6 of the Most Overlooked Towns in the Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes region of New York is best known for its stunning natural beauty, characterized by its long, narrow lakes, rolling hills, and lush vineyards. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Finger Lakes wine industry experienced growth and expansion, with new wineries and existing ones expanding in towns like Hector, Geneva, and Dundee. While wine is a big part of the tourism industry in the area, the region also celebrates its historic architecture, thriving arts communities, and a wealth of recreational activities, including boating, hiking, and walking in towns like Trumansburg, Seneca Falls, and Penn Yan. These are six of the most overlooked towns in the Finger Lakes worth taking a trip to!

Trumansburg

Trumansburg is a small town in Tompkins County, approximately 10 miles northwest of Ithaca on Cayuga Lake. "Tremaine's Village” was named after Abner Treman, an early settler who established a mill and a tavern in the area in the late 18th century. The postmaster's misspelling forever changed the name to "Trumansburg."

Besides its unusual moniker, Trumansburg is known for its Taughannock Falls, one of the highest waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains. The falls plunge 215 feet over rocky cliffs, towering nearly 400 feet above the gorge, offering spectacular views from above and below. The area also features campsites and cabins overlooking Cayuga Lake, with amenities such as a marina, boat launch, and beach. A multi-use trail provides opportunities for hiking, cross-country skiing, and winter activities like sledding and skating.

Trumansburg boasts a thriving arts scene, with several galleries showcasing the works of local artists. Spend some time exploring the art galleries in town and discover unique pieces of artwork. For the past 32 years, Trumansburg has celebrated the Annual GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance—a 4-day festival of music and arts featuring live performances of folk, blues, reggae, and rock, dance workshops, and the work of local artisans. The GrassRoots Festival is known for its vibrant and inclusive atmosphere,

Hector

The town of Hector, with around 5,000 residents, was established in 1802. It is along the Finger Lakes region's eastern shore of Seneca Lake. It offers a range of activities and attractions to explore, like hiking or biking along the Catharine Valley Trail, a scenic pathway that winds through lush forests and past calm wetlands. Hector Falls is a stunning waterfall cascading down rocky cliffs into Seneca Lake with picturesque views and opportunities for photography. The only challenge to viewing the waterfall is that visitors must park on the shoulder of a highway where cars typically travel at 55 mph, so slow down and use the car’s hazards before pulling over.

For a taste of local history, visitors can explore the Hector Wine Company, one of the oldest wineries in the region, with guided tours and tasting events, like “High Tea,” a unique tea, wine, and food pairing experience or a “Winemakers’ Dinner.” Originally purchased as a fruit farm in 1852, the Hector Wine Company now produces several labels, including wines from the Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards and the Sawmill Creek Vineyards. They also make the famous Red Cat Wine at Hazlitt Red Cat Cellars in nearby Naples.

Geneva

At the north tip of Seneca Lake, Geneva is a picturesque town known for its historic architecture, particularly its iconic Row houses—a series of identical houses that share a side wall. Although the style was first developed in Philadelphia between 1799 and 1820, Geneva’s row houses were built between 1808 and 1820. To learn more about historic Geneva, the Geneva History Museum is a good place to start with information about guided tours of two of the most important historic contributions to American agriculture: Rose Hill Mansion, a 19th-century home on a busy farm with twenty restored and furnished rooms; and Johnston House, the home of the first farmer to use agricultural drain tiles to increase productivity on his farm.

The town has a vibrant arts scene, and so many cultural attractions to take in that staying overnight in one of the beautiful B&Bs is a must. The Smith Opera House, built in 1894, has undergone several transformations over the years and, during its various incarnations, has been known as “The Smith,” “The Geneva Theatre,” and “The Smith Center for the Arts.” The historic building hosts live performances, musicals, repertory films, dance recitals, and ballet.

Geneva is also part of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, a 75-mile stretch of wineries along the shores of Lake Seneca. Three Brothers Wineries & Estates is home to 4 different tasting experiences—hand-crafted wines, brews, hard ciders, and craft sodas. Visitors can choose one tasting room or take the full tour and sample all four tasting rooms.

