My first suggestion would be to head to Niagara on the Lake..it is in a winery district but it is also a very quaint town with many bed and breakfasts, inns. From there I would continue to Toronto(1 hour). Once you check into a hotel, you would not need your car. Lots of wonderful restaurants, things to see, theatre, etc. Continue westward onto the 401 departing Toronto and head to Mennonite country north of Kitchener(1.5 hours from TO)..lovely towns like St. Jacobs...onward to Stratford(about 30 minutes west on Highway 7 or 8(?)..check out the internet for peformances there..back to the 401 with a return via Detroit..

"Buffalo Girl" has good suggestions...as always. I would suggest considering going to Letchworth State Park... about an hour east of Buffalo...ver scenic. especially if you drive south of Buffalo, past Warsaw and into the Park...check it out! Decide if you want to spend time in cities...toronto or buffalo...or some scenic countryside.

Definitely disagree with the idea that the Finger Lakes region is a full eight hours from Niagara. As I said in an earlier post, we lived in Syracuse for three years. Syracuse is on the opposite side of the Finger Lakes from Niagara. Niagara Falls is less than 4 hours from Syracuse. (According to the '05 Rand McNally Atlas, Buffalo to Syracuse is 154 miles.) We made the trip pretty much every time someone new came from Illinois to visit us!

Living in the Chicago 'burbs and having a daughter who goes to school in western Massachusetts, we've made the trip across New York state several times in the past couple of years. You can pretty much cross the entire state on the Thruway in eight hours.

To repeat myself again, I think the entire state is very pretty. I don't think you can go wrong no matter what part you choose to visit. I'm sure you'd be very happy with the Finger Lakes area. But, as you say you're from wine country, maybe Toronto would be of more interest to you. Because it's a city, it may be more of a contrast for you.

I have to second giro's suggestion for Letchworth. It's absolutely beautiful (it's called the Grand Canyon of the east)!

Here's a website for pictures and info:

http://www.perrychamber.com/letchworth-park.php


Also, there is quite a history behind the park and the woman who donated the land, Mary Jemison. Her family was killed by Indians in Ohio. She was a young girl, when this happened, and for some reason they didn't kill her. They marched her to their home near where Letchworth is and raised her as one of her own. They give her all the land. There's a book called "Mary Jamison: White Woman of the ???? - I can't remember the whole title. It's very interesting. Here's a website regarding the history of Mary Jemison and Letchworth:
http://www.letchworthparkhistory.com/table.html

After Niagara Falls, we drove to Toronto, saw a show (Hairspray), a few sights, ate at some great restaurants and really enjoyed it. Drove back to Buffalo to depart for home.

Thanks to everyone that responded. I think we have decided that we will go to the Fingers Lake region. That area looks like our type of sight seeing vacation. Now, does anyone know how much it costs to get into New York state parks?
Since we will only be in that area 2 days, what should we not miss? So far I have checked out Watkins Glen and Letchworth. Both look interesting, but I am open to more suggestions.
I would like to vary the sights but hit the best of the best in the Fingers area. Thanks.

Letchworth, Letchworth, Letchworth!!!!!