BREAKING NEWS: FALL 2011 IN THE CENTRAL FINGER LAKES
TASTING NOTES:
Please welcome Eremita Winery into the family of Seneca County Wineries! Located in a renovated historic church at 2155 E. Church Street in Lodi, this winery premieres with 5 wines, including an un-oaked Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, Riesling and Gewurztraminer. Add them to your wine tour, because they just opened this past summer!
GREAT FINGER LAKES FALL IDEAS With Columbus Day weekend coming and the leaves turning, there’s plenty of fall fun to be had in and around the Finger Lakes’ Seneca County. Here are a few ideas… 1. Leaf-Peeping Boat Tour Stivers Seneca Marine | 315.789.5520 Tour Seneca Lake aboard the Rose Lummis Saturdays and Sundays in October. The boat departs from the docks at the Geneva Lakefront at 2 & 4. Tours are an hour and a half, and only $15pp. 2. Cheese Trail Open Houses Finger Lakes Cheese Trail | www.flcheesetrail.com Check out the artisan cheese makers right on their farms during their two fall Open Houses. The first is Columbus Day Weekend – Saturday & Sunday October 8 & 9 – from 10-5. The second is Saturday, November 19 from 10-5. Check out their website for a map of all the cheese makers participating. 3. Pumpkin Pickin & More Meadeville Farm Pumpkin Patch | 315.568.2379 Get your family’s fall spirit in full swing with a visit to Meadeville Pumpkin Patch. You can pick up your pumpkins and gourds, sure. But there’s also a maze, petting zoo and scarecrow village. On top of that there are snacks, live music on the weekends, and a bounce house. It’s a fun afternoon for the whole family! And they’re open noon to dusk. 4. Discover a Boutique Winery Seneca & Cayuga Lakes | fingerlakescentral.com You’ll probably hit all the big wineries during the Holiday Trail Events along Cayuga & Seneca Lake, so why not discover a new winery now? There are several worth a visit in Seneca County. Check out the brand new Eremita Winery in Lodi, in a remodeled historic church, or Silver Thread Vineyard, a small sustainable winery on Seneca Lake. Shalestone Vineyard has an almost magical fairytale quality to it, and Caywood Vineyards boasts a gorgeous view of Seneca Lake. On Cayuga Lake, check out Lakeshore Winery right on the lake, or Frontenac Point with their stunning vista views. And for something different, yet spectacular, Bellwether Hard Cider is a must visit! Click on our winery map for directions and details! 5. Road Trip Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway | www.cayugalake.com By car, by bike or by motorcycle, the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway is lined with some of the most beautiful views on earth. It’s 86 miles around the lake, taking Routes 89 down the west side & 90 up the east side – and dotted with wineries, museums, quaint shops, parks, waterfalls, antique stores and restaurants the entire way. You’ll go through Seneca Falls, Ovid, Interlaken, Ithaca, King Ferry, Aurora, Union Springs, and Cayuga – right through Cayuga Lake State Park, Taughannock Falls and Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge – with plenty to do, see, eat and drink the whole way.
With 30 wineries, members of the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail, several world-class restaurants that feature the creations of some of the top chefs in the Finger Lakes, it was only a matter of time before our Wine & Food Scene captured the international stage. In this cover article, you'll read about the wines, foods, chefs and events that put us center stage. Come for a visit, and definitely come hungry! Just click on the cover of the magazine to go to the story, "Savor Seneca County."
LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME IN THE FINGER LAKES? HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FROM THE GETAWAY GUY!
Mike O'Brian is the Getaway Guy, and he travels all over NYS looking for fun things to do! Here's his piece on his fun and affordable family-friendly Seneca Falls and Waterloo getaway! Use his ideas for your day trip or to fill a day of your Finger Lakes vacation here in Seneca County! You can find information on all the places and activities he mentions in the guide section of our website.
FALL IN LOVE WITH THE FINGER LAKES IN SENECA COUNTY. THE CENTER OF THE FINGER LAKES.
