If you are coming to the Finger Lakes to do nothing, just sit around and relax, you’ve chosen the perfect vacation destination!
If you are coming to the Finger Lakes to do things, get out and take on Mother Nature, you’ve chosen the perfect vacation destination!
And, you don’t have to take on Mother Nature…it’s just that she is just so darn outstanding here in the Finger Lakes.
Before we dive deep (something you can do here!) into specific activities for you or your family to do, let’s not forget these popular idea pages…
Those three pages right there could keep you busy for most of a week, if so inclined.
But let’s take that deeper dive now, in no particular order of fame or popularity, into the most popular THINGS TO DO during a Finger Lakes vacation.
GO FOR A SWIM
These gorgeous fresh-water lakes a wonderful to look at, but if you’re visiting, you just got to get in them, too. There are many outstanding places to go for a fun swim in the Finger Lakes, and not all of them are in a lake!
HIKING
From easier rails-to-trails to a strenuous test of your stamina, the Finger Lakes area has some of the most gorgeous hiking tails you may ever walk, including one of the most famous walks in America. Check out our list of the best of them, HERE.
BIKING
You can find the occasional one-off country roads throughout the Finger Lakes, but the most popular routes are the circuits that circumnavigate each of the lakes themselves. Some of the more recommended routes are listed HERE.
Specific bike route recommendations coming soon!
KAYAKING
The lakes are an obvious destination for getting out on the water, but the Finger Lakes have great water experiences on creeks, rivers and even canals! HERE is a list of some opportunities for you to try.
GET HISTORIC
History was made here, and there are great places to visit to learn about it. The jet planes you see flying across the azure sky above the lakes? The first public airplane flights in America happened here. Drink your wine from a glass? American glass making was dominated from here. Are you a woman? Your political rights in America were created…here. Yes, that kind of history. HERE are many of them.
RIDE SOMETHING
Want to get out onto one of the lakes? How about taking a leisurely train ride through the beautiful countryside? Or how about taking to the air in the land where some of the world’s very first air flights took place? You can do each of these things in the Finger Lakes. HERE are several opportunities to catch a ride!
Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly in the Hollywood film High Society.
ANTIQUING
It’s an old region of America. We’ve got old things. LOTS of old things! You’ll find a plethora of venues to help you take some of our old things home with you, from small boutique shops to extensive antique “malls”. Look HERE for our list of many of the best of them.
FISHING
It’s called the Finger “Lakes”, right? And these lakes have fish in them. Whether you come with your own rig and tackle, or find yourself inspired to a spontaneous desire to participate, HERE are some of the best fishing opportunities in the region.
SHOPPING
Yep. It’s here. It’s all here. You can’t go on vacation and go back home without your items, right? You can find them HERE.
BE A TOURIST
Come be a visitor. Come see or do the things you don’t have at home. HERE are some of those things.
