Always charming and beautiful—The Finger Lakes is enchanting and full of outdoor adventures, wineries, scenic countryside, lush forests, and crystal blue lakes. Nothing captures this better than the picturesque village of Skaneateles at the Finger Lakes's Eastern Gateway—full of vibrant architecture, stately homes, unique boutiques, casual lakeside cafés, and refreshing blue waters.
Skaneateles Lake
Colorful townhouses line the lake along the village center. The gorgeous deep blue lake is surrounded by scenic countryside, estates and much of the higher terrain is forested. Beyond the swimming, fishing, sailing, boating, and annual regatta racing events—the lake is an enormous recreation center surrounded by natural attractions. Bahar Nature Preserve on the southwest shores features a dramatic gorge landscape with Carpenter Falls. Bear Swamp Forest is popular with hiking, mountain biking, and Nordic skiing—the forest is also great for birdwatchers and provides habitat to red-shouldered hawks and other migratory songbirds. And High Vista Nature Preserve has one of the most scenic views of Skaneateles Lake along the southern shore.
Skaneateles Lake known as the Roof Garden of Lakes is higher than the other Finger Lakes at 864-feet—is one of the cleanest lakes in the U.S., only second to Crater Lake in Oregon. The water is stunning and so pure that the City of Syracuse and other municipalities use it unfiltered.
Thayer House
In the heart of the town is Genesee Street the center of shopping, dining, and park activity—lined with historic homes, specialty shops, cafés, art galleries, and scenic lakefront. The Sherwood Inn overlooks beautiful Clift Park—the tavern and inn originally built to support the stagecoach passing through the village has been the cornerstone of Skaneateles since established in 1807 by Issac Sherwood. The Federal-style architecture with bluish-gray painted clapboard, golden eagle over the entrance flanked by colorful flags, and enclosed porch has been the center of hospitality and family celebrations for over two centuries with its engaging history, preserved architecture, restored original charm, inviting meals, and seasonal traditions.
Stroll through Clift Park the center of lakeside activity with gazebo, pier, swimming, war memorial, and marina. The pier draws into the lake offering a unique panoramic view of the colorful village and natural surroundings. Small sailboats, vintage motorboats, and paddle boarders move along the coast as the sounds of local musicians perform at the dockside gazebo and onlookers sunbathe and picnic.
On the eastern side of town between Legg Hall and St. James Church is the tranquil Thayer Park. Joel Thayer developed the land and seawall as a garden—it a wonderful park to sit on a bench, relax in the shade, read a book and overlook the lake. The Thayer House is across from the park—the beautiful 1806 Federal-style home blended Victorian architecture when renovated in 1862 with mansard roof, rich green and yellow palette, ironwork carvings, and formal gardens.
Genesse Street
Downtown is full of unique specialty stores, art galleries, and delightful eateries—including artisan jewelry, local crafts, home goods, olive oil, tasting rooms, and apparel. Drooze & Company is a fascinating—colorful, fun, and creative modern general store with collections of home living goods and gifts for every celebration. The Local Branch Co handcrafted leather goods, apparel, and a curated collection of outdoor antiques for those seeking an adventure—the quality provisions tell the story of the American landscape and outdoor living. Located within the historic Old Stone Mill—Skaneateles Artisan features over 100 artists from the Finger Lakes and New England—and with a large selection of paintings, sculptures, jewelry, photography, pottery, and glassware it is a great way to bring the Finger Lakes experience home. Plus many more to shop and enjoy.
John D Barrow Art Gallery
Beautiful works of art that delight the creative and landscape lovers with more than 250 paintings by John D Barrow (1825-1906). The gallery collection includes the largest selection of the Hudson River School style artist work renowned for his portraits and landscapes—mostly of Skaneateles and the Finger Lakes region. Barrows also designed the Skaneateles Soldiers & Sailors Monument at Lake View Cemetery. An interesting fact about the gallery is the Borrow-a-Barrow Program—allowing the rental of the select works to be displayed at home for a 2-year period. The gallery is within the historic Skaneateles Library.
Blue Water Grill
The best lakeside dining along the Pier and Clift Park—Blue Water Grill also delivers the freshest seafood, handhelds, sushi, sashimi, and maki rolls—it's a great place for a casual meal and cocktails with friends.
Moro’s Kitchen
Homemade Italian with Modern French culinary twist—Moro’s Kitchen warm family atmosphere, sidewalk seating, and mixing of innovated foods with a modern classic is delicious. Try the open-faced Salmon BLT or lakeside-inspired Seared Steelhead Trout with lemon butter garlic sauce and potatoes.
Skaneateles Bakery
Simple pleasures and old-fashioned American baked goods—Skaneateles Bakery uses the freshest local ingredients and makes the best classic donuts including cinnamon sugar, glazed, chocolate, coconut, and powdered—delicious sugary sweet snacks plus freshly brewed coffee.
