Attractions

WINTER IN THE FINGER LAKES

Winter in the Finger Lakes region is a wonderland with glistening trees, sparkling lakes, and shimmering snow covered landscapes. It’s really one of the prettiest times of year to visit and one of the most affordable as many hotels offer great discounts over the winter months.

Get up close and personal with our winemakers

The winter season is actually the best time to visit our wineries when owners, winemakers and vineyard managers have more free time to talk to you about their wines and the wine making process.

Ski, Snowshoe and Sled!

Cayuga County’s Parks and Trails are wonderful places to hike, cross-country ski, snowmobile and enjoy the great outdoors!

The Great Indoors

If you prefer staying warm and cozy, Cayuga County’s museums and historic sites are for you. Visit the Cayuga Museum of History & Art in Auburn and learn about the early development of Cayuga County, view the extraordinary Bavarian Oak carvings at St. Matthew’s Church in Moravia, or tour the Seward House Museum.

‘Must-Do’ Winter Activities

1. Admire the Tiffany windows at Willard Memorial Chapel.


2. Laugh until your sides hurt at an Auburn Public Theater comedy night.
   


3. Cross-country ski on the Auburn-Fleming Trail .


4. Compete in Screwy Louie’s Ice Fishing Tournament on Lake Ontario.


5. Find a good book to read at Downtown Books & Coffee in Auburn and curl up by a warm fire at one of our cozy B&Bs!

Outdoor Adventures

Enjoy a ride in a balloon with Sunset Adventure Balloon Rides or experience more earthly pleasures by riding your bike around the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway. Splash into a variety of water sports on one of our eight lakes and the Erie Canal as you canoe, kayak, or sail your way through the county. You’ll find that the Finger Lakes are ideal for your outdoor adventures this fall!

Wine & Dine

Travel along the Cayuga Wine Trail and taste award-winning wines at world-class wineries. Or get off the beaten path and enjoy some of our newer and smaller wineries such as CJS Vineyards or Heart & Hands Wine Company.  Many wineries have decks or picnic areas that allow you to eat lunch or just enjoy a glass of wine while you take in some of the most beautiful scenery in the country.  Take a wine class at Bet the Farm in Aurora to truly enjoy every nuance of Finger Lakes wine.  Whatever you do, be sure to enjoy a glass of Finger Lakes wine and our local fare whether at your hotel, a restaurant or picnicking in the park.

History Happened Here

Visit the Harriet Tubman Home and pay your respects at the gravesite of the woman known as the ‘Moses of her People,’ for her work on the Underground Railroad. While in the historic Village of Aurora, be sure to visit MacKenzie-Childs and see the magic their artisans create on glass, pottery, and other materials. And at the end of the day watch a movie at the Finger Lakes Drive-in, one of the few left in New York State. Whatever it is you decide to do, you will be sure to make your own history during your Finger Lakes getaway!

Entertainment, History & Culture, Recreation, Wineries

Entertainment -

Let us entertain you! The Auburn Players Community Theater, NY Institute of Dance & Education, Auburn Public Theater, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and the Morgan Opera House, all provide showcases for the performing arts at their best. Central New York has plenty of local, live music to suit every taste.Check our events calendar for special performances, festivals, and other Finger Lakes attractions throughout the year.

"You have more history per square inch in this town than any other place I've been to"
- Actress Sigourney Weaver,
  Auburn Founders Day 2010

History & Culture -

Cayuga County is rich with historic sites, museums, and homes. Reminders of the Underground Railroad, the building of the Erie Canal, and the invention of "Talking Films" can all be found here.

Harriet Tubman Home Photo: Jack Kidd

Historic sites include Fort Hill Cemetery where William H. Seward and Harriet Tubman were laid to rest, and the Willard Memorial Chapel designed by Louis C. Tiffany and the Tiffany Glass & Decorating, Co. Take in the Rural Life Museum, dedicated to preserving local history and agricultural traditions and visit a water-powered gristmill operating since 1823 at New Hope Mills.

For a glimpse into Cayuga County's past, visit the Cayuga Museum of History & Art, offering rotating and permanent exhibits on the history and art of Cayuga County.

Visit some of the most unique museums in the Finger Lakes Region. These include the Ward O'Hara Agricultural Museum where you can step back in time to the turn of the century and life on the farm; the Little Theater Railway Museum featuring model train exhibits, and the Howland Stone Store Museum, the former family business of noted educator and Quaker abolitionist, Emily Howland.

Tour the homes of our famous forefathers (and mothers!) such as William H. Seward, best known for his work to purchase Alaska, then known as 'Seward's Folly," Underground Railroad conductor, Harriet Tubman, and Theodore Case, inventor of 'Talking Films." The Seward House, Harriet Tubman Home and the Cayuga Museum ( Willard-Case Mansion ) are all open to the public.

Recreation -

If you love the great outdoors, you'll love Cayuga County. Hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, boating, swimming, golfing, camping, bird watching, and other Finger Lakes recreational activities all await you.

A drive around the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway is a must. With gorges at its south, vineyards on its gentle slops and marshes on the north end, the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway features diverse landscapes and spectacular views. The 87 miles around Cayuga Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes, will take you through charming villages, by scenic parks and lead you to lodging, shopping, dining, wineries and more!

For a Great Lakes -Seaway experience drive the Seaway Trail. In Cayuga County the Seaway Trail will take you along Lake Ontario, through the Village of Fair Haven with it's unique shops, quaint Bed & Breakfasts and many campground facilities. Watch for the Seaway Trail outdoor storyteller panels that share the facts, legends, and lore of this unique America's Byway.

The Finger Lakes offer four seasons of outdoor fun with winter sporting activities including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, ice fishing and even everyone's favorite childhood pastime - sledding! Winter is also a great time to attend a workshop at Bass Pro Shops and hone your skills for the spring!

Wineries -

The Finger Lakes Region offers an abundance of premium wineries and wine trails which follow the banks of five different lakes, Cayuga, Canandaigua, Keuka, Ontario, and Seneca. The organized wine trails make touring easy and the their special events such as the Holiday Shopping Spree in December are not to be missed. Try a wine tour package and let someone else do the driving!

Cayuga County wineries include:

Bet the Farm
CJS Vineyards & Aurelius Winery
Dills Run Winery
Heart and Hands Wine Company
Izzo's White Barn Winery
Long Point Winery
King Ferry Winery
Giancarelli Brothers Winery
Chateau Dusseau

Wine Trails:

Canandaigua Wine Trail
Cayuga Lake Wine Trail
Keuka Lake Wine Trail
Seneca Wine Trail
The Little Finger Lakes Wine Path