Hi
I am planning to drive to Niagra Falls from NY City later this month for a long weekend. We are planning on driving straight there staying 1 night then coming back slower and stopping off somewhere.Can someone please advise a scenic drive back and somewhere interesting to stop for the night.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

I think the most interesting place is Corning- to see the glass works - but they may be closed on Mondays. Take the Thruway from Buffalo to exit 48 - Batavia - down 63 to 390 - goes to Corning. Finger lakes and Ithaca nearby. From Corning to Binghamton - then different ways to NYC.

There are several good B&B's near Corning - Elmira - Ithaca, but I can't recommend one.

Jenny--
Corning was the very first place I thought of, too!
Do you have more than two nights for this trip?
Buffalo is observing the centennial of the Pan-American Exposition. See
http://www.panam2001.buffalo.edu/site/events/index.html
If you exit 390 near Mount Morris, you'll have an opportunity to visit Letchworth State Park-- hike some trails and view the waterfalls and gorge of the Genessee River. (We usually opt not for the Thruway-390 route, and instead take the by-way--routes 20, 63, then 36 before picking up 390.)
But...if this is your first visit to the Falls, you might want to explore the U.S. side and Ontario's Niagara Penninsula a bit. You'll find plenty of advice on the area on this board and on the Canada board. The road from Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of our favorites.
Enjoy your trip!

If you are a baseball fan at all Cooperstown (Baseball Hall of Fame) is a fun little town and has places to stay although I have never stayed there so can't be more helpful.

Jenny, I make this trip often. In fact, we are going up that way ourselves in two weeks. I strongly recommend Letchworth Park for a stop, evn if just for a drive through. They do have an Inn on the grounds, Glen Iris Inn, although they're probably pretty booked. The park is referred to as the Grand Canyon of the east. We've taken a few friends and relatives through there, and every one has been impressed with it. Even if you don't stay there, it's worth a drive through, but allow a couple hours. If you do this, I recommend starting at the top, which is just off 63 I believe, and drive through, and then pick up 390 in Danville. From there you can continue on to Corning, also worth a stop. Rt. 17 [soon to be interstate 86, in case your map shows one or the other], should have some beautiful fall foliage spots then too.

Jenny,
It's NIAGARA Falls.

Jenny, I live in this area, and it has always amazed me that everyone thinks visiting Corning Glass is such a great thing to do. Cooperstown is a much better suggestion - lots to do there. From my standpoint, I would consider crossing NY State on Route 20 which will take you in the vicinity of the Finger Lakes, and spend a bit of time touring the lakes and wineries. Skaneateles Lake is especially interesting - very pretty - nice inns to stay at and unique shops to visit - also boat rides on the lake. Our former president and Hillary vacationed there last summer. Enjoy our area. Marie

Check out Skaneatlas-one of the Finger Lake towns. Really charming, good antiquing, great inn right across the street from the lake-stillworking on remembering the name-anyone?

Rt. 20 is a good way to get from Buffalo to 390 or stay on through the finger lake area. The inn across from the lake in Skaneatales is Sherwood Inn. Along the route are several scenic towns with old Victorian homes and beautiful lakes. A stop at an apple orchard for fresh apples is worth considering as well. There are at least two places on Rt. 20 where you can do this.