Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Insiders tips for Geneva NY and surrounding area

Insiders tips for Geneva NY and surrounding area

Old Sep 21st, 2011, 01:09 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Insiders tips for Geneva NY and surrounding area

Four active older adults are traveling to Geneva NY in mid October and want to explore local favorites; sights, activities, restaurants and shopping. Already checked out Fodor's on-line and am looking for additional ideas. Nice day trips from Geneva are an option as well.
Moretosee is offline  
Old Sep 22nd, 2011, 03:02 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hobart College is there (my uncle used to be a professor there). It's near Corning Glassware and some kind of canyon whose name escapes me. I haven't been there in maybe 40 years.
SueNYC is offline  
Old Sep 22nd, 2011, 06:57 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 861
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Geneva NY is a beautiful little town with some interesting and walkable historic neighborhoods. If you enjoy wine, be sure to check out some of the excellent wineries on Seneca Lake. There are many! The foliage will likely be past peak by mid-October but the finger lakes are still very scenic.

Highly recommend dining at Ports Cafe located just south of Geneva on the west side of Seneca Lake - outstanding food. Check website for making reservations and their schedule - not open every day. Also, don't judge by their very small menu. They have 12-20 specials each day as they use only the best, fresh ingredients. Great place. Also really enjoy Dano's Heuriger on the east side of Seneca Lake. Really neat place with a great menu.

If you have not been to Watkins Glen State Park, it is highly recommended. Nice walk along the very scenic gorge - one of NY's prettiest state parks. Enjoy your trip!
sharondi is offline  
Old Sep 22nd, 2011, 08:20 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 26,243
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you make the trip to Watkins Glen (the other end of Seneca Lake from Geneva, head over to Ithaca (one end of Lake Cayuga) -- a great college town, home of Cornell U. and Ithaca College, with many of its own fabulous gorges, parks, etc.
sf7307 is offline  
Old Sep 22nd, 2011, 08:28 AM
  #5  
cd
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,981
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We stayed in Geneva this year and took a wine tour. Enjoyed it very much. For a day trip Niagara Falls is only 2hrs away.
cd is offline  
Old Sep 22nd, 2011, 12:40 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,716
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
The best of the museums in Corning is the Corning Museum of Glass. http://www.cmog.org/
I used to go to the racetrack near Watkins Glen in the days when the Grand Prix of the US was run there.
tomfuller is online now  
Old Sep 23rd, 2011, 09:06 AM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Geneva is a good base for day trips. Wineries, Watkins Glen, Outlet Mall. Just remember Mid-October weekends are some of the busiest...hope you already have rooms booked or you may have troubles finding any. Ports Cafe is great, other good restaurants... Red Newt Bistro, Suzanne's and Stone Cat Cafe, all on Seneca Lake.
4merlot is offline  
Old Sep 24th, 2011, 11:26 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks to all! Sound like Ports Cafe is a must and now we have a few more interesting restaurants to check out. Ithaca sounds like a good choice too. My favorite is the Corning Glass Museum. We may have to visit again even if our friends aren't interested. Maybe I'll be able to contribute some finds of my own when we return.
Moretosee is offline  
Old Sep 25th, 2011, 06:27 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Geneva's a great little town and a wonderful gateway to the Finger Lakes.

Corning Museum of Glass is a must, and while you're in Corning, you may also want to visit the Rockwell Museum of Western Art (http://www.rockwellmuseum.org/)

Some other great activities you may enjoy are:

~ Visit Belhurst in Geneva for a lovely meal and a wine tasting. (http://www.belhurst.com).

~ Canandaigua is a charming town with a lot of history and if you enjoy history, wine tasting and horticulture, Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion is a must!
(http://www.fingerlakestravelmaven.co...ns-and-mansion)

- Watkins Glen is wonderful, and if you decide to go there, be sure to stop at Red Newt Winery & Bistro on the way there or back, and Skyland Farm, Craft Gallery & Cafe (info about both at http://www.fingerlakestravelmaven.co...linary-compass)

~ Letchworth State Park, the Grand Canyon of the East, is a bit farther from where you're staying, but well worth the extra time. (http://www.fingerlakestravelmaven.co...on-of-the-east)

~ In Rochester, you might consider a trip on the Erie Canal on the Sam Patch or Mary Jemison Packet Boats (http://samandmary.org) or on the Colonial Belle (http://colonialbelle.com). Also in Rochester, one of my favorite Museums (only open Friday - Sunday) is ARTISANworks (http://travelmaven.wordpress.com/200...treasure-hunt/)

~ Another wonderful museum is the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport (http://www.fingerlakestravelmaven.co...iation-museum/). Hammondsport is also a charming little town and there a number of wonderful wineries nearby including Heron Hill and Dr. Frank's (http://www.keukawinetrail.com/wineries/)

I hope this helps!
TheTravelMaven is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
joane
United States
5
Mar 30th, 2011 09:17 AM
sminerva21
United States
5
Aug 26th, 2010 07:47 AM
mavip
United States
4
Aug 15th, 2006 11:33 AM
bonzo
Europe
14
May 25th, 2006 01:14 AM
mdellar
Europe
7
Apr 3rd, 2005 07:14 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -