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Group of lakes in New York, United States
Photo: Flickr user: Valerie Knoblauch Canandaigua, New York https://www.flickr.com/people/visitfingerlakes/, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Wine and water define the Finger Lakes, a region of New York state south of Lake Ontario. Eleven elegantly elongated bodies of water arrayed across 80 mi of rolling countryside have produced one of the top wine regions in the country, the East Coast answer to California's Napa Valley. While the wineries that dot the slopes above the Finger Lakes—over a hundred of them—are a major draw, visitors also enjoy the region's many waterways, from the Finger Lakes themselves and Lake Ontario, to the mighty Genesee River and the historic Erie Canal. In the fall, leaf-peepers turn out in force, and wintertime sees skiers heading to the area's slopes.
Although far from the lakes themselves, Rochester and its suburbs provide urban and suburban amenities in a region otherwise dominated by small towns and villages.
There may not be any actual Finger Lakes in this area, but the communities along the Erie Canal and Lake Ontario have much in common with the lakeside villages to the south.
The western six lakes are smaller and less well known than the eastern five, and you won't find nearly as many wineries, but the Western Finger Lakes have their own attractions.
The eastern five lakes are the most friendly to grapes, and multiple days can be spent just touring the wineries on circuits around the lakes.
By car
Four major Interstate highways serve the Finger Lakes region.
By plane
The region has only one full international airport, in Rochester, but Syracuse is close by and easily accessible., Philadelphia, and New York City; actual international flights are now rare.
By train
Both Rochester and Syracuse have Amtrak stations, but they're the only stops near this region; Amtrak has no routes in the Southern Tier.
By boat
The truly adventurous can enter the region from the east or west on the Erie Canal (early May through mid-November). More about navigating the Canal below.
By car
As noted above, four major highways skirt around the Finger Lakes and allow for quick travel from one side of the region to the other.
By plane
Rochester's is the only major airport in the region, and flying from there to Syracuse or Ithaca just isn't worth it compared to driving.
By boat
The Erie Canal is a relaxing, scenic way to visit a number of communities in the region.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Rochester · International · ROC
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Big-city culture and small-city charm combine in Rochester, a mid-sized city on the shore of Lake Ontario. The birthplace of amateur photography, Rochester was synonymous with Eastman Kodak for much of the 20th century, but the city's fame was established well before George Eastman came on the scene.
Auburn is a city in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
One of the oldest cities in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Canandaigua has a long history as a major crossroads. Its name derives from a Seneca word meaning "The Chosen Spot", and its position at the northern end of Canandaigua Lake certainly justifies the moniker.
Right on New York's historic Erie Canal, Fairport today is what every old canalside village aspires to be, with its historic character, modern amenities, and friendly atmosphere. A suburb of Rochester, the village of Fairport is the business and recreational center for an area including the village, the surrounding town of Perinton and the hamlet of Egypt.
Ithaca is a small city in the Finger Lakes region of central New York, at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake. In addition to being the home of Cornell University and Ithaca College, Ithaca is known for its several gorges and waterfalls, small eclectic shops and restaurants, and deep interest in politics.
Naples is a city in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
Palmyra is a village and surrounding town in the Finger Lakes region of New York. In the nineteenth century, it was a center for religious revivalism, but today it's one of the most-visited villages along the Erie Canal.
Seneca Falls is a town in the Finger Lakes region of New York state. The birthplace of the women's rights movement in the 19th century, Seneca Falls is also widely believed to be the inspiration for the town of Bedford Falls in Frank Capra's holiday classic, It's A Wonderful Life.
Skaneateles is in the Finger Lakes region of New York.
A happy confluence of geography and generosity has created Letchworth State Park, a long swath of parkland on the western edge of the Finger Lakes region of New York. The Genesee River has carved a magnificent gorge through this area, including a series of three large waterfalls, earning the park its nickname, The Grand Canyon of the East.
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