Welcome to one of the most beautiful places on earth, Seneca County, in the heart of New York State's Finger Lakes Region. Tourism is alive and well here all year round, with so many great things to do, from wine trails to fish tales, and everything in between. You'll find breathtaking vistas and scenic drives - perfect for leaf-peeping. Tons of outdoor activities perfect for fall: like hiking, kayaking, boating, and horseback riding. And of course harvest time! Whether you go to community wide celebration or a harvest event at a single winery, you can try Finger Lakes wines and foods, try your hand at grape-stomping or enjoy a hayride through the vineyards. Add to that, fabulous shopping, world-changing history, charming accommodations, and discover everything you love about the fall in the Finger Lakes is right here in Seneca County. Whether you're planning a day trip, a quick overnight, a fun filled week, or you live in the near the Finger Lakes and just want to come poke around, here's a great place to find some great ideas on how to make the most of your time in the heart of the Finger Lakes this autumn!
So have a look and have fun! Or click on the 2011 Travel Guide to view everywhere and everything on line!
(If you don't see the video, you need the Adobe Flash Player. Click to download.)
SADDLE UP!
For some horseback riding fun, check out Happy Trails Walking Horses at the Glass Magnolia in Interlaken. You can take lessons in their rings or go for instructional, guided rides through the Finger Lakes National Forest. And what's more, you'll be riding Tennessee Walking Horses, famous for their beautifully smooth gait.
And of course, you'll find other stables here in the Central Finger Lakes offering lessons and trail rides. Click here to check out some options, and get your giddyap on!
HIT THE TRAILS!
Planning a trip to the heart of the Finger Lakes this fall? Here are some trails you won't want to miss...
FINGER LAKES CHEESE TRAIL: Check out Muranda Cheese Co. in Waterloo, Cowlick Farm & Microcreamery in or Lively Run Goat Dairy in Interlaken. All do farm tours and have a wonderrful array of local Finger Lakes cheeses!, a group of 14 amazing local cheese makers throughout the Finger Lakes region. They are also members of the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail. Collectively this group does several open houses throughout the year, the two fall ones being October 8 & 9, and November 19!
WINE TRAILS: The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail and the Seneca Lake Wine Trail run right through Seneca County. Both trails are packed with winery fall festivals like the Spooktacular at Americana and the German Fest at Lucas. And Trail-wide events like Deck The Halls and Holiday Shopping Spree. Try grape stomping, take hayrides. NATURE TRAILS: Seneca County miles and miles of trails for horseback riding, hiking, biking and nature watching. Check out the trails at Seneca Meadows Wetlands Preserve, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, and the Finger Lakes National Forest to catch all the fall finery and wild life in their natural habitat.
IT'S FARMER MARKET SEASON IN SENECA COUNTY!
Wednesdays Seneca Falls Farmers Market | 9a-1p People’s Park | 35 Water Street | Seneca Falls, NY In addition to produce and local products, BBQ lunch available, served by Chef Sean Agate of the Divine Kitchen & Bar (Hotel Clarence). Fridays Sauders Farmers Market | 9a-3p Sauders Store | 2146 River Road | Seneca Falls, NY All summer In addition to produce and local products, BBQ lunch available by K&R Caterling.
Montezuma Winery’s Farmers Market | 3-7p Montezuma Winery & Hidden Marsh Distillery 2981 Auburn Rd., Seneca Falls, NY 315.568.8190 | www.montezumawinery.com In addition to produce and local products, guest chef cooking series & music from 5-7.
Saturdays RiverPark Commons Farmers Market | 9a-1p RiverPark Commons (behind RiverPark Grille) 1314 Waterloo-Geneva Road (5 & 20), Waterloo, NY Our newest Farmers Market in Waterloo scheduled for a convenient weekend time!
NEW EATERIES FEED THE FINGER LAKES FOODIE FRENZIE
The DiVine Kitchen at the Hotel Clarence at 108 Fall Street Seneca Falls has kicked it up a notch. Now it's VINEYARD 108 and while it's still all about Chef Sean Agate's fresh, regional cuisine, it's also home to a one-of-a-kind concept. The restaurant's wine list features wines from EVERY WINERY IN THE FINGER LAKES! So stop in for a great dinner accompanied by a wine from your favorite Finger Lakes winery! 315.712.4000.
