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Six months ago I had never heard of the Finger Lakes region until I attended an outdoor adventure show in Toronto. Glancing through the brochures and seeing the beauty of this region intrigued me to explore further. Waterfalls, wine, biking, hiking are all things that I enjoy so as I explored this destination further, I became more interested in what it had to offer.
- Taughannock State Park on Lake Cayauga
The Finger Lakes are located in New York State about a 4 hour drive from Toronto, ON. The journeythere was not as ‘picturesque’ as I thought but the destination certainly made up for the time spent on the road. Our home away from home took us to the Town of Ithica. Of course, no one has heard of this ‘mythical’ place but if you mention two words, Cornell University, people have a better understanding of its location. Our decision to stay in Ithica was simple, we were surrounding by state parks and waterfalls. We spent the next 3 days exploring waterfall after waterfall and with each one, it kept getting better. I have never seen so much beauty in one area and I look forward to returning to this area again. With some of the waterfalls located right within Ithica, it was certainly a short walk or bike ride to go and see such magnificent sights. Although I recommend visiting this region in the spring when the water is plentiful, we certainly were not disappointed with the views that were offered to us.
- Swimming at Robert H. Treman State Park
The state parks are certainly clean, affordable and offer lots of activities for a family. It’s a great way to spend a day with the family and enjoy some scenery, swimming, hiking, and a picnic lunch. If you’re looking for a little more than active adventure, Finger Lakes are also known for its wineries. Over 100 wineries located around these lakes and they are sure not to disappoint. With guide maps of each lake, the wineries surrounding the lakes are labelled by name and are easily accessible by car or bike. I was certainly impressed with the quality of wine that this region produces and the service provided to us was equally impressive. The majority of the wineries are either located beside the lake or have great views of it. It was hard not to stop at each winery to take in the views while sampling a glass of wine.
- View of Lake Seneca
I was impressed with the number of cyclists that visit this area. Bike lanes are provided for those who are looking for a little more active adventure while taking breaks at local wineries to sample some of their finest wines. With the proximity of the wineries so close to one another, it’s the perfect opportunity to hop on a bike and get some exercise. You can bring your own bike or rent a bike there. Cayuga Lake is quite challenging with its hilly terrain and it also has fewer wineries which are more wide spread but the scenery is breathtaking. If cycling is your preferred option, I recommend that you spend your time at Seneca Lake as the wineries are much closer together.
If wine isn’t your thing, then you also have the option to sample beer at various locations and a cheese trail is also available for the culinary inclined. Driving through this region you will discover so many quaint towns and villages on the wine trail and you should really take a full day to explore to see what is out there.
Stay tuned for a more detailed recommendation listing on things to do and wineries to visit in the Finger Lakes Region.
Your next adventure is just around the corner…………………
