After a month in Michigan, and a week in Niagara Falls I needed somewhere to go close by before flying out of O’Hare to Portugal in September so decided to return to this lovely area. I visited some things I had seen 3 years ago, but many things weren’t open in 2020 due to COVID and I found plenty of new things to do. Kelly came out for a week, also. I had a 2 bedroom right outside of Geneva and she’s never been to this area. I was excited to show her around.

History

The Women’s Rights National Historic Site includes the visitor center, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, M’Clintock House, and Wesleyan Church where the 1848 convention was held. So glad everything is open, we attended ranger talks at both houses and the church. This great site is fascinating, there are many exhibits in the visitor center. I visited several times.

Seneca Falls Historical Society has guided tours for $10, $8 for veterans/AAA. Great building and history.

Recently opened in the old Seneca Knitting Mill, the National Women’s Hall of Fame makes for a short, but interesting visit. Free entry, donations requested.

I loved all the information provided at the Harriet Tubman House by the guide or docent, Paul Gordon. The brick house is empty and closed for renovations but the Home for the Aged, on the site, is open by tour. The visitor center has a timeline of her life and much more.

I visited the Willard Memorial Chapel 3 years ago but wanted to show this beautiful building to Kelly. The only complete Tiffany and Company chapel known to still exist, they show a 20 minute video about the Willard Family and the building and history of the chapel. Amazing windows, paneling, lights, and floor.

We also booked tours of the Seward House Museum while we were in Auburn. I had visited 3 years ago, but it is inexpensive and interesting history.

The Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park was closed when I tried to visit in 2020. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to see another ”old house” but we both thought the gardens sounded interesting. It’s a single entry ticket, slightly expensive at $16, a $2 discount for 62+. I paid $9 with my VA card.

They provided a map of all the various gardens that we visited before going into the house. Both the house and gardens are amazing, great history, privately owned until the land purchased for a VA hospital. The mansion had been used for housing for the doctors and nurses but it’s still in great shape inside. The Italian, Japanese, Rose, Pansy, Moonlight, Rock, and Old Fashioned gardens are beautiful. There is an old Roman bathhouse and ruins of a small Temple of Diane on the grounds. Definitely recommend.

I visited with Boo 3 years ago but the buildings weren’t open at the Port Bryan Old Erie Canal Heritage Park. Kelly wanted to see part of the Erie Canal so we returned and spent time at both the visitor center and the old tavern that was open, too.

Ganondagon State Historic Site is free with the Empire Pass. The Seneca Art & Culture Center had a great exhibit on Wampum with many items on loan from the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris. There were many archeology exhibits from the site, audio stories from Native Americans and much more. There is a rebuilt Long House on the park, also.

Close by to my AirBNB in Geneva on Seneca Lake, is the beautiful Rose Hill Mansion. I wasn’t planning on another house tour but stopped by the grounds one day when returning from another activity and decided I really wanted to see inside this house so returned for a tour.

I was in the area for the End of Siege day at Fort Stanwix National Monument in Rome. About a 70 minute drive from where I was staying in the Finger Lakes, I still wanted to visit while I was in the area. The fort, originally built by the British in 1754, fell into disrepair. It was then taken over by American Patriots in 1776 and rebuilt. The British had it under siege from August 3 to August 23, 1777 before retreating. End of Siege day included several ranger talks and walks about weapons, troops, fort design, and more.

Parks and Trails and Lakes

Kelly has never been to the Finger Lakes, and since my rental was 2-bedroom, I invited her for a stay. When she was here we took a Skaneateles Lake cruise with Midlakes Navigation. We had a perfect day for a cruise, they offer a nice narration and we had great views. We returned to the dock and spent a few hours wandering this lovely little town.

I was just a mile from Geneva and wanted to walk most days in Seneca Lake SP. A New York park pass (Empire Pass)* is $80 but still a good value as each visit would be $5, $8, $10, depending on the park. I used it more than enough times throughout the month visiting Seneca Lake SP a dozen times as well as other state parks:

• Chimney Bluffs SP
• Watkins Glen SP
• Taughannock Falls SP
• Keuka Lake SP
• Cayuga Lake SP
• Canandaigua State Marine Park
• Fillmore Glen SP

I visited the Keuka Outlet Trail again, so many great areas but love the walk between Cascade Mill and Seneca Mill Falls.  The Cayuga-Seneca Canal Trail from Waterloo is nice, too.  The trail continues all the way to Geneva.

