The hiking, swimming, fishing, camping, and overall stunning views in and around New York's Finger Lakes make it an incredibly popular destination for tourists and a favorite region to explore among New Yorkers. But with 11 different lakes in the area and dozens of cities and towns scattered throughout the region, it can be overwhelming to decide how exactly to make the most of your trip to one of the most breathtaking areas in the northeast. We broke down some of our favorite towns to post up before you hit the trails and campsites.
The town of Skaneateles sits right on the lake of the same name, where visitors of the charming lakeside city can enjoy not only mouthwatering eats at local spots like Bluewater Grill and Doug's Fish Fry, but enjoy boating, kayaking and paddle-boarding on one of the most beautiful lakes in the region.
Corning, NY, which is about a half-hour south of Watkins Glen on Seneca Lake, is home to the historic Market Street, as well as the world-famous Corning Museum of Glass, the largest museum of glass artifacts in the world. It's the perfect home base to come back to after a long day of adventure on the lake.
Canandaigua, which sits on Canandaigua Lake, has a historic downtown district full of fun shops, great restaurants, beautiful gardens and parks and more than enough lakefront activities and views.
In addition to its charming downtown, one of Watkins Glen's biggest assets is Watkins Glen State Park, a 778-acre state park full of gorgeous waterfalls and pathways.
Penn Yan, a small town central to the Finger Lakes region, sits on the northern edge of Keuka Lake. Check out Red Jacket Park, situated right on the lake, for some stellar views and perfect spots to picnic, exercise, or just take in the view.
Don't forget to check out some of the parks in the region like Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Finger Lakes National Forest, Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area and many more. When it comes to bigger cities on the region, Syracuse and Rochester have tons of restaurant options and aren't too far from the sights and scenes of the Finger Lakes. Don't forget your hiking shoes!
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