Your 3-Day Finger Lakes Itinerary at a Glance
The Finger Lakes offer scenic beauty with glistening lakes, waterfalls and lush vineyards. Groups will enjoy wine trails, outdoor adventures, charming small towns and unique museums.
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Enjoy These Great Attractions and More:
- Taughannock Falls State Park
- National Women’s Hall of Fame
- Montezuma National Wildlife Center
- Seward House Museum
- Erie Canal Museum
- Harriet Tubman National Historic Park
- Sterling Nature Center
Erie Canal, New York
Day-to-Day Finger Lakes, New York Itinerary
DAY 1 of Things to Do in the Finger Lakes, NY, Region
Arrive in Trumansburg and visit Taughannock Falls State Park. The Gorge Trail is an easy, level walk to the 215-foot falls. There’s plenty to see along the way. Allow a 90-minute stop if you plan to picnic.
OPTION: Visit nearby Ithaca for unique shopping and dining. Stroll the pedestrian-only Ithaca Commons and visit some of the over 100 independently owned and operated shops and boutiques, restaurants, art galleries, street vendors, and entertainers.
It’s less than an hour drive to Seneca Falls and the National Women’s Hall of Fame, where the first Induction Ceremony was held in 1973. By 2024 the number of inductees has grown to more than 300 women. Groups of 10 or more need to make reservations two weeks prior to arrival.
The nearby Montezuma National Wildlife Center and its diverse habitat is a haven for a variety of wildlife. Begin at the Visitors Center and follow with the unmatched Wildlife Drive. Another option is to walk the Seneca Trail and take advantage of the viewing tower. Guided tours based on staff/volunteer availability.
From the Wildlife Center, it’s about 20 minutes to Auburn and the Cayuga Museum of History & Art and Case Research Center. The Cayuga Museum is comprised of the Willard-Case mansion featuring the area’s history with permanent and rotating art displays. Be sure to also visit the Case Research Lab, the Birthplace of Sound Film and The Carriage House Theater.
Nearby is the Seward House Museum, home to one of the most prominent politicians of the 19th century. Many remember him as Secretary of State during the Lincoln administration. Guided tours are the only way to visit the museum. There are a variety of specialty tours offered. Only the first floor of the Museum is accessible, but audio and visual content on the second floor and basement are available.
April 1999 saw the Harriet Tubman Home designated the Harriet Tubman National Historic Park. As a premier conductor on the Underground Railroad, Tubman was constantly on the move. With the Civil War imminent, she found the perfect place for her family. She remained in the Auburn area from 1859 until her passing in 1913. See the NPS website for operating hours, seasons and accessibility.
The final stop is the historic Willard Memorial Chapel and the amazing interior entirely designed by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co of New York. Tours of The Tiffany Treasure of the Finger Lakes are hourly. Enjoy dinner at an Auburn restaurant before departing on the hour drive to Syracuse and tonight’s accommodations.
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DAY 2 of Finger Lakes, NY, Activities
Your morning begins with breakfast, hotel check out and departure for the Erie Canal Museum. Housed in the 1850 National Weighlock Building, the Museum interprets the Canal’s impact on people and places. Both permanent and rotating exhibits tell the Canal and Weighlock Building. Docent guided tours are also available.
Everson Museum of Art focuses on American modern and contemporary art through a permanent collection and regularly changing exhibits. Seniors 65+ and students have discounted admissions.
Enjoy lunch on your own at Salt City Market, featuring regional and international cuisine from creative chefs. Allow time for browsing the gift shops and co-op grocery store.
OPTION: Rosamond Gifford Zoo presents numerous kinds of animals in both indoor and outdoor exhibits. The Animal Encounters program allows you to hear from the experts and ask questions during these exclusive experiences. Student groups and adult and senior groups enjoy significant discounts.
OPTION: An hour’s drive north is Sterling and the Sterling Nature Center. Promoting the understanding of the region’s natural world, the 1,400-acre center has forests, wetlands and two miles of Lake Ontario shoreline and meadows. There are also hiking trails, a picnic area and an Interpretive Building.
From Syracuse or Sterling, the drive to Canandaigua is about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Arrive in Canandaigua and the Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park for a stroll through the abundant flower gardens and a tour of the historic mansion. The Queen Anne-style 19th-century mansion and nine formal gardens reside on 50 lush acres. Group tours feature discounted rates, tour guides and tram service. Customized tours are available.
OPTION: Seneca Lake Wine Trail is comprised of more than two dozen wineries in this extraordinarily popular wine and grape-growing destination. A map and brochure of association members are online. Find time to enjoy one or two stops on the Trail.
OPTION: New York Kitchen promises the Best of New York through hands-on cooking classes, craft beverage pairing classes, a restaurant and tasting room. The classes are for any level chef, the Tasting Room has 60 ever-changing New York State wines and craft beers, while the restaurant offers delicious comfort food and fabulous Lake Canandaigua views.
Depart for Rochester on a 45-minute drive. Check into your hotel for some relaxation before dinner at a Rochester favorite restaurant.
Our final evening is special as we take in a performance at the Geva Theatre. The list of shows is always impressive. Group, student and senior group discount tickets are offered. Accessible seating is available.
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DAY 3 of Final Finger Lakes Attractions
Breakfast and check out of your hotel. More than 1.2 million objects comprise the Rochester Museum & Science Center. Explore the exhibits, watch Live Science demonstrations or simply enjoy a Planetarium Star Show. There’s plenty to see and do. A nice discount is offered to groups of 10 or more. Student and curriculum-based field trips are also provided.
OPTION: The Strong National Museum of Play is one of the largest history museums with interactive exhibits and programs. With play having the power to teach, create joy and stir imagination, the museum has the most comprehensive collection related to play.
The collection at Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) has grown to more than 13,000 works of art from its founding in 1913. The collection is known for its quality and range from around the world and across the ages. Adult, student and youth groups are welcome. Guided tours are available. Finish your visit with a walk through MAG’s Centennial Sculpture Park and enjoy lunch on your own at a downtown favorite.
The George Eastman Museum is dedicated to photography and film. The historic mansion and gardens present how the life of this American innovator might have looked. Begin your visit at The Thomas Tischer Visitor Center. The mansion has historic elevators but are limited by weight and size of wheelchair/scooter. Docent guided tours are available with three-week notice.
The Susan B. Anthony Museum & House was the home of the legendary civil and women’s rights leader for 40 years. It is a National Historic Landmark and headquarters of the National American Woman Suffrage Association when she was president. It is also the site of her famous arrest for voting in the 1872 presidential election. Guided tours of all three floors are available.
Depart Rochester for the two-hour drive to Elmira and the National Soaring Museum. It’s here you’ll discover a world-class collection preserving the heritage of motorless flight. Group tours are by appointment. Then, take a 20-minute drive to Corning where you can visit the Corning Museum of Glass, which has a vast collection of more than 50,000 glass objects, some over 3,500 years old!
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