The Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, also known as 'the FLX' is home to top-ranking wine and beer, 11 lakes, a locavore food movement, over 100 waterfalls and hiking trails, and world-renown racing. Amongst its stunning landscape of greenery, you'll find over 150 wineries, breweries, distilleries, and cideries. It's been named #3 Best Wine Region in the US by USA Today.
We are located in the hills above Seneca Lake, the largest and deepest of all of the Finger Lakes, and we are only 5 miles from the east side of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail and the quaint downtown of Watkins Glen. Our convenient location puts you at the southern base of the east side of Seneca Lake so you can easily start your trail day without missing any wineries or head into town for waterfalls, hiking, boating, kayaking and racing. Cayuga and Keuka Lake Wine Trails are only 20-30 minutes away too.
Photo credit: senecalakewine.com
Checkout out our Guidebook for an extensive list of everything to see and do in the region.
Looking to get on the wine trails? Here's the 3 main wine trails of the Finger Lakes. Seneca Lake is only 5 miles away and Cayuga and Keuka are 30 minutes away from our rentals. Love to pair NY wine with food but not sure on what to pair it with? We love this guide from the NY Wine & Grape Association.
We've got beer here too! Some excellent breweries are just minutes away. We personally love Two Goats, Grist Iron, Lucky Hare on the east side of Seneca Lake, Seneca Lake Brewing on the west side of Seneca Lake and Upstate Brewing in the heart of downtown Watkins Glen. Click below for the Finger Lakes Beer Trail map and more info.
Do you love crisp, bubbly, chilled cider? Some are bone dry, others are sweet. All are worth trying. Here are some of our favorites: South Hill Cider, Finger Lakes Cider House, and Black Duck Cidery. Find the Finger Lakes Cider Trail below.
Bourbon, vodka, whiskey and gin, it's all made here too. We love Finger Lakes Distilling, Myer Farms Distillers and Black Button Distilling if you'd like to venture to Rochester. If you do, definitely try their Bourbon Cream and Lilac Gin.
How about cheese? You'll find all of the details here and here. We really enjoy going to Sunset View Creamery in Odessa, a short 15-minute drive through the countryside from our properties. You can meet the cows, milk them and even get in some cow cuddling! Oh yes, that's a real thing! Make a reservation here.
On the water, Seneca Lake is the largest and deepest of the glacial Finger Lakes and was named the #1 Best Lake in NY State by Pure Wow. Less than 10 minutes from us, you'll be able to rent a kayak, charter a fishing boat (it's also the lake trout capital of the world), sail on the True Love or take in the views of a sunset dinner cruise with Captain Bills.
The Finger Lakes is also home to over 50 waterfalls that are absolutely spectacular! Here's a great resource on where to find them by, Uncovering New York, as well as the top secret spots and famous waterfalls list by the Finger Lakes Land Trust.
Want to hike on waterfall trails? We love this guide for finding our favorites, including Watkins Glen State Park (it has 19 waterfalls and is only 10 minutes from our properties as well as Buttermilk Falls and Robert H. Treman State Park for swimming options in the summer.
And no trip to the Finger Lakes is complete until you see Taughannock Falls at the Taughannock Falls State Park. Taughannock Falls plunges 215 feet past rocky cliffs that tower nearly 400 feet above the gorge. Gorge and rim trails offer spectacular views from above the falls and from below at the end of the gorge trail. You can swim here too! These parks are in Ithaca & Trumansburg, about 25-30 minutes away.
Another nature option that we love is the Finger Lakes National Forest. Only 10 minutes away, the Hector Ranger Station is a great resource for navigating the 16,212-acre forest that lies on a ridge between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes.
Ready to race? Watkins Glen International is home to some fabulous racing events. From the Porsche Carrera Cup to IMSA and NASCAR races, you're bound to have an amazing time on the track.
No matter what you are looking for, adventure, libations or just some simple R&R, the FLX Escape Vacation Rental properties gets you close to all of the action and a welcoming retreat to go back to.