11 Best Lakeside Towns in New York
New York is home to more than 7,500 lakes and ponds, with many welcoming communities along their shores. Lakeside towns mean waterfront sunsets and plenty of ways to enjoy the water, such as hiking to waterfalls in Watkins Glen, in the Finger Lakes, and learning about the maritime heritage of Oswego along Lake Ontario.
The warm weather brings scenic boat experiences, like narrated cruises highlighting the history of Skaneateles Lake and cycle boats on Seneca Lake. In the cooler months, tourism continues to thrive, with cozy winery visits along routes like the Seneca Lake Wine Trail serving tastings with lakeside views. These towns in New York capture the essence of lakeside living, with historic harborfronts like Geneva and Adirondack Mountains views in Lake George.
Aurora
Along the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes, the village of Aurora is known for its intimate, largely untouched waterfront. Wake up to sweeping views of Cayuga Lake with an overnight stay at the Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa, a collection of luxury restored inns. Open to the public, Long Point State Park provides an expansive lakeside setting with flat, easy-to-walk paths, picnic areas, swimming spots, and a boat launch.
Aurora’s wineries, including Long Point Winery, are found along the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, one of the Finger Lakes’ most established wine routes. In the downtown village of Aurora, 1833 Kitchen & Bar serves refined American cuisine and a patio with colorful sunset views over Cayuga Lake.
Lake George
Lake George has long been celebrated as a classic American getaway, surrounded by the towering peaks of the Adirondack Mountains and known for the crystal-clear waters of the lake that shares its name. Visitors love to explore the lake aboard historic vessels with Lake George Steamboat Company for sightseeing excursions, themed dinner cruises, foliage tours in the fall, and fireworks cruises in the summertime.
Popular for holidays in every season, luxurious retreats like The Lodges at Cresthaven are known for their spectacular lakefront views. The nearby Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark is a family-friendly destination with a giant indoor waterpark and day pass options available. With many waterfront dining spots to choose from, The Lagoon stands out for its deck and some of the best views of the southern end of Lake George, along with its thin-crust wood-fired brick oven pizza.
Watkins Glen
Those drawn to cascading waterfalls, dramatic gorges, and forested trails will find plenty to love in Watkins Glen. At the southern tip of Seneca Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region, this village is best known for Watkins Glen State Park, where the glen’s stream tumbles into 19 waterfalls within two miles of hiking trails. On Seneca Lake, activities include classic boating and kayaking, and Finger Lakes Cycle Boats, a boating activity with optional pedaling and space to lounge.
Part of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, Watkins Glen is home to Castel Grisch Winery, known for its old-world atmosphere and elevated lookouts of the lake. Downtown along Franklin Street, you will find Nickle’s Pit BBQ, a local favorite barbecue spot offering craft beer and live music from the area’s musicians.
Skaneateles
On the northern shore of Skaneateles Lake, Skaneateles is one of the Finger Lakes’ most beautifully preserved lakeside villages. History lovers can admire original buildings like The Creamery and Legg Hall on a self-guided walking tour curated by the Skaneateles Historical Society. Those eager to get out on the water can take a narrated cruise with Mid-Lakes Navigation, which highlights the region’s history and natural beauty.
The village embraces tourism throughout the year, as autumn ushers in Fall Fest Weekend, with scavenger hunts, parades, and a variety of festive contests. Winter brings the beloved Dickens Christmas celebration, a community favorite with seasonal activities, including horse-drawn wagon and carriage rides through Victorian-era streets and caroling at the gazebo on the lake. Sushi, tacos, and popular international dishes are hits at Blue Water Grill, a shoreline restaurant with bottomless mimosa brunches.
Canandaigua
Just 25 miles southeast of Rochester, Canandaigua is at the northern end of Canandaigua Lake, the fourth largest of the Finger Lakes. The town is known for its historic landmarks like the Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park, a 50-acre estate with a Queen Anne-style Victorian mansion and perfectly maintained gardens. Seager Marine Rentals and Charters rents everything for spending time on Canandaigua Lake, including self-guided kayaks and ski boats or captain-chartered pontoon rides.
Throughout town are locally owned dining spots, including Nolan’s on Canandaigua Lake, a relaxed steak and seafood restaurant known for its patio overlooking the water. Canandaigua stays popular throughout the year with a rotating lineup of community events, including the Canandaigua Art & Music Festival, filling Main Street with live music, art, and food each summer, and the Festival of Trees at Granger Homestead during the winter holiday season.
Ithaca
Ithaca is a college town on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake. The area is surrounded by waterfalls and hiking trails, including Ithaca Falls, a 150-foot cascade on Fall Creek reached by a short walk from Lake Street. Along the lakefront, the Cayuga Waterfront Trail is an 8-mile multi-use trail with a flat route for walking or cycling in warmer months and snowshoeing in winter.
