My late partner loved the finger lakes, and she often told me that we needed to come up to see them…read moretogether. Unfortunately, we never made it together, so since I was taking care of some business down in the city, I decided to come up and spend a few days exploring the area. Also today is her birthday, so it made not only this trip, but especially today, extra special.... There are 11 lakes in all each with its own charm. You could easily spend a few days, just exploring one lake or two. I took three days to explore as much of the region as possible, so it gave me a little "taste of the whole thing", so I will remember special places that I can come back to. This welcome center is in the town of Geneva, which is at the very top of Seneca Lake. It's pretty much the middle of the entire finger Lakes region. Geneva, or the town of Watkins Glen, about 45 minutes south of here, at the other end of Seneca Lake, are both great "jumping off spots" for the entire region. This welcome center is beautiful. It sits right next to Seneca Lake, and is a great place to stop and get some information, or even stop and relax for a little while. Just outside the back of the center is the Lake, it's peaceful and has gorgeous views. They even have Adirondack chairs where you can just sit and relax for a little while. They have information about the lakes in the visitor center. There is also a "taste NY" store, which features finger Lakes products. You can get breakfast and lunch items, snacks, bakery items, souvenirs, beer, cider, , and wine. Definitely wine. The finger Lakes is a very large wine region, with between 130 to 150 wineries, the majority of which you can visit. They also have several different designated "wine trails", where you can visit wineries close to each other. (with that many wineries to visit, please make sure you have a designated driver...) This is definitely the right place to stop while you are exploring the region. I enjoyed my visit Thank you.

Saw a sign for a visitor center while driving west.on the thruway, so off we went. NOTE: this was…read morenot a rest stop visitor center off the road, but one 6 miles from the thruway....i recommend that the state notate the distance on the highway sign as well as have signage once off the thruway. Why this place doesn't get 5 stars). However, once there it was a beautiful center on gorgeous Seneca Lake. They sell food, drinks, NY state wines, NY state products, etc. There are several brochures ( what I prefer even though I do lots of online research as well), and a tasting counter which is relatively inexpensive ($4). We had a lovely conversation with Don and his wife Marie, who were at an information booth. There is also a cool children's play structure outside. The photos don't do this center justice, but make sure you stop here before you plan anything!!!

Had a wonderful chat with volunteer Bob at the visitor center before heading out on the 3+ mile…read morenature drive. He gave us some tips about where we might see certain types of birds and he was absolutely spot on!! We spotted a pair of bald eagles in the tree line and after a 5 minute wait or so, they treated us to a flight right over the car to soar over the water on the other side of the drive. It is absolutely amazing that this wonderful resource is free to enjoy. The visitors center is accessible to those using mobility equipment and the drive is a wonderful way to enjoy the wildlife without a hike.

Very pretty reserve, lots of wildlife. If you like birding this is a good area to be in. This is…read moreonly a drive through trail but there are lots of walking trails nearby!

We enjoyed hiking through Taughannock Falls State Park in Ithaca NY (Jul 2026). There's terrific…read moreviews of the falls from an overhead Taughannock, a small pedestrian bridge, and a spacious viewing courtyard.

Overlook is half way point of North Rim Trail. Since half of the trail was close during winter…read more People just drove and park here (free parking). There is a visitor center and bathroom but it wasn't open when I was there. View is not bad. It is a 2-minute stop. Take some picture and then go back to the car. Gorge trail has better view because you can get close and feel the energy of the waterfall.

The place to pick up your winter break "Ithaca loves teachers" pass. Great idea, there were flocks…read moreof teachers and their "teacher's pets".

Lime Hollow Nature Center is surrounded by so many nice easy to low moderate trails. I'm sure no…read morematter what time of year this is a place to spend some time taking in fresh air, nature and some unique fun artwork. I hiked in winter with my guy on some snow packed trails and found it still easy to navigate without much fear. The trails are very well marked so no worries about losing your way. They have cross country skiing trails which were nice and many small groups/families were enjoying. I would think you could bring your snowshoes too if you wanted to traverse trails that way, but boots worked fine too. There are compost style restrooms outside/inside the center where you can pick up guide map or equipment. That edges an open private lot visible seen from the roadway. Great location to have some go clean fun all year round I'm sure and would highly recommend to all ages.

This is such an excellent place and such a great find. This place is so much bigger than it looks…read morewith lots to see and explore! They have a sculpture trail and loads of other places to check out. The woods are beautiful and the trails are well marked. Unfortunately, due to COVID their nature center and bathrooms are currently closed but the trails are open from sunrise to sunset. The trails let you explore multiple different places including open field, meadows, old woods, hill sides, swamps/marshes, and more! The leaves and animals here were fantastic as well and it was a lovely place to relax and enjoy the serenity of nature. Highly recommended place to visit and enjoy a beautiful day!

