The aptly named Finger Lakes region, with its long willowy-shaped lakes crested by vineyards on either side, is looking to attract Canadians.
Located in New York State just across Lake Ontario, this cottage country’s charms are relatively undiscovered. Visitors will experience fine, farm-to-table dining, bountiful nature and a number of fine wineries.
New York State Tourism recently organized a "mini-fam" tour with prominent travel agents to delve into the Finger Lakes region, showcasing firsthand the opportunities awaiting clients. This Open Jaw reporter was privileged to accompany the group to learn more.
During the last ice age, glaciers carved the area into a beautiful landscape of deep valleys, rivers, waterfalls and eleven major lakes. Situated between Syracuse, Rochester, and Elmira-Corning, the region is known for its plentiful outdoor offerings, such as hiking and biking. It’s also home to extensive farm-to-table culinary experiences and boasts more than 300 wineries. Numerous craft breweries and restaurants serve delicious food throughout the region. Many offerings are harvested locally and are unique to the area.
Cities, towns, and villages offer a wealth of cultural and historical treasures set amidst stunning natural beauty. For food enthusiasts, there are numerous food and wine trails to explore. Hiking enthusiasts can challenge themselves on the Interloken Trail or choose from many other trails.
Highlights from the Tour
Our first exploration point was in Mumford at the Genesee Country Village and Museum, the largest living history museum in the area. It boasts a historic village, nature centre and gallery. We wandered through several dozen authentically preserved 19th-century buildings, from pioneer farms to elegant Victorian mansions, each telling stories of the past.
Next, we landed in Rochester, the cultural capital of upstate New York, famous for its Strong National Museum of Play, an adult and child paradise, and the George Eastman International Museum of Photography. Both museums were eye-opening, especially the George Eastman Museum, where you can see firsthand the genius of his talent. Rochester is also home to craft breweries, such as Genesee Brew House, which has been around for more than 100 years, and Strangebird, a modern restaurant serving burgers, a delicious shaved kale turmeric ginger vin and granola salad, plus mac and cheese and copious varieties of pizza.
Ontario County is just one of 14 counties in the Finger Lakes. Tracey Burkey, the county's VP of Destination Development, guided us through the county with wine tastings at Heron Hill Tasting Room on Canandaigua Lake and Arbor Hill Grapery & Winery, along with a visit to Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park.
The property was once the summer residence of Frederick Ferris and Mary Clark Thompson. Frederick was a wealthy banker from New York City, while Mary was the daughter of a former governor of New York State. Mary was deeply passionate about the gardens and home, and she spent a lot of time and money making them just right. The estate is spread across 50 acres of land and boasts nine formal gardens, a mansion with restored period rooms, a greenhouse complex that includes many species of orchids, and the Finger Lakes Wine Center at Sonnenberg, which offers wine tastings.
During our tour, Burkey told us that Canadian tourism is down in the area post-COVID but is slowly picking up. The value of the Canadian dollar isn’t helping.
Note to Canadian Travel Agents: The 14 counties have come together to offer travellers various unique experiences. Each county has something special to offer, such as great hiking trails or famous waterfalls. Based on the client's preferences and travel duration, the itinerary can be customized to include the best experiences from each county.
The final leg of our Finger Lakes excursion took us to Onondaga County, situated in the northeast corner of the region. This area boasts the vibrant city of Syracuse and the charming historic town of Skaneateles. Walking through the town, you will feel a quaint feel and a rich history dating back to revolutionary times. The original settlers were granted homes for their role in the Revolutionary War.
Step-On tour guide Nikita Jankowski, Visit Syracuse, regaled the group with stories about the village's history and its role in the Underground Railroad. The group also had an impressive lunch and tour at the historic Admiral Inn (circa 1808) in Skaneateles. The town offers boating, hiking, wine tastings, and excellent four-season activities.
Heading south, we encountered the lands of the Onondaga Nation. This is where lacrosse originated, and tournaments are held frequently at the Onondaga Nation's Sports Centre.
The tour stopped at a local favourite, the Chocolate Pizza Company, where we met with owner Ryan Novak. Under Novak's leadership, the business has expanded worldwide and has been featured on the Food Network, Forbes, and Daytime TV.
Our final destination was Syracuse, a short drive from Skaneateles. It’s a fine university town and a cultural hub, boasting a lively arts scene, year-round food, music, and cultural festivals, such as Winterfest and Jazz Fest. Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse was a significant stop on the Underground Railroad.
Our last evening in Syracuse was dedicated to a meet-and-greet session and dinner with partners from various locations across New York State. Each travel agent had the opportunity to ask specific questions to representatives from different destinations, including the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, Tour Cayuga in the Finger Lakes, the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council, Madison County, Discover Albany, the Lake George Chamber of Commerce, and Westchester County.
Before returning to Canada, we stopped at the Buffalo AKG Art Museum (AKG) and Shea Performing Arts Theatre. The AKG now has a new extension called the Gundlach Building, which houses contemporary artworks. The museum boasts one of the most significant collections of modern and contemporary art in the United States.
Built in the 1920s, the historic Shea Theatre in Buffalo boasts mesmerizing architecture and design. Attending a live performance in this venue would be a cultural experience.
What did the Agents think about the Tour?
Dianna Lo, Owner of Safeway Tours: “specializes in organizing tours throughout the eastern United States and Canada. In New York State, our typical itinerary includes visits to NYC, Corning, and occasionally the Finger Lakes. Due to Covid-19, Finger Lakes tours have been paused, with a potential for their resumption soon. The pandemic has led to a significant decrease in Chinese visitors, resulting in fewer buses traveling to the states over the past two years. Most current visitors are local or from other provinces of Canada. This FAM trip has been enlightening, facilitating future itinerary design. I'm confident we'll introduce exciting new tours to New York State soon, once I've organized all the materials acquired during this trip.”
Katrina Ammendolia from Journeys by CAA Niagara: “We have taken tours to the Finger Lakes in the past, but due to the pandemic, we had to stop. However, we have planned a tour for this summer and are excited to explore different areas of the Finger Lakes. Our travellers are starting to travel again and feel comfortable with it. Since many of them are older, we have advised them to get travel insurance. We are also trying to market our tours to the Niagara region more by using social media and paid advertising. I personally appreciated the beauty in Canandaigua and would like to take our groups there. We are also thinking about adding more day tours to Rochester.”
Accommodation in the Finger Lakes
Hotel Canandaigua, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, is a delightful hotel that opened in June 2023. It's a vast, resort-like property with canoeing and paddle boarding available.
Hampton Inn & Suites Rochester Downtown is a fairly new property with comfortable rooms.
Need more information about I Love New York, visit www.iloveny.com or www.visitfingerlakes.com
