Message: Can anyone help with an itenerary that would involve driving back from Niagara Falls to NYC and staying at one of the Finger Lakes towns for two days? What area would you recommend and any favorite B&B. Thanks.

Have you tried this website..www.fingerlakes.com
You may find some helpful info on it.

I'd take NYS Thruway (Route 90) until just west of Rochester and drop down to see Letchworth State Park on the way - it's not well known but has some of the most spectacular scenery east of the Rockies - not an exxageration - it's fantastic). Then plot a route that will take you (perhaps) down the side of a western Finger Lake (perhaps and back up and around another and end up at Ithaca for the two day stay. There are numerous inns and B&B's near there and Ithaca is a fun town with some interesting shopping and dining options. I'm not personally familiar with the accomodations but have heard good things about the Buttermilk Falls B&B and the Rose Inn. Hope this helps.

Skeneateles is a quaint town that you may enjoy ... I think there was a post regarding this within the last 6 months (interesting Finger Lakes towns to visit) so if you search back on this forum under New York State you should be able to find more specific recommendations. You may also enjoy spending some time in Canandaigua (a bit larger) as well as Casenovia (pretty small, but quaint).

I would second the suggestion of visiting Skaneateles. It is a lovely little town. The Krebs restaurant is a well known establishment for dinner or (I think) brunch. I lived in Skaneateles when I was young, and go back there as often as I can. I would also recommend visiting Doug's Fish Fry for more of a local flavor. Huge fried fish sandwiches are the specialty and you won't go away hungry. I believe there is also a new (at least since I was last there) B&B along the lake that gets good reviews. Along with a quaint little hotel located right in town.

There are also many wineries in the Finger Lakes region. Bully Hill winery and Glenora wineries are two of the better-known ones. Watkins Glen is a nice place to visit. They have a glen (hence the name) that you can hike through. I think they also have laser shows in the glen on certain nights. Watkins is best known for the race track located just out of town, and has been frequented by Paul Newman during race season.

Have a great trip!

Skaneatles is so familiar to me that I forgot to mention it and it is a good suggestion. The new B&B/Inn that was mentioned may be the Mirabeau Spa (or Mirabelle?). It's pricey and supposed to be very upscale but the restaurant was seriously panned by the Syracuse newspapers restaurant critic (who does not tend to be highly critical unless a place falls very short of the mark). Rosalie's Cucina is a Skaneatles restaurant that gets consistently good reviews from folks I've spoken to who go there. The Sherwood Inn, a historic inn on the main street directly across from the water, has lovely rooms but the reataurant is a bit inconsistent. Down the road in Geneva (a small city and for the most part not quaint or interesting like Skaneatles) has The Inn On The Lake - a top notch establishment - very pricey but sometimes you do get what you pay for.