Seneca Falls

Seneca Falls, known as the “birthplace of women’s rights,” is a historic town with a strong connection to the women's suffrage movement. Visitors can learn more at the Women's Rights National Historical Park, which commemorates the women's rights convention held in Seneca Falls on July 19-20, 1848, and serves as a modern-day example of the importance of diversity and inclusion. Explore historic sites such as the Wesleyan Chapel—an important symbol of the early women's rights movement—where the convention took place, and the Elizabeth Cady Stanton House, where the co-founder (along with Susan B. Anthony) of the National Woman Suffrage Association lived and worked.

Take a break from the history lesson, relax, and take a leisurely walk to Seneca Falls Canal Harbor Park, located one mile from the Women’s Rights National Historical Park along the Cayuga-Seneca Canal. Visitors should head towards locks 2 and 3 to see the canal in operation. These two lock chambers are linked like steps in a staircase and work together to elevate and lower boats by a total height of 49 feet.

Take a scenic boat tour or paddle along the Cayuga-Seneca Canal, which runs through Seneca Falls. Enjoy picturesque views of the surrounding countryside and learn about the canal's role in transportation and commerce in the region. Visit the Seneca Museum of Waterways and Industry to learn about the history of Seneca Falls and its importance in developing the Erie Canal. Discover exhibits on the canal's construction, local industry, and the role of waterways in shaping the town's history. The 2024 Seneca Falls Canal Fest, now in its 8th year, is a 3-day celebration along both sides of the canal with fireworks, rides, vendors, a duck race, and live entertainment.

Dundee

Welcome to Wine Country. Dundee, New York, is renowned for its numerous wineries, each offering unique varietals and experiences. One standout winery in Dundee is Fox Run Vineyards. Known for its picturesque setting overlooking Seneca Lake, Fox Run Vineyards produces Riesling, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. In 2023, the New York Wine and Grape Foundation named the winery a certified sustainable vineyard. On select Fridays from June through September, Fox Run hosts personalized tours followed by seven bites alongside a flight of seven wines served in a dairy barn dating back to the 1800s.

Another outstanding winery is Glenora Wine Cellars, the first on Seneca Lake and a popular stop on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Since its opening in 1978, the winery has expanded and now includes The Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars and Veraisons, a restaurant that emphasizes seasonal cuisine and cooking with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Minutes from many of the Dundee area wineries, the 1897 Beekman House Bed & Breakfast is a beautifully restored Victorian manor and an excellent choice for visitors who want to overnight in this world-class wine region. With five elegant guest rooms, some with antique clawfoot soaker tubs, four-poster canopy beds, and jacuzzis, the B&B serves gourmet three-course breakfasts daily.

Penn Yan

Located at the north end of Keuka Lake, Penn Yan is a charming town known for its small-town atmosphere, historic architecture, and picturesque lake views. The town’s name comes from the first syllables of “Pennsylvania” and “Yankee” in honor of its early settlers who migrated to Penn Yan in the 18th century. On September 27, 1987, Penn Yan set a Guinness World Record for creating the world’s largest pancake. It weighed 4,050 pounds, measured 28 feet, and it took a crane to flip it (a record committee requirement).

Nicknamed the “Crooked Lake” for its unique shape, Keuka Lake is shaped like the letter “Y” with two points facing north and one point facing south. There are numerous parks on the lake, including Keuka Lake State Park, where visitors can camp, boat, hike, and more. The “Crooked Lake” Canal, also known as the Keuka Lake Outlet, connects Seneca and Keuka Lakes. For visitors wanting to view Penn Yan from the water, Shoreline Rentals has a large selection of kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and lily pads that can be launched directly from Keuka Lake Outlet, and life jackets come with each rental.

Alongside the canal, visitors will find the seven-mile Keuka Lake Outlet Trail stretching from Penn Yan to Dresden, where they will see two stunning waterfalls, Cascade Falls and Seneca Mills Falls, along the scenic route.

From waterfalls to wine, the Finger Lakes region has it all. From the breathtaking Taughannock Falls in Trumansburg and the must-see, hard-to-get-to waterfalls in Hector to wine tasting along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail in Geneva and Dundee, this flight of six overlooked towns boasts historic charm, highlights important landmarks, and displays stunning views of the surrounding lakes and canals.