Finger Lakes Memorial Day Weekend Getaway
Jun 14th, 2010, 03:01 PM
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Finger Lakes Memorial Day Weekend Getaway
My fiancé surprised me with a trip to the gorgeous Finger Lakes region of New York state for Memorial Day weekend. He did a ton of research - I hope other travelers can reap the benefits of his hard work. We visited the Finger Lakes for the wineries and waterfalls, but there is also plenty of food, culture, and history in this area – definitely worth the 6 hour drive from NYC. See below for more detail and let me know if you have any questions!
Trip Summary
Where: Seneca Lake, not too far from Cornell University
Who: Our Finger Lakes adventure was a truly perfect romantic getaway – this region is ideal for a proposal or anniversary trip. In addition to couples of all ages, we also saw many groups of twenty-somethings and bachelorette parties.
What: Wine and beer tastings, kayaking, dinner for two cooked by a private chef, parks/waterfalls, wandering around and general relaxation.
How long: We spent 3 nights at Seneca Lake. It was definitely long enough to make the trip worthwhile, but we didn’t get to do everything and can’t wait to come back. We met both tourists visiting the area for a longer vacation and more local folks spending just a day or two at the wineries.
How Much: Our all-in budget for 3 nights in a suite at a B&B, rental car, food + snacks, activities and many bottles of wine was almost $2000. This was a huge splurge for us, and you can definitely do it cheaper. Traveling on a holiday weekend probably raised our costs even more.
And now, the day-by-day --
Friday:
We left New York around 6:30PM on Friday evening, right after getting off from work. We grabbed a Zipcar, our go-to car rental company (www.zipcar.com), and set off on our journey.
We put off stopping for dinner so that we could get as much of the journey as possible under our belt. On this route in particular, this was probably not the best approach. As we wound our way up NY-17, enjoying some beautiful scenery, the rest stops became less and less frequent. After some desperation we finally stopped at a lone Wendy’s. Because the place didn’t accept credit cards, we ended up eating the cheapest dinner for two ever: a single order of chicken nuggets and fries, split between my FI and me. Total: $3.65.
We didn’t get to Magnolia Place, the B&B FI had reserved, (http://magnoliawelcome.com/) until past midnight. Although we could barely see our surroundings, we could tell they were stunning. We were right on the shore of the lake in the midst of the wineries, surrounded by rolling fields, quaint little houses, and the the inky blackness of the lake itself. Compared to the streets of NYC, the silence seemed absolute, both outside and in the B&B, where everyone had gone to bed. The only sign of life was two delicious raspberry tarts waiting for us on the kitchen table.
It didn’t take long to find our huge suite on the first floor. It had a four poster bed, a fireplace, a sofa/television, a private Jacuzzi, and a separate door going directly out on the deck. We would later discover beautiful views of the lake from our many windows. Named the Lilac Suite, the room was adorably decorated in a corresponding theme. We went to bed soon after looking at all this to rest up for the big day ahead.
More to come soon!
Trip Summary
Where: Seneca Lake, not too far from Cornell University
Who: Our Finger Lakes adventure was a truly perfect romantic getaway – this region is ideal for a proposal or anniversary trip. In addition to couples of all ages, we also saw many groups of twenty-somethings and bachelorette parties.
What: Wine and beer tastings, kayaking, dinner for two cooked by a private chef, parks/waterfalls, wandering around and general relaxation.
How long: We spent 3 nights at Seneca Lake. It was definitely long enough to make the trip worthwhile, but we didn’t get to do everything and can’t wait to come back. We met both tourists visiting the area for a longer vacation and more local folks spending just a day or two at the wineries.
How Much: Our all-in budget for 3 nights in a suite at a B&B, rental car, food + snacks, activities and many bottles of wine was almost $2000. This was a huge splurge for us, and you can definitely do it cheaper. Traveling on a holiday weekend probably raised our costs even more.
And now, the day-by-day --
Friday:
We left New York around 6:30PM on Friday evening, right after getting off from work. We grabbed a Zipcar, our go-to car rental company (www.zipcar.com), and set off on our journey.
