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I love New York
Canandaigua Lake Scenic

Visit Finger Lakes Blog

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Author
Valerie Knoblauch

The Finger Lakes runs deep in Valerie’s soul. She is a native from the Keuka Lake area. She has lived here her entire life, is the President of the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection and maintains an absolute encyclopedic knowledge of all things Finger Lakes. She takes a special interest in all the wonderful food and outdoor recreation of the area. Valerie has biked around all 11 of the lakes! One of her favorite activities in the Finger Lakes is visiting the wineries. Valerie can often be seen along the roads of the Finger Lakes taking breathtaking scenic shots and interacting with visitors. If the Finger Lakes had an award for its #1 fan, Valerie would most certainly win it!

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It helps to have a town like Phelps for after-work fun

By Valerie Knoblauch on

There’s a Phelps County in both Missouri and Nebraska and a town named Phelps in Kentucky and Wisconsin. There is even a Lake Phelps somewhere, according to Wikipedia. But this week, I spent the “best” time in Phelps, New York, at a Business After Hours event sponsored by the Phelps Chamber of Commerce. The Finger Lakes Visitors Connection team decided to take advantage of this event and mingle in a couple of different places in town. First stop, the Water Side Wine Bar. I wish I had a photo to show here, but it was dark when we arrived. Still, we looked out through the picture window directly down to the awesome Flint Creek waterfall…

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Seeing Naples beyond the grapes

By Valerie Knoblauch on

“Grape Pie Capital of the World” or “Finger Lakes Simplicity” or “Easy like Sunday Morning” or “Nooks and Crannies” or “Where People are Just Plain Nice.” What is the potential tagline for Naples, New York? When you work in tourism your mind often goes to taglines. What quick phrase can sum up the feeling you have when you’re in a place? Naples is a small village of approximately 1,200 residents who are gearing up for what some estimate to be visitors to the tune of 70,000 or more for the Naples Grape Festival. The folks in Naples sure appreciate all those visitors, and the festival remains our most requested special event. Why not, we all agree.  It’s fun, it’s busy, it’s purple, it’s tasty. And, despite all of this, I suggest that people take the time to visit the “non-grape-festival-weekend” Naples as well. Why?  Well, let’s get back to the title conundrum. What is Naples, NY…

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Family Fun Day takes center stage at Sonnenberg this Sunday

By Valerie Knoblauch on

Gardens are a special treat around the Finger Lakes in the summer (and fall and spring). The neat thing about gardens is that the experience can change based on the company you keep. There’s a different mood and mission when you stroll a garden solo or as a hand-in-hand walk under the moonlight, or as a family on a nature adventure.  Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park in Canandaigua has gardens for all these walks of life…

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Taking the 'family antiques' for a ride in an antique car

By Valerie Knoblauch on

Taking care of the "family antique collection" seemed to be the theme of the day when I recently took my Dad to a doctor’s appointment and my uncle was along for the ride. My Dad is the kind of guy who gets a kick out being referred to as an antique. But in my book, antiques are valued treasures, and he is definitely one of mine. So, a funny thing happened on the way home from the appointment – where my Dad had some testing done.  While we headed out for breakfast I remembered that the Stanley Steamers were touring in Canandaigua.  These antique cars are all open-topped and run on steam and have the greatest horns ever…

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So, you want my job?

By Valerie Knoblauch on

Most days at my job as president of the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, I earn a grade of F. And that’s a good thing.  Why? Because, as it should be tourism is fun, fulfilling, and full of new friends. That’s a lot of f-words --- and people still want my job…

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A winter state of mind is a great state of mind in the Finger Lakes

By Valerie Knoblauch on

As I write this, it’s 36 degrees outside (January 19, 2015), a relative “heatwave” given the temperatures we’ve had in the area (just yesterday it was 2 degrees – and no I did not forget the zero – that would be two degrees. I enjoy stretching my mind to think what I should write in this blog. Of course, in those ponderings, I can’t help but think about the weather. After all, it’s right in front of me and envelopes us every day, for better or for worse.  I say we focus on the better!    I thought back to my conversations in the last couple of weeks and although they’ve been about the weather a bit, I must say that I am amply impressed with how positive they are.  We Finger Lakers are, overall, a very positive bunch; at least the ones I hang out with. Maybe that’s why we’re in tourism because we tend to be optimists. How do I make the most of this situation?  It’s important to keep that tone and that attitude when you’re sharing why tourists should come visit here…

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25 Gorham Street on Display for Sonnenberg Tour of Homes

By Valerie Knoblauch on

Finger Lakes Visitors Connection is pleased to be a part of the 2014 Sonnenberg Tour of Homes. We hope that you’ll all get out to take advantage of this fundraiser and glimpse of Canandaigua – and its lifestyle. The tourism bureau moved into 25 Gorham Street in August of 2003. See the picture at right. We actually had one member of the team call it the "Chia Pet" house. …

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Proud Grandma shares her love of the Finger Lakes

By Valerie Knoblauch on

One year ago, November 5th, life changed for me. I became one of those people - a grandmother.  Most of you probably already know this because, yes, I have taken all the liberties associated with my new position.  I have pictures on my smart phone, ready for anyone's viewing pleasure.  I have videos of a little tiny person who has simply found "the horn" on a little tractor, and for some reason that fascinates me to watch him blow that horn for longer than the average attention span on YouTube these days.  My mind occasionally devolves into thinking in rhymes and reminiscing about itsy-bitsy spiders…

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Finding 'IT' in the Finger Lakes

By Valerie Knoblauch on

It’s National Tourism Week! 30 years ago, the government declared this week and 30 years ago, I started my job at Ontario County Tourism as the first Executive Director. Flashback and flash forward and this is such an exciting industry. IT’s exciting because IT’s never the same. Diverting for a…

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