Looking for a great place to meet friends? Check out PARKER'S GRILL & TAPHOUSE, now open in Seneca Falls. The perfect pub with great pub food and a fun, friendly atmosphere, Parker's round's out Seneca Falls Restaurant Row nicely!
Got a yen for Chinese? HAPPY FAMILY on Fall Street in Seneca Falls is the perfect choice. Great food, great ambiance, great service, great hours! Eat in if you can, take out if you can't. Call 315.712.0088 for reservations or to place a carry-out order.
Gourmet philanthropic pizza? You bet! The Copper Oven Uuses home grown ingredients and local produce, cheeses and meats. 5% going to relieve hunger in the community. Swing by and enjoy a meal that does a body and a community good. The COPPER OVEN at Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery off Rt 89 along Cayuga Lake is now open Thursdays-Sundays. 607.869.5299.
Top off a great day on the course with a course or two in the new GREEN SIDE GRILL at the Seneca Falls Country Club. The course is open to the public as the Green Side's restaurant and bar. Opened by the two regionally respected chefs of Pure Catering, you're sure to enjoy a meal filled with local ingredients and culinary flare. The Club is located on Rt 89 near the top of Cayuga Lake, and the Grill is open 7 days a week. 315.567.3137
Looking to dine lake side? Try the newest Seneca County eatery! WOLLFY'S GRILL & MARINA on Lower Lake Road in Seneca Falls. Dine on the waterfront deck overlooking the lake. Drive down or boat up! Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner year round, with music on the deck on the weekends during the summer. Try their BBQ!. 315.257.0077
OPENS MARCH 8. Want to know how the Finger Lakes does comfort food? Then stop into the RIVERPARK GRILLE at 1314 Waterloo-Geneva Rd (Routes 5 & 20) and find out. The Grille has a comfy lodge setting filled with local Waterloo history. And the food is off the hook! 315. 539.0509.
Ole! We've got a brand new Mexican Restaurant in the area. LA FIESTA BRAVA MEXICAN RESTAURANT is now open at 9 East Main Street in Waterloo. Open 7 days, with late hours on Friday and Saturday night, vamos! 315.539.3212.
WHERE ARE THEY? MAP THE RESTAURANTS...
THE CAYUGA-SENECA CANAL LOCKS ARE OPEN FOR THE 2011 SEASON! 2011 Canal Navigational Season & Hours: May 26-Sept. 7, 7am-10pm Sept 8-Nov. 14, 7am-5pm
SENECA FALLS BOATERS' AMENITY CENTER: May-Nov, 6am-11pm
Located across from "The Wall" in the Seneca Falls Harbor, the Boaters' Amenity Center has laundry, shower and restroom facilities for boaters docking in Seneca Falls. Restroom codes are available through the Harbor Master or at the Community Center on the far end of the waterfront. There is also tourism and local business information, wi-fi, a phone and a sitting area. There is also an elevator up to the street level, and right above the center is the Seneca Museum of Waterways & Industry, and worth a tour! So whether you're docking in Seneca Falls for a night or two, or just passing through, swing by and check it out!
ENJOY SENECA COUNTY!
WE'RE ON FACEBOOK
Seneca County is on Facebook. Fan Seneca County and stay on top of the latest goings-on and county buzz. You'll find easy connections to our wineries, boutiques, museums and other sites, as well as a community of people like you who love Seneca County and the Central Finger Lakes.
Click and Go Links
1-800-732-1848 info@senecachamber.org Seneca County Chamber of Commerce 2020 Routes 5 & 20 West Seneca Falls, New York 13148
Check out what other travelers say about Finger Lakes on TripAdvisor.
BE SURE TO COME BACK AND SEE US AGAIN!
And we'd love to make your next trip even better! So if you could take a minute to fill out this short visitor's survey, it'd really help us create an even better time for you on your next visit. Again, thanks for visiting Seneca County, in the heart of the Finger Lakes. And we look forward to seeing you again!
Click here to take survey