Stories from Our Staff

The weather is getting warmer and soon the water will be too. There is no better place to enjoy the water than in the beautiful Finger Lakes, a region named for its abundant freshwater. The Finger Lakes is home to eleven lakes that are scattered throughout the region. No matter where you are staying in the Finger Lakes you are bound to be close to one of them. The eleven pristine lakes are Conesus, Hemlock, Canadice, Honeoye, Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles, and Otisco; along with nu...

Living in the Finger Lakes Region the past couple of years it has been hard to try and avoid the famous wineries the region prides itself on. Each year when my parents come to visit the area we like to take a wine tour. Usually we visit the same wineries time and time again; the Seneca Wine Trail is normally our trail of choice. We are drawn in by the magnificent service, and spectacular lake views that each establishment has to offer. There are so many to discover, and they all offer their own unique atmos...

With winter in the rear view mirror, its time to put away those heavy winter boots, and break out your shorts and hiking boots. A perfect place to visit is Watkins Glen State Park. It is one of the most recognized State Parks in the Finger Lakes Region, and there are plenty of reasons why.

Visitors will be awed by the 19 enchanting waterfalls. My favorite part about hiking the gorge is not only do you get to admire these magnificent waterfalls, but you get to hike so close to them. Another thing I love is ...

            Spring can be such a fun time for people of all ages. The extra hour of daylight and warm sunshine makes everyone want to get outside. Outdoor activities are a great way to have fun in the warm, breezy spring weather.

    * Going for a walk, taking a bike ride, or going for a hike are all simple, fun ways to enjoy the weather with a friend. My boyfriend and I really enjoy going for romantic walks and hikes on beautiful sunny days. Our favorite spot to go hiking is Sugar Creek in Branchport. The n...

            Spring has finally arrived and now I am just waiting for the warm weather to follow. One thing I love about the warmer weather is dressing for it. Winter has passed and it is time to pack up the jeans and sweaters; shorts and tee shirts are in! Every girl loves to shop and there is nothing better then shopping at the start of season. I love shopping at this time of year, seeing all of the new vibrant colors and beautiful, floral patterns. When I go shopping in the springtime I always check out t...

Looking for some place to travel where you can enjoy real life culture with individuals? Look no further than Penn Yan, a small town in the heart of the Finger Lakes that is home to a large population of Mennonites and Amish. If you have never been around Mennonites or Amish, I strongly encourage you to come and explore their unique ways of life.

Mennonites and Amish are religious individuals who have extremely strong beliefs and practices. They typically have large families that involve the male children w...

    Currently, I am a college student, working part time as waitress. Being a waitress has allowed me to really appreciate all of the aspects involved in going out to dinner. I live in the town of Penn Yan, which offers a variety of dining options. Some of my favorite places to go to eat in Penn Yan include The Wagner, Lloyds, Pizza Hut and The Essenhaus. I have been to all of these places recently and I have had enjoyable experiences at each one.

•    The Wagner is a friendly diner that offers amazing brea...

Even though it is cold, there are still plenty of enchanting things to do and see in the Finger Lakes Region. Everyone is excited that spring is coming that we forget to take the time to admire the beautiful winter months. I have found myself guilty of this as well, after living in the Finger Lakes almost full time for the past four years I have wished for a speedy winter and a long warm spring.

With this being my last full winter in the Finger Lakes I decided to go out and experience more of what this regi...

Weddings, Weddings, and more weddings! It all started when one of my housemates announced her older sister’s engagement earlier this month. Since then, every week has something to with weddings – from picture messages of giant diamonds to picking the maid of honor! For the past two weekends I have served four wedding rehearsal parties. The dinner and the guests varied in size, age, meal choice, drinking abilities, and enthusiasm. As I watched the happy bride and groom, surrounded by their closest friends an...

I don’t know why I am so captivated by tall tales of local legends and folklore, but they always inspire a childish excitement. I don’t go looking for the stories- I prefer well-known tales that cause local residents to burst at the seams in the hope of sharing their knowledge with you! I enjoy stumbling across them, and although I don’t mean that in a literal sense it is exactly what happened to me two falls back as a college sophomore walking towards downtown Geneva. It was a beautiful fall morning and ev...