18 Best Things to Do in Canandaigua, New York

© jakkapan/stock.adobe.com

Formerly the summer home of a wealthy New York City banker, the Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park is a gorgeous 50-acre property with nine formal gardens. Much of the 40-room mansion is open to visitors, as are the gardens, which range from an elaborate Japanese garden to a peaceful rock garden. During the high season, the admission ticket includes a guided tour of the estate. The park is open to visitors seven days a week between the beginning of May and the end of October, and during these months, there are often evening concerts, afternoon high teas, and other special events.

151 Charlotte St, Canandaigua, NY 14424, Phone: 585-394-4922

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Only ten miles outside of Canandaigua, the Bristol Mountain Ski Resort is the place to go if you want to have some fun outdoors, particularly in the winter. The park boasts 34 trails spread out over almost 140 acres, and with the trails ranging from green to double black, there's something for skiers and riders of all ability levels. Two terrain parks and a handful of cross-country skiing trails can be found here as well. It's worth visiting the resort in the summer as well; they have a challenging high ropes course, a ziplines course, and a kids' adventure park.

5662 NY-64, Canandaigua, NY 14424

© CMAC

Known in full as the Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center, the CMAC is a large amphitheater that can hold up to 15,000 people. The seating is both under the roof and on the grassy hill overlooking the stage, and the performances range from popular musicians to ballet shows. A wide variety of food and drink trucks are usually on-site during events, and there's also a Corona-themed beer garden on the lawn. If you want to upgrade your experience, you can even get tickets for a VIP tent with a private bar and complimentary snacks.

4355 Lakeshore Dr, Canandaigua, NY 14424

© Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum

Originally constructed in 1816, the Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum offers a fascinating look how people in the area used to live. The elegant three-story mansion is open to visitors by guided tour, and the tour also goes through two old barns filled with antique sleighs, carriages, and farm equipment. Visitors are encouraged to explore the beautiful grounds and gardens on their own. Carriage rides are offered between June and October, and during the winter, guests can often take a short sleigh ride around the property. Every November, the estate hosts a popular Festival of Trees and a three-day Christmas market.

295 N Main St, Canandaigua, NY 14424, Phone: 585-394-1472

© Young Lion Brewing Company

Brewing with pride from the Finger Lakes area, the Young Lion Brewing Company was first opened in 2017 with a 10,000 BBL production brewery, a 2,400-square-foot events center, and a beautiful 1,000-square-foot taproom. The Young Lion Brewing Company is located at Canandaigua Lake’s northern shore and proudly produces spectacular beers characterized by a specialty malt. Visitors and beer aficionados are welcome to drop by the taproom to sip on what’s new at the brewery and to sample flagship beers that have made Young Lion a local favorite. The brewing company’s flagship lineup includes the Young Lion IPA, the Young Lion Pilsner, and the Young Lion Double IPA. Small batch specials have included cans like Imperial Salted Caramel Porter, the Blueberry Coconut Sour, and the Cranberry Berliner.

24 Lakeshore Drive, Canandaigua, New York 14424; Phone: 585-412-6065

© Ontario County Historical Society

If you want to learn about the history of Ontario County and the people who have lived here over the years, there's no better place to do so than at the Ontario County Historical Society. They have a wide collection of historical objects and photos, and there's always an interesting exhibit to see. The staff are also happy to help you with your own genealogical research projects, although it's best to arrange an appointment in advance. If you're interested in learning even more, there's also a small bookshop with a fascinating selection of books, CDs, and DVDs.

55 N Main St, Canandaigua, NY 14424, Phone: 585-394-4975

© Lincoln Hill Farms

Occupying 95 acres of historic farmland, Lincoln Hill Farms is a family-friendly gathering place that holds both public and private events. Live music is held Thursday through Sunday, and every Sunday, there's a special family day with free admission, children's yard games, and a small petting zoo. A farm-to-table food truck and a 'silo bar' with 36 tap beers can be found on-site as well. Other events are held throughout the year as well; the most up-to-date information can be found on their website, but keep an eye out for extra-special seasonal events like the August Brewfest and the Halloween paintball.

3792 NY-247, Canandaigua, NY 14424, Phone: 585-563-8846

© Pat Rini Rohrer Art Gallery

Owned and operated by a talented local artist, the Pat Rini Rohrer Art Gallery is a great place to see some incredible artwork made by artists who call the Finger Lakes region home. The gallery is housed inside a gorgeous refurbished 1850s house on Main Street, and it typically features a wide range of different artistic styles, including hand-blown glass, oil and watercolor paintings, unique sculptures, and jewelry. Visitors are always welcome to stop by during opening hours, and if you have more time, the gallery also offers one-day workshops and multi-session classes taught by various professional artists from the area.

71 S Main St, Canandaigua, NY 14424, Phone: 585-394-0030

© Jeanne Beck Gallery & Studio

Found in a beautiful loft space above the Dalai Java Coffee Shop, the Jeanne Beck Gallery & Studio is a working artist's studio that also functions as a contemporary art gallery. The works on display include both paintings and mixed media creations, all of which are the creations of the artist who owns the gallery, and many are available for sale. From time to time, the gallery also hosts free and paid workshops covering various aspects of painting, mixed media creation, and storytelling. Supplies are typically included, and private painting lessons are also available for artists of all levels.