We put off stopping for dinner so that we could get as much of the journey as possible under our belt. On this route in particular, this was probably not the best approach. As we wound our way up NY-17, enjoying some beautiful scenery, the rest stops became less and less frequent. After some desperation we finally stopped at a lone Wendy’s. Because the place didn’t accept credit cards, we ended up eating the cheapest dinner for two ever: a single order of chicken nuggets and fries, split between my FI and me. Total: $3.65.
We didn’t get to Magnolia Place, the B&B FI had reserved, (http://magnoliawelcome.com/) until past midnight. Although we could barely see our surroundings, we could tell they were stunning. We were right on the shore of the lake in the midst of the wineries, surrounded by rolling fields, quaint little houses, and the the inky blackness of the lake itself. Compared to the streets of NYC, the silence seemed absolute, both outside and in the B&B, where everyone had gone to bed. The only sign of life was two delicious raspberry tarts waiting for us on the kitchen table.
It didn’t take long to find our huge suite on the first floor. It had a four poster bed, a fireplace, a sofa/television, a private Jacuzzi, and a separate door going directly out on the deck. We would later discover beautiful views of the lake from our many windows. Named the Lilac Suite, the room was adorably decorated in a corresponding theme. We went to bed soon after looking at all this to rest up for the big day ahead.
More to come soon!
Jun 14th, 2010, 05:24 PM
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Did you take any cash with you?!?! Your first stop and you had to watch your money because they didn't take credit cards. Wow I would have been worried all weekend. But we all travel different. Looking forward to the rest of the report!
Jun 14th, 2010, 06:06 PM
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We live in NYC, so we NEVER carry cash since everyone accepts credit cards here. It honestly wasn't something that even crossed our mind! And for the rest of the weekend, we actually had no trouble - all of the wineries, little shops, restaurants, etc accepted credit so we weren't worried. We've learned our lesson from the Wendy's experience though 
Jun 15th, 2010, 08:33 AM
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Saturday (Day 2): First Full day at Seneca Lake
Magnolia Place serves breakfast 9-10AM, so we woke up early to make sure we’d be ready in time. The breakfast food here was truly exceptional. Peach pancakes with cinnamon syrup, egg soufflé (both veggie and meat versions), cinnamon streusel muffins with fresh whipped butter on the side, apple smoked chicken sausage, lemon pound cake – and this was just Saturday morning. The menu changed each day, but the quality of the food remained top-notch throughout our stay.
We enjoyed our first and second helpings of breakfast while getting to know the innkeepers and fellow guests. The former were a very pleasant couple who happily gave us some recommendations for wineries to try (with 35+ wineries on Seneca Lake, we’d have to choose just a few). We set off soon after breakfast, eager to get started.
Before hitting the wineries, we went to see the actual lake. The views from our room were beautiful, but I wanted to see it close up and dip my feet into the water. It turned out that most of the land on the shores of the lake is private, but we did find a park/campground close by and walked downhill to the shore. I won’t lie, Seneca Lake looks better from a distance! Although a couple of kids were playing in the water, it didn’t look clean to us and there was no beach to speak of. So I wouldn’t come to Seneca Lake expecting a beach vacation!
If you do want to spend some time by the lake, we saw another public park on its south tip which seemed to have more people, a larger picnic-type area by the shore, and cleaner water.
But back to our main attraction for the day – wineries. Most of the wineries are located right on the lake. On the east side, they were all accessible by driving up and down Route 414, which runs along the shore. Magnolia Place was also located on Route 414, which made logistics very easy – no getting lost and no need to venture more than 20-30 minutes from our home base. Some of the wineries were so close to each other that we walked between them, though the road was not exactly pedestrian-friendly (no sidewalk).
This was our first time doing wine tastings, so we weren’t quite sure how the process would work. But the rules were simple and didn’t vary much from place. In a nutshell, each winery we visited was set up as a store with a bar in it. To do a tasting, you pay a fee of $2-$3 at the bar and choose 4-6 wines to taste from a list. If you like any, you can buy bottles from the store, along with various wine-themed souvenirs. Some of the wineries are pretty basic, with one bar and just a few trinkets for sale. Others have huge gift shops with a variety of local goods, tourist staples, and, of course, lots and lots of wine. We bought bottles at most of the places we saw. Our innkeepers advised us not to spend more than $40 for a bottle, but most of the wines we tasted were closer to $10-$20.