My wife, two teenage sons, and I enjoyed a mid-July 2025 visit to the Women's Rights NHP in Seneca…read moreFalls. It has lots of pluses. First, it has a theater which provides a free 23-minute video on the history of the 1848 Seneca Convention and conveys how much opposition there was to the Declaration of Sentiments at the time. Only 100 people (68 women and 32 men) out of a total 300 attendees signed the famous document. Interestingly, no pastors or clergy signed the document (most likely due to fear of losing their congregations). Second, the exhibits on the 2nd floor provide an in-depth historical overview of the suffragist movement. If you're a history fan, this place is awesome! It covers topics which are not extensively discussed in standard US history courses. For example, I had no idea that Frederick Douglas (living in Rochester, NY at the time) attended the 1848 Seneca Convention and signed the Declaration of Sentiments. Also, Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton first met in London in 1840 and were prohibited from actively participating in a convention due to their sex. Finally, you can see the historic Wesleyan Methodist Chapel which was the meeting location for the convention. I wish we had more time to explore other buildings in the NHP - but the museum provided a great introduction to a fascinating period in US history.

My husband and I visited the Finger Lakes a week or so ago for the Fourth of July. We were there…read morefor hiking, waterfalls, and wine, but I was also very excited to spend a few hours of our Fourth of July at the Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls! The NPS park tells the story of the first Women's Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls in July 1848. The park is comprised of several sites in Seneca Falls, and, while a few are centralized, there are a few that require driving. The park includes the visitor center, historic homes, and the Wesleyan Chapel. The visitor center and Wesleyan Chapel are next to each other and should not be missed. The visitor center has a film you can watch (we got lucky on the Fourth of July and got to hear an Elizabeth Cady Stanton impersonator speak in lieu of the film), a museum area upstairs, and a gift shop. On the side of the building is a park area where you can read the text of the Declaration of Sentiments, the document that was drafted at the Convention (it was pouring when we were there, so we weren't able to appreciate this during our visit). Then, next to that, is the Chapel, a partially restored, partially reconstructed chapel building, the site where the Convention took place (when we visited on the Fourth, a Ranger gave a talk inside the Chapel, which made our visit here extra special). The park also includes three historic homes: the Elizabeth Cady Stanton House, the M'Clintock House, and the Hunt House. The Hunt House (in Waterloo) is currently (as of July 2026) closed for renovations. We didn't make it to the M'Clintock House (the home of Mary Ann and Thomas M'Clintock, radical Quakers who were involved in the Convention), but we did make it to the Elizabeth Cady Stanton House, which is a short drive away from the Visitor Center/Chapel. The Elizabeth Cady Stanton House wasn't my favorite part of our visit; the house is almost entirely empty and a short few-minute self-guided walking tour (with a laminated one page guide available inside the house) is all it takes to see everything there. So it's must visit for anyone wanting to take in every part/site of the park, but I think you could certainly get enough out of your visit by focusing on the Visitor Center/Chapel in downtown Seneca Falls if you don't have time to visit the historic houses. The historic houses are open seasonally, so definitely check the hours on the park's website if you're planning a visit. The ranger programs made our visit extra special, so I would definitely try to take advantage of those free offerings if they overlap with your visit! I was a history major in college, and I do love visiting historic sites. Women's Rights National Historical Park was a special place to visit during our time in the Finger Lakes. I got to refresh my memory of the events that took place there, and it was a wonderful place to be a little patriotic on the Fourth/250th!

After briefly stopping at the [free] overlook to get some photos, we decided it would be nice to do…read morethe walk to the falls too, so we chose the Gorge Trail. It was 1 mile each way (from the parking lot to near the base of the falls). The trail was relatively flat and shaded for parts of it (but not all). There were a few benches along the way to take breaks, and water at the beginning of the trail to fill up your water bottle. It costs $10/car to get into the state park but you can use that ticket to get into other state parks on the same day without paying again, which would be great to visit nearby Buttermilk Falls and other parks.

I visited Taughannock Falls State Park about a week ago when my husband and I were in the Finger…read moreLakes for the 4th of July, and I'm glad we included it in our itinerary for our trip. The highlight of the park - and its namesake - is Taughannock Falls, a 215-foot plunge waterfall. That's what we were there to see, but let me explain more about the park. The park crosses Taughannock Boulevard. On one side of the road, is the park of the park with lots of amenities: the marina, boat launches, a beach, a concession stand, bathrooms, a playground, and more. We were there on the morning of the Fourth of July, so lots of families were setting up for a fun day for the holiday: picnics, beach, boat day, etc. On the other side of Taughannock Boulevard is the waterfall and several trails. There is one parking lot by the trails, which was already full when arrived around 9am on Saturday, which was the Fourth of July, but we parked near the entrance on the other side of the park and walked over to the trail. There is signage requiring cars on Taughannock Boulevard to stop for pedestrians; it felt safe to cross. We took a little walk around the side of the park with the amenities, but we were there for the falls. We walked along the Gorge Trail - a .95 mile trail that is very flat. While not paved, it was a flat, wide dirt path, making it much more of a walk than a hike. Compared to other parks with falls in the area, it really doesn't feel like you're *in* a gorge, but you do walk along Taughannock Creek. But it's not quite as beautiful of a trail as some others in the area. But we were for the waterfall, which is incredible. It's worth a sweaty walk (it was a hot, hot day) to get to. We took a million pictures, watched the hawks flying over the falls, and took in the falls for as long as we could before heading back along the Gorge Trail. (Unlike other parks nearby, the Gorge Trail doesn't connect to the other trails, so you have to return on the same trail.) It might not be my favorite of the state parks we visited during our time in the Finger Lakes, but the waterfall is stunning and well worth a visit. It's also a great option for anyone who wants to visit a waterfall but isn't up for a more challenging hike, as the Gorge Trail is extremely flat and easy!

