Lake Placid
The Adirondacks covers 6 million acres, and the town of Lake Placid lies nestled in the mountain range. Main Street beckons with trendy shops and restaurants, and a 2.7-mile paved pathway rings adjacent Mirror Lake. Hiking, fishing and mountain biking are available. Lake Placid Boat Tours offers narrated trips that feature the Adirondack Great Camps and the lake.
“Lake Placid hosted the winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980, and groups enjoy a guided tour of the Olympic facilities that includes the Olympic Museum, the 1980 rink and ski jump,” said Catherine Ericson, Lake Placid regional marketing manager for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism. “Also popular are the gondola to the top of Whiteface Mountain, where there’s a short trail and lookout, as well as the drive up Whiteface Memorial Highway, with panoramic views.”
Back in town, entertainment can be found at a number of venues. Lake Placid Center for the Arts hosts concerts and gallery openings. The “Songs at Mirror Lake” music series offers free summer concerts that feature local, regional and national acts. The five-day Lake Placid Film Forum takes place in June. And the Recovery Lounge offers unusual performances, live music and events in an eclectic theater that serves as an upholstery factory by day and a performing-arts space by night.
Finger Lakes
Eleven lakes make up the Finger Lakes region, which offers culinary tours, wine trails, art galleries and museums. The charming town of Canandaigua lies on the shores of Canandaigua Lake, 90 miles south of Rochester. To the east on Cayuga Lake, quaint Auburn offers museums, wine trails and award-winning cuisine. Further east, Seneca Lake supports almost half of the region’s wineries and the Seneca Wine Trail.
Situated on idyllic Canandaigua Lake, the New York Wine and Culinary Center welcomes wine and food enthusiasts. The center houses a sampling room that serves a variety of flights and a selection of wines, spirits and craft beers from New York’s wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries. The Upstairs Bistro showcases locally sourced ingredients and invites al fresco dining on a deck overlooking the lake.
Groups can opt for a hands-on class in the state-of-the-art kitchen or a chef-led demonstration in the amphitheater-style educational theater. Either way, participants come home with recipes and new culinary techniques after taking a wine or cooking class. Sessions range from several hours to three-day intensives.
Overlooking Cayuga Lake, the charming town of Auburn makes a terrific hub for exploring the region. In town, guided tours take place at the Seward House Museum, the home of William H. Seward, secretary of state during the Lincoln and Johnson presidencies, and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, where Harriet Tubman lived the last 50 years of her life.
The Tiffany Concert Series, held at the late-1800s Willard Memorial Chapel, entertains audiences year-round. The chapel’s interior features Tiffany-designed mosaic flooring, stained glass and chandeliers. The Schweinfurth Art Center hosts contemporary exhibitions and art workshops that feature instructors from across the country.
Since 1983, the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, the nation’s first organized and longest-running wine trail, has earned over 6,000 national and international medals. Groups can visit 16 wineries, plus a cidery, a meadery and distilleries. Special events include Mardi Gras in February and Bacon on the Lake in March. One of the state’s newest wine trails, the Lake Ontario Wine Trail, offers events such as April’s Roll out the Barrels.
“Auburn has plenty going on, plus group-friendly accommodations and restaurants,” said Meg Vanek, executive director of the Cayuga County Office of Tourism. “Day trips to wine trails and the Finger Lakes Sweet Treat Trail all have tasting and shopping components that groups love.”
Approximately two hours south of Auburn, groups can easily spend a day at the Corning Museum of Glass and the town’s Gaffer District. Besides sheer beauty, the extensive museum highlights the history and science of glass, which began more than 35 centuries ago. The Hot Glass Show features master glassmakers in live, narrated demonstrations using a 5,000-degree Fahrenheit torch. Make Your Own Glass sessions take 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the project, and there’s the option of one-day and weekend workshops.
One of the largest museum gift shops in the nation, the GlassMarket sells original works by emerging and established artists. Jewelry, accessories, holiday ornaments, home decor and kitchenware range from just a few dollars to the thousands.
