The Finger Lakes: The Autumn Playground of Western New York
The Seasons are changing and the colder days are approaching, at least in the timeless state of New York. When
Dominique Angellotti
The Seasons are changing and the colder days are approaching, at least in the timeless state of New York. When most of us think of New York we picture slices of pizza, broadway and 5th, and of course that famous time square. New York has much more to offer than movies like to give away and our Fall/Winter picks for your experience in Western New York are sure to impress and release New York’s secluded pieces of heaven; The Finger Lakes.
Sunday Brunch; Igloo Style
A trip to Western New York kick starts at Kettle Ridge Farm for a quiet morning brunch. This maple-inspired brunch treats its guests to a four-course meal all maple syrup tapped from the farm’s acres of maple trees. Brunch is served in an untraditional setting with an Igloo as your host venue.
The Igloo is heated and completely see-through so that guests can enjoy not only the tastes of the local surroundings but the sights of beautiful snowfalls and charming forests. An Igloo is set up and prepared for you and five guests with a chef’s choice spread prepared. Kettle Ridge Farm is located in Victor New York on 515 Cabin Road. The trek out to the woods is a chilly one so the staff suggests warm clothes for your one-of-a-kind experience.
Dinner in Belhurst Castle
Dinner is served at this Finger Lakes hot spot. Radiating vintage luxury and a well-known tourist attraction, Belhurst Castle is an iconic location on the western shores of Seneca lake. The lake stretch over a 66.87-mile span and prides itself on the endless winter and fall activity that take place both on and surrounding the lake. Ranking in the world’s best wine hotels, the Belhurst has a lot to offer guests and we just can’t get over this view.
The hotel offers an extensive amount of unique experiences for the area including a private spa and salon, dining experiences, beautiful accommodations, and hand-crafted wine and beer from local distilleries and wineries. The hotel offers guests and the community with a Belhurst store where people can savor their homemade ciders and craft beers along with many other local beverages.
The Hotel shows its local spirit a step further in Edgar’s Restaurant located in the hotel serving daily only the most popular and freshest of dishes. Dinner is served at this Finger Lakes hot spot.
Geneva on the Lake
What a place is it to be on the lake during fall foliage so why not spend it in the state that showcases the seasons changing best. Located in the heart of Geneva NY, this resort is by far the best around and most worth a travelers time. Home to a lakefront Olympic-sized swimming pool, historical gardens and an impressive spread of reviews, the resort on Geneva Lake is a spectacular location for a fall experience.
The surrounding wineries and breweries are open all year long and do not disappoint an adventurous palette. The resort is connected with many locations around the region giving you an effortless list of sights to see, beverages to drink, and wineries to visit. The grounds are architecturally designed to fit an English styles manor on both the exterior and interior.
Your accommodations can be anything from a single private room to a historic library sweet, landmarking villa suite or a townhouse near the property for the utmost privacy. The best location for an extra step into the changing of the seasons are short drives from the resort including Letchworth State Park, Walkins Glen and Stoney Brooke.
Winery Recommendations
Wine is what the finger Lakes is known for and some of the most famous wines around the world were created in this region of NY. The Finger Lakes has been a grape growing and winemaking territory for more than 200 years when the first winery began growing in the 1830s. The following wineries have unique characteristics and pride themselves on keeping to the roots of the finger lakes while pulling from the winemaker’s own personal background.
- Glenora Wine Cellar – From New York State fair medals to one of the world’s top wineries.
- Living roots – South Australia flavor meets Western NY flavor.
- Ravines Wine Cellar – A European winemaker makes a mark in Western NY.
- Lamoreaux Landing – A winery with an environmental twist.
- Dr. Konstantin Frank – Russian roots changing the world with wine.
It’s a Wonderful Life Celebration
From the small town of Seneca Falls to the big screen and this hometown is certainly in celebration mode at Christmas time. On the second week in December, this iconic town lights up and recreates a timeless motion picture “It’s A Wonderful Life”. Fans of the movie and guests from all over the world can spend the weekend at one of the “It’s A Wonderful Life” museum recommendations around the Finger Lakes Region.
Autograph signings of the local actors, Christmas workshops, Holiday treats and refreshments, shopping, and reenactments take place over the weekend for a traditional style Christmas. A step back into a simpler and warmer holiday season is truly the draw for the event and something quite that is a part of what Western New York has become.