7 Serene Finger Lakes Towns For A Weekend Retreat

The Finger Lakes region of New York is about as good as it gets for an escape near the water. Eleven lakes carve through fertile farmland and verdant forest, with towns scattered along their shores offering easy access to hiking trails, historic sites, and the state’s most established wine country.

Each town we will be mentioning here appeals to all sorts of travelers, ideal for outdoor adventurers, others for food and wine, and a few for a simple, quiet weekend centered around small museums and lake access. Whether you’re looking for direct hiking routes, historic main streets, or vineyard touring, these Finger Lakes towns provide strong starting points for a weekend well spent.

Skaneateles

To start this list strong, Skaneateles is one of the most practical bases for a weekend retreat in the Finger Lakes. The town rests at the northern tip of Skaneateles Lake, one of the cleanest bodies of freshwater in the state, and one that supplies drinking water to nearby Syracuse.

The walkable downtown in this charming community runs along Genesee Street and features a mix of popular restaurants, small shops, and historic landmarks set in its 19th-century buildings. Dining here ranges from casual cafés to higher-end spots like The Sherwood Inn, an upscale joint which has served visitors since 1807.

The lake itself is what draws most traffic here. Public boat tours leave from Clift Park, and rentals for kayaks and paddleboards are easy to arrange from the town pier. If you prefer land-based activities, the Charlie Major Nature Trail offers a flat, shaded walking path built along an old railroad bed just outside the village.

Wineries and distilleries are also scattered across the surrounding countryside, most specializing in Riesling and other cool-climate varietals in this fertile region of the state. A short drive down Skaneatle Lake's western shore will land you at Anyela's Vineyards, a local favorite with excellent views over the water.

Geneva

Geneva sits at the northern end of Seneca Lake and functions as both a college town and a launch point for travel within the Finger Lakes. Its cozy little downtown district, centered on Exchange and Seneca Streets, is dense with restaurants, breweries, boutiques, and other amenities that are there to serve all who come. Most notably, the Finger Lakes Welcome Center, located inside Senneca Lake Park, gives travelers an overview of the region’s wineries, hiking routes, and historical sites. Speaking of, this cool urban greenspace sits directly at the edge of town, offering you various trails, spots for swimming access, and boat launches.

Wine tourism is especially active here, with Geneva anchoring the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, a circuit of over 30 wineries known for Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Pinot Noir. For other cultural options, Hobart and William Smith Colleges host public lectures and gallery exhibits throughout the year, appealing to those who love the arts. Moreover, the Smith Opera House, a restored 1894 theater, runs concerts and independent film screenings all throughout the year.

Penn Yan

At the northern end of Keuka Lake, Penn Yan is shaped by its past as a milling and shipping hub, and its future as a top-tier tourist destination in Upstate New York.

Today, the village is better known for its straightforward access to outdoor adventure at locales like Keuka Lake Outlet Trail, a 7-mile path that links Penn Yan to Dresden along a former canal route. This trail passes waterfalls, old mill sites, and scenic stretches of forest, making it one of the few multi-use routes in the region, one that pairs historic insight with recreation. For anyone just seeking direct access to the lake, the Indian Pines Park marina and swimming area sit less than a mile from downtown.

On the other hand, the downtown district is quite compact, where The Arts Center of Yates County can be found, which organizes gallery exhibits and workshops throughout the year. Furthermore, the Oliver House Museum, maintained by the Yates County History Center, presents exhibits focused on the region’s early settlement, canal trade, and agricultural development.

Penn Yan is also surrounded by one of the strongest clusters of Mennonite farms in New York. Their roadside stands offer produce, cheeses, and baked goods at lower prices than most farmers’ markets, adding a practical reason to explore the surrounding countryside.

Hammondsport

Hammondsport is another great town on Keuka Lake. This village, which is situated on its far southern end, is best known for the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, an attraction that documents the area’s role in early aviation and motorcycle design. The museum houses original aircraft, engines, and restored bicycles, giving you one of the most detailed collections tied to Curtiss’s work in the world.

Champlin Beach, located right off Route 54A, provides a public swimming area for locals and visitors alike, picnic facilities, and a convenient boat launch. From the beach, you can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards during the summer, too. For short hikes and scenic views, Keuka Lake State Park is located less than ten miles north and offers shoreline trails, campsites, and more boat access.

Like many towns in this central part of Upstate New York, Wine is another practical reason to base a trip in Hammondsport. The town sits near several long-established wineries, including Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, which introduced European vinifera grapes to the Finger Lakes and helped shape the region’s wine industry.

Aurora

Aurora is a tiny lakeside community on the eastern shore of Cayuga Lake, known for its quiet pace and collection of old architecture. The town was once best known for Wells College, whose campus unfortunately closed for good. However, the picturesque campus is still open for walking around it, with its foot paths, wooded spaces, a viewpoint over the lake, and historic academic buildings.

The village is also home to the Aurora Inn, originally built in 1833. The inn serves as both a hotel and a restaurant, with lakefront views available right from its dining room. The building also hosts a gift shop and a spa.

For visitors interested in wine, Aurora sits along the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Several wineries, including Long Point Winery and Treleaven Wines, are located within a short drive. If you don't partake in drinking but want to get out in the countryside anyway, Long Point State Park offers a public boat launch, fishing pier, and hiking trails that follow the shoreline.

Trumansburg

Trumansburg sits northwest of Ithaca and offers visitors direct access to Taughannock Falls State Park, home to one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains. The park’s main trail follows Taughannock Creek through a shale and limestone gorge, ending at the 215-foot vertical drop of the falls. Additional rim trails provide higher vantage points and even connect to picnic areas, to a sandy public beach along Cayuga Lake.

In town, Trumansburg hosts a year-round farmers’ market, a top-notch craft brewery (Garrett’s Brewing Co.), and various live music venues, including the historic Range, which frequently features a mix of both touring and local musicians. Downtown Trumansburg is also located near the Ulysses Historical Society, which maintains exhibits focused on the area’s early settlement and evolution as a farming community.

Dundee

Dundee rests between Seneca Lake and Keuka Lake, placing it within easy driving distance of both iconic shorelines. The village itself is fairly small, but it’s surrounded by some of the region’s oldest wineries, including Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard and Glenora Wine Cellars, both within ten miles. These wineries focus heavily on Riesling, a grape that thrives in the Finger Lakes’ cooler climate and slate-heavy soil.

Outdoor fun in this town centers around nearby Seneca Lake, the western shore of which is lined with spots to launch your boat, fishing holes, and private marinas, most reachable within a short drive away. Watkins Glen State Park is must see if in the area, however. Known for its deep gorge and series of stone staircases and waterfalls, it is easily one of the most scenic spots in New York, and is particularly nice in the fall.

The area’s farm stands and roadside markets, especially along Route 14A, give you a chance to pick up some local produce and baked goods. The countryside around town is also home to the Outlaw Speedway, a highly popular racetrack that has been hosting major competitions for almost 70 years.

See These Upstate New York Gems Today

Trying to escape the hustle and bustle of NYC this weekend? Simply passing through and want to see the natural wonders of the Empire State? Whatever the reason, the Finger Lakes region is among the most beautiful and iconic spots on the east coast. Whether you're embarking on a wine tour, a camping trip, or are just looking to spend the night in a cozy bed and breakfast, any of the towns mentioned above will suffice for a fun filled and relaxing multi-day getaway this year!