I finally got the proper address put up and name since it was spelled wrong and listed as 4 miles…read moreaway! And even when it showed the right address, still wouldn't let me check in because the "pin" on the map was still set to far away- oy vay! Wonder why that all happened. Lost SO many days of check ins because of that! ANYWAY- go visit this place! They have the nicest people who will give you tours and information and show you other places to go in the area! So much to learn, and it's FREE! Can you believe it! Best service and experience you will find! Even if you just talk to these nice young women for a while I will bet your day will improve and you will feel better about life- their energy is that wonderful! There are 188 FREE videos for you to watch- so even if it's bad weather- MORE than enough to keep you occupied! It's a very comfortable place with couches and air conditioning and nice ample bathrooms so you don't have to wait in line! And so much to learn. I've seen side of the road visitor's centers in NH and VT and they are nice, showcasing some local art or goods- much nicer than usual rest stops but THIS is more like a museum! And if you are near here in the middle of July- be sure to come see the Hill Cumorah Pageant! I have seen it 4 times in 3 years. 2014- Came and saw the pageant- drove up with some Rhode Island friends, stayed at one of their grandmother's house- so fun-- went to Niagara again 2015- Saw the pageant and decided I MUST be in it next year! Didn't realize applications start SOOOO early in the year! 2016 Saw it twice, DETERMINED this time to be in it! Made alert reminders on my phone to make sure I REMEMBERED to apply! 2017 I MADE IT, got to be in it and cannot believe how magnified the experience was! Had so many opportunities to interact with the audience and welcome them and answer questions they might have etc. Other years we only stopped by the visitor's center so I didn't get all that acquainted with it. But this year since my dad was flying up from NC to see the show- I was in there doing research on what sites for him to see and which videos he might like! He loves cowboys and there is one about a horseman and he talks about training the horses etc so of course he liked that. He also helped out at the bishop's storehouse across the street. It used to be 20 minutes away but now RIGHT across- so you can go and by home storage there with cans that will last 30 years!!! Good stuff to have! At the top of the hill after quite the calf workout you can visit the monument. Or you can just drive up there. Other wonderful places to visit in the area: Smith family farm and Sacred Grove. The Printing Shop it's so interesting and all of those remind me very much of Sturbridge Village or Mystic Seaport back in New England. Where else can you get so many tours with so much info for FREE!??!! WIth tour guides that are HAPPY to see you and excited to share what they know and have memorized whole binders of tour information!?!?! So what else shall I tell you? Well it'd be a nice place for a picnic. The grass is quite plush. Oh I forgot to tell you more about pageant! Well during the Hill Cumorah Pageant in Palmyra- the visitors center parking lot is some of the handicapped parking. There is seating for 9000 in "the bowl" as it's called and you can feel free to bring blankets or your own comfy chairs. And all the nights of the show 7 plus some dress rehearsals- it's quite full! What's very cool is they partner with some local community organization- like the Rotary who puts on this chicken dinner that is SOOO good! Now I guess they hire another place who REALLY knows how to make yummy chicken! I talked to that guy for a bit and he really seems to love what he is doing! And BOY it smells so GOOD as they have it cooking for hours. Now I do not know HOW they make simple POTATOES taste SO GOOD but they do! I would rather have more potatoes than cole slaw or the roll but but you've gotta have it- I don't understand why anyone gets dinner elsewhere when they have yummy choices here and you can get a seat and get settled in and really enjoy the space- it was only $10 other years, now I hear $11 but you could split it and be full! And I saw many people with popcorn...I've seen "taco in a bag" from a vendor- but this year as I was in the show I didn't check it out as thoroughly as other years. Oh yeah ok so one thing I was telling so many people with the show- now I was a theater major and saw more than my fair share of Broadway shows- and I have NEVER seen SO many amazing special effects on a production! They have a stage crew of about 32 young men who climb up in those 12 light towers harnessed in, and they are running the pyrotechnics and water cannons. When I had gone on Maid of the Mist earlier in the day from seeing the show- we got MORE mist on us at the show!!! It's SUCH a huge stage! Like an IMAX experience! ENJOY

My family and I loved visiting the place where Joseph Smith, the first prophet of the Church of…read moreJesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, found the Book of Mormon. The tours are free. The tour guides are volunteers and they do an excellent job. This is a great place to have a spiritually uplifting experience!