Home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, the downtown “Restaurant Row" has many international dining options, including Viva! Taqueria & Cantina (on E State St), a go-to spot for California-style Mexican fare. In the west end, Deep Dive is a venue loved by students, locals, and visitors, hosting live music with regional talent and touring artists.
Oswego
At the mouth of the Oswego River, on the southern shore of Lake Ontario, Oswego embraces its maritime roots as the Port City of Central New York, with a beautiful harborfront and a rich military history. A visit to Fort Ontario, a star-shaped fortress overlooking the lake, gives a window into the region’s patriotic past dating back to the early 1800s. Discover Oswego’s maritime heritage at the H. Lee White Maritime Museum, home to old-fashioned water vessels and boat tours to the Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse.
Local attractions, including the Children’s Museum of Oswego, a hands-on, interactive play museum, are along the commercial district stretching along East and West Bridge Street. Grab a refreshment at Riverwalk Coffee Roasters, a waterfront cafe serving up specialty drinks and house-made pastries on the Oswego River.
Lake Placid
Framed by rocky scenery in the Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid is an endearing village that wraps around Mirror Lake, where you can swim and boat on clear waters in summer and glide across the ice in winter. Mirror Lake Public Beach welcomes guests with a sandy shoreline and picnic tables, perfect for families and casual gatherings. Waterfront stays like the Mirror Lake Inn include private beach access and upscale dining.
One of the town’s most iconic attractions is the Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex, a historic winter sports venue famous for its towering ski jumps built for the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Today, sightseers can watch athletes train or ride the gondola and glass elevator to the top of the jump towers for mountain vistas. Loved by residents, Smoke Signals, a casual barbecue joint and bar with a lakeside patio, is an ideal place to end your day with a meal and a view.
Hammondsport
Wine lovers won’t want to miss Hammondsport, a world-class Finger Lakes wine destination at the southern tip of Keuka Lake. The town thrives in summer with on-the-water experiences like jet ski rentals, kayaking along the shoreline, or leisurely excursions with OnKeuka! Boatique Boat Outings On & Off the Lake. In winter, tourists flock to Hammondsport for winery visits, with establishments like Living Roots Finger Lakes pouring indoor tastings surrounded by the scenery of the lake and vineyard.
Keuka Lakeside Inn is a casual lakeside hotel where guests can launch a boat or fish steps from their room. For dining, Snug Harbor Restaurant is an upscale seasonal restaurant, marina, and inn with a terrace overlooking Keuka Lake. Events like the Hammondsport Winter Stroll each February keep community spirit alive, where participants can sip and sample from regional wineries and restaurants as the village transforms into a walkable tasting trail.
Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake is a four-season destination in northern New York’s Adirondack Mountains, resting along the shores of Lake Flower near the Saranac and St. Regis chain of lakes. Mt. Pisgah Recreation Center is the go-to place for gentle downhill skiing, snow tubing, and snowshoeing, or warming up inside a lodge with broad windows and a native stone fireplace. February visitors and residents can catch the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, a community celebration including a parade, fireworks, and an illuminated ice palace.
Just outside the town center, Lake Colby Beach is the village’s main public beach, known for its warm, shallow waters and non-motorized setting that is especially popular with families. Downtown Saranac Lake, the Waterhole Music Lounge has been the village’s premier music venue for more than 50 years, with three levels, two bars, and an outdoor patio for dancing and drinks.
Geneva
Step back in time in Geneva, where 19th-century heritage meets modern lakeside tourism along the northern shore of Seneca Lake. The village is known for its Victorian-era architecture, notably the colorful Geneva Row Houses on South Main Street. A famous 1894 landmark, the Smith Opera House, continues to host live music, theatre, dance, and classic film screenings.
Visiting Geneva during the four-week Geneva Music Festival gives concertgoers the chance to experience the town’s intimate performance venues and enjoy world-class programming spanning jazz, contemporary, and bluegrass music. Guests of Belhurst Castle and Winery can wine and dine in a striking Romanesque estate built in the 1880s overlooking the lake, known for its craft beer and award-winning wine flights.
Life Along the Shore in New York
With the storybook appeal of Aurora and Geneva, and scenic cruises departing out of Hammondsport and Canandaigua, these lakeside towns in New York highlight the very best of the state’s waterfront destinations. Whether you are planning a summer getaway filled with boating and beach days, a cozy winter escape centered around wine tastings by the water, or searching for a new lakeside place to call home, each community offers a fusion of natural beauty and life by the shoreline.
