When Budget Travel magazine asked its readers to vote for the “Coolest Small Town in America,” (population less than 10,000) more than 360,000 votes were cast in an overwhelming response that managed to crash the magazine’s website at the hour of reckoning. After a month-long vote and incredibly close race to the finish (and some technical difficulty in the end!), two winners emerged as the coolest small towns in America–Beaufort, North Carolina, and our very own Hammondsport, New York, on the southern shores of beautiful Keuka Lake!
Congratulations to Beaufort and Hammondsport and to all of the supporters who cast a vote in favor of a “cool” small town that, no doubt, holds a special place in your heart. Thanks to contests like this and voters like you, these tiny gems of towns receive the recognition they deserve. While some of the best-kept secrets are best kept secret, it is always exciting to celebrate and share the ones we know and love. Be sure to add Beaufort and Hammondsport to your list of places to see in 2012!
The team here at FingerLakes.com is made up of Buffalo Bills fans, and the past decade hasn’t been so kind to us when it comes to the post season. So when it comes to the Super Bowl, we have a decision to make – The Giants or the Patriots?
And we recently found this cool piece of memorabilia from something called the “Finger Lakes Pro Bowl” between the Giants and the Redskins almost 50 years ago!
So while it pains us to root for any team other than the Bills, we’ll be pulling for the Giants in this one.
This February, don’t let the spring temperatures tease you. Embrace the last few weeks of winter and celebrate the cold, February 17-19, at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel Ice Bar! Bundle up and invite your friends to ward off the winter chill with warm memories as you sip on local wine, beer, and spirits, served over a bar meticulously carved from seven thousand pounds of ice. Enjoy music, light horsd’oeuvres, specialty drinks, and more, as you mingle amidst the chill.
Doors open on Friday, February 17th at 5PM. Advance tickets are $15 per person, and a portion of the sales with be donated to the American Red Cross. Learn more about the event and how to purchase tickets here.
For a taste of the chilly fun, check out the ice bar at the Portland Harbor Hotel in Portland, Maine:
If you are feeling the winter chill and want to get out but stay warm, go for a beautiful drive between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes next Saturday, January 28, for the “Between the Lakes” wine event from 11 AM-5:00 PM at participating wineries. Visit wineries on the west side of Cayuga Lake and on the east side of Seneca Lake for a taste of local wines while you sample of a variety of soups, stew, dips, and desserts. Tasting room fees apply, but the food samples are free!
If the blustery weather is keeping your family cooped up and has your children itching to get out of the house, head to Finger Lakes Gymnastics in Ithaca on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:30-11:30 AM for “Unstructured Playtime.” Parents and children (6 months-5 years) are invited to jump, play, and bounce around during the open gym hour. Children 6 months-1 year pay $3 for members and non-members. Ages 1-5 years-old pay $5 for members and $7 for non-members.
Carly Gee entered the “I’d Rather Be in the Finger Lakes” 2011 Photo Contest with a photo of her studying for the MCATs at the Boston Public Library, wishing instead that she was in the Finger Lakes. To her surprise, her wish was granted when she was chosen as the contest’s Grand Prize Winner and was awarded with a luxury weekend getaway at beautiful Geneva on the Lake Resort. Read more about Carly’s wish come true!
This New Year, treat yourself to something sweet, healthy, and good for the soul. Go where you can embrace the winter with ice skates, or skis, hiking boots or hot toddies, or bundled up fireside at a cozy inn. Make time this year to hike a waterfall, sail on a sparkling lake, or taste wine made from grapes fresh off the vine. Plan to pick apples, visit a museum, or experience a meal made from the finest local ingredients while taking in views of rolling vineyards and crystal lakes.
Resolve to make this year unforgettable–fulfill your Finger Lakes resolution!
Wishing you all a taste of the Finger Lakes in 2012!
Are you still shopping for the perfect gift—something memorable, clever, and just the right size? Give a gift that keeps on giving–celebrate the season with memories of the Finger Lakes!
*A Very Special Winter Getaway at Geneva on the Lake
Spoil your sweetheart with a romantic winter getaway at Geneva on the Lake, a charming resort that sits on a bluff overlooking beautiful Seneca Lake, in the heart of the Finger Lakes Wine Country. The Very Special Winter Getaway package includes one night in a Stickley-style deluxe one-bedroom suite, a complimentary bottle of Anthony Road Winery Award Winning 2009 Semi-dry Riesling, and flowers upon arrival. A candlelight four-course dinner, live music, and a full breakfast in the Lancellotti Dining Room are included. Guests staying on a Friday evening are invited to a complimentary wine and cheese party in The Parlor. Visit Geneva on the Lake for more details.
*Journey back in time to “The Real Bedford Falls” with Hotel Clarence!
Spend an evening in Seneca Falls–a town filled with all of the charm and history of Bedford Falls, home of the Bailey Family in the beloved classic, It’s a Wonderful Life. The newly restored Hotel Clarence is the perfect stop for a modern boutique experience with a taste of times gone by. Treat your loved one to a night at the hotel or an exceptional Italian dinner at The Kitchen at Hotel Clarence. Contact Hotel Clarence to arrange for a gift certificate for someone on your list.
*A Taste of the Finger Lakes @ Fox Run Vineyards
If you can’t visit the Finger Lakes this holiday season, you can find gifts from one of the region’s most beloved wineries online. Find gift baskets, ports, or your favorite red or white wines for sale at Fox Run Vineyard’s “Shop Online.”
*A Must-Read Book for the Wine Lovers on your List!
Whether you are shopping for a voracious reader, a wine-lover, or a fan of the Finger Lakes, Evan Dawson’s Summer in a Glass: The Coming of Age of Winemaking in the Finger Lakeswill warm most anyone’s stockings this winter. Summer in a Glass invites you into the hearts, minds, and tasting rooms of some of the region’s most passionate and celebrated winemakers. Each intimate story weaves the tale of how the Finger Lakes is now one of the fastest growing and celebrated wine regions in the world.
Wishing you all a merry holiday season and a happy New Year filled with Finger Lakes memories!
The falls aren’t frozen yet, but winter will soon be upon us, and the holiday festivities are lining up! If you’ve never experienced winter in the Finger Lakes, discover what you’ve been missing–from Dickens towns to warm spiced wine, cozy inns, and frozen falls. Warm up your winter with memories of the Finger Lakes!
Looking for something festive to do? As the temperatures dip and the seasons shift, check out the Finger Lakes Events page for upcoming regional festivities.
There’s snow in the forecast and a chilly week ahead to bring the weekday Ithaca Farmers Market to a close. Be sure to swing by Dewitt Park in Ithaca between 9AM and 2PM on Tuesday, October 25, for the last Tuesday Ithaca Farmers Market of the season. The last Thursday Ithaca Market happens this week in Dewitt Park on October 27 from 4-7PM, and the last Sunday Market is October 30 at Steamboat Landing.
Bundle up for the Saturday Market at Steamboat Landing, which will continue through December 24 (10AM-2PM beginning next week)!
