07/06/2024
Updated -- from someone else’s gracious post:
THINGS TO DO IN WATKINS GLEN AND THE SURROUNDING AREA
Apple and Grape Picking
Bike or walk the Catharine Valley Trail
Bowl at Atlas Bowl -- Trumansburg
Bowl at Crystal Lanes -- Corning
Bowl at Harborside Lanes – Watkins Glen -- though public bowling is limited
Clute Park – Watkins Glen
Corning Museum of Glass -- Corning
Discovery Center Museum – Ithaca
Downtown Watkins Glen West 4th Street Shopping
Drive around Seneca Lake at sunset – takes about an hour to circle the lake
Eldridge Park -- Elmira
Elmira Drive-In Theatre -- Elmira
Farm Sanctuary
Finger Lakes Cheese Trail
Finger Lakes Cider Trail
Finger Lakes Ice Cream Trail
Finger Lakes Wine Tour
Found Antiques -- Ithaca
Glen Theater – Watkins Glen – wonderful old-time theater with one screen
Glenn H. Curtiss Museum (aircraft, motorcycles, cars) – Hammondsport
Golf various courses
Harriet Tubman Home – Auburn, NY
Harris Hill Amusement Park – they haven’t changed a thing since 1947 -- Elmira
Hike or walk the Catherine Valley Trail in Montour Falls, Taughanock State Park and waterfall in Trumansburg, Sampson State Park along Seneca Lake and National Park
International Motor Racing Research Center – Watkins Glen
Market Street and Gaffer District – Corning including Liquid Shoes Brewery
Max’s Drive In – Waterloo
Millport Landing Antique Store – Millport
Mini Golf – Watkins Glen and Elmira
Montezuma Sanctuary
Museum of Earth – Ithaca
National Soaring Museum on Harris Hill
National Women’s Rights Museum
Rent a kayak at Seneca Lake – next to Clute Park
Rockwell Museum in Corning
Science Center -- Ithaca
Seneca Lake
Seneca Walls walk around including Susan B Anthony and Suffrage
Sunset View Creamery (self-guided tours, free cheese tasting, schedule a session to cuddle a cow) – Odessa
Wags to Riches Upscale Resale Boutique – Watkins Glen
Waterfalls, Gorges, Finger Lakes National Forest
Waterfall Hikes – Keuka Outlet Trail, Grimes Glen Park, Fillmore Glen State Park, Cascadilla Gorge Trail, High Tor Wildlife Area
Waterloo Outlets
Watkins Day – walk the gorge
Watkins Glen International
Watkins Glen Promotions & Memorabilia
Windmill Farm and Craft Market – Penn Yan – only open Saturdays and some holidays
Wine and Beer Tasting
Wings of Eagles Discovery Center -- Elmira
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THINGS TO DO BY VILLAGE
Fun days trips include Canandaigua, Clifton Springs, Corning, Geneva, Ithaca, Naples, Penn Yan, Owego, Sodus Bay, Sonnenberg Gardens, and Trumansburg
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TYPICAL DAY – MONTOUR FALLS
Walk or bike the Catharine Creek trails
Breakfast at the Blue Ribbon Diner
Visit Havana Glen Park
Visit the 1860s library with Tiffany Glass
Walk into the old bank to see the interior
See the massive Shequaga falls at the historic “Glorious T”
Visit Millport Landing at the wonderful antique store in Millport, NY – owner Margie is a gem
Montour Falls Farmers Market on Thursday afternoon from 4-7 pm
Fat City Food Trailer or Prisebox BBQ
Beers at Diversion Brewing Company
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TYPICAL DAY – WATKINS GLEN, SENECA LAKE
Breakfast at Chef’s
Noon drive around the Watkins Glen International – all cars welcome
Hike the glen at Watkins Glen State Park
Visit Clute Park for a cookout or picnic -- order submarine sandwiches from Holy Cow or Tops Grocery
Stop at Famous Brands – amazing clothing and shoe store
