Create your own wide-open escape today in the Finger Lakes Countrysides!
The Finger Lakes Countrysides is a place teeming with lakesides and shorelines, stunning winter country views, wine, beer and craft beverages, amazing food, outdoor trails and wide-open spaces. It is a place where you can plan an active adventure or cozy up, kick back and relax. A place where you can create a vacation that is all your own, and at your own pace.
Visit and you’ll find new experiences, friendly faces, fun times, and a familiarity you just don’t get elsewhere. Feel at home in our home, in the Finger Lakes Countrysides.
Not sure where to start? Check out our overnight accommodations to begin planning your next getaway!
10 Ways to Enjoy the Finger Lakes Countrysides this Fall
#1 Take a hike (or bike) through fall foliage.
Yates County comes alive with colors this time of year. With all of our hiking and biking trails, there are so many opportunities to get outside and savor the gorgeous fall foliage this season. Check out our Guides page or more points of interest and trails.
#2 Explore the lakes for an end-of-season boat ride.
If you’re someone who enjoys going out on the water, you’re in luck- Yates County borders 3 different Finger Lakes: Keuka, Seneca and Canandaigua. With the weather cooling down soon, be sure to get out for that last boat ride of the season and to experience our fall foliage from a unique point of view. Visit our Water page for more inspiration.
#3 Visit the wineries.
There’s got to be a reason why we were named “Best Wine Region” for multiple years by USA Today, right? Our wineries range in size, personality and style, but we guarantee there’s a wine fit for every palette. Each season brings a different experience – quiet, intimate tastings in the winter and spring, busy, bustling wineries in the summer and fall. And the views! They just can’t be beat.
#4 Explore our breweries
One of the best parts of fall is embracing the flavors that come with it. We have all of your seasonal craft beverage flavors here, such as the Harvest Pumpkin Ale at Laurentide Beer Company, or the Hive Mind Braggot at Lyonsmith Brewing. Visit our drink page for the fall lineups at our must-see brewery and distillery stops!
#5 Shop local
You could spend hours upon hours shopping at our local merchants and markets this season. Find fall decorations, tasty treats, souvenirs, and unique gift items (it’s never too soon to start your holiday shopping!) Head down to New York’s first and largest rural market, The Windmill Farm and Craft Market, for a taste of what makes Yate’s County so special this time of year.
#6 Enjoy a scenic drive
One of the best ways to take advantage of the season is by weaving in and out of fall foliage during a drive down county roads. Our rolling hills, pristine lakes, and small-town, countryside vibes create the ultimate package for a scenic drive. We highly recommend that you take a ride around town and enjoy the stunning view this fall- there’s nothing else quite like it.
#7 Indulge in “spooky” good treats
Celebrate the season with tasty treats that will make you feel like a kid again. Visit our destination candy shop, The Keuka Candy Emporium, to treat yourself to homemade chocolate, vintage candy, and other sweets just in time for Halloween!
#8 Enjoy a seasonal meal
Yates County is full of variety when it comes to our food and dining scene. You’ll find many restaurants here who partner with local farms to create farm-to-table meals. One of our favorite restaurants is Sapalta, which updates their menu seasonally to utilize seasonal produce. Some of the produce you’ll see used in the fall here are pumpkins, radishes, apples, and beets.
#9 Explore arts, culture and history.
Plan a visit to places like the The Yates County History Center or take a workshop at Sunny Point on Keuka Lake at The Arts Center of Yates County. There is so much to do and see here. Art and culture lovers will relish in the visual bounty and structures that reside in the area. Take a look at our Arts & Culture page for places of interest.
#10 Reconnect and recharge.
The Finger Lakes Countrysides is an ideal place to get away from the day-to-day. Whether you’re planning a friends getaway, a trip with the family, or a solo self-care vacation to relax and recharge, we can offer a place for you to slow down and fill your cup. Start the planning process now and browse our site for more getaway ideas!
