Routes for Sightseers

A Photographers Delight | Fall Food, Fun, & Foliage | Small Town Charm & Culture | A Taste of New York
Small Town History & Shopping | Photo Gallery | Finger Lakes Lifestyle | Events | Packages

One of the best ways to get an overall feel of the Finger Lakes Region is to take a self-guided driving tour and NYS Routes 5 and 20 is a driver's dream come true. This 135-mile 'Authentic American Road' traverses New York State from east to west and has something for everyone. Request your Driving Guide. Go to www.routes5and20.com

Route #1
A Photographer's Delight

Start at the Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill. This is the highest point in Ontario County. At the bottom of the hill, to the right, is Arbor Hill Grapery. Taste fresh grape pie, wine or juice. To the left, on Rt. 64 North is Bristol Mountain, a spectacular setting for pictures. Continue north on Rt. 64 to Rt. 20A. Four miles down the road is the Wizard of Clay Pottery. Seven geodesic domes, one with a "giraffe" peeking out, and a covered bridge across the street make this a perfect stop for some interesting photos. Honeoye is just a few miles west on Rt. 20A. Drive into town and take a left on County Road 37. A short drive and a left up Canadice Hill Road take you to Harriet Hollister Spencer Park. Here you'll get a fantastic view of Honeoye Lake. Go back through Honeoye, following the signs for the Cumming Nature Center.

The road to the Nature Center is one of the most scenic in Ontario County. At Cumming, there are many opportunities for tremendous nature shots. When you leave turn right. You'll come to an intersection; a left leads you to Naples. In Naples turn left on Rt. 21N. There are many architectural treasures, but probably the most popular photos are the vineyards and grapes. This is the home of Widmer's Winery, a great place for a brief respite and a taste of Finger Lakes wines and hospitality. Leave Widmer's and turn left. St. Januarius Church makes an interesting photo subject. Continue on Rt. 21N. Take the "high road" to the left and you'll have spectacular views of Canandaigua Lake. There are a few turn-of-the-century farms along this route. These add to the character of photos taken along this road. At the intersection, take Rt. 21N to Canandaigua, named by the Indians as "The Chosen Spot". This tour route takes you to some of the most spectacular scenic vantage points in Ontario County. Don't stop here, though. There is more wonderful scenery to capture. If you would like a more extensive photography tour, call the county tourism office at 877-FUN-IN-NY.

Route #2
Fall Food, Fun, & Foliage

Begin with a drive along Route 5&20 west of Geneva, where you'll pass rural landscapes, restored farmhouses, and roadside farm stands. Be sure to stop at Amberg Wine Cellars for a taste of fine Finger Lakes Wine and a peek at their gallery of local art.

When you arrive in Geneva, a visit to Red Jacket Orchards is in order. The old-fashioned farm market has a unique selection of local cheese, syrup, honey, bread, pies, and cookies, as well as seasonal fruits and juices for tasting the bounty of the harvest in the Finger Lakes!

If that has made you hungry enough, we recommend stopping at nearby Pasta Only's Cobblestone Restaurant for lunch. The restored 1800 farmhouse is well known for its fine cuisine, served up in style along with many Finger Lakes wines.

Continuing along Routes 5&20 will lead you to the downtown Geneva area, where you can do some shopping, or take in a walking tour of notable buildings and row houses offered by the Historic Society. When shopping, don't miss Guard's Cards, the Country Basket, and the many antique shops that grace the downtown area here. Be sure to check out beautiful Seneca Lake while you're here, against the backdrop of the dazzling fall colors.

You can either visit Lakefront Park (next to the Ramada Inn), or go a bit further east to the Seneca Lake State Park. Both have extensive walking trails that take in the view. Hungry again? Dinner in Geneva holds many options. Belhurst is a favorite, offering elegant dining in a Romanesque castle built in the late 1800's. Or try Port's Café, where you can dine lakeside on their patio while enjoying a wide selection of Finger Lakes wines and micro-brews. Whichever you choose, your evening is sure to be filled with food and fun!

