A Few Of My Favorite Finger Lakes Places- Part 1

My wife and I are still exploring and discovering new and interesting places to visit and things to do in the Finger Lakes, but here are a few that we seem to visit on a regular basis that I think have something unique to offer. This is not a definitive list by any means as there are so many wonderful places to visit, but here are some that we always take any visitors to. Part 1 are Non-Wine-related places:

Crafts & Gifts:

The Windmill Farm & Craft Market - http://www.thewindmill.com On Route 14A, 6 miles north of Dundee NY. Over 200 vendors of crafts, gifts, food, produce, and whatever you can imagine. Open Saturdays 8am to 4:30pm. I always see something unique here and the people are so friendly. I don't know what it is about the Finger Lakes, but the people are always helpful and friendly . My personal favorite vendor is Canal Side Wood Carvings; awesome carvings and furniture. I particularly like their Native American carvings. But whatever your interest, you will find it at The Windmill.

Skyland Farm - http://www.skylandfarm.net On Route 414 (east side of Seneca Lake), 7 miles north of Watkins Glen NY. Very unique handmade crafts and gifts and fantastic homemade desserts in a country setting with views of Seneca Lake mingled with interesting gardens and pettable farm animals. If you are looking for something truly unique and special, this is the place to find it.

Weaver-View Farms - http://www.weaverviewfarms.com Off of Route 14 (west side of Seneca Lake) 28 miles north of Watkins Glen. Open every day, except Sundays.
Old style country store on a working Mennonite dairy farm. Follow the pathways to find handcrafted crafts and quilts, as well as homemade jams and jellies. This store takes you back to a simpler time when families worked together to craft all that they needed. That time is now on the many Mennonite and Amish farms that dot the Finger Lakes countryside.

Watkins Glen & Watkins Glen State Park - http://www.watkinsglen.com A charming little town at the south end of Seneca Lake with many interesting shops, restaurants, and beautiful lakefront views of Seneca Lake. Take a relaxing walk down the small town streets or stroll out on the Pier. One of my favorite things to do is browse The Village Variety Shop, filled with antiques, collectibles, memorabilia, and just about anything you can imagine. About in the middle of town is the entrance to Watkins Glen State Park, where you can take a beautiful hike through the gorge past many waterfalls.

Hammondsport & Keuka Maid - Another charming small town; this one at the southern end of Keuka Lake. Beautiful restored homes, a beautiful waterfront, and many unique shops. Sailing out of Hammondsport is the Keuka Maid Dinner Cruise Boat; a friendly crew, delicious buffet, and up close views of the amazing "vacation homes" that line Keuka Lake http://www.keukamaid.com Also in Hammondsport, if you are interested in aviation, is the Glenn Curtis museum- an aviation pioneer born in Hammondsport, filled with memorabilia and artifacts from the early days of aviation http://www.linkny.com/~curtiss/

Well, that's all I have time for right now. These are just a few of the fun and interesting places to go and things to do in the Finger Lakes. I will highlight more in the coming months. In my next post, I will write about some of my favorite and unique wineries.