These are the places we visited:
Atwater Estate Vineyards – Pretty standard tasting. Some nice dessert wines that we liked. Beautiful views of the lake from the deck
Finger Lakes Distilling – A liquor tasting, if you want to try something different. We got some great raspberry liquor here
Chateau LaFayette Reneau: They had the most expensive tasting ($5), but you got to try a LOT of wines. I think it was 12-13 different kinds. Definitely worth a stop.
Wagner Winery, Brewery & Restaurant: Great for wine and beer tasting (FI definitely enjoyed the latter!), as well as a quick winery tour and overview of the wine-making process. The restaurant on the premises did not impress us (menu was mostly sandwiches), but convenient for a quick bite in between wineries.
We spent most of the morning/afternoon tasting. After a quick detour to our B&B to drop off the many wine bottles we had purchased, we headed to Dano's Heuriger (http://danosonseneca.com/index.html) for a late lunch. Dano's is very conveniently located on Route 414 in the midst of the wineries and the outside seating offered gorgeous views of the lake. The food was traditional Viennese, served tapas-style. We got a bread basket, some salads and spreads, and cold cuts. The food was quite unique, and, while we enjoyed trying it, Dano’s might not be the best choice for more traditional/picky eaters. I think anyone would appreciate the desserts, though – we ordered some Sacher Torte and Linzer Torte, both excellent.
We arrived back to our room exhausted and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing / taking a nap. We wanted to try out our Jacuzzi but were too tired even for that!
Our plans for that evening included a dinner for two cooked just for us and served on the deck right outside our room. Amazing food + sitting together watching the sun set = truly magical. Our chef, John Poulos, was wonderful – we chatted about his experiences running a restaurant and catering weddings in the area as he brought our course after yummy course. When we told him that we love to cook, he made sure to tell us his secrets for preparing each of the dishes he had made for us. My FI and John had worked together to plan the menu ahead of time – John said he could prepare pretty much any dish if given enough notice. Our courses included baked Heirloom Tomatoes & Mozzarella, Pear & Pecan Salad, a sorbet, Bistecca alla Florentina with Grilled Asparagus and Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes, and Chocolate Crepe with Raspberries. I highly recommend this experience – you can find details at http://www.mftlimited.com/table.
As you can imagine, we were COMPLETELY stuffed after dinner. We thought about taking an evening walk, but were deterred by the lack of sidewalk on Route 414 and the resulting risk of getting hit by a car, especially since it was dark. Instead, we grabbed a DVD from the B&B's collection. Before bed, we took advantage of another excellent perk of staying at Magnolia Place: each night, the innkeepers set out a yummy dessert for guests to enjoy. That evening, it was fresh brownies with strawberries on the side – the perfect indulgence to finish off a perfect day!
Magnolia Place serves breakfast 9-10AM, so we woke up early to make sure we’d be ready in time. The breakfast food here was truly exceptional. Peach pancakes with cinnamon syrup, egg soufflé (both veggie and meat versions), cinnamon streusel muffins with fresh whipped butter on the side, apple smoked chicken sausage, lemon pound cake – and this was just Saturday morning. The menu changed each day, but the quality of the food remained top-notch throughout our stay.
We enjoyed our first and second helpings of breakfast while getting to know the innkeepers and fellow guests. The former were a very pleasant couple who happily gave us some recommendations for wineries to try (with 35+ wineries on Seneca Lake, we’d have to choose just a few). We set off soon after breakfast, eager to get started.
Before hitting the wineries, we went to see the actual lake. The views from our room were beautiful, but I wanted to see it close up and dip my feet into the water. It turned out that most of the land on the shores of the lake is private, but we did find a park/campground close by and walked downhill to the shore. I won’t lie, Seneca Lake looks better from a distance! Although a couple of kids were playing in the water, it didn’t look clean to us and there was no beach to speak of. So I wouldn’t come to Seneca Lake expecting a beach vacation!
If you do want to spend some time by the lake, we saw another public park on its south tip which seemed to have more people, a larger picnic-type area by the shore, and cleaner water.
