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Are you looking to get away from it all this vacation, no matter the time of year? The Finger Lakes region of New York is what you have been looking for. Upstate New York is where you will find the Finger Lakes region and host to some of the best wine regions, arts, culture, outdoor activities, food, and more!
About Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes is a year-round vacation destination. You can snowboard and ski in the winter, enjoy canoeing, skating, hiking, and kayaking in the summer, and discover wine-tasting all year long. Throughout the seasons, the cultural scene is thriving with museums, galleries, the zoo, and many more activities.
Accommodation in Finger Lakes depends on whether you are after a romantic getaway, an adventure experience, a cultural trip, family time, or focusing on culinary delights and wine tasting. Finger Lakes really has it all. There are eleven finger lakes, including Canadice, Canandaigua, Cayuga, Conesus, Hemlock, Honeoye, Keuka, Otisco, Owasco, Seneca, and Skaneateles. The lakes range in size from 40 miles long to 618 feet deep.
Finger Lakes comprises fourteen counties, each with unique charm and amazing places to stay. Each county has distinctive short-term rentals and vacation rentals. We’ll go through each one and highlight the best each offers. Let this guide help you make your next stay an easy, simple decision. Read on to find the best places to stay in the Finger Lakes.
The Best of the Finger Lakes Region: Areas to Stay
- Cayuga County
- Chemung County
- Cortland County
- Livingston County
- Monroe County
- Onondaga County
- Ontario County
- Schuyler County
- Seneca County
- Steuben County
- Tioga County
- Tompkins County
- Wayne County
- Yates County
Cayuga County
Cayuga County is known for its crystal clear lakes and majestic crystal clear lakes, stunning scenery, and award-winning wines. Choose from 10 wineries located in Cayuga County and enjoy your day’s wine tasting and amazing scenery. Or visit the Harriet Tubman House and learn about her bravery and how she led her family and countless other slaves to freedom.
The Montezuma Wildlife Refuge is a haven for wildlife and home to diverse shrubland, wetland, and grassland habitats. Spend a day here enjoying Central New York’s wildlife species, or hike the waterfall and take pictures of migratory birds.
Chemung County
Chemung County is home to the 45-mile long Chemung River, where you can paddle, kayak, and hike the river and trails. Elmira is found in Chemung County, and if you’re a fan of American Literature, this is the place to stay, as Elmira was the summer home to Mark Twain for over 20 years.
Fun fact! Twain is buried here in the Woodland Cemetery, and Elmira was the inspiration for many of his titles, including The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. All of these Mark Twain books were written from his study, which you can visit today.
You can climb aboard the trolley for the ‘’Elmiran’,’ a 60-minute narrated historical tour of the City of Elmira. On tour, you’ll see the principal neighborhood of Victorian homes, learn about Civil War history and see the sites that inspired Mark Twain to pen his famous books.
Cortland County
Cortland County is for culture and music lovers! Exclusive festivals, theater, live music, amazing culinary treats, and fabulous shops alongside adventure options and hiking. Cortland County hosts many festivals and events throughout the year, or you can visit the CNY Living History Center or the 1890 House Museum, where you can step back in time to 19th Century Cortland.
Want to be outdoorsy? Cortland has this too. With hiking trails through lush woodlands and forests, there’s something for everyone in Cortland!
Livingston County
Livingston County is located in the northwest section of the Finger Lakes region and where you’ll have what locals call the Grand Canyon of the East, Letchworth State Park.
Letchworth State Park was voted the best attraction in New York state and is one of the most scenically splendid regions in the eastern United States. The Genesee River gushes through the gorge over not one but three waterfalls nestled between cliffs. They rise as high as 600 feet in some areas and are bordered by green forests, ideal for hikers.
Trails are also available for horseback riding, biking, snowmobiling, snow tubing, cross-country skiing (in winter), guided walks, talks, and a summer lecture series. Other activities include Whitewater rafting, kayaking, a pool for swimmers, and hot air balloon rides that offer the most unforgettable views of Letchworth. You can also visit the Humphrey Nature Center at Letchworth, which offers year-round environmental education opportunities.
Monroe County
Monroe County lies along the border of Ontario Lake, the Great Lake that caps the Finger Lakes region to the North. Monroe County is home to Rochester, the third-largest city in New York State. You’re not short on culture in Monroe County, as it is considered the ‘cultural capital’ of Upstate New York with theater, dance, music, and the visual arts.
The top museums we recommend include the Memorial Art Gallery (MAG)’s, which hosts a permanent collection of more than 12,000 artifacts. Or visit the world’s oldest photography museum, the George Eastman Museum. Once you’ve taken all of that in, it’s time to play! Head over to The Strong National Museum of Play for the ultimate experience in imagination–-and you get to walk down the famous Sesame Street.
After all that culture, you’ll be hungry, so you can choose from many world-class restaurants offering diverse cuisine from fine dining to street food, making this a food lover’s destination.
Onondaga County
Onondaga County is in the Northeast of the Finger Lakes region and home to the city of Syracuse and the village of Skaneateles.