The Montezuma Wildlife National Wildlife Refuge has a great wildlife drive, I saw so many birds, ducks and geese of course, but also falcons and herons and egrets. Another day I went over to visit the Audubon Center.

I also drove into Geneva many times, parking around Pulteney Park and the Rainbow Houses on Main Street and walking along the lake. So lovely.

* There are a variety of other passes for NY residents 62 and older.

Other

Right next door to the Seward House in Auburn is the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center (and visitor center). There is an interactive display and lots of signs and posters from the equal rights/women’s suffrage movement. We stopped in for a half an hour to enjoy all the quotes, too, from the movement leaders.

Only opened on Saturdays, I drove over twice to Windmill Farm and Craft Market. It’s fun to walk through and enjoy the products even without buying anything. There are plenty of crafts, food, wine tastings. I had lunch there one day and also picked up some pierogis for home.

I had to return to the fun It’s a Wonderful Life Museum in Seneca Falls (AKA Bedford Falls!). I took Kelly then we came home and streamed the best Christmas movie ever.

Restaurants

• Food truck at Big aLICe. Their special on my first visit was a goat cheese and caramelized onion burger, delicious! Second visit, with Kelly, the daily special was wings, and we both ordered the spicy chicken sandwich. It was good, well-made but nothing special.
• Cafe 19 (Seneca Falls) Went twice, great menu!
• Pier 59 (by Chimney Bluffs) Good pizza, lovely views of Lake Ontario but incredible slow service.
• Sackett (horrible!!) I don’t understand the high ratings on Google Maps,  awful food and I left 3/4 of the fish and chips that were greasy and tasteless.
• Prison City Pub (Auburn) Split the fish tacos and a jalapeño popper grilled cheese with Kelly. That’s what I miss traveling solo, splitting dishes or appetizers. Both were great. I also like they offer their beer in 5 oz, 8 oz or 16 oz sizes, and especially at very reasonable prices.
• Rusty Pig (Geneva) Wonderful brisket and a great selection of craft beer on tap.
• El Bajio (Seneca Falls) okay Mexican, nothing special.
• Thai Elephants (Watkins Glen) Delicious, we split the papaya salad and two entrees. Everything high quality.
• Muranda Cheese (Waterloo) Had to go back for another the cheese tasting with Kelly. It’s gone up a bit but you still get 12 small tastes of the 15 cheeses and we both bought some to take with us. They offer wine and beer.
• Doug’s Fish Fry (Skaneateles) We had lunch here before our cruise, it’s a busy, very popular location. Quick service, good fish, great slaw.
• Sweet Basil Cafe (Victor) After visiting Ganondagon, I drove into Victor. I was looking forward to a Banh Mi, mentioned in Google Maps reviews but they had changed their menu. Disappointing, but I ordered the sweet chili basil, it was delicious. The menu online is still different than what they have in the restaurant.

Wineries and Breweries

• Big aLICe Brewing Company good selection of beer and nice outdoor seating. They also have a number of local wines.
• Abandon Brewing. Nice location, I like they offer 5, 8, 12 ounce pours but the two 5 ounce tasters I had were just average.
• Twisted Rail, found the one in Canandaigua this year when visiting there. Didn’t remember I had visited in Geneva 3 years ago. Had a good chicken panini and a sour.
• Montezuma Winery I had told Kelly about having a wine slushie here. So we stopped by and had their flight of slushies, all quite good.
• Stopped in the perfectly located Young Lion Brewery in Canandaigua after visiting. They have nice outdoor seating that is shaded from the afternoon sun and right across the lake for great views. They have a great black lager.
• Lucas Vineyards Oldest winery on Cayuga Lake, had a flight then split a couple glasses with Kelly, we both like their Lucas Blues.
• Three Brothers Wineries and Estates on Lake Seneca, Geneva. We split a tasting experience with flights in their wineries, Stony Lonesome, Passion Feel, Bagg Dare, and their brewery, War Horse. The only wines I really enjoyed were the first flight at Stony Lonesome. Very sweet wines. And below average beer.
• We went to Anyela’s Vineyards after our Skaneateles Lake cruise. Lovely location, ordered their white wine flight.
• Seneca Stag Brewery on Cayuga Lake, had a flight of good German styles, a festbier, Hefeweizen, marzen. Lots of outdoor seating.

Fillmore Glen State Park

** All photos property of Lisa, not to be copied or reproduced **