7 Picture-Perfect Main Streets In The Finger Lakes
Eleven lakes get all the postcards. The towns are where the Finger Lakes region actually lives. Brick storefronts in Skaneateles open onto Skaneateles Lake. A 28-foot pancake griddle hangs off the side of an old buckwheat mill in Penn Yan. The sidewalk in Seneca Falls runs past the chapel where the American women's rights movement began in 1848. Each main street here has its own pull and the seven below are the ones worth planning a day around.
Skaneateles
Skaneateles' main street, East Genesee Street, runs along Skaneateles Lake and lines up 19th-century buildings with locally owned shops, bakeries, and cafes. The Sherwood Inn started life in 1807 as a tavern and stagecoach stop for Isaac Sherwood's coach line. The First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, the village's oldest congregation, dates to 1801.
Across the street is Clift Park, where a long pier runs out into Skaneateles Lake with benches and a gazebo for taking in the water before heading back into town. From there, side streets like Jordan Street are a short walk away, with boutiques like Emma + James, plus more shops and bakeries to wander through.
Penn Yan
At the head of Keuka Lake sits Penn Yan, a small town that brings an old-school feel to a stroll along Main Street. The signature stop is the Birkett Mills griddle, a 28-foot steel pan now mounted on the side of the building. The mill used it on September 27, 1987 to set the world record for the largest buckwheat pancake. The record has since been beaten in England, but the griddle still hangs there as proof.
A working mill has stood on this site since the late 1700s, and the operation is now one of the country's largest buckwheat producers. Just west of Main Street, Elm Street meets the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, a seven-mile path past Seneca Mill Falls and other small waterfalls. You can also drive out to Seneca Mills Falls and walk to the falls in a few minutes from the parking area.
Canandaigua
At the north end of Canandaigua Lake, Canandaigua is known for its wine trails, lakeside paths, and historic downtown. The historic core includes a public square along North Main Street that has long served as a gathering place, reflecting the city's early role as a regional hub in the Finger Lakes.
From there, head toward Gibson Street to find Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park, a Victorian-era country estate with gardens worth a slow walk. Back in the city center, Simply Crepes Craft Kitchen is a local spot good for breakfast, coffee, dessert, and cocktails. Continue south as the road turns into Lakeshore Drive and ends at Kershaw Park, where the lake opens up and kayakers and paddleboarders work the water.
Geneva
At the northern end of Seneca Lake, Geneva is a walkable town where downtown streets meet the lakefront. Start at the Geneva History Museum on Main Street for engaging exhibits, archival collections, and immersive rooms covering the town's past.
From there, take a half-mile walk north toward the attractions on Seneca, Exchange, and Linden Streets. Seneca Street sits steps from the shore, making Lakefront Park an easy detour for a few minutes by Seneca Lake. Local stops worth a look include Stomping Grounds, a book-and-gift shop on Seneca Street, and Finger Lakes Goods on Linden Street, plus Trestle Thirty One on Exchange Street, a local winery.
Watkins Glen
South of Seneca Lake sits the village of Watkins Glen. The Pier House at Seneca Harbor Park looks straight out over Seneca Lake, and North Franklin Street is the spot to land for a meal, a scenic cruise, or just a few minutes by the water.
For something different, head to the southern end of Franklin Street to reach Watkins Glen State Park. The Gorge Trail passes through 19 waterfalls and the spray of Cavern Cascade, an easy way to spend a couple of hours close to town.
Seneca Falls
Fall Street is small, but it carries some of the most consequential American history of the 19th century. Seneca Falls is known as the birthplace of the American women's rights movement, where the first Women's Rights Convention was held in 1848. The Women's Rights National Historical Park Visitor Center is on Fall Street, and the National Women's Hall of Fame is on Canal Street. Right next to the visitor center is the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, where the convention took place. The chapel is preserved today with murals, flowers, and historical markers.
After the history, head east on Fall Street to find the It's A Wonderful Life Museum, dedicated to the 1946 film. The museum holds displays and memorabilia and occupies part of what was the first movie theater in town, the Seneca Theater.
Ithaca
At the southern end of Cayuga Lake, Ithaca is a town centered on the Ithaca Commons. The four-block, pedestrian-only district on East State Street is filled with local shops, restaurants, and stops like Bank Coffee and Riverwood. Moosewood Restaurant is a short walk away in the DeWitt Building. Right in the heart of the commons, the Sagan Planet Walk turns a stroll into something more interesting, presenting a scale model of the Solar System where planet sizes and distances are shrunk to one five-billionth of actual scale.
Ithaca's arts scene shows up everywhere downtown, with murals by local artists running along the sides of buildings and tucked down alleys.
Finger Lakes Main Streets
Whether you want American history, lakefront walks, local restaurants and shops, or some of the country's best wines, the Finger Lakes region delivers main streets that are worth the trip. These seven span the diversity, natural beauty, and heritage of upstate New York. Walk the pier in Watkins Glen, find waterfalls outside Penn Yan, or stand on the sidewalk where Seneca Falls made history.
