WELCOME TO SENECA COUNTY. THE CENTER OF THE FINGER LAKES.

Welcome to one of the most beautiful places on earth. Seneca County, in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. From wine trails to fish tales, you'll find so much to enjoy in Seneca County. Beautiful vistas. Tons of outdoor activities and water sports. Winery and farm tours. Fabulous food, great shopping, world-changing history, charming accommodations. It's all here. Whether you're planning a day trip, a quick overnight, a fun filled week, or you live in the region, here's a great place to find some great ideas on how to make the most of your time in Seneca County! So have a look and have fun!

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NEW FOR 2010!

FISHING CHARTERS ON CAYUGA LAKE & SENECA LAKE! 
Fishing Charter 411...

 

 HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE THE FINGER LAKES? LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD.

Budget Travel Magazine has launched its annual Readers' Choice Awards and New York's Finger Lakes has been nominated for "Most Beautiful Wine Region in the World! Vote now to help make the Finger Lakes #1!
 
Go to Budget Travel's website and vote now!
 
Once you land on the page, scroll down with the yellow arrow keys on the left hand side of the page until you see the bold green heading "Destinations" and you'll see the listing for the Most Beautiful Wine Region. Choose New York/Finger Lakes, of course!  You can vote on every category if you want, or just the Most Beautiful Wine Region. We'll let you know the results!

THE NEW 2010 TRAVEL GUIDE IS AVAILABLE! CLICK ON THE GUIDE COVER TO VIEW AS PDF!

Nestled between Seneca and Cayuga lakes, Seneca County is at the very center of the picturesque Finger Lakes Region.

Overlooking both lakes are acres of vineyards, used to make world-class Finger Lakes wines at over two dozen wineries located in the county. But if wine is not your thing, we also have a distillery, hard cidery, meadry and three micro-breweries to whet your whistle.

Wide open spaces create the perfect setting for lots of recreational activities. Several state parks, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, and Finger Lakes National Forest provide easy access to boating, fishing, hunting, biking, camping, nature watching, cross-country skiing, or simply enjoying the outdoors. If shopping is on your agenda, Waterloo Premium Outlets, as well as plenty of antique, boutique, and Amish/Menonnite shops provide some great retail therapy.

If you're into history, Seneca County is the perfect destination for you. As the Birthplace of Memorial Day and the site of the first Women's Rights Convention, Waterloo and Seneca Falls have long been gathering places for advocacy of human rights. The Women's Rights National Historical Park, National Women's Hall of Fame, National Memorial Day Museum, and other museums and historical societies celebrate this history.

Whether you come to relax, play, or learn, Seneca County is a special place. In the spirit of genuine hospitality, we invite you to feel the embrace of the Finger Lakes in discovering all it has to offer...

ENJOY SENECA COUNTY!

ALWAYS WANTED TO OWN A VINEYARD? BE A WINEMAKER?

Here's your chance! We are so pleased to announce the Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery 2010 Vigneron Program, now in it's 25th year! Only one other winery in the country offers this unique hands-on experience to wine lovers.

Here's how it works:

In this one-of-a-kind program, you will learn from the experts by working directly with winery owner, Tom Challen.  Tom has almost 40 years of experience in the wine industry, is an International Wine Judge and an all round nice guy.  He is a great resource to answer any grape & wine questions you may have!

·         With a personalized name plate, your vines will be easily identifiable – see them change over the course
          of a growing year.  Visit your vines anytime!

·         Enjoy the excitement of growing your own wine

·         Cultivate the art and science of nurturing your vines into a successful harvest

·         Learn how to prune, tie, sucker and train your vines through the growing season

In addition to learning how to care for your vines you will:

·         Receive an informative binder with notes & diagrams that correspond to each session

·         Grow your own potted vine to take home and nurture into maturity

·         Evaluate previous vintages during a barrel tasting workshop

·         Create your own wine during a blending session

SATURDAY MORNING WORKSHOPS
(sessions start at 10:00AM at the winery (barrel tasting @ 11:00am)

A homemade picnic lunch with wine tasting will be provided at the end of each session. All dates are subject to vine growth – dates may be changed due to this years growth cycle

March 27th
Evaluate bud mortality, develop pruning regime, make vine cuttings, prune vines. (Bring a calculator and pruning shears if you can.)

April 17th 
Tie vines and attend wine blending workshop (bring a calculator)

May 15th  
Barrel tasting at 11:00am in the cellar.  Bring a friend to share this unique experience!

June 19th  
Pot vine cuttings; sucker & train your vines; enjoy a sustenance lunch in the vineyard

Oct 2nd
Experience the harvest up close!  Try your hand at harvesting & enjoy the outdoors with us!

There are two ways you can participate in the program. You can either be a full-fledged vinter where you will come away with two cases of your wine at the end of the season. Or you can participate through a share. Share enrollment entitles you to all the classes, materials , plaque and your own vines. The only difference is that you don't come away with any wine when you're finished.

For more information or to register, contact Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery and ask for MJ or Tom. They'll answer all your questions and get you enrolled in a experience of a lifetime.
 

For "Vinters" traveling from out of town, we have a special "Gentleman Vintner's Experience" package available, complete with meals, gifts and your choice of accommodations. You'll find it as the Featured Package under Packages & Discounts.

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.