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Recreation/Attractions


HIKING/BIKING:

• Hike glacier-carved gorges & waterfalls (Bring Finger Lakes Waterfalls book!)
• Mountain bike through only national forest in NYS (pick blueberries!)
• Walk dog along rail-to-trail route
• Bike scenic roadways

RACING:

• Drive own car on road course raced by NASCAR and IndyCar!
• Visit International Motor Racing Research Center
• Buy memorabilia in Watkins Glen shops
• Tour original 1948 street course
• Challenge kids to driver scavenger hunt on Walk of Fame

Wineries


TASTE THE WINE (AND BEER):

• Taste-test for favorite Riesling around Seneca Lake (52 wineries!)
• Hear from the winemaker in guided winery tour (cool!)
• Ask tasting room staff which wine will go best with my vegetarian lasagna
• Buy wine-themed gifts for everyone for Christmas
• Try something new – meads!
• Try something different – original ales!

WINTER GETAWAY:

• Snowshoe through national forest
• Warm up by fire at B&B (with favorite Finger Lakes book)
• Cross country ski rail-to-trail route
• Ice fish on Cayuta Lake
• Taste at Seneca Lake wineries (open year-round!)
• Spa Day!!


Dining


FINGER LAKES FLAVOR:

• Find Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty restaurants – they use local produce!
• Pick berries, cherries, grapes and apples in season
• Sip Seneca Lake wine with dinner on the deck
• Stock up on “Made in Schuyler” wines, cheeses, maple syrup, apple butter, jams, vinegars, sauces, and more!
• Shop Farmer’s Markets – including Amish roadside stands


Arts & Culture


SHOP ARTFULLY:

• Art galleries
• Yarn shops
• Quilting store
• Glass gallery (watch them blow glass!)
• Antique collectibles

RAINY DAY:

• Learn local lore at historical museum
• Wine trail!
• Shop (so much variety here!)
• Check out movies at historic downtown theater
• Spa Day!!


Shopping


HOLIDAY SHOPPING LIST FOR WATKINS GLEN TRIP:

• Antiques
• Clothes & shoes (no sales tax for items under $110)
• Books
• Jewelry
• Art
• Racing memorabilia
• Unique gifts
• Hand-crafted items

ADVENTURE!

• Horseback trail ride
• Scuba dive
• Hunting (deer, turkey & more!)
• Fishing – including Fly Fishing!
• Hiking
• Mountain Biking
• Water ski
• Jet ski


Accommodations


ON THE WATER:

• Rent a sailboat
• Scuba Seneca Lake (sunken canal barges!)
• Motorboat north to Erie Canalway
• Fly-fish Catharine Creek for record-sized trout
• Cool off with a swim
• Hop on tour boat (learn lake history!)

TIME FOR TWO:

• Reserve room at romantic B&B
• Picnic by waterfalls
• Rent two-seater kayak
• Bird & butterfly watch in 800-acre Catharine Marsh
• Trail ride on horseback
• Hike the gorge hand-in-hand
• Romantic dinner with lake view & champagne toast
• Watch sunset from break wall


Camping


FAMILY FUN:

• Set up camp – swim in pool or lake for afternoon
• Mini golf & ice cream
• Picnic by the lake
• Hike the gorge, bike the forest
• Tour kid-friendly wineries (grape juice & play areas!)
• Pick fresh berries, cherries or apples
• Feed and pet live farm animals