Route #3
Small Town Charm & Culture

Begin your day exploring downtown Canandaigua - home to the widest Main Street in the USA! Don't miss the Country Ewe, the Goodie II Shop, Nadal Glass, Cats in the Kitchen, and the many antique shops, as you browse the storefronts and gaze at the beautiful flowers that line Main Street.

Once you have worked up an appetite (from all of that exploring), head to the Canandaigua Lady for a relaxing and scenic lunch cruise. The Lady is a 19th century paddlewheel steamboat replica - the only one of its kind in the Finger Lakes Region! During this quiet ride you can enjoy a delicious meal, a glass of Finger Lakes wine or a cool cocktail, as you take in the sights of beautiful Canandaigua Lake.

After the cruise there are some treasures waiting to be found in the nearby Bristol Hills. The small town of Cheshire, just outside of Canandaigua, is home to the Cheshire Union, a large converted schoolhouse. This landmark features the Company Store, on the ground floor, and the Antique Center and Gift Shop upstairs. Many unique things, new and old, can be found at the Cheshire Union.

Next on your must-see list is the Wizard of Clay, where you will find the famous Bristoleaf pottery workshop and outlet, under a maze of geodesic domes. There is also a nature trail there, where those folks inclined to take a stroll can discover the origins of the leaves and plants used in making the Bristoleaf pottery.

Finally, end your day in the quaint village of Naples, home to the 111-year-old Widmer's Wine Cellars. Take a guided tour of the winery, which ends with a complimentary tasting in their wine shop. Afterwards, you can enjoy dinner at the Brown Hound Bistro, complete with a slice of famous Naples Grape Pie, and then take in a play at the Bristol Valley Theatre. Bristol Valley is the best in the region for professional summer stock theatre, featuring musicals, comedy, and mystery thrillers.

Route #4
Small Town History & Shopping

Begin your day in the town of Bloomfield, where you will find: a quaint village square, antique shops, the Bloomfield Academy Museum, and the unique AWA Wireless Museum. Afterwards, head north on Route 444 towards the village of Victor.

Just before reaching the village you'll come to the Ganondagan Native American Historic Site, where you can learn about the rich history of a seventeenth-century Seneca town. There are marked trails you can hike to learn the Seneca's special relationship with the natural world, a Haudenosaunee clan exhibit, a historical audiovisual program, and a reconstructed bark longhouse to tour.

Stop in the village of Victor for lunch and then peek into their antique shops and galleries. On the other side of the village is the Valentown Museum, home to an impressive collection of early settler and Native American artifacts, housed in a restored 1879 shopping and community center.

Proceed south into Canandaigua along Route 332, where you can visit the Antique Emporium, home to over 60 different dealers, and the Five Seasons Gift Shop on the way. Both places are sure to have some unique treasures you can't live without! Then you'll reach downtown Canandaigua, home to the widest Main Street in the USA! Don't miss the Country Ewe, the Goodie II Shop, Nadal Glass, Cats in the Kitchen, and the many antique shops, as you browse the storefronts and gaze at the beautiful flowers that line Main Street.

Now that you have worked up an appetite from all of that exploring, take a relaxing and scenic dinner cruise aboard the Canandaigua Lady, a 19th century paddlewheel steamboat replica - the only one of its kind in the Finger Lakes Region! During this quiet ride you can enjoy a delicious meal, a glass of Finger Lakes wine or a cool cocktail, as you take in the sights of beautiful Canandaigua Lake.

Route # 5
A Taste of New York Package

A 3-day, 2-night itinerary hub and spoke tour sure to please! Fun stops in some of the Finger Lakes' most charming villages and towns, including Canandaigua, Geneva and Naples.

