The 10 Can't-Miss Towns In The Finger Lakes
Upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region owes its name to the eleven lengthy, roughly north-to-south coursing freshwater lakes straddling the Finger Lakes Uplands and Gorges ecoregion and the Great Lakes Lowlands’ Ontario Lowlands ecoregion. An enchanted realm of deep gorges, cascades, sparkling lakes, lush forests, quaint family farms, and sun-kissed rolling vineyards, there is a lot to see and do in the Finger Lakes Region. Encompassing an extensive area of over 9,000 sq. mi., from Lake Ontario in the north to the New York-Pennsylvania boundary in the south, the Finger Lakes region has a handful of postcard-pretty small towns, which are unequivocally favored holiday destinations for wanderers traveling from near and far. With the perfect blend of natural charm, outdoor adventures, cultural richness, and the down-to-earth friendliness of the residents, these can’t miss towns truly capture the heart and soul of the Finger Lakes region.
Ithaca
A high-spirited college town in south-central New York, Ithaca, the Tompkins County seat, sits at the Cayuga Lake’s southern end, about 55 miles southwest of Syracuse. Besides the beautiful Cayuga Lake, which is widely liked by recreational boaters, the town’s phenomenal gorges and waterfalls, such as the Ithaca Falls, the Enfield Glen Gorge in Robert H. Treman State Park, Buttermilk Falls in the Buttermilk Falls State Park, and the Taughannock Falls in the Taughannock Falls State Park, have made it an outdoor lover’s paradise.
Wander through the Cornell Botanic Gardens adjacent to the Cornell University campus for undisturbed paths and native plant displays, and engage in recording bird observations in remote forests, backyards, and city streets as part of the participatory-science project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Also, peruse the over 40,000 artworks in the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, savor local wines on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, and head to the Ithaca Commons at the heart of Downtown Ithaca for some souvenir shopping at Sunny Days Of Ithaca and to grab a bite at the Tavern on the Commons.
Skaneateles
Fittingly labelled after its location on the northern edge of Skaneateles Lake at the Finger Lakes region’s eastern tip, is Skaneateles, an affluential settlement in Onondaga County. The village’s most toured site of interest is the crystal-clear Skaneateles Lake, often termed “The Roof Garden of the Lakes” for its high altitude, which invites vacationers to partake in recreational sailing and cruising aboard the Judge Ben Wiles. Constituting the kernel of Skaneateles’ historic downtown area, the Skaneateles Historic District, running along the Genesee and Jordan Streets, is jam-packed with incalculable mid-19th to early 20th century buildings, the John D. Barrow Art Gallery - the world’s sole gallery showcasing works of a single artist, authentic American-made leather goods stores like The Local Branch, and classy restaurants such as the lakeside Bluewater Grill, serving sushi nachos and Nashville hot chicken sandwiches.
Step inside the French-inspired Mirbeau Inn & Spa for elegant dining, accommodations, and a world-class spa experience, and be there at the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce’s Dickens Christmas - a month-long weekend-only event that takes place from the day after Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve.
Watkins Glen
The administrative capital of Schuyler County, Watkins Glen, baptized after the early promoter Dr. Samuel Watkins, is set on the Seneca Lake’s southern edge, about 20 miles north of Elmira. The crown jewel of this 1,829-resident hamlet is the Watkins Glen State Park, spread over 778 acres and considered by the State of New York as a ‘flagship park,’ featuring a 400-foot-deep limestone gorge, uncountable rapids and waterfalls created by the Glen Creek, in addition to the myriad trails (Indian Trail, Southern Rim Trail, and Gorge Trail) for climbing and descending the gorge accessible for tourists from mid-May to early November.
Just beyond the park, the 38-mile-long Seneca Lake woos excursionists with scenic cruises, angling expeditions, and the booming Seneca Wine Trail, home to some of the region’s most famous vineyards and wineries. Motor junkies are especially drawn to Watkins Glen International for auto racing on its globally acclaimed race track, which has also hosted the Formula One United States Grand Prix, IMSA SportsCar Championship races, NASCAR Cup Series, and IndyCar Series in the past years.
Canandaigua
Canandaigua, an appealing town christened for an archaic Seneca village, is situated on the northern tip of Canandaigua Lake, just 25 miles southeast of Rochester. Commanding the westernmost of the principal Finger Lakes, the town is the center of attention for outdoorsy types raring to take part in ample water-based recreations like kayaking, paddle-boarding, and boating, aside from picnicking under the shade of gazebos and picnic pavilions, strolling along the lakefront walkways, and enjoying tranquil moments at the immaculately maintained Kershaw Park.
History mavens get to wind back the clock at the Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park, a grandiose late 19th-century Victorian estate, flaunting a Queen Anne-style Sonnenberg mansion, nine formal gardens, and the Finger Lakes Wine Center in the Bay House. Delight in a flavor fiesta at the New York Kitchen/New York Wine & Culinary Center, serving delicious comfort food at the farm-to-table style Restaurant, sipping New York State wines in the Tasting Room, and offering interactive cooking classes for all ages by the experienced instructors of New York Kitchen.
Geneva
Presumably titled after Switzerland’s second-most populous city, Geneva is located along Seneca Lake’s 2-mile-wide northern outlet in Seneca and Ontario counties. The 141-acre Seneca Lake State Park, an ethereal Geneva park having sandy beaches, boat launches, picnic tables, playgrounds, and paved hiking trails, is every outdoor lovers’ locais preferidos. Geneva’s storied past is well reflected by the numerous well-preserved 19th-century contributing properties and the Pulteney Park, highlighting the ‘Our Lady of Peace’ statue at the nucleus of a stone fountain dedicated to war veterans, and a panoramic view of Geneva’s colorful rowhouses.
Learn more about the growth and development of Geneva over the last 300 years via permanent and temporary exhibits, a research archive, and furnished period rooms in the Geneva History Museum. Furthermore, quaff high-quality, award-winning, cool-climate wines in a pictorial vineyard setting of Ravines Wine Cellars - publicly recognized as one of the best artisanal wineries in the Finger Lakes, and quench your appetite with top-end regional dishes & wine pairings at the F.L.X Table Restaurant.
Penn Yan
Yates County’s seat of government, Penn Yan, an eye-catching incorporated village placed at the northern endpoint of Keuka Lake’s eastern branch, is a sought-after destination for a family vacation. Other than being the locus of New York’s biggest Old Order Mennonite community (obvious from the equine-drawn buggies on the streets), the town is also home to the 1797-founded Birkett Mills - one of the country’s oldest mills and the largest manufacturer of buckwheat, which has helped earn Penn Yan the title “Buckwheat Capital of America.”
The National Register-listed Penn Yan Historic District is crammed with countless architecturally significant structures, among which the Yates County Courthouse and Knapp Hotel are noteworthy. Hikers, distance runners, and cyclists must access the 7.0-mile-long Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, which follows a downhill course from Penn Yan to Dresden along a stunning pathway dotted with peaceful woodlands, old mill ruins, and waterfalls. Wine connoisseurs must experience curated tastings of crisp Rieslings and artisanal blends that define regional prestige from the premier wineries on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail.
Hammondsport
At the Keuka Lake’s southern tip, Hammondsport is a teeny Steuben County village located directly north of the meeting point of New York State Route 54A and New York State Route 54 highways. Best known as the “Cradle of Aviation,” Hammondsport is home to the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, which is dedicated to the eminent American aviation and motorcycling pioneer Glenn Hammond Curtiss, holds an invaluable collection of motorcycles and aircraft, a 75-seat theatre, an unconfined space for special events, and a recently refurbished Museum Store.
Drop by the Finger Lakes Boating Museum, where a collection exceeding 100 wooden boats tells tales about the rich boating heritage of the Finger Lakes region. Participate in swimming, boating, kayaking, and picnicking in the impressive settings of the Champlin Beach Park, and visit the Keuka Lake Vineyards to satisfy your wine tasting requirements.
Seneca Falls
Conveniently situated between Seneca Lake to the west and Cayuga Lake to the east, Seneca Falls occupies the heart of the Finger Lakes region, equidistant from Syracuse and Rochester. This historic town is incredibly popular as the birthplace of America’s women’s rights movement, and the town’s Women’s Rights National Historic Park includes multiple sites related to the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention, such as the Elizabeth Cady Stanton House, the residence of suffragist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and the Wesleyan Methodist Church, where the foremost women’s rights convention was held in 1848.
Supplementally, honor the nation’s trailblazing women at the National Women’s Hall of Fame, celebrate the town’s connection (the inspiration for ‘Bedford Falls’) with the 1946 classic movie at the It’s A Wonderful Life Museum, and purely soak in the relaxed ambiance with sweeping canalside views on a leisurely walk along the Cayuga-Seneca Canal.
Auburn
Set in Central New York on the Owasco Lake’s northern extremity is Auburn, the biggest community and government seat of Cayuga County. Popularly known as “History’s Hometown,” Auburn’s must-see sites of interest include the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, honoring the life and legacy of the legendary American abolitionist Harriet Tubman, and the Seward House Museum, the historic home of American politician William Henry Seward, filled with extensive collections of the Seward family. Downtown Auburn adds to the town’s contemporary flair via the clothing stores like the Love of Hauls Boutique, vibrant brewpubs like Prison City Pub & Brewery serving sundry craft brews and New American grubs, and the New York State Equal Rights Heritage Center & Auburn NY Visitor Center, which houses a permanent exhibition highlighting the progressive history of New York State and Auburn in promotion of social and equal rights.
Unwind at the aesthetic Emerson Park, a waterfront park with boat launches, the Merry-Go Round Theater, playgrounds, and the Emerson Park Pavilion, besides being a venue for some of Cayuga County’s largest public events.
Aurora
Aurora, aka Aurora-on-Cayuga, an enchanting hamlet and quondam college town (Wells College, closed in 2024) in Cayuga County, sits on the Cayuga Lake’s eastern shores. Sightseers on a trip to this picturesque settlement must take a stroll through the National Register-listed Aurora Village-Wells College Historic District, admiring the district’s umpteen contributing properties, including commercial buildings like the Greek Revival-style Aurora Inn, built for American entrepreneur Edwin Barber Morgan in 1833, and currently renovated for accommodation, dining, and event venue, churches like the Romanesque-design Presbyterian Church, and stately houses like the Cuyler House - the birthplace of American Presbyterian minister Theodore Ledyard Cuyler.
The town is also widely known for the Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa Hotel, a collection of meticulously restored historic homes offering lakeshore attractiveness, upscale dining, and a first-class spa experience. The nearby day-use Long Point State Park offers outdoor enthusiasts undisturbed lake access, picnic areas with tables and grills, a playground, and a supervised swimming area. At the end of an exhausting day, feast on appetizing American comfort food at the Fargo Bar & Grill.
From the magnificent gorges and waterfalls of Ithaca to Seneca Falls’ many historical sites, these ten picture-perfect small towns present holidaymakers a flawless combo of thrilling outdoor activities, relaxation, and friendly small-town charm. Whether you are interested in kayaking & paddleboarding in the crystal-clear lake waters, walking slowly past centuries-old structures in the historic districts, sampling prize-winning wines at the wineries, and indulging in farm-to-table cuisines at the Downtown restaurants, come directly to Upstate New York’s Finger Lakes region and rest assured to be beguiled by the gorgeousness and neighborliness of these bucolic settlements.
