I often see parents asking about getaways within a few hours' drive from our area. One of our absolute favorites places to escape is the Finger Lakes in New York. Read on for more details about our recent fall trip.
Find a Waterfall
The Finger Lakes is known for waterfalls and state parks. Last summer, we shared some of our previous state park visits, but this time, we found a new park to explore—Taughannock Falls in Trumansburg.
The gorge trail was an easy, flat walk for our family and we saw families of all ages, many who even had their dogs along for a beautiful day. Due to the drought conditions, we even could walk in the streambed and enjoy a quick science lesson about fossils and sediment.
If you’re a more adventurous hiker, they also have rim trails that provide a view of the waterfall from above.
An Apple a Day
Just a few minutes from the state park, we discovered Indian Creek Farm, a pick-your-own fruit orchard.
Friendly workers provided color-coded maps of the orchard so we knew where to find our favorites like Cortland and McIntosh, but we also discovered new ones such as Rome Beauty and Northern Spy.
An added bonus for visiting this orchard? Hot apple cider doughnuts and fresh-pressed cider to take along home!
Try Something New
While the Finger Lakes is obviously known for its award-winning wines, we tried something new with the kids on this trip—a craft soda tasting at Three Brothers Winery and Estates.
As part of their War Horse Brewery, they make a few flavors of craft soda that are available via tasting flights. My kids loved this! The orange cream soda and mango were their favorites, so if you’re in the area, check it out!
Places to Eat
Ithaca Ale House – our dinner choice for the day we visited the state park and orchard. Nice selection of beers on tap, and the food was great. I enjoyed their new Thanksgiving special sandwich on the menu, while the boys dug into their wings, and my daughter had a great-looking burger.
Eddie O’Brien’s, Geneva – at the northern end of Seneca Lake, this restaurant is one of our favorites. A sports bar where you can catch your favorite games, you can’t go wrong with anything on their menu, although their Pittsburgh steak salad is my go-to choice!
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