Central New York state’s Finger Lakes—Skaneateles Lake, Cayuga Lake, Seneca Lake, Keuka Lake, Canandaigua Lake, Canadice Lake, Owasco Lake, Otisco Lake, Honeoye Lake, Hemlock Lake, and Conesus Lake—look like long, narrow claw marks, and were clawed out by receding glaciers thousands of years ago. While the Finger Lakes have been a popular regional tourist destination for generations, the lovely little towns surrounding the lakes deserve to be even more widely known. Full of historical significance, natural wonders, and fabulous amenities and attractions, these eight towns are well worth a visit any time of year.
Hammondsport
Hammondsport is a village of fewer than 1,000 residents located at the picturesque southern edge of Keuka Lake, yet it has had an outsized regional influence. The Finger Lakes’ wine industry began in Hammondsport in 1829, and the Taylor Wine Museum is a must-visit for wine enthusiasts. Meanwhile, one of the most important pioneers of powered flight, Glenn Curtiss, operated out of Hammondsport, which is celebrated at the Curtiss Museum. Hammondsport also hosts great community events throughout the year, including a classic boat show in July and a seaplane and car show in September.
Geneva
The Finger Lakes are known for great fishing, and Geneva is one of the premier fishing spots, which is why it hosts the National Lake Trout Derby each May. Situated at the northern tip of Seneca Lake, Geneva also boasts one of the region’s best collections of historical architecture. In-town architectural highlights include the Exchange Street business corridor, the combined campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and the still-in-use Smith Opera House from 1894. Additionally, the 1884 Belhurst Castle and 1910 Geneva-on-the-Lake resort lead the way out of town and into Finger Lakes wine country along the lakeshore.
Canandaigua
In the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) language, Canandaigua means “the chosen place,” which is fitting for the lake and the town on its northern shore that share the name. The town of Canandaigua, home to about 10,000 residents, has a long history as a center for education and business in the region. The Main Street Historic District is perfect for an architectural tour and some shopping, while the Victorian-era Sonnenberg Mansion has been transformed into a state park with 50 acres of beautiful gardens. When the gardening and boating seasons end and the snow arrives, Canandaigua hosts a great Winter Carnival and offers skiing at nearby Powder Mills Ski Park.
Auburn
Auburn is often associated with the historic state prison that has been in town for more than 200 years, but this community of 27,000 at the northern end of Owasco Lake offers many more appealing reasons to visit. For example, the mid-1800s homes of two key figures in the movement to abolish slavery, Harriet Tubman and William Seward, now operate as museums. In a related vein, the town’s visitors center doubles as the Equal Rights Heritage Center. Auburn is also renowned for cross-country skiing and minor-league baseball, with the Auburn Doubledays offering a great pastime on warm summer evenings.
Watkins Glen
Depending on who you ask, the town of Watkins Glen is synonymous with wineries, waterfalls, or race cars—and all three are true! Sitting at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, Watkins Glen is surrounded by some of the Finger Lakes’ premier wineries that offer fantastic tours and tastings. Also, directly adjacent to downtown Watkins Glen State Park is home to an awe-inspiring gorge trail that passes no fewer than 19 cascading waterfalls. Additionally, Watkins Glen International Speedway hosts numerous auto races from spring to fall, including an extremely popular NASCAR race. You can even book a time to drive your own car on the famous track!
Skaneateles
Skaneateles, pronounced “Skanny-atlas” or “Skinny-atlas,” is the distinctive name of one of the Finger Lakes and the town of 7,000 that resides on its northern edge. The town of Skaneateles, like the nearby city of Syracuse (20 miles northeast), has a proud history of antislavery activism and maintains historic structures from that era, like the 1810 Kelsey-Davey Farm and 1832 Community Place. The town’s residents do not just honor the past, though; they also celebrate today with great community events, including the Summer Music Festival, Curbstone Festival, Antique and Classic Boat Show, Dickens Christmas, and Winterfest.
Seneca Falls
Downtown Seneca Falls looks so much like a classic movie set that it is easy to see why it is considered the inspiration for the fictional Bedford Falls in the 1946 holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life. The town celebrates that film connection with a museum and an annual celebration but is even more proud of its claim to fame as the birthplace of America’s women’s rights movement. This town, situated between Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake, hosted the famous 1848 Women’s Rights Convention, which is now commemorated at the Women’s Rights National Historic Park. History and small-town charm abound in Seneca Falls, making it perfect for a walking tour any time of year.
Penn Yan
Penn Yan, one of the oldest Finger Lakes towns, got its quirky name from a compromise between its early Pennsylvania and New England “Yankee” settlers. The Penn Yan Historic District includes over 200 structures dating back well over a century, and Birkitt Mills has been churning out its famous buckwheat flour since 1797. Penn Yan is better known for wine than flour these days, however, and is the starting point for the Keuka Lake Wine Trail, which hosts a Wine and Cheese Festival every April. A different kind of trail, the Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, is great for hiking, biking, or snow-shoeing, depending on the season.
Most Idyllic Small Towns In New YorkThe real idyllic towns, wrapped in nature and old-world charm, offer serenity away from the big city lights.
While the Finger Lakes region is great for boating, fishing, swimming, and outdoor recreation of all kinds, its small towns are underrated for their historical and cultural significance. From leadership in the abolitionist and women’s rights movements to advancements in the wine, airplane, and motorsports industries, the towns surrounding these eleven lovely lakes have many stories to tell. If you are looking for a vacation that is relaxing yet also educational and inspirational, give the Finger Lakes a try!
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Christopher Osborne June 7 2024 in Places
