1-Week Finger Lakes Road Trip

The first day of the road trip starts in Syracuse, NY. This is just because it is the closest major airport to the Finger Lakes. Since we drove, we didn't actually fly into Syracuse, but it is the easiest starting and ending point for the road trip.

There are lots of things to do in Syracuse, but I think the best highlights (especially in the summer) are to experience the Erie Canal. You can visit the Erie Canal Museum and bike along the canal on the Erie Canal Bike Trail.

Another good spot to visit near Syracuse in the summer is Green Lakes State Park.

Or, if you time it right, you can visit the NY State Fair, like we did! The fair is usually at the end of August into the beginning of September. We went for the Lindsey Stirling concert and the food! My favorite was the "cotton candy burrito." Ice cream, wrapped in cotton candy and stuffed with toppings!

Cortland, NY is not super well-known, but since I have family there I've been in the area a lot.

One of the highlights, we discovered, of visiting Cortland is you can play the world's longest mini golf hole at Shipwreck Amusements! Or at least... what was the world's longest mini golf hole, at 459.5 feet (and a par of 14!).

It was awarded the recognition in 2016, and has since been passed... but it's still a super fun mini golf course. They also have "spinners" that tell you different ways to play, like to stand as an extra obstacle on the course while someone else hits their ball.

After mini golf, head over to Greek Peak Mountain Resort for a fun afternoon of adventuring in the woods. You can stay overnight here if you want, but we chose to stay in Ithaca at the end of the day.

Definitely be sure to do the mountain coaster through the woods, which I think is the highlight of Greek Peak Mountain. You can also enjoy the indoor water park, chairlift, spa, zip lines and more!

Today is the day to explore all the waterfalls around Ithaca, NY, starting with the most famous: Taughannock Falls!

We stayed overnight in Ithaca and woke up early to get to the park before the crowds, which I highly suggest. First stop at the overlook viewpoint and visitor center (which might be closed if you're there early), and then drive down to the Gorge Trail trailhead.

The Gorge Trail is super easy and accessible. It is almost perfectly flat, and less than a mile long to get to the base of the falls.

Across the street from the trailhead are tons of picnic tables along the beautiful Cayuga Lake. In the summer they sell concessions if you didn't bring any food for a picnic. There is also a beach for swimming in the lake, if you want to.

After Taughannock Falls, you could also visit Buttermilk Falls State Park, rent a kayak on the lake, do one of the other hiking trails, visit the Museum of the Earth, or wander the grounds of Cornell University.

Be sure to wander around the Ithaca Commons downtown, and find a local restaurant there for dinner. Or you could also have dinner on the water at the Boatyard Grill.

Today we visit one of my favorite state parks: Watkins Glen State Park. It is absolutely magical, and looks like somewhere the elves from Lord of the Rings would live!

Visit as early in the day as you can (or also later in the evening) to avoid crowds.

The Gorge Trail can be walked both ways, and it climbs up (and down) the gorge through tons of waterfalls. If you're here in the summer, you can take a shuttle from one end of the trail to the other, if you do not want to hike there and back again.

I personally think the best way to do the hike is from the bottom up. You will get the best views of the waterfalls this way, and you will stop so often to take pictures, the uphill hike (and stairs) are not overwhelming (though I did personally skip the "Jacob's Ladder" stairs on my last visit).

If you have time, in the afternoon you can visit Corning Museum of Glass, which is super cool, and only a half hour from Watkins Glen. You can even make your own glass while you're there.

Or spend the rest of the day out on the beautiful Seneca Lake.

Drive along Seneca Lake from Watkins Glen to Geneva, NY. This is one of my favorite places in the world! They have an adorable downtown just steps away from one of the largest Finger Lakes.

This area is known for their wineries, so be sure to visit at least one winery, or take a winery tour of the whole area! I personally don't drink a lot of wine... so instead I got wine infused ice cream in the park on the lake.

You can also visit the official Finger Lakes Welcome Center, where you can get more ice cream (always worth it!), buy local food products, take a picture with the "I <3 NY" sign, and find out more information about things to do in the area.

If there happens to be a show on that night, visit the Smith Opera House in the evening. Or have dinner at the Belhurst Castle.

For the last official day of this Finger Lakes road trip, the first stop is Seneca Falls. It is thought to be the inspiration for the town of Bedford Falls in It's a Wonderful Life, so be sure to visit the It's a Wonderful Life Museum!

It is also the site of the first women's rights convention in 1848! So be sure to see all the statues of significant women along the river walk, and visit the Women's Rights National Historic Park.

If you want to, you can also stop in Auburn on your way to Skaneateles, and visit the Harriet Tubman National Historic Park!

Then end the day in Skaneateles, one of the absolute cutest towns in the Finger Lakes (and in NY!). Take a boat ride on the lake, visit Carpenter Falls, and be sure to wander around the super cute downtown area.

This day is just the travel home day. Depending on how far you have to go, you can certainly add some more last minute stops before your trip is over!

Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed your 1-week Finger Lakes road trip!