If you’ve ever seen the slender blue fingers carved into upstate New York, you’ve glimpsed a region of lakes, vines, gorges, waterfalls, and small towns that somehow feels both wild and cultivated. The Finger Lakes are deceptively vast in their character — as much about the land between the lakes (gorges, hills, farms) as about the water itself.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through a route you can use (or remix) to explore highlights, hidden gems, and of course the places you pinned on your map. I’ll also include where to stay (and two places you flagged: Grayhaven Motel and The Lake House). Let’s go.
Finger Lakes Facts
- The Finger Lakes region is sprawling: 11 major lakes, dozens of state parks, waterfalls, wine trails, small towns, plus art, food, and outdoor recreation.
- Best time to visit: late spring through early fall for hiking, boating, wineries. Fall colors are a huge draw.
- Traveling by car is a must. Distances between attractions and lodging are nontrivial.
- Bring layers: mornings by the water or in gorges can be cool, even in summer.
- Always check park opening hours or seasonal access, especially for waterfalls or gorges.
Where to stay in Finger Lakes?
Here is a map of the area with the two different hotels I mention! I am sharing my Google List of places that I have saved with a bunch of spots I had researched and had on my list!
Grayhaven Motel
This is where we stayed and we couldn’t have loved it more!! This renovated motel is situated in Ithaca, on a relatively quiet, wooded 11+ acre property. The aesthetics are mid century modern yet it still feels very cozy! Here are some highlights worth mentioning:
- 16 rooms (plus a vintage 1964 Shasta camper in summer) with some kitchenettes
- Breakfast is included. Coffee, granola, yogurt and oatmeal are there for you every morning and while it was simple it did us well each day!
- It’s nestled between Buttermilk Falls and Robert H. Treman parks, making it an AMAZING base for waterfalls and gorges.
- They give you a smore kit for the on site firepits!
- Onsite amenities include walking trails, hammocks, fire pits, picnic areas, games in common areas
- The location to downtown Ithaca, the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, and some other attractions is too good!
We would stay at the Grayhaven Motel again in a heartbeat! The main house has a cute seating area, a piano and some local art to look at and the staff was so lovely.
The Lake House on Canandaigua
We didn’t stay here but had the chance to do an amazinggg lunch here! If you are looking for a place you can really set up shop, The Lake House is a great place to stay. This property is a refined, design-forward lakeside resort with a spa, pool, numerous restaurants and activities. We can’t speak for the rooms but do hope to stay here on our next visit!
- Excellent option if your itinerary leans more to the Canandaigua / western lake side than Ithaca.
- It’s a bit more upscale — expect rates to reflect resort-level amenities
Tips on choosing a place in the Finger Lakes Area
- If your plan is centered around Ithaca, waterfalls, gorges, and Cayuga shore wineries, staying in Ithaca (Grayhaven or nearby) gives you less daily driving.
- If your route swings to the western Finger Lakes or You plan more time on Seneca/Canandaigua side, combining two bases (east side + west side) may reduce driving fatigue.
- Book early for peak season, especially for specialty lodgings like The Lake House.
Our Finger Lakes Itinerary
We drove from Hamilton, Ontario and went directly to Lake Canandaigua area, Keuka lake and Watkins Glen area before heading to our hotel in the Ithaca area. We had an early start and hit the ground running with a full day. Day 2 and 3 were spent more in the central area of the Finger lakes and yet with 3 full days, we still only scratched the surface!
Day 1: Canandaigua & Watkins Glen Area
Start your time in Finger Lakes with lunch at The Lakehouse at Canandaigua. We ate at the Sand Bar and filled up on lobster rolls, oysters and had watermelon margaritas and with it being situated right on the lake at the edge of the property, it was a PERFECT lunch to kick off our trip!
After this,head toward Keuka Lake, one of the prettiest of the Finger Lakes with a unique Y-shape. The surrounding hills and vineyard views are stunning.
Here is what the rest of our day looked like:
Spotted Duck Creamery
- Keuka Lake Winery: Arguably one of the nicest wineries in the region. They have firepits, a tasting room, an onsite food truck, a band stand for live music and a full on wine cellar inside. You can stay there all day!
- Spotted Duck Creamery: a beloved local stop serving small-batch custard made with duck eggs and seasonal flavors. The setting is just as good as the ice cream and they even give you food to feed the onsite ducks!
- Watkins Glen State Park — Watkins Glen offers one of the most visually stunning hikes in the Finger Lakes region featuring 19 (!!!) waterfalls.
