25 Best Things to Do Around the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York

By VacationIdea Staff on March 16, 2023 - Updated

20 Best Things to Do in Finger Lakes, NY

Christopher/stock.adobe.com

The amazing wineries, pristine lakes, and more attract countless people to the Finger Lakes in upstate New York every year. Visitors can hike among gorgeous waterfalls and gorges, sail across lakes, fish, and swim at several state parks, such as Watkins Glen, Green Lakes, and Taughannock Falls. From Rochester to Seneca Falls, the Finger Lakes are also home to many unique museums highlighting a wide range of topics from play to jazz to women’s rights. The quaint and charming towns and villages throughout the picturesque region also offer great opportunities for shopping and dining.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Seneca Lake Wine Trail

The Seneca Lake Wine Trail is located right in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes Wine Country and is one of the region’s most popular wine trails. This scenic trail consists of over thirty wineries, breweries, and cideries situated along the seventy-five mile long shoreline of Seneca Lake, making it an easy task to stop by several wineries within a day. While the Finger Lakes region is particularly well known for its quality Riesling, other varietals in this particular wine region also include Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Appointing a designated driver or hiring a driver is recommended.

2.Silver Springs Winery L.L.C.

The Silver Springs Winery in the town of Burdett, New York is a small Finger Lakes winery that boasts a rich family history. The Zuccarino family comes from the northeastern Italy community of Udine near Venice and rose to the nobility ranks in 1320. The family has had a long-time passion for vineyards and fine wines that has passed from one generation to the next. This tradition continues today more than 700 years later on the shores of Seneca Lake, which has a similar climate to vineyards in Italy. The Silver Springs Winery also features an art gallery showcasing several local artists.

4408 State Route 414, Burdett, NY 14818, Phone: 607-351-8019

3.Watkins Glen State Park

Watkins Glen State Park can be found at the Finger Lakes village of Watkins Glen. The lower part of this scenic park is near the quaint village, but the upper section is pure open woodland. Watkins Glen contains opportunities for hunting and fishing, as well as three hiking trails that are open to visitors from the middle of May through early November, offering guests a chance to descend or climb the gorge. There are also comfortable areas within the state park, consisting of pavilions, picnic tables, trailer and tent sites, showers, dump stations, a pool, a gift shop, and a playground.

1009 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891, Phone: 607-535-4511

4.The Strong National Museum of Play

The Strong National Museum of Play is a one-of-a-kind museum in Rochester, New York that’s dedicated to play, offering something for children of all ages.From the more recent electronic games to books and dolls to board ganesm the Strong National Museum of Play features the most comprehensive toy collection in the world. Open seven days a week, It is also home to numerous interactive exhibits for kids, such as a vehicle history area including boats, planes, trains, and trucks, as well as a Wegmans grocery store replica in which children can pretend to shop for groceries and more.

One Manhattan Square Dr, Rochester, NY 14607, Phone: 585-263-2700

5.Smith Family Farm

The Smith Family Farm is a historic farm in the town of Palmyra in upstate New York’s picturesque Finger Lakes region. The farm once served as the childhood home of the Latter Day Saint movement’s founder, Joseph Smith. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints took over ownership of the Smith Family Farm back in the year 1915 and restored the historic frame home in the 1990’s, as well as constructed a welcome center and rebuilt the log home. The farm is now open to the public and free tours are led by missionaries of the Church.

843 Stafford Rd, Palmyra, NY 14522, Phone: 315-597-4383

6.Book of Mormon Publication Site

The Book of Mormon Publication Site in Palmyra, New York township is a historical site that consists of the E. B. Grandin Building, as well as some adjacent structures. The E. B. Grandin Building is where the first copies of the Book of Mormon were printed and sold by Egbert B. Grandin. The building was acquired by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1978 due to its historical significance to the Mormonism religion. During the 1990’s, the Church restored the building and now offers free tours to visitors, providing a glimpse into the printing process used in the 1820’s.

217 E Main St, Palmyra, NY 14522, Phone: 315-597-5982

7.Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, Finger Lakes, New York

The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, New York is named after the village’s favorite son and pioneer aviator. Dedicated to the memory of Glenn Curtiss, the museum is home to an excellent collection related to the region’s history and early aviation. The museum features many exhibits and displays, including a full-scale replica of the first naval aircraft, in addition to a 1927 “Robin,” a 1919 “Seagull” flying boat, a 1917 “Jenny,” a 1912 “Model E” flying boat, and a 1912 “Pusher.” There is also a museum store, fire equipment, boats, tools, a 75-seat theater, and a restoration shop.

8419 NY-54, Hammondsport, NY 14840, Phone: 607-569-2160

8.Skaneateles Lake, Finger Lakes, NY

Skaneateles Lake is a little more than twenty miles from Syracuse, New York and is the sixth largest lake in the Finger Lakes region. Meaning “long lake,” Skaneateles truly lives up to its name at sixteen miles in length, stretching across the three counties of Cortland, Cayuga, and Onondaga. The clear, picturesque lake is a popular spot in the region for fishing and boating, and several local boat tours can be found in the area. Dating back to the American Revolution, the historic and charming village of Skaneateles along the lake is great to stroll through, featuring restaurants and local shops.

