Grand Prize Winner's Weekend Getaway at Geneva on the Lake!

By: Carly Gee, Grand Prize Winner

As winner of the grand prize for the "I'd Rather Be in the Finger Lakes" Photo Contest, my boyfriend, Spencer, and I were awarded with a wonderful stay at the gorgeous Geneva on the Lake Resort.  Two nights, two dinners, and two magnificent breakfasts were included in the package, thanks to the Finger Lakes. We were able to book our stay on Seneca Lake, the weekend after Thanksgiving, which was a perfect segway into a magical weekend. 

Grand Prize Winner studying for the MCATs in the Boston Public Library while wishing she was in the Finger Lakes.

We arrived at Geneva on the Lake Resort after a beautiful drive up the lake from Ithaca, admiring the fallesque foliage. It was Black Friday, so we stopped at the Waterloo Outlets on the way to do some bargain shopping. When we arrived at the hotel, we found the reception personnel to be more than helpful in checking us in and helping us find our room. The staff were very accommodating and welcoming.

We arrived at the hotel right in time for a wine and cheese tasting in the parlor, a wonderful introduction to our stay. Being wine lovers, we were excited to try out some of the local creations from the Seneca wineries.  While we were in the parlor, we enjoyed looking at the resort's photo albums, including photographs of notable people who have visited the grounds--even Bill and Hilary Clinton! 

After the wine and cheese tasting, we had the most amazing dinner, with both, delicious food and attentive wait staff.  I ordered lobster tail, and my boyfriend chose filet mignon with crab meat, the best he had ever had the privilege of eating.  We felt very spoiled and almost underserving of the prize and all that it had included, but we lived in the moment and were grateful for what we were able to experience.

We had an amazing night of sleep in one of the resort’s suites and were up bright and early to seize the day.  The Saturday that we stayed at Geneva on the Lake was my boyfriend's 26th birthday, so we had a lot planned.  We started the day with a complimentary breakfast, which was great way to start the day.  We each chose a meal from the menu and had our choice of fresh bagels and biscuits.  The waitresses were right at our service with hot coffee or tea and a yogurt and fruit parfait to start the meal. 

Spencer and Carly on Seneca Lake after their Bald Eagle sighting!

After breakfast we used the mountain bikes that the resort provided to explore Geneva.  Having not biked in a long time, the hilly terrain of Geneva made it challenging but a worthwhile adventure.  We biked down to the start of the lake and through Hobart and William Smith’s campus, where we saw the statue of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to earn her medical degree from the colleges.  Having aspirations to enter medical school myself, it was very inspiring to see her statue.

After the invigorating bike ride through Geneva, my boyfriend and I had plans to meet my parents at the start of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail near Watkins Glen.  We started at Rock Stream Vineyards and headed north up the lake.  As a family we toured the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, so it was fun to have the comparison as we stopped at the Seneca wineries. 

Being a fan of white wines, I tasted some of my favorite chardonnays and even found a few new favorites.  Geneva on the Lake had given us free tasting tickets for Fox Run Wineries and Belhurst Winery, so we also stopped there on our way home.  The Wine Trail was a great way to spend time with my family and celebrate Spencer’s birthday.

The view outside of the suite at Geneva on the Lake.

To conclude the magnificent day, we had the best dinner of our lives.  Before dinner, we enjoyed a bottle of wine that we had purchased at one of the wineries, while sitting by the lake in the chairs the resort provided. 

Once again, we were treated with perfect service at the restaurant and had almost the same meal as the night before. I ordered the lobster, but this time it came topped with crabmeat, a delicious addition to the menu item!  I have tried my fair share of decadent seafood, but this meal topped all previous experiences.  Spencer tried one of his favorite delicacies, duck.  Having recently begun eating meat after a decade of vegetarianism, I can say the duck was quite a treat.  We ended the meal with a delicious desert of tiramisu and cheesecake to-go, which we enjoyed in our room for our last night.  

The next morning started with another energizing breakfast.  We both needed to get back to Boston to prepare for the upcoming week, which involved a six-hour drive, so we enjoyed the time we had left by exploring the resort grounds and sitting by the lake.  As we sat and enjoyed the final moments, we saw an American Bald Eagle fly over the lake--the first Spencer had ever seen and the first I had seen in a long time!  Being close to Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, it is common to see the national birds around the region and in Geneva.  Seeing the bald eagle was a perfect omen and end to our trip.

Spencer and I are more than thankful for the opportunity we were given to stay at Geneva on the Lake.  We both miss the Finger Lakes terribly being in Boston and always enjoy and savor our time while we are there.  Thank you for making our Thanksgiving stay one of the most memorable!