Here are some things to know about Watkins Glen State Park with Kids
Vehicle entry costs $10.00 and the state park is open year round. Keep in mind that the gorge trail ( where the iconic waterfall is) is open Mid May to Mid October. It is about 3 miles round trip and has lots of steps throughout.
My kids got tired after about half way through and we ended up carrying them here and there but if we did this at the beginning of the day, they would have been ok. We just had a long day by this point. With that said, GO EARLY!! Go first thing in the morning. We went mid afternoon and it was busssy! You do not need reservations to go
If you have time or want to eat before heading back to the hotel, grab dinner at Upstate Brewing Company FLX
Day 2: Seneca Lake
Finger Lakes is known for its numerous wineries in the region so one of the best do’s during a visit there is to explore the numerous wine trails. There are several different ones but we recommend the Seneca Lake Wine Trail since it’s central and doesn’t require you driving TOO far.
- Forge Cellars– This was our favourite winery out of the entire trip. Coolest vibe, amazing Pinot Noirs and epic views ( pictured above)
- J.R. Dill Winery– With a focus on small batch and handcrafted vintages, this spot is worth visit. Loved the patio area and vintage feel of the place
- Hillick & Hobbs Estate– This vineyard specializes in world-class Rieslings and the winery itself is a design lovers dream. So stunning
- Hazlitt 1852– Legendary spot that as the name suggests dates back to 1852. The property has a pond, tons of space for the kids to run around and some real character. It’s famous for its Red Cat wine! ( pictured above)
- Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery– A historic and pioneering estate that put the Finger Lakes on the wine map, celebrated for its exceptional Rieslings. This is a popular spot for sure!
Dinner at Stonecat Cafe
The Stonecat Café is a MUST! You can do an early dinner here after all the winery stops and end your day on a high note. The restaurant features farm-to-table dishes and blends creative American dishes with regional flavors. The atmosphere is just as amazing as the menu with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the lake. If you are wine’d out, you can grab a craft cocktail here too!
Day 3: Ithaca
Today is all about getting outside and enjoying one of the most popular attractions in the Finger Lakes region and that is waterfalls and hiking! All of the kids shared below are kid friendly. Our kids aged 4 and 6 had no issue with them. While I listed a few parks and hikes, there are quite literally hundreds all over the region and we just barely touched the surface!
Waterfall Hikes
- Taughannock Falls State Park — A must-see. The 215-foot waterfall plunges past sheer cliffs; there is a rim trail and a closer walk. This took us about 2 hours round trip and the kids loved it!! Easy trail no steep hills!
- Buttermilk Falls State Park & Robert H. Treman State Park — Two gorge parks near Ithaca, each with multiple cascades and trails. Robert Treman has swimming in the summer with an actual lifeguard- so amazing!
- Allan H. Treman State Marine Park — On Cayuga Lake’s south end, great for boating, launching, and lakeside views.
Lunch at Idiot Brothers Cider
Other activities to do:
Since we travelled with our kids we added another thing or two that was really kid focused and that was the Cauyga Nature Center and the Ithaca Farmers Market
Cayuga Nature Center
The main attraction here is a 6 story Tree House that lets visitors climb! Its by donation only and the perfect stop for families. It has winding stairs, nets and secret little crawl spaces within! On the property they also have a lodge with wildlife exhibits and overall a great blend of nature, play and exploring! We spent about an hour here total
Ithaca Farmers Market
The Ithaca Farmers Market was such a hit for the entire family! This market is partially outside and right on the lake. This is where local artists, farmers, coffee makers, pastry chefs and all sorts of food vendors ( over 160 to be exact) come together to create one of the best markets out there. You can find anything here! Come hungry
Dinner at Maxine’s
This restaurant right downtown is a New Orleans-style fish house with strong Southern and Creole/Cajun influences. It is soulful, fun, warm, has neighborhood feel and sits in a historic building that adds to its charm. Maxie’s has classics like Jambalaya, Shrimp and Grits and fresh raw oysters and we felt like we truly were transported to New Orleans . They even have Mardi gras beads around the restaurant that you can grab and wear- this was certainly a hit with my kids! It’s the perfect place to unwind after a day of hiking or winery-hopping, offering both bold flavors and a memorable dining experience.
If I had another night here, instead of jamming the itinerary with more places I would likely just slow the pace down of the places above. I would spend more time at Watkins Glen and go in the morning perhaps or split up the winery visits.
We said that this Finger Lakes trip will be a yearly trip for our family because we loved it so much and I think next year we will visit some of the same places again because they were that good!
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