4 Best Sights in Canandaigua, The Finger Lakes

The grounds at this 52-acre estate are a magnificent example of late-Victorian gardening and design. The rose garden overflows with 4,000 bushes; the other themed plantings include Japanese, pansy, blue-and-white, and rock gardens. An early-1900s conservatory houses the orchid collection and other exotic plants. The stunning 1887 Queen Anne mansion was built as a summer home by a wealthy New York City banker and his wife, who became Canandaigua's biggest benefactress. The library, the couple's favorite room, looks out on the Italian garden. The great hall features a massive leaded-glass window and an 1874 Steinway. Walking tours are offered weekdays at 1 and weekends at 10 and 1 from Memorial Day through September.

The Finger Lakes Wine Center, on the Sonnenberg Gardens' grounds in a building near the parking lot, has a tasting room with a rotating selection of wines and sells wines and specialty foods from throughout the Finger Lakes region.

The Federal-style house was completed in 1816 by Gideon Granger, postmaster general for presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. It contains what's known as a flying staircase, and its nine rooms have hand-carved woodwork and many of the original furnishings and paintings. Free guided daily tours are available. The carriage house displays 93 horse-drawn vehicles, including an undertaker's hearse. The many annual events include a Civil War encampment in September and a Festival of Trees in November and December. The museum runs 45-minute narrated carriage tours of Canandaigua on Friday and Sunday, June through September. The trips cost $20, and reservations are required. Weather permitting, sleigh rides are offered on Sunday at 1 pm, January–March.

At this waterfront educational center you can attend a dinner hosted by a local winery, take wine or food workshop, watch guest chefs in action, get expert advice on the various wine trails, or peruse the gift shop for locally made honey, pottery, and other food- and wine-related items. The center has more than 400 classes each year for the general public, including wine basics, various types of wine pairing, and cooking classes that focus on local foods. Most are a few hours in length and you can often arrange same-day signups. Drop-in classes are always available on weekends. A tasting room offers wine and beer flights, and the on-site restaurant serves a seasonal menu highlighting local food and wine.