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Routes for Sightseers A Photographers Delight | Fall
Food, Fun, & Foliage | Small Town Charm & Culture | A Taste of New York
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 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 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 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 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 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 3 - Enjoy breakfast and then check out of your hotel.
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