You can visit all year round, as there are activities and events to suit everyone. You can paddle a glass canoe along the waters of the Green Lakes State Park, known as the ‘gem of the Finger Lakes. Or you can dine at Skaneateles, shop in the bespoke boutiques, drink local wine, or enjoy the slopes at the Toggenburg, Labrador, or Song ski resorts.
Syracuse is the home to culture for the arts and theater, including everything from concerts to art shows and Broadway tours alongside independent productions by locals.
You can also hike over fifteen miles of hiking trails and replenish at over twelve breweries, five wineries, and two distilleries on the Sip on Syracuse Trail. From art to hiking and dining and wine –Onondaga County is the place where you can do your thing!
Ontario County
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Ontario County can be found in the Northeast area of the Finger Lakes region and is home to the stunning Canandaigua Lake shoreline. The lake, known as the “Chosen Spot,” provides over 70,000 residents with water. It is sixteen miles long, one mile wide, and has a depth of 127 feet.
Fun historical fact. The Seneca Tribe would burn tobacco around the shores of Canandaigua Lake to show gratitude for an abundant harvest. The tradition continues today and is known as the ‘Ring of Fire,’ as the residents light a fire that creates a ring around the lake.
You can also visit Sonnenberg Gardens, the 50-acre estate and one of the longest surviving from the Victorian era. This is one of the best areas for waterfront accommodation to give you the most magnificent view during your short-term vacation.
Schuyler County
Schuyler County takes you down the most southern tip of Seneca Lake and has a wealth of activities and excursions, as you would expect from the Finger Lake region.
First, you can visit the Watkins Glen State Park, voted the third best state park according to USA Today. Here you can also find Watkins Glen International, the premier racetrack in the country that hosts the largest racing series in the US. You will find your bounty of wineries to explore and sample with award-winning Wineries while you take in the beauty of the vineyards.
Seneca County
Seneca County boasts the most beautiful places for your short-term rental or vacation rental, right next to the Seneca waterfalls. The Seneca area is rich in history and social reputation. You can choose from wine tasting and attractions like the Finger Lakes National Forest, Watkins Glen International, Corning Museum of Glass, and the National Women’s Hall of Fame, to name a few.
For nature lovers and outdoor types, you have many waterfalls, boating, sailing, hiking, fishing, and great restaurants to choose from. This is the area you want to choose for your short-term rental if you have three days or a week and want to have as much adventure as you can. Or, if you want to relax in nature and enjoy great food and wine, Seneca is your destination.
Steuben County
Steuben County is the home to the Corning Museum of Glass, wineries, wine trails, music festivals, historical museums, NASCAR Rallies, and so much more. Abundant in culture, art, nature, and culinary delights coupled with world-class wineries and family fun. You will be sure to be entertained while visiting this region in the Finger Lakes.
Sample local wine at the award-winning wineries on Keuka Lake after you’ve visited the charming boutiques and shopping areas, stunning waterfalls, hiking, and so much more. Steuben County is home to Route 54A, the renowned highway that showcases the amazing scenery surrounding Keuka Lake, unique due to its distinctive “Y” shape.
You’ll want some wine after you explore the many hiking trails that Steuben has to offer! Voted as some of the top hiking trails in the Northeast, Steuben County has it all from historical museums to wine and hiking!
Tioga County
Tioga County is known as the Gateway to the Finger Lakes and is an ideal starting point for your vacation. Tioga has gentle sloping valleys and charismatic villages, great local cuisines, craft boutiques, and beautiful, scenic drives through the countryside.
You can enjoy the rural, authentic small-town appeal of the county and try your luck at the Tioga Downs Casino.
Tompkins County
Tompkins County is host to many waterfalls and gorges, or you can kick back and destress on the Finger Lakes’ largest water, Cayuga Lake. Reward yourself after all the water activities with the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail.
You will find over 28,000 acres of public New York State forest that is perfect for skiing in winter months or hiking, mountain biking, and exploring all year round. This is the destination for the adventurous traveler.
Wayne County
Wayne County is home to the Historic Palmyra 5 Amazing Museums, a treasure trove of history of times gone by. The Sodus Bay Lighthouse Museum is a must-see for the most epic view you’ll ever see. It overlooks Great Lake Ontario, and on a clear, bright, warm day, you can enjoy music out on the Lighthouse lawn.
Yates County
Yates County is located in the center of Finger Lakes and offers visitors nature, wine, water, or a fun family destination. It is home to nearly twenty Estate Wineries and farm and craft markets. You can also find museums, nature trails, antiques, art, and music festivals.
Yates County is a unique blend of culture, cuisine, and nature! The county shares a shoreline with three of the Finger Lakes, including Canandaigua, Lake, Keuka Lake, and Seneca Lake. The lakes offer stunning scenery and a rich and diverse offering of activities and recreation for all travelers.
Yates County is the largest grape-growing county in the United States (outside of California) and has more wineries than any other county in New York State! This is the ideal destination for food and wine lovers.
Wrap Up
Now that you know all the best places to stay to visit in the Finger Lakes region, plus what activities and scenery each one has to offer. It’s time to book a place to stay in one of these great upstate New York destinations.
Featured Image Credit: Jim Vallee