9.Seward House Museum, Finger Lakes, New York

The Seward House Museum was the residence of William Henry Seward, one of the country’s foremost 19th-century politicians, for more than fifty years. Seward served as a State Senator of New York, a United States Senator, the Governor of New York, and the Secretary of State under both President Lincoln and President Johnson. Today, the Seward House Museum is open to visitors for guided tours.

33 South St, Auburn, NY 13021, Phone: 315-252-1283

10.Robert Treman State Park, Finger Lakes, New York

The Robert Treman State Park near the city of Ithaca in Upstate New York is a destination known quite well for the Enfield Glen, its stony and rugged gorge, and Lucifer Falls, a 115-foot waterfall. Actually, Lucifer Falls is only one of a dozen waterfalls found throughout the boundaries of the park, reached by the approximately nine miles of meandering hiking trails. Robert Treman State Park also consists of RV sites, cabins, campsites, and a swimming area located beneath one of the waterfalls. Another great thing about the park is that it’s pet-friendly, with dogs allowed at campsites and hiking trails.

105 Enfield Falls Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850, Phone: 607-273-3440

11.Taughannock Falls State Park

The Taughannock Falls State Park is home to one of the most amazing natural sights in the state of New York: Taughannock Falls. This waterfall descends over two hundred feet and over rocky cliffs more than four hundred feet tall above the gorge. Hiking trails throughout the park provide beautiful views from above the waterfalls, as well as cabins and campsites lining the lake. A beach and marina can also be found along the shores of the lake, in addition to a playground, skating ponds, sledding slopes, and cross-country skiing. Concerts are hosted by the lake during the summer months.

1740 Taughannock Blvd, Trumansburg, NY 14886

12.Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, Finger Lakes, NY

The Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard in the town of Dundee, New York is a pioneer in both winemaking and viticulture within the state’s Finger Lake Wine Country. Established by Hermann Wierner, a German-born winemaker, the vineyard has acquired both national and international attention for its sound growing practices and wine quality. Visitors can stop by the tasting room, which offers views of part of the winemaking process, to sample a variety of Rieslings, white wines, red wines, dessert wine, and sparkling wine.

3962 NY-14, Dundee, NY 14837, Phone: 607-243-7971

13.Cornell University

Founded by Andrew Dickson White and Ezra Cornell back in 1865, Cornell University is a private, Ivy League university in the city of Ithaca, New York. The campus of this elite university is a gorgeous one to explore, particularly so during the autumn season. The scenery, as well as the beautifully old academic buildings, make for great photography opportunities. Many of the buildings on the Cornell University campus are also on the United States National Register of Historic Places. For people hoping for a less crowded experience, it’s best to visit Cornell when there aren’t major events taking place.

14.Cayuga Lake

The longest of New York’s Finger Lakes, Cayuga Lake stretches slightly less than forty miles long. Located along the shores of the scenic lake are several places for visitors to explore, such as Taughannock Falls State Park with its hiking trails and waterfall, several wineries, charming towns like Aurora and Union Springs, the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, and more. At the end of Cayuga is the city of Ithaca, home to the prestigious Cornell University. The Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway runs around the picturesque lake, boasting more than eighty miles of some of the region’s most amazing views.

15.Genesee Country Village & Museum

The Genesee Country Village and Museum was founded by John Wehle in 1966, created to preserve the dwindling rural architecture in New York’s Genesee Valley, which stretches from Lake Erie and the Niagara Frontier to the Finger Lakes along the Genesee River. This living history museum today consists of six hundred acres of both wild and cultivated land, the Genesee Country Nature Center, an art gallery, the Heirloom Gardens, the Carriage Museum, and the nineteenth-century Historic Village. The idea of the Historic Village is to depict how a town within the region may have changed over the years.

1410 Flint Hill Rd, Mumford, NY 14511, Phone: 585-538-6822

16.Geva Theatre Center, Finger Lakes, New York

The Geva Theatre Center, established in 1972, is a professional, non-profit theater company that dedicates itself to the creation and production of professional theater productions, services, and programs at a national standard. As the leading professional theater in Rochester, New York, the Geva Theatre Center is one of the most attended Northeast United States regional theaters. In addition to its high quality theater productions that include musical theatre, comedy, and drama, the Geva Theatre also hosts a wide array of literary, outreach, and educational programs designed to nurture both artists and audiences alike, such as the Play Reading Series.

75 Woodbury Blvd, Rochester, NY 14607, Phone: 585-232-4382

17.Watkins Glen International, Finger Lakes, New York

Watkins Glen International has been one of North America’s premier racing facilities since 1948, hosting a wide range of events, such as the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix. Several legendary drivers have tested their racing skills on the Watkins Glen course, including Tony Stewart, Mark Martin, and Jeff Gordon. With the “Drive the Glen” program, visitors are able to follow in these legendary racers’ footsteps, driving two laps around the 3.4-mile race course, as well as receiving a commemorative “finish line” photo.Guests can also take in scenic views and watch practice rounds.

