Couple planning four nights three days in the Finger Lakes late September/early October. We'd like to stay all nights at same place, an upscale B&B or nice hotel, and make day excursions. Interests are moderate 3 to 5 hour hikes, excellent food from diner to nice restaurants, other sites. We're not interested in wine-tastings. Looking for suggestions for best location, lodging, hikes, food. Suggestions please! Jane

Geneva is a good choice for Seneca Lake. http://www.downtowngeneva.org/tours.html
Go south on the east side of Seneca Lake to see Watkins Glen.
Continue south and see the Corning Museum of Glass.
Do you have any interest in the vineyards in the region?

http://www.belhurst.com/ At the top of Seneca Lake was a beautiful place to stay in the Vinfera Inn wing of the Hotel (spelling if wrong )Huge rooms with fireplace and views of the lake. Not cheap however.
At the other end of the lake at Watkins Glen: http://www.watkinsglenharborhotel.com/ A great hotel good location for hiking and walking to restaurants.

Thanks for a good start. Anyone with upscale B&B suggestions? Specific hikes? Specific restaurants? No, not interested in vineyards.

The State Park is only .5mile from the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel: http://nysparks.com/parks/142 Great waterfalls and hikes

Specific restaurant - Saigon Kitchen in downtown Ithaca - excellent and very inexpensive $40 for two, BYOB).

Ports Café in Geneva - west side of the lake, is fantastic!

Also love Dano's Heuriger on the east side of Seneca Lake.

have a look at www.blushingroseinn.com in Hammondsport NY

I love Watkins Glen, but four nights there may be a bit much. Definitely hike the gorge in Watkins Glen Park though.

Ithaca has a vibrant downtown with a number of very good restaurants you could walk to if you stayed at say the Hyatt Place or Miller Inn ( http://www.millerinn.com/ )including:
- Just a Taste: Small plates, very busy be prepared to wait.
- Moosewood: I’m not a vegetarian, but really enjoy this place.
- Mercato: Very good food, open kitchen
- About a dozen others in or around the commons area from ethnic to pizza to brew pubs

Ithaca also has very good hiking nearby including Robert H. Treman State Park (great gorge/waterfall trail), Taughannock Falls State Park (just north), and Buttermilk Falls State park. Also take a hike around Cornell University grounds and don’t kiss the gorge and waterfalls there.

I love Watkins Glen, but four nights there may be a bit much. Definitely hike the gorge in Watkins Glen Park though.

Ithaca has a vibrant downtown with a number of very good restaurants you could walk to if you stayed at say the Hyatt Place or Miller inn B & B http://www.millerinn.com/
including:
- Just a Taste: Small plates, very busy be prepared to wait.
- Moosewood: I’m not a vegetarian, but really enjoy this place.
- Mercato: Very good food, open kitchen
- About a dozen others in or around the commons area from ethnic to pizza to brew pubs

Ithaca also has very good hiking nearby including Robert H. Treman State Park (great gorge/waterfall trail), Taughannock Falls State Park (just north), and Buttermilk Falls State park. Also take a hike around Cornell University grounds and don’t miss the gorge and waterfalls on campus.

Thanks all. We are firming up plans. Four night in Watkins glen may be too much, but I have a hubby who hates to pack and unpack so that's the compromise. We'll do day trips. Again, thanks all. Janeos

I haven't hiked there, but Letchworth State Park might be worth the day trip from Watkins Glen. It has a beautiful waterfall, and lots of trails.

It used to have a pretty nice restaurant too, not sure if that is still the case.