154 Mill St, Canandaigua, NY 14424, Phone: 585-704-6419

© Simply Crepes Cafe - Canandaigua

Established by a French-Canadian family with a delicious crepe recipe that has been passed down for generations, the Simply Crepes Cafe is a unique restaurant that serves sweet and savory crepes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All dishes are made fresh from locally sourced ingredients, and although the menu changes with the season, there's always salads, soups, and sides as well as an incredible selection of crepes. Lactose- and gluten-free crepes are available for guests with dietary restrictions. The restaurant is open seven days a week, and on Sunday mornings, there's a special brunch buffet with a made-to-order crepe station.

101 S Main St, Canandaigua, NY 14424, Phone: 585-394-9090

© New York Kitchen

For lovers of food, wine, or beer, the New York Kitchen is a must-visit while in Canandaigua. Hands-on cooking classes teach guests how to make everything from wontons to hot sauce, and wine and beer workshops cover everything you need to know about local New York state wine and beer. There are even Junior Chef classes where kids can practice making foods like cookies, pizza, and pasta from scratch. If you'd rather simply relax and enjoy a delicious meal, there's also an excellent on-site restaurant and bar that focuses on crafting their cuisine with local and seasonal ingredients.

800 S Main St, Canandaigua, NY 14424, Phone: 585-394-7070

© Rio Tomatlan

Specializing in authentic Mexican food and cocktails, Rio Tomatlan is an inviting restaurant with funky decor and a beautiful patio. The ingredients are either sourced locally or imported from small Mexican producers, and house specialties include mole enchiladas, chile rellenos, and chicken tacos. There's also a wonderful selection of Mexican tequilas and mezcals, and the bar is known for its delicious specialty margaritas. Live music, themed dinners, and other special events are held here from time to time, and the space can also be booked for private events, including dinners, cocktail hours, and cooking classes.

106 Bemis St, Canandaigua, NY 14424, Phone: 585-394-9380

© Cheshire Farms Creamery

Inspired by the happiness of old-time family farms, the Cheshire Farms Creamery is the perfect place for a sweet treat or a light lunch on a hot summer day. Their home-churned ice cream is made with local dairy products, and there are always around 20 different flavors to choose from, although the menu changes daily. If you don't eat dairy, there's a small selection of non-dairy Dole whip as well. Ice cream cakes can be ordered to celebrate a special event at home, and the shop also has a cafe with fresh baked goods, sandwiches, and excellent locally roasted coffee.

10 Parrish St, Canandaigua, NY 14424, Phone: 585-396-9793

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Roseland Wake Park proves that you don’t need a boat to enjoy some adrenaline-pumping water sports! The park is the first (and only) full-sized cable wake park in the northeast area and is frequented by water sports enthusiasts from all over the country. Roseland Wake Park features a 2-tower cable training system that will help beginners to learn wakeboarding faster and will help get novice wakeboarders to the next level of the sport. The park’s systems can pull a total of nine riders at the same time, sending riders straight to awesome ramps and rails that are scattered throughout the park. It’s important to know that Roseland Wake Park does require reservations to visit. First-timers are also encouraged to book lessons ahead of time.

250 Eastern Boulevard, Canandaigua, New York 14424; Phone: 583-393-WAKE (9253)

© Roseland Bowl

If you’re looking for a place to bring your energetic family for a full day of fun and excitement, look no further than the Roseland Bowl. The main feature of Roseland Bowl is its 34-lane bowling alley equipped with optional bumpers and automatic scoring. Additionally, Roseland Bowl is home to a busy arcade called the Fun Zone that is jam-packed with the latest and most popular arcade games. The Fun Zone is also home to a laser tag arena, a bumper car area, and a prize redemption center. One of the newer features of the Roseland Bowl is the “Time Freak” arena which will have players on a mission to hit as many of the arena’s targets as possible in just 90 exciting seconds.

4357 Recreation Drive, Canandaigua, New York 14424; Phone: 585-394-5050

© Sweet Expressions

Taking a trip to Sweet Expressions is like making your way to a chocolate lovers' paradise. After all, Sweet Expressions has been preparing decadent chocolates in incredible variety daily, just like their popular and fast-selling homemade fudge, since 1997. From nostalgic chocolates to new creations, there is something for every person at Sweet Expressions. Sweet Expressions offers fine chocolates like chocolate mint patties, chocolate nut clusters and barks, sea salt caramels, and many others. Excitingly, they also offer scrumptious truffles and sugar-free chocolate options for those who want to enjoy chocolate without having to worry too much.

169 South Main Street-Downtown, Canandaigua, New York 14424; Phone: 585-394-5250

© Naked Dove Brewing Company

Established by three friends with a passion for craft beer, the Naked Dove Brewing Company should be on every beer lover's list of places to visit in Canandaigua. They serve six incredible beers year-round, including an amber ale, an IPA, and a porter, and there's always a rotating selection of seasonal beers as well. The tasting room is open seven days a week, and customers are welcome to stop by to enjoy a tasting flight, fill a growler, or even pick up a keg for a special event. On the weekends, visitors can sometimes also get a behind-the-scenes tour of the brewery.

4048 State Route 5 and 20, Canandaigua, NY 14424, Phone: 585-396-2537