Day 1 - Welcome to the Finger Lakes
Arrive in Canandaigua in the Finger Lakes Region, NY
Visit the newly opened New York Wine and Culinary Center. New York wants you to taste everything we have to offer. From the finest dining to hundreds of first-rate vineyards and wine makers, plus a rich agricultural heritage, our state is eager to share its flavorful bounty.

Check in to your hotel.
Enjoy a special evening of food and wine pairing at your hotel tonight with top chef at Steamboat Landing.
Return to your hotel.

Day 2 - Canandaigua and Geneva
Enjoy breakfast.
Visit Weaver-View Farms, an Amish County Store. Nostalgia, history, old fashioned shopping on a 220 acre working dairy farm overlooking the west shore of Seneca Lake. Enjoy over 50 varieties of their famous home made jams, jellies, salsas, fruit butters, cheeses and other goodies. Includes your special gift…
Afterwards take the short trip to see Red Jacket Orchards. Located in Geneva, NY along the rolling hills of Seneca Lake, Red Jacket was originally planted in 1917. Today, the orchard and juice company is managed by the second and third generation of the Nicholson family.
Starting with Joe and Emily Nicholson in 1958, they have spent nearly 50 years mastering the art and science of quality fresh fruit and juice production, delivering product of the highest quality and flavor to their customers. In reverence to the environment, Red Jacket employs Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices that are both effective and environmentally friendly. Take a tour of the facility and have an inside look at the recognized by Zagat's, NY Times and Gourmet Magazine.

Enjoy lunch on your own at Wegman's Market Café.
This nationally recognized grocery store and market café develops a year-round appreciation of fresh produce, from the best growers in the region, with chef-developed recipes and techniques that focus on convenience and great taste. Wegman's also introduced their Produce Department's nationally recognized Strive for Five program.
Afterwards stop for wine tasting at Widmer Wine Cellars on the Canandaigua Wine Trail. Located in Naples, NY in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region, Widmer's Wine Cellars had its beginning more than 100 years ago when Swiss winemaker John Jacob Widmer and his wife Lisette ventured to Naples' beautiful valley. A lot has changed over the last century, but the winery has combined Old World tradition and modern technology to work hand-in-hand today to produce more than 50 different wines.

Stop for a chance to sample one of the region's best kept secrets and most talked-about dessert- the Grape Pie as featured on the Food Network-Monica's Pies, in Naples. Although the region is noted for its wine making, only Naples is noted for grape pies. Monica is one of many grape pie makers in the area, but unlike the other pie makers, her grape pies are available at her pie shop year round. Monica and her mother make all kinds of jams, jellies, conserves and gifts along with seasonal and holiday specialties and a vast array of different kind of pies.

Stop by Arbor Hill Grapery for a tour of the facility and canning process, also featured on the Food Network. The Grapery showcases all of the delicious Arbor Hill jams, jellies, and preserves; wine sauces; flavored vinegars; mustards; barbecue sauces; ice tea concentrates and salad dressings - all made one batch at a time by the Brahm family. Their products are open and available for tasting. Stepping up to the tasting bar, you will sample the best of New York Cheese and award-winning dry to sweet wines. You'll find traditional flavors, plus a few new grape varieties, like Traminette. Their wines and cheeses will delight even the most avid wine and cheese enthusiast.

Return to your hotel for some R&R.

Enjoy a short presentation from a member from the Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty. The organization has been developed to enhance tourism and contribute to the economic well being of area farms, food producers, wineries, businesses, and communities. It promotes the unique regional cuisine based on fresh, seasonal locally grown and made ingredients paired with the region's excellent wines to offer an extraordinary culinary experience.
Dinner at Belhurst, Geneva, overlooking the beautiful Seneca Lake. Construction began in 1885 and it took four years and 50 people to build the castle. National Register of Historic Places.

Return to your hotel for the evening.

Day 3 - Enjoy breakfast and then check out of your hotel.

Inquire for future pricing and customized options. (585) 394-3915