But back to our main attraction for the day – wineries. Most of the wineries are located right on the lake. On the east side, they were all accessible by driving up and down Route 414, which runs along the shore. Magnolia Place was also located on Route 414, which made logistics very easy – no getting lost and no need to venture more than 20-30 minutes from our home base. Some of the wineries were so close to each other that we walked between them, though the road was not exactly pedestrian-friendly (no sidewalk).
This was our first time doing wine tastings, so we weren’t quite sure how the process would work. But the rules were simple and didn’t vary much from place. In a nutshell, each winery we visited was set up as a store with a bar in it. To do a tasting, you pay a fee of $2-$3 at the bar and choose 4-6 wines to taste from a list. If you like any, you can buy bottles from the store, along with various wine-themed souvenirs. Some of the wineries are pretty basic, with one bar and just a few trinkets for sale. Others have huge gift shops with a variety of local goods, tourist staples, and, of course, lots and lots of wine. We bought bottles at most of the places we saw. Our innkeepers advised us not to spend more than $40 for a bottle, but most of the wines we tasted were closer to $10-$20.
These are the places we visited:
Atwater Estate Vineyards – Pretty standard tasting. Some nice dessert wines that we liked. Beautiful views of the lake from the deck
Finger Lakes Distilling – A liquor tasting, if you want to try something different. We got some great raspberry liquor here
Chateau LaFayette Reneau: They had the most expensive tasting ($5), but you got to try a LOT of wines. I think it was 12-13 different kinds. Definitely worth a stop.
Wagner Winery, Brewery & Restaurant: Great for wine and beer tasting (FI definitely enjoyed the latter!), as well as a quick winery tour and overview of the wine-making process. The restaurant on the premises did not impress us (menu was mostly sandwiches), but convenient for a quick bite in between wineries.
We spent most of the morning/afternoon tasting. After a quick detour to our B&B to drop off the many wine bottles we had purchased, we headed to Dano's Heuriger (http://danosonseneca.com/index.html) for a late lunch. Dano's is very conveniently located on Route 414 in the midst of the wineries and the outside seating offered gorgeous views of the lake. The food was traditional Viennese, served tapas-style. We got a bread basket, some salads and spreads, and cold cuts. The food was quite unique, and, while we enjoyed trying it, Dano’s might not be the best choice for more traditional/picky eaters. I think anyone would appreciate the desserts, though – we ordered some Sacher Torte and Linzer Torte, both excellent.
We arrived back to our room exhausted and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing / taking a nap. We wanted to try out our Jacuzzi but were too tired even for that!
Our plans for that evening included a dinner for two cooked just for us and served on the deck right outside our room. Amazing food + sitting together watching the sun set = truly magical. Our chef, John Poulos, was wonderful – we chatted about his experiences running a restaurant and catering weddings in the area as he brought our course after yummy course. When we told him that we love to cook, he made sure to tell us his secrets for preparing each of the dishes he had made for us. My FI and John had worked together to plan the menu ahead of time – John said he could prepare pretty much any dish if given enough notice. Our courses included baked Heirloom Tomatoes & Mozzarella, Pear & Pecan Salad, a sorbet, Bistecca alla Florentina with Grilled Asparagus and Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes, and Chocolate Crepe with Raspberries. I highly recommend this experience – you can find details at http://www.mftlimited.com/table.
As you can imagine, we were COMPLETELY stuffed after dinner. We thought about taking an evening walk, but were deterred by the lack of sidewalk on Route 414 and the resulting risk of getting hit by a car, especially since it was dark. Instead, we grabbed a DVD from the B&B's collection. Before bed, we took advantage of another excellent perk of staying at Magnolia Place: each night, the innkeepers set out a yummy dessert for guests to enjoy. That evening, it was fresh brownies with strawberries on the side – the perfect indulgence to finish off a perfect day!
Jun 17th, 2010, 10:00 AM
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Nice report. Glad you enjoyed the Fingerlakes. The tour on Seneca Lake is a good one. My favorite stop is Swedish Hill Winery. They make some great Rieslings! There is so much to see and do. 3 days in not long enough. Hope you get a chance to do it again. Sounds like you had a great time!
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