Finger Lakes Road Trip

Stretch your legs in Hammondsport, a picturesque community on the southern tip of Keuka Lake. Wineries are the big draw here, but the quaint village square also is ripe for exploration. Next on the agenda is the historic Gaffer District in Corning, where you can grab a bite or a souvenir and watch glass artists at work.

The largest concentration of Finger Lakes wineries lines both sides of trout-filled Seneca Lake, and you’ll pass many of them as you follow the Seneca Lake Wine Trail from race fan-friendly Watkins Glen to Geneva, an agricultural hub. Though not as scenic as its parallel companion SR 89, SR 96 leads to some outstanding natural attractions in Ithaca.

Once SR 13 veers away from Cayuga Lake, there’s not a whole lot to see or do on this leg—until you reach Syracuse, that is. Historic Armory Square is the downtown hot spot and a good home base for a walking tour of the district, which features shops, restaurants, theaters and museums; tour maps are available from the Syracuse Heritage Area Visitor Center at the Erie Canal Museum.

Rochester is known for its parks, gardens, estates, excellent educational institutions and vibrant arts scene. Remember all those architectural gems you oohed and aahed at earlier? You’ll find plenty more (especially in and around Rochester’s downtown core) after the long interstate segment of this last jaunt.