Geneva, NY: The Heart of the Finger Lakes

1. Seneca Lake State Park

Encompassing just over 140 acres, Seneca Lake State Park is located on the north end of the lake, and it's a wonderful place for year-round outdoor recreation. Amenities include a swimming beach, six pavilions, and plenty of picnic tables, and families with children will also appreciate the playground and the "Sprayground", which features more than 100 water spray jets. Boat launches and two marinas are available for anyone who wants to get out on the water to boat or fish, and when the lake freezes over in the winter, it's an excellent spot for ice fishing.

Address: 1 Lake Front Dr, Geneva, NY 14456 , Phone: 315-789-2331

2. Ravines Wine Cellars - Seneca Lake

Ravines Wine Cellars - Seneca Lake was the first winery in the Finger Lakes region to pursue a traditional European winemaking approach, and the tasting room and vineyard on Seneca Lake is their original location. They're best known for their dry white wines, particularly their bone-dry Riesling, but they offer an excellent selection of red and sparkling wines as well. Most of their wines can be sampled in their year-round tasting room, which also serves a small menu of local cheeses, chocolates, and seasonally inspired small plates on most weekends. Tours and elaborate food pairing experiences are available by appointment.

Address: Ravines Wine Cellars, 400 Barracks Rd, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-781-7007

3. Rose Hill Mansion

Dating back to 1837, the Rose Hill Mansion is a gorgeous Greek Revival home that overlooks Seneca Lake. The mansion was inhabited by the Swan Family between 1850 and 1890, and many of the rooms are furnished just as they would have been during the family's time here.

The mansion is open to the public between the beginning of May and the end of October, and guided tours are offered multiple times a day Tuesday through Sunday. If you want a souvenir, you can stop by the gift shop to pick up an old-fashioned children's game, a historic book, or a local handicraft.

Address: Rose Hill Mansion, 3373 NY-96A, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-789-3848

4. Zugibe Vineyards

Boasting 40 acres of beautiful vineyards home to more than ten different grape varieties, Zugibe Vineyards is a family owned and operated winery that offers a delightful assortment of dry and semi-dry wines. The tasting room is open year-round, and guests can choose between a dry flight and a sweet one.

There's also a seasonal bistro, which is open for dinner on Thursdays and lunch on Saturdays between late May and the end of September. Live music is held on these Thursday evenings as well, and guests are welcome to bring a blanket and relax on the lawn with a glass of wine or beer.

Address: Zugibe Vineyards, 4248 E Lake Rd, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-585-6402

5. Smith Opera House

Originally known as the Geneva Theater, the Smith Opera House has been the heart of the community's arts scene since it was built in 1894, and it's immediately recognizable thanks to its elegant brick exterior.

The building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979, and the ornate interior has been carefully restored to its original grandeur, giving visitors the feeling that they've truly stepped back in time. A variety of different live performances are held here, including live music, children's plays, and dance shows, and there's also a historic movie theater that sometimes screens films.

Address: Smith Opera House, 82 Seneca St, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-781-5483

6. Ventosa Vineyard

Located on a gorgeous 65-acre property overlooking Lake Seneca, Ventosa Vineyard is an Italian-style winery that aims to make visitors feel like they've been transported to Tuscany.

Dry red wines crafted according to Old World traditions are their specialty, but they also offer some excellent white wines and sweet dessert wines, and many of their wines are made entirely with grapes grown right in their own vineyards. The tasting room and bistro are open year-round, and live music performances are held once a week, although tastings aren't available after 5 p.m. on live music nights.

Address: Ventosa Vineyard , 3440 NY-96A, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-719-0000

7. Billsboro Winery

Specializing in dry vinifera wines, Billsboro Winery is owned and operated by a husband and wife team with a serious passion for wine. Their tasting room is housed inside a historic barn surrounded by majestic walnut trees, and guests are always welcome to stop by during opening hours to sample some wines and learn from the knowledgeable tasting room staff.

Special wine and chocolate tastings are available upon request, and during the summer, a Pizza on the Patio event is held every other week. The winery is open year-round except for a two-week break in early January.

Address: Billsboro Winery, 4760 W Lake Rd, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-789-9538

8. Lake Drum Brewing

Made up of a collective of artisan beer makers, Lake Drum Brewing is a unique brewing company that believes in pushing the limits of the craft beer revolution. As a farm brewery, at least 60% of the ingredients for each beer are grown locally, and the company also makes an effort to source all of the ingredients for their ciders from growers in New York State. Their beer portfolio includes everything from sours to IPAs to pale ales, and the ciders range from dry to semi-sweet. The tasting room is open seven days a week, and live music is sometimes played on the weekends.

Address: Lake Drum Brewing, 16 E Castle St, Geneva, NY 14456, Phone: 315-789-1200