Riesling, autumn orchards & Finger Lakes waterfalls
Riesling, autumn orchards & Finger Lakes waterfalls
Fly Creek, NY 13337East Aurora, NY 14052
Trip overview
Embark on a golden-hour road trip across Upstate New York, tracing glacial finger lakes, world-class Riesling vineyards, and gorge-carved waterfalls from Albany to Buffalo.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1 — Fly Creek
Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard
A historic water-powered mill operating since 1856 where visitors sample fresh apple wines, hard ciders, and hot cinnamon cider doughnuts.
288 Goose St, Fly Creek, NY 13337
Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards
Voted America's best apple orchard, offering hilltop rows of pick-your-own heirloom apples alongside 1911 Established craft cider tastings.
2708 Lords Hill Rd, LaFayette, NY 13084
Clift Park Waterfront Promenade
A charming lakeside park featuring a historic gazebos and pristine views across the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Skaneateles Lake.
15 W Genesee St, Skaneateles, NY 13152
Day 2 — Canandaigua
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park
A 50-acre Victorian estate featuring a Queen Anne mansion and nine formal gardens including Italian, Japanese, and Rose gardens.
151 Charlotte St, Canandaigua, NY 14424
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery
The pioneer of cool-climate vinifera winemaking in the eastern US, offering sweeping hillside terrace views over Keuka Lake.
9749 Middle Rd, Hammondsport, NY 14840
The Park Inn
A boutique hotel and farm-to-table restaurant housed in a restored 19th-century building on Hammondsport's town square.
37 Shethar St, Hammondsport, NY 14840
Day 3 — Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen State Park Gorge Trail
A breathtaking stone gorge trail winding past 19 cascading waterfalls, ancient rock layers, and dramatic stone bridges.
100 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard
A renowned estate celebrating traditional winemaking methods and producing benchmark single-vineyard Dry Rieslings.
3962 NY-14, Dundee, NY 14837
Graft Wine + Cider Bar
A stylish bistro featuring exclusively local Finger Lakes craft ciders, wines, and seasonal small plates.
204 N Franklin St, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
Argos Inn
A restored LEED-certified historic mansion boutique hotel featuring custom zinc cocktail bars and plush rooms.
408 E State St, Ithaca, NY 14850
Day 4 — Trumansburg
Taughannock Falls State Park
Home to a towering 215-foot plunge waterfall dropping past sheer rock walls, taller than Niagara Falls.
2221 Taughannock Park Rd, Trumansburg, NY 14886
Ithaca Farmers Market
A vibrant waterfront open-air market pavilion showcasing local farm produce, artisan crafts, and multi-ethnic street food.
545 3rd St, Ithaca, NY 14850
George Eastman Museum
The world's oldest photography museum, located on the historic estate of Kodak founder George Eastman.
900 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607
The Strathallan Rochester Hotel & Spa
A refined hotel in Rochester's Neighborhood of the Arts featuring a rooftop cocktail lounge with panoramic skyline views.
550 East Ave, Rochester, NY 14607
Day 5 — Castile
Letchworth State Park - Inspiration Point
Known as the Grand Canyon of the East, offering dramatic gorge views overlooking Middle Falls and Upper Falls.
1 Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY 14427
Roycroft Campus
The historic birthplace of the American Arts and Crafts movement, featuring artisan copper, print, and leather shops.
31 S Grove St, East Aurora, NY 14052
Bar-Bill Tavern
A legendary local tavern world-famous for its perfectly crispy Buffalo wings and hand-carved beef on weck sandwiches.
185 Main St, East Aurora, NY 14052
Experiences & guides
Bookable tours and stops worth a detour along this route.
Experiences
Guide content may not reflect current conditions. Always verify information before your trip.
Frequently asked questions
The Finger Lakes Loop road trip covers about 464 mi and roughly 10h 1m of driving, comfortably spread across about 5 days.
This itinerary maps out 17 stops from Fly Creek, NY 13337 to East Aurora, NY 14052. Highlights include Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery, and Watkins Glen State Park Gorge Trail.
It begins in Fly Creek, NY 13337 and ends in East Aurora, NY 14052, following a mapped, road-following route the whole way.
The estimated cost is around $1,611, covering fuel, lodging, food, and activities. Your actual total varies with the season, your pace, and the choices you make along the way.
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