Watkins Glen

Located in Montour Falls, near Watkins Glen and Seneca Lake in the New York’s Finger Lakes Region, the Brick Tavern Museum and Wickham Rural Life Center occupy a grand Federal-style structure completed in 1828. The museum’s exhibitions tell the story of Schuyler County’s rich past through exhibits such as Native American textiles, medical artifacts, fashions, transportation, and industries in the area. The museum’s excellent research room makes it a popular stop with genealogists. Located in the same building, the Wickham Rural Life Center offers exhibitions on the rural life in the area in late 19th and early 20th centuries. Both the museum and the center are managed by the Schuyler County Historical Society.

108 N Catherine St, Montour Falls, NY 14865

A visit to Seneca Lake is would not be perfect without taking one of Captain Bill's Seneca Lake Cruises . Located at the far southern end of Seneca Lake in upstate New York. You can take a dining cruise on their finely appointed Seneca Legacy ship for dinner, lunch, or afternoon cocktails. You can also choose a sightseeing cruise on the Stroller IV, captain Bill’s vintage 49-passenger vessel. For an hour, you will cruise along the beautiful lake and enjoy the scenery, peace, and quiet. You can also relax on the edge of the lake in Seneca Harbor Station and enjoy a meal in their restaurant on the sandy beach patio. The views are breathtaking.

1 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891, Phone: 607-535-4541

Castel Grisch is a quaint winery established in 1983, set on a magnificent 150-acre site with a breathtaking panorama of Seneca Lake. About 40 acres are planted with 14 varieties of vines. Castel Grisch uses the freshest, best quality grapes, mostly from their own vineyard, to produce high-quality wines, from dry to dessert and red to white. The tasting room at Castel Grisch is open daily from May to December and besides the winery’s wines, serves light meals such as delicious panini. There is an indoor area and an outdoor patio with magnificent views. The winery is a part of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail and is a popular wedding destination.

3380 County Rd 28, Watkins Glen, NY 14891, Phone: 607-535-9614

Spread over 271 acres on rolling green pastures in the scenic Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York, Watkins Glenn Farm Sanctuary offers home to over 500 farm animals rescued from various unfortunate situations. Visitors can spend the day at the sanctuary and let the guide tell them the stories of the pigs, cows, turkeys, and many other animals that now live happy lives in a lush, natural environment. There is an informative visitor center with a gift shop and a small scenic deck. The Farm Sanctuary can easily be found – it is located next door to the Sugar Hill State Forest. Farm Sanctuaries are a network of domestic animal shelters all over the country that provide home to animals in need and educate visitors about the realities of the factory farming industry.

3150 Aikens Rd, Watkins Glen, NY 14891

Finger Lakes Wine Festival and Exhibition is a popular three-day event held every year in July at the Watkins Glen International race track in Watkins Glen. The festival showcases over 90 wineries, restaurants, hotels, and vendors of other products such as musical instruments. The festival brings local artisans, musicians, chefs, and thousands of visitors who come to enjoy great wines, food, live music, and events such as cooking classes and culinary demonstrations. Visitors can also find items such as hand-made chocolates, cigars, candles, oil paintings, and much more. All exhibitors are under tent, so the show goes on rain or shine. The festival is organized by Watkins Glen International.

Watkins Glen International, 2790 County Route 16, Watkins Glen, NY 14891

Grist Iron Brewing Company is a popular local microbrewery in Hector, NY, in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region. Founded in 2015, the brewery produces a range of unique varieties of beer, all made on-site in the traditional American style with their own slight twist. To make as many of their friends happy as possible, the folks at Grist Iron brew a wide range of different styles and flavors. The brewery’s tap room also offers delicious fresh pub grub, and the menu is chosen to pair well with what's currently on tap. There is live music almost every weekend and many different special events throughout the year.

4880 NY-414 Burdett, NY 14818, Phone: 607-882-2739

Hector Falls is a majestic waterfall that tumbles over a large expanse of limestone and shale rock on its way to Seneca Lake. The upper third, about 50 feet of falls, is visible from the roadside of the Rt 414. The lower parts of the falls are on private property and can be seen by the public only from a boat. But, it is well worth renting a boat or joining a tour in order to see the entire massive cascade of the falls. The source of the falls is Hector Falls Creek, which drains a huge area, including parts of the nearby Finger Lakes National Forest. During a dry summer, the water flow gets reduced to a trickle, but there is always at least some water. The falls are listed as 165 feet high, but are actually a lot taller, counting all the cascades.

Schuyler County Visitors Center, 100 N. Franklin St. Watkins Glen, NY 14891, Phone: 800-607-4552

Located in Schuyler County, just up the hill from Watkins Glen and a short drive from Ithaca, NY, Painted Bar Stables offer year-round guided trail rides. The trails run through the incredibly scenic area of the Finger Lakes with cascading waterfalls, beautiful lakes, and glacier-carved rolling hills. They also offer lessons, horse leasing, and boarding of horses. Their well-trained reliable American quarter horses and American paint horses guarantee a secure adventure for riders of all ages and all skill levels. Each ride is designed by carefully matchmaking horses with riders and the perfect trail – smooth or rugged – for the best possible experience. Groups are normally small and intimate, but the stable can accommodate groups of 15 riders if requested.

4093 Lake Street (Rte. 79), Burdett, NY 14818

Rainbow Fall is part of the incredibly scenic Watkins Glen State Park in the village of Watkins Glen, at the southernmost tip of Seneca Lake. Watkins Glen State Park is the most famous of all the Finger Lakes State Parks. The glen's stream drops 400 feet past vertical 200-foot cliffs, forming 19 waterfalls along its course. The path winds along the gorge over and under waterfalls. Rainbow Falls can be reached by hiking the fairly easy and popular Gorge Trails, and is one of four named falls in the park. It is located above the largest, the 60-foot Central Cascade, after crossing Glen Creek and a stone bridge. It is a convergence of several thinner streams that drop vertically into a shallow pool. The whole area is incredibly scenic and lush.

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