Fall trip to Finger Lakes questions
 

Our family with 12 year old son are planning trip to Finger Lakes for the Columbus day weekend ( I thought originally Sept 13-16 - school is off, but that considered Columbus Day weekend to catch the Fall Folliage). Is Columbus Day will be around peek time, like Vermont? Is it too cold? What town we should select as a base to explore the area (we will have 3 nights to stay and will be driving from NJ). We hope to get something on Priceline or something less than $150 per night. Any idea about accomodations and waht should we see would be very welcome. I'm planning to see Watking Glan, Ithaca parks/falls,maybe Cornell, Corning Glass museum, not sure if child is allowed on winery tour. I realised that we should book soon for the Columbus day weekend.
Thanks,
Mariya

There's only one hotel near there that shows up on Priceline (a 2* Best Western in Ithaca) and it's not very well reviewed.

I like the Glenora Inn, but it might be expensive. Kids are allowed at the wineries (but of course they can't sample).

The weather should be OK and the leaves should be good.

How about Skaneateles? I like that town a lot.

Mariya
I went to college in Ithaca, so I can help a little. I used to love coming up 96B and getting a peak of Lake Cayuga. Not sure where in NJ you are coming from, but it should be too long of a drive.. 380, 81...I like coming up the backroads, through 17 and 96B, but you can also get there on the Northern side of Ithaca(Cornell Side) by using 81.

Accommodations are tough in the town of Ithaca, but it is not short of gorgeous attractions. Buttermilk, Ithaca, Taughannock are all falls that shouldn't be missed. "Ithaca is Gorges"

I also want to make a suggestion of a sandwhich that is a must have. It is called the Hilbilly Deluxe. It used to be made at Big Al's, but I think it was renamed to Manly Mart. It is located South of the Ithaca Campus of route 96b

Thanks for the info so far. I still can't deside when is better to go:
1) Sept 13-16 or 2)Oct 6-8.
Option 1: more time, warmer, less people
Option 2: fall foliage, but colder (more chances for rain?) and more people (loging more expensive, I guess and harder to get).
Please help me to deside
Thanks,
Mariya

I would go in Sept. better chance of good weather. October would be a better bet for nice foliage, however. I also second the suggestion for Skaneateles. I love that town. You also may want to consider Auburn or Geneva.

Traveling from CA in 2004, we spent a week in early October driving through-out the Finger Lakes area. That year it was about a week too early for the maximum fall colors but the weather was perfect. One day it rained and we toured the Corning glass museum.
My favorite area was Watkins Glen. We stayed at the rustic Seneca Lodge for a couple of nights and toured the local State Park.
Also enjoyed Cornell Univ., Letchworth SP, Taughannock Falls SP, Buttermilk Falls SP and the many wineries in the area.
There was a lot to see in this beautiful part of NY.

September and October weekends are the busiest of the year in the Finger Lakes. You will definately want to try to get reservations asap. You may want to try to book directly with the hotel as many are small, non chains that might not pop up on Priceline. Yes children can go on winery tours and Corning Glass is a must (kids are free) save that if you get a rainy day. Peak foliage is usually around Columbus Day and weather in Sept. & Oct. can vary greatly. Watkins Glen would be a good area to base yourself, easy drive to Corning & Ithaca, nice little town and lots of wineries close by (many have great restaurants.)
Enjoy your trip!

Again, thanks for the recommendations. I got very frustreted with hotels/motels in Ithaca. I saw nice and cheap recomendation on TripAdviser for Horseheads area hotels. Should I consider Horseheads as a base (it's around 35 min to Ithaca, 25 to Wtakins Glen, 20 to Corning? One place is Country Inn by Carlson, another Hilton, they both on Priceline and cheap even without Priceline. Would I feel like in the middle of nowhere?
Thanks,
Mariya

I think Horseheads is just a place to stay. Nothing special. Try Geneva or Penn Yan. Are you interested in B&B's three are lots of those in the area? Again your problem maybe that everything is booked for those weekends. If you want.... something rustic...very rustic but right on a lake try the Viking Inn on Keuka Lake in Penn Yan. Close to wineries etc, 1,000 feet of lake frontage, pool, hot tub, boats etc...but not plush, basic motel rooms and a great location.

Horseheads would definitely just be a base of operations. If you don't mind driving a little to get into the finger lakes proper, then you can try Binghamton and the surrounding aread (johnson city, etc.) for hotel chains. I am not sure as to what your preferences are. If you enjoy B & B there are numreous that will not be on-line and, like most pasters have said, probably getting flooded with calls for fall.

Best of luck

My husband and I went to the Finger Lakes last July and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We stayed at the Belhurst Castle in Geneva on Seneca Lake. I am not sure if they do allow small children but the place was in a beautiful setting. We also visited Geneva on the Lake which was also another nice place to stay. If time allows, be sure to hit the wineries surround Lake Keuka. Our favorite winery was Dr. Frank's - be sure to check it out. A great website for more information on the wineries in the Finger Lakes, check out this website

http://www.newyorkwines.org/winecoun...akes/index.asp

You will have a great time! - Susan

I think three of your top best choices as far as lodging goes are Belhurst Castle in Geneva, Seneca Lodge, and the Viking Inn on Keuka Lake. I grew up around this area, and will second many of the posters by saying that your best places to visit are Letchworth SP, Buttermilk/Ithaca/Taughannock Falls, Corning Glass Museums, Watkins Glen and most of the wineries are great. In Ithaca specifically, around September and October will be vast with college students, but they shouldn't be a bother at all. Seeing any of the gorges in the area is a must. I would advise to stay away from Horseheads and Binghamton as a place to stay - they're very mediocre.

I now live in New Rochelle, NY and work near the Tappan Zee Bridge, so I would suggest your best commute

I think three of your top best choices as far as lodging goes are Belhurst Castle in Geneva, Seneca Lodge, and the Viking Inn on Keuka Lake. I grew up around this area, and will second many of the posters by saying that your best places to visit are Letchworth SP, Buttermilk/Ithaca/Taughannock Falls, Corning Glass Museums, Watkins Glen and most of the wineries are great. In Ithaca specifically, around September and October will be vast with college students, but they shouldn't be a bother at all. Seeing any of the gorges in the area is a must. I would advise to stay away from Horseheads and Binghamton as a place to stay - they're very mediocre. As said before, B&B's are abundant, but not accessible online.

I now live in New Rochelle, NY and work near the Tappan Zee Bridge, so I would suggest 87 to 17 to 81 as your best commute. All these suggestions previously posted are wonderful and entirely accurate.