Destination: Finger Lakes, NY

In March of 2008, my girlfriend and I ventured upstate for a weekend at the Finger Lakes. For those who may not know, the Finger Lakes are situated about four and half hours from New York City in New York State. We were only able to spend about a day and a half, so we merely scratched the surface. Never the less, here are some trip planning ideas.

Our first stop was The Corning Glass museum in Corning, NY, Here’s the bottom line, the museum is a MUST-DO. Even if you have no real interest in glass, you will be drawn in by the history and modern day application of a compound we rarely think about. Inside you’ll find a collection of glass from every era dating back to 2000 BC! They have an entire wing dedicated to hands-on children’s exhibits as well as live glass-working demonstrations. We also got to make a glass sculpture of our own! It was awesome.

The remainder of our trip was spent exploring the wineries of The Finger Lakes. Did you know The Finger Lakes has the second largest concentration of wineries in America? It’s true! One of the highlights of our tour was a visit to Fox Run vineyards. WOW! Not only were we greeted by the owner Scott Osborn (as you will too on most days) but we were treated to a barrel tasting. We went into the cellars (and production area) and tasted reds, whites and ports, it was an experience I will never forget. Tricia was our host and she was fabulous. Fox Run also has a café where you can sit out on the deck, enjoy a gourmet lunch and the scenic view of Lake Seneca. It’s clear why Fox Run wins awards every year for their wine, because they are fabulous!

Another stop we were wildly impressed by was Glenora vineyards. That’s where we met up with Bridgette (the retail manager) and were blown away by the award-winning wines as well as the quaint shop and tasting rooms. Bridgette gave us a tour of the production area as well as their Inn. That’s right! They have a small boutique Inn right next to their winery. We also opted to stay for dinner as well. Chef Orlando prepared an amazing dinner paired with crisp and refreshing Dry Riesling.

Unfortunately, that’s all the time we had on this trip, however, I am certain (because Chastine said so) we will be back this summer to spend at least four days exploring, hiking, biking canoeing and wine tasting in the Finger Lakes.

The reality is, The Finger Lakes can accommodate any family for any length of time to explore the great outdoors. The adults will love the wineries and kids of all ages will get a little closer to nature with the fresh air and the gorgeous scenery of this region. Make plans to visit The Finger Lakes and after your trip, you’ll know why this truly is one of the most beautiful places in this country.   

Erik Hastings

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