Lore Tripping? Think Cayuga County NY in the Finger Lakes

Lore-Tripping? Think Cayuga County.

Big stories, small towns and plenty of reasons to take the road less traveled

The “Lore-Tripping” travel trend is all about seeking out small towns, quirky places and destinations with colorful backstories and Cayuga County is practically made for it. Here, you don’t have to go far to find a fascinating story, an unexpected attraction or a place that makes you say, “I didn’t know that was here!”

From historic homes and Underground Railroad stories to lakeside villages, creative corners, local legends and one-of-a-kind stops, Cayuga County rewards curious travelers who like to wander a little farther off the beaten path.

Skip the cookie-cutter itinerary. Take the scenic route. Turn down that road you’ve never explored. Stop in a town you’ve never visited. Ask a local what you shouldn’t miss.

The best travel stories aren’t found in a guidebook, they’re the ones you discover along the way.

Start With a Story

If you’re going to lore-trip, let’s start with some of Cayuga County’s biggest stories.

In Auburn, NY, you can walk in the footsteps of Harriet Tubman, who chose Auburn as her home and spent more than five decades here. Visit the Harriet Tubman Home and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Fort Hill Cemetery to learn about her life, her faith and her lifelong commitment to freedom and community.

Then explore the Seward House Museum, the longtime home of Secretary of State William H. and his wife Frances Seward and known stop on the Underground Railroad. Here stories of abolition, politics and social reform come together under one roof.

Let’s explore more…

The Cayuga Museum of History & Art offers another unexpected chapter in Auburn’s story: the invention of sound-on-film technology at the Case Research Laboratory. It’s just one of those discoveries that makes you realize there is much more to a place than meets the eye.

One of Auburn’s hidden gems is waiting behind the doors of Willard Memorial Chapel. Built in the late 19th century, the chapel is the only complete interior in the world designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Inside you’ll find an extraordinary display of stained glass, decorative tile, woodwork and intricate details. From the outside, it may look like another historic building but step through the doors and the unexpected beauty inside is exactly the kind of discovery that makes lore-tripping so rewarding.

Old fashioned milk bottles lined up on a shelf in celebration of Dairy Month

Group of people listening the to docent talk about the Erie Canal and the old tavern building they are in.

From Auburn’s stories of innovation, equality and perseverance to the county’s deep agricultural roots, there are fascinating stories waiting around every corner. Explore the Ward W. O’Hara Agricultural Museum to discover the people, machinery and agricultural traditions that helped shape Cayuga County including its connections to International Harvester.

Ready for a little canal-side curiosity? The Old Erie Canal Heritage Center in Port Byron is packed with stories of the people, and everyday adventures that shaped life along the Erie Canal. Explore recreated historic buildings and uncover the unexpected side of canal history from the characters who traveled its waters to the ingenious ways communities adapted to life along the “ditch that changed America.” And yes, your four-legged history buffs are welcome, too!

Take a Detour to a Tiny Village

One of the best parts of lore-tripping is discovering places you might otherwise drive right past.

Experience Aurora a picturesque storybook village along the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake. Stroll through its historic streets, take in the architecture, enjoy a meal and soak up the lake views.

Then head to MacKenzie-Childs, where the whimsical world of handmade design is part art, part history and completely unexpected. It’s exactly the kind of stop lore-trippers love: a little quirky, a little unexpected and totally memorable.

Just down the road from Aurora and Mackenzie Childs is Long Point State Park and Union Springs.

Keep your eyes peeled along the shoreline at Long Point State Park for Odin Stones: naturally formed stones with holes through them that have inspired centuries of folklore, from protection and good luck to the belief that looking through the hole might reveal things normally hidden from view.

Travel just a bit further down the road and you will be in Union Springs, visit the Frontenac Historical Society and Museum. The museum is housed in a beautiful 1840 Greek Revival building that once served as the local Presbyterian Church. Today, the museum is a place to discover the stories, people and artifacts that shaped Union Springs and the surrounding communities.

For a little small-town charm and a lot of character, head to Moravia and nearby Fillmore Glen State Park. History comes to life at Fillmore Glen State Park, where you can explore scenic trails, waterfalls and the beautiful gorge. History buffs will want to look for the replica of the log cabin where President Millard Fillmore was born and raised, a fun connection to one of the area’s most famous former residents. If you happen to visit when the annual Fillmore Glen Bathtub Races (usually the first full weekend in August ) are taking over the streets, even better! The races celebrate President Millard Fillmore and the long-standing lore that he had the first bathtub installed in the White House. True or not, it makes for one wonderfully weird piece of local history. This quirky local tradition puts a playful spin on small-town fun and is exactly the kind of unexpected experience that makes lore-tripping so much fun.

These places are the perfect kind of place to find those “I never knew that!” moments that make a lore trip memorable.

Find the Curious and Unexpected

Some of the best lore-tripping stops are the ones you don’t expect.

In Sherwood, make a stop at the Howland Stone Store Museum, an 1837 cobblestone building with deep connections to abolition, women’s suffrage and the Underground Railroad. The museum tells the story of the Howland family and the remarkable reform movement that developed in this small community.

While there visit the Cabinet of Curiosities. Here you will discover a treasure trove of wonderfully unexpected history. Among its fascinating collection is a piece of cake saved from Susan B. Anthony’s birthday celebration in 1898, a tiny, deliciously unusual connection to a moment in history.

The collection was gathered by the Howland family during their travels and includes an eclectic assortment of objects from around the world. Think maps, natural-history specimens, shells, coral, minerals, Egyptian artifacts, souvenirs and other fascinating finds. The collection offers a glimpse into both the world beyond Sherwood and the curiosity of the people who lived there.

After visiting the museum stop next door and explore the Sherwood Equal Rights Historic District and Opendore, where the buildings and landscape tell stories of Quakerism, abolition, women’s suffrage and the fight for equality.

And don’t overlook Cayuga County’s smaller museums and historical societies. Here you will find plenty of unexpected stories and quirky treasures, from the old fashioned charm of Smith’s Old Country Store Museum in Genoa, and Little Red Schoolhouse Museum and Sterling Historical Society in Sterling.

Sometimes the most fascinating discoveries really are hiding in the smallest places.

Head North for a Lake Ontario Detour

For a different kind of lore trip, point your car north.

Fair Haven is a small lakeside community where the scenery alone is worth the drive. Explore the shoreline of Little Sodus Bay, take in the expansive views of Lake Ontario and spend some time at Fair Haven Beach State Park, known for its sandy beach, shoreline bluffs and beautiful lake views.

Just nearby, Sterling Nature Center offers a completely different kind of adventure. With trails winding through forests, wetlands, meadows and along the Lake Ontario shoreline, it’s a place where nature becomes part of the story. The preserve is also a favorite destination for birdwatchers and anyone who enjoys exploring the outdoors.

Take a hike. Follow the trail toward the water. Explore the bluffs. Watch for wildlife.

Or simply wander and see where the path leads.

Find Your Fall Story

In fall, the landscape itself becomes part of the story. The leaves turn brilliant shades of red, orange and gold. The air gets crisp. The roads become quieter. And suddenly, that little detour you’ve been meaning to take feels like exactly where you should be.

Fall is the perfect time to explore Cayuga County’s scenic roads, especially along Cayuga and Owasco Lakes and north toward Lake Ontario.

Along the way stop and pick your own apples. Search for the perfect pumpkin. Stop for fresh cider and a cider doughnut. Wander a farm market. Visit a winery overlooking the lake. Find a cozy restaurant in a village you’ve never explored.