Vermont Green Mountain Specialty Co
It’s more than chocolate and all about chocolate—The Vermont Green Mountain roasts the freshest coffee and has large collections of gourmet chocolates and candies. The chocolate turtles with crisp pecans, chewy caramel, and sea salt are amazing. The shop is also well-stocked on specialty syrups and country jams—a great stop for something sweet or gift.
Judge Ben Wiles
Enjoy the spectacular lake and natural surroundings with a 3-mile sightseeing cruise with Mid-Lakes Navigation on Judge Ben Wiles—with stunning views of hillside homes, estates, and gorgeous wilderness it is the best way to explore the lake.
If you are looking for something more unique—book Barbara S. Wiles or Stephanie. The 1937 Barbara S. Wiles offers Cocktail Cruise and is one of the only active U.S. Mail Boats still in service—delivering mail to camps along the lake. The Stephanie is a classic 1946 Cris craft mahogany motorboat.
Dickens Christmas
Its legendary Dickens Christmas takes you back in time with an amazing holiday festival from Thanksgiving through Christmas. Enjoy live holiday music, performances, horse-drawn wagon rides, and over 50 characters from the classic novel “A Christmas Carol” interacting with residents and visitors throughout the village—come meet Ebenezer Scrooge, Jacob Marley, The Cratchit’s, Tiny Tim, Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. This Old Fashion Dickens Christmas celebration is always delightful and an event not to miss.
Beyond Skaneateles
The Finger Lake region has an amazing wine trail for relaxing in the countryside, adventurous waterfall hikes, and deep history—and Skaneateles is just the beginning. So whether it’s walking through fields at Lockwood Lavender Farm, enjoying a glass of wine at Anyela's Vineyard, or hiking trails to Bucktail Falls—explore beyond the village and further into Skaneateles and The Finger Lakes. Here are few more ideas to keep you going.
Anyela’s Vineyard, Skaneateles
On a beautiful hillside on western shores high above the Skaneateles Lake, Anyela’s Vineyards traditions in winemaking started generations ago in Eastern Europe—unlike other vineyards, after each fall harvest the trellises are carefully removed and buried in the rich soil to nourish and protect the buds from the cold winters. Anyela’s offers a variety of red, white, rose, sparkling, and dessert wines. Its scenic countryside and tasting is a great place to relax with friends, family and celebrate summer.
With more than 130 wineries, breweries, and distilleries the Finger Lakes Wine Trail is worth exploring and voted the best wine region in the country for the last two years. Discover Fox Run Vineyards or Finger Lake Cider House on Seneca Lake, Bully Hill Vineyard on Kauka Lake, or the many others along the scenic shores and countryside. And with impressive wines—it is tough to find anyplace better.
Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen
Beautiful cavernous gorges—Watkins Glen is the most famous of the Finger Lake State Parks with a series of 19 waterfalls on a 2-mile trail with over 800 stepping-stones.
Letchworh State Park, Castile
Gorgeous lush forests, deep rugged gorges, and flowing fresh waterfalls—Letchworth State Park. Known as the Grand Canyon of the East, Letchworth is the largest gorge on the East Coast. The 17-mile park follows the Genesee River through a deep canyon with three major waterfalls and as many as 50 waterfalls on adjacent steep tributaries. Its magnificent scenery, canyon views, lush forests, intriguing hiking trails, and countless cascading waterfalls make it New York States' best outdoor attraction. For more information visit Legendary Letchworth.
Harriet Tubman National Historic Park, Auburn
Guided by deep faith and devotion to family and freedom—Harriett Tubman was born into slavery, escaped, and moved to Auburn in 1859. A pivotal figure, abolitionist and active in the Underground Railroad—she conducted over 13 missions to rescue 70 slaves and served as an armed scout and spy for the Union Army during the American Civil War. She led and guided an expedition of 150 African American soldiers of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment at Combahee Ferry, S.C.—which lead to freeing over 700 slaves. The park includes Visitor Center, Harriet Tubman Residence, Tubman Home for the Aged and Thompson Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.
Borodino Baptist Church, Spafford
The Federal-style 1830 Borodino Baptist Church in Spafford was the center of the abolitionist movement where Frederick Douglass spoke. The church has four pilasters and flush board façade is on the east end of the village green.
Taughannock Falls, Taughannock
An incredible deep gorge with layers of limestone, sandstone, and shale—Taughannock Falls at 215-feet is taller than Niagara Falls and the highest single-drop waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains. Enjoy the spectacular views along the river path and rim trail above. The rim trail is a 3-mile loop with multiple viewing areas and runs along the edge of the gorge. The river path provides a unique experience as the enormous gorge surrounds hikers approaching the falls. Taughannock Falls State Park on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake has hiking, nature trails, camping, and lakeside swimming.
Carpenter Falls, Marietta
Bahar Nature Preserve on Bear Swamp Creek with picturesque 90-foot ribbon waterfalls with massive limestone overhang you can walk behind—Carpenter Falls is a refreshingly surprise on the western side of Skaneateles Lake. It is easily accessible with a moderate 3.2-mile hiking trail from the lake to the falls—and a beautiful park for short tranquil hikes.
Sources: Wikipedia & local business websites.
Comments