2790 County Route 16, Watkins Glen, NY 14891

18.George Eastman Museum

A popular attraction in the Finger Lakes for photography enthusiasts, the George Eastman Museum in the city of Rochester, New York is the oldest photography museum in the world, as well as one of the world’s oldest film archives. The collection is housed inside the former home of George Eastmant, who was a pioneer in film and photography. The museum, and National Historic Landmark, pays tribute to the history of motion picture film and photography, showcasing both temporary and permanent exhibits, as well as featuring a 500-seat theater that shows over three hundred films every year and an extensive library.

900 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607, Phone: 585-327-4800

19.Green Lakes State Park, Finger Lakes, New York

The Green Lakes State Park boasts almost twenty miles of hiking trails, both disc golf and traditional golf courses, a sand swimming beach, more than 130 campsites, boat rentals, two pristine lakes, and old-growth forests. Visitors will find many different ways to explore nature and have fun within the boundaries of the park. Two meromictic lakes, which are lakes where the deeper waters and surface waters don’t intermix, make up the heart of the nearly 2,000-acre Green Lakes State Park. Created almost 15,000 years ago, these two lake basically serve as two massive plunge pools.

7900 Green Lakes Rd, Fayetteville, NY 13066

20.Keuka Spring Vineyards

The Keuka Spring Vineyards have consistently been recognized for their excellence for more than twenty years, boasting a wine list that includes varietals for nearly any taste, carefully handcrafted from the vineyard to the bottle. Knowledgeable and friendly staff guide guests through a wine tasting made up of several award-winning wines, such as Riesling, Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc, and more. The Tasting Room is open from 10:00am until 5:00pm daily from April to November and Friday to Monday from December to March. The vineyard also offers stunning panoramic views of the picturesque Keuka Lake.

243 Route 54, East Lake Road, Penn Yan, NY 14527, Phone: 315-536-3147

21.Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG), Corning

The Corning Museum of Glass is dedicated to fascinate visitors by showcasing the amazing history and culture of glass making through the ages. In case you were not aware of this fact, glass has been made for more than 35 centuries – that’s 3500 years of glass making stretching from antiquity to the modern day. Not only will you learn all about the history of glassmaking, you will also get to watch modern glass blowers in action and even make your own piece of glass art to take home. The exhibits, demos and workshops are fascinating, fun and educational for all ages.

1 Museum Way, Corning, NY 14830, 607 937 5371

22.National Women’s Hall of Fame, Seneca

Serenely located on the banks of the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, (in what was once the Seneca Knitting Mill), the National Women’s Hall of Fame endeavors to inspire all women and to showcase some of the nation’s greatest women achievers. The Hall of Fame is dedicated to honoring the many women of the past, as well as those of the present, who surmounted many struggles to succeed in their various fields, which range from public service and the arts to athletics and philanthropy. The Hall of Fame depends on the public to put forward the names of any women who possibly deserve a place in the Hall.

1 Canal Street, Seneca Falls, NY 13148, 315 568 8060

-- You are reading "25 Best Things to Do Around the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York" Back to Top

23.Finger Lakes Boating Museum, Hammondsport

You and your family can come and find out everything you ever wanted to know about boats and boating at this fun museum in Hammondsport. The museum is dedicated to preserving the Finger Lakes boating heritage and to showcase an outstanding collection of around 200 boats which were built in the Finger Lakes Region between the early 1900’s and the 1970’s. Although not all the boats are on exhibition all the time, visitors will always find an interesting display in the two galleries which comprise the Inboard/Outboard Hall and the Rowboat Hall. Most of the boats on display have been donated by their owners.

8231 Pleasant Valley Rd, Hammondsport, NY 14840, 607 569 2222

24.The Windmill Farm and Craft Market, Penn Yan

Everyone loves a good market, and the Windmill Farm and Craft Market in Upstate New York is one of the best in the region. The market is located on 44 shaded acres on State Route 14 A, just south of Penn Yan. You will find more than 175 indoor and outdoor shops to explore, all filled with genuine crafts, clothing, household goods and marvelous fresh produce. The Market is seasonal, and is usually open from late April through November from 8.00am to 4.30pm every Saturday. Just a few of the interesting merchants you can visit include the Scottish Shortbread Company, Mud Creek Bison Ranch, Cheese Filled Company and Casa Larga Vineyards.

3900 New York 14A, Penn Yan, NY 14527, 315 536 3032

25.Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry, Seneca Falls

Established to engage, educate and fascinate visitors with the rich history of industry and waterways in the Finger Lakes region, the Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry was established in Fall Street in 1998, in a repurposed 3-storey building bordering the Cayuga-Seneca Canal. This essential canal was built in 1818 to join the Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, making industry and trade viable for the people of Seneca Falls and beyond. When you visit the museum today you will find 3 floors of exhibits which bring the history of Seneca Falls and the Finger Lakes to life. The museum has a gift shop and you can access the boats on the canal directly from the museum.

89 Fall Street, Seneca Falls, NY 13148, 315 568 1510