Ontario County, NY and surrounding counties will be in the path of totality for the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse. Prepare your safety and travel plans today! 

Read More »
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion, Canandaigua

Gardens

Your visit to the Finger Lakes won’t be complete without the beautiful scenes and scents of one of our many breathtaking gardens.

#1. Where history is forever in bloom

finger-lakes-sonnenberg-canandaigua-lord-and-barnum-greenhouse

Every time philanthropist Mary Clark Thompson traveled to Europe or Asia, she brought back ideas and art that helped shape the nine unique gardens and greenhouse at her Finger Lakes mansion. From pansies to roses with a greenhouse and aviary, the grounds at Sonnenberg are a magical horticultural adventure. Combine a walk through the gardens with a tour of the mansion and you will be mesmerized for hours.

#2. A bit of Europe here in the Finger Lakes

Geneva on the Lake exterior garden

This romantic resort was built more than 100 years ago, modeled after the Villa Frascati in Italy. The beautifully manicured maze of shrubbery behind this four-star inn also has an Old World European feel, and offers a truly unique and stunning view of Seneca Lake. It's hard not to be swept away. 

#3. A garden that celebrates peace between two countries

Granger Homestead & Carriage Museum- Peace Garden

To commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 and the long-standing friendship between the United States and Canada, there are gardens dedicated at historic sites in the Great Lakes region, and Granger Homestead is the location of one of these beautiful tributes. Officially called the War of 1812 Bicentennial Peace Gardens, these gardens celebrate the world’s longest undefended border.

#4. Flowers and furry friends

Lazy Acre Alpaca Farm, Bloomfield

Lazy Acre Alpaca Farm

Pretty flowers and soft, fluffy alpacas. Now that’s a combination! This family-friendly agritourism destination will captivate anyone who loves the outdoors and animals. Of course, there are the long-necked alpacas. But garden lovers will fall in love with Lazy Acre's bucolic gardens surrounding the gift shop as well as the tree-lined pathways to the barn and pasture areas. Some beds feature vegetables, while the perennial and annual gardens add the extra splash of color that will brighten your “lazy” day.

#5. The farm-to-supermarket connection

Wegmans Organic Farm, Canandaigua 

A couple walking the farm

The Wegmans supermarket chain, headquartered in nearby Rochester, has a long history of building relationships with local farmers and selling foods from local farms. In 2007 the company started its own organic farm on West Lake Road in Canandaigua, and during the growing season it offers occasional tours of the farm, which includes greenhouses, an apiary, a sophisticated composting system and a gorgeous view of Canandaigua Lake.

#6. Main Street in bloom

Downtown Clifton Springs and Warfield's Restaurant

Clifton Springs garden next to Warfield's Restaurant

Take a stroll around downtown Clifton Springs for a delightful garden tour. A sulphur creek (the source of the village's healing) runs though the hospital grounds downtown and serves as a focal point for a thoughtfully landscaped walkway that meanders around the hospital grounds. Dining on the patio at Warfield's Restaurant offers another lovely garden experience.

#7. Search for the great pumpkin

Pick'n Patch, Stanley

A family selecting the perfect pumpkin at the Pick-n-Patch

When you think of a fall garden you think of mums and a pumpkin patch. The perfect pumpkin awaits at Wickham's Pick'n Patch, a family-friendly agri-tainment stop that includes a pick-your-own pumpkin patch, a corn maize, mums, fall decorations, a kiddie train ride, and refreshments. 

#8. See how New York grows

New York Wine and Culinary Center

The New York Kitchen is all about educating visitors about the state's diverse agricultural bounty. Fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, and other edible crops make up the Kitchen's teaching garden, which is a lovely place to visit before or after a hands-on cooking class.

#9. A peaceful public gathering space

Pulteney Park, Geneva 

Pack a lunch, grab a bench, and enjoy the tranquility of Pulteney Park. Located at the east end of Washington Street, this park was designated as the original village green in 1794 when Geneva was laid out. Today the park serves as a tranquil public space, complete with a layered square water pool monument and the statue of “Peace” in the center. On the south side is a granite World War II memorial.