Worth a DetourNatureWineGorgesWaterfalls

The Finger Lakes

New York

Long glacial lakes, gorges and waterfalls in upstate New York, with America's best Rieslings.

Photo: bobistraveling · CC BY 2.0

Watkins Glen's stone-stepped gorge passes 19 waterfalls. Ithaca is, as the T-shirts say, gorges, with Cornell on the hill. Seneca Falls gave birth to the American women's rights movement in 1848. The Corning Museum of Glass is world class.

Best Time
May–October
Time Needed
2–4 days
Cost Level
$$$$
Open
Check before you go; hours vary by season
Getting There
About four hours by car from New York City.

What to See

2 of 5 are free
2 hours

Watkins Glen State Park

A gorge trail behind waterfalls. Parking fee in season.

Half a day

Seneca and Cayuga Wine Trails

Riesling tastings by the lake.

FreeHalf a day

Ithaca and Taughannock Falls

A 215-foot waterfall, and Cornell's gorges.

3 hours

Corning Museum of Glass

A superb museum with live hot glass shows.

Free1.5 hours

Women's Rights National Historical Park

In Seneca Falls, site of the 1848 Convention.

Know Before You Go

  • Book ahead for fall weekends and race days at Watkins Glen.

Where to Stay

Stay in Ithaca or Watkins Glen.

Where to Eat

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Last checked 2026-11-02. Part of the Northeast list.