This New York Town Has The Biggest Heart
Skaneateles is effortlessly polished yet feels uninhibited at the helm of a clear blue lake. With a commanding "The Roof Garden of the Lakes," this town in New York has the biggest heart. In addition to being postcard-worthy of the entire Finger Lakes Region, Skaneateles caters to a one-of-a-kind, relaxing, and memorable atmosphere for all, yet somehow feels personalized.
The moment you step out of the car, the soft breeze and the glistening lake, like balm to the soul, fill you up with childlike giddiness, and tense shoulders relax. With its picture-perfect gazebo, vibrant downtown, and picturesque lake views, it is easy to find your own "je ne sais quoi" vibe cruising the waters, shopping, and exploring trails. Some find a real slice of New England in New York.
Getting Here
Some four hours north of New York City and under 30 minutes west of Syracuse, Skaneateles reveals itself best along the lakefront. Gazing out from the northern tip of the “long lake,” as per the Iroquois translation, possibilities seem endless. The 3/4-of-a-mile-wide, 16-mile-long lake reaches across three counties and even provides the town with clean drinking water.
At 863 feet in elevation, Skaneateles Lake is the easternmost, highest in altitude, and sixth-largest of New York's eleven glacier-carved Finger Lakes. After getting over the initial wave of euphoria, stretch your legs along the Clift Park waterfront, eyeing the gazebo and amazingly clear waters of the lake in frame.
The Laketown
As a prime waterfront real estate location, the laketown exudes an R&R aura with eye-candy views and homes adorned in flower-boxed windows. Browsing along cute cafes, hardware stores, and boutiques, spice up your own space with ceramics, decor, and themed candles. Not in the mood for shopping? How about a scoop from the Ice Cream Stand?
The charming Clift Park is a green space with a pretty gazebo and boat docks, where people like to lose whole weekend afternoons playing, picnicking, and watching the sunset. Many architectural features date to the 1830s through the Village's Historic District downtown, established in 1985. Some buildings were part of the Underground Railroad.
Notable History
Beginning in 1803, lakefront tracts were assigned to Revolutionary War soldiers as payment. Though many did not claim theirs, the area drew attention during the building of the Erie Canal. Hamlets sprouted around the perimeter, and early settlers depended on agriculture, with dairy and grain being their major sources of income.
Collectively known as the township of Marcellus, Skaneateles split up as an independent entity in 1830 on the lake's northernmost tip. Having grown significantly in the 1850s and seen its natural advantage to expand industry, Skaneateles evolved into the tourist-driven town that it is today.
Free and Affordable Attractions
Everything is a stroll on foot or bike, like the shaded Charlie Major Nature Trail, which follows an old railway bed alongside Skaneateles Creek. Stretch your legs along this mostly flat trail on a leisurely walk with kids or a bike ride. The nearby conservation area is a beautiful place to hike year-round with your four-legged pup, with both short and long trails.
Flanked by quiet vineyards and old-money summer homes, beyond the vines lie fruitful orchards and farmland, like Sycamore Hill Gardens, once a dairy farm. There are proximate public beaches for swimming and lakefront recreation, including Clift Park, Shotwell Memorial Park, and Thayer Park, all within the village. Jamesville Beach Park is a short drive away to a sandy beach.
Mid-Lakes Navigation
This established company offers several cruises on the lake and the Erie Canal, plus canal boat rentals. Many enjoy the mail boat tour for sightseeing, brunch, or dinner. Judge Ben Wiles, a glorious, retro vessel, gently rocks across the surface amidst cute ducklings ducking out of the way. Patrons sip on something cold in the breeze and listen to the captain’s lakeside lore.
A 2.5-hour dinner cruise aboard the Judge Ben is a relaxing ride with attentive staff. It delivers great memories over deliciousness and the captain's remarks about notable homes and the town's history. There is also a 50-minute sightseeing cruise with historical narration by a knowledgeable crew and a kid-friendly captain. Little details are added each year for more pleasure.
Year-Round Outdoors
Minutes north, Baltimore Woods Nature Center offers well-marked family-level trails, a '70s log cabin, and snowshoe rentals in winter. Though no dogs are allowed, it is a peaceful, managed, and interesting forest setting open year-round, with seasonal wildflowers and great birding through several habitats, including colorful warblers, indigo buntings, towhees, woodpeckers, and thrushes.
The trail to Carpenter Falls starts 12 miles south along the lake's west shore. The stunning 90-foot waterfall thundering in a deafening spectacle is ideal for forest bathing in a deep pool, accessible via a boardwalk. Continue through the Bahar Nature Preserve, a shaded path of a mixed old-growth hardwood forest, including the leaf peepers favorites—maple, oak, and beech.
Festivals
Skaneateles is home to many festivals, from the Curbstone Festival to live music events during the Skaneateles Summer Music Festival. Many are excited for the upcoming Skaneateles Antique & Classic Boat Show in late July at Clift Park. Running for over half a century, patrons enjoy free admission, meeting the owners, and learning about vessels of every craft, plus a boat parade, a junior competition, and more.
Dickens Christmas is the iconic event in the region and an annual family tradition for many, with festivities starting the day after Thanksgiving. Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon through December 18 and December 24, Charles Dickens and his cast of over 40 characters mingle and interact with residents and visitors in the streets and local establishments.
Accommodations
The bewitching town with its million-dollar banisters boasts a well-developed infrastructure, welcoming visitors with hotels and a broad range of quality eateries, inns, and B&Bs for every budget. The moody lake landscapes decorate local restaurants, art galleries, and every witchy Victorian in town, tucked behind whispering trees and manicured lawns.
Ranging from resorts to homey B&Bs, accommodations typically average upward of $200, like the atmospheric Packwood House. Minutes west, the Skaneateles Inn On 20 is just over $100 in the hot season. It is just a mile and a half from Clift Park, or about a 30-minute walk.
To Sum Up
Some towns have a rugged charm, while Skeneateles feels just a little bit softer around the edges, like wearing pink sunglasses. It is not a place to come with a list of things to accomplish, but about finding what speaks to you, to just be, and to follow your senses through the colors, scents, and activities.
Whether it’s the lake or the dollhouse architecture with wraparound porches and just enough mystery in their turrets and tilted foundations, experiencing Skaneateles feels like slipping into a storybook. Before long, you're either completely enchanted—or transported back to a childhood vacation.
