
Cayuga– Cayuga is just as long as Seneca, but it’s wider. Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, a large nature sanctuary, sits at the north end of the lake. Ithaca, the area’s largest town and home to Cornell University, sits at the south end.
Skaneateles– The easternmost of the major Finger Lakes, and my favorite area in the region. The town of Skaneateles sits at the top of Skaneateles lake and is an incredibly charming place. The Main Street is straight out of a Hallmark movie! Skaneateles is also considered the cleanest and clearest lake.
Getting There and Getting Around
The Finger Lakes region is located in Central New York. It’s about a four hour drive from New York City to the Finger Lakes and a two hour drive from Buffalo to Finger lakes. The scenic drives in the area are a perfect opportunity for planning a Finger Lakes road trip.
If driving isn’t for you, Amtrak has train stations in nearby Syracuse and Rochester. You can also fly into the area with Rochester International Airport, Syracuse International Airport, Ithaca Regional Airport and Elmira Corning Regional Airport in the area. You will need a car in The Finger Lakes because Ubers and taxis aren’t plentiful.
Where to Stay in The Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes region is big with so much to offer, it can be hard to choose where to stay. You can hop around to different areas, but since the lakes are long with no bridges it’s a long drive.
Watkins Glen, Hammondsport and Skaneateles all get my vote for the best towns to stay in Finger Lakes.
If you’re interested in winery and brewery hopping I recommend staying on Keuka, Seneca or Cayuga, where the highest number are concentrated. The towns of Watkins Glen on Seneca Lake and Hammondsport on Keuka Lake are great options and have a lot going on. They’re also both very centrally located. If small town charm, spas and high end shopping is more you’re speed I recommend staying in the town of Skaneateles. Skaneateles isn’t surrounded by as many wineries, but the town is idyllic.
The Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel– Set right on the south shore of Seneca Lake, this hotel is a perfect central location. It’s walking distance to both Seneca Lake’s main harbor and the Watkins Glen Gorge.
Mirbeau Inn and Spa– This is the premier hotel in The Finger Lakes. The inn is modeled after a Monet painting and is set just outside the main “downtown” district of Skaneateles. I highly recommend this hotel for a romantic getaway or spa trip.
The Inns of Aurora– A group of five inns, a farm-to-table restaurant, market and pub make up The Inns of Aurora. The village of Aurora was settled in 1789 and is set on the shore of Cayuga Lake. The Inn is gorgeous and Aurora is a picture perfect town, but there’s not a lot of activity (aside from the inn) right in town.
Where to Eat in the Finger Lakes
Along with delicious wine and beer The Finger Lakes region is also filled with great restaurants. Farm-to-table cuisine reigns supreme here but make sure you get your reservations in early if you want to dine at the best restaurants in the Finger Lakes!
Graft Wine + Cider Bar– This is one of the best restaurants in Watkins Glen. Graft is a wine, cider, beer and tapas bar that serves locally sourced cuisine.
FLX Table– Created by master sommelier Christopher Bates, this is one of the top dining experiences in The Finger Lakes. There are only 14 seats around one table, so make sure to book reservations in advance. FLX Table is located in Geneva, on the north of Seneca Lake.
Doug’s Fish Fry– This is an iconic restaurant serving up fried seafood in Skaneateles.
The Lakeside Tavern & Restaurant– This Hammondsport tavern is a great spot for bar food after a day on Keuka Lake.
The Best Finger Lakes Breweries and Wineries
The Finger Lakes wine region is one of America’s premier wine producing regions, and a visit to one of the area’s many vineyards in Finger Lake wine country is a must. But there’s more than just wine produced here. Craft breweries are picking up steam in The Finger lakes, too. My favorite wineries and breweries are:
Dr. Konstantin Frank– The highest rated winery in The Finger Lakes, this one put The Finger Lakes on the map.
Keuka Springs– Winery known for its award winning rosé on a beautiful piece of land overlooking Keuka Lake.
Ryan William Vineyard at The Tasting Barn– This winery has a beautiful patio overlooking Seneca Lake. They offer a great tasting menu and small bites.
Two Goats Brewing– This is one of the best breweries in the area. The grounds are set on a rolling hill overlooking Seneca Lake. Perfect sunset spot!
Other Half Brewing– This popular Brooklyn-based brewery opened a Finger Lakes outpost in 2019.
Lucky Hare Brewing– This small brewery in the town of Hector on Seneca Lake serves up some of the area’s best beers.
Young Lion Brewery– This female owned brewery is located on the shore of Canandaigua Lake.
The Best Finger Lakes Hikes
In addition to great wine tasting, The Finger Lakes region is also known for epic gorge hikes. The streams and creeks that run out from the lakes have carved gorges over millions of years. These gorges have great hiking trails that are filled with waterfalls in Finger Lakes!
Watkins Glen State Park- This is probably the most famous of the Finger Lakes state parks and is home to the most popular hike in the area. The Watkins Glen Gorge hike is located here, and it takes you past 19 waterfalls! This gorge trail is one of the most photographed spots in the region and the most famous waterfalls in Finger Lakes.
Taughannock Falls State Park- Here you’ll find a waterfall that’s taller than Niagara Falls! There are a few different trails in the park, but the one that leads to the base of the waterfall is a nice easy hike in the Finger Lakes.
Buttermilk Falls State Park- This is another popular park and this Finger Lakes hiking trail is filled with waterfalls. In the summer months the natural pool at the base of the main waterfall is open for swimming.
I hope this guide to the best things to do in Finger Lakes has given you plenty of inspiration for a Finger Lakes getaway, or perhaps inspired you to visited the underrated Finger Lakes region of New York.
This is super helpful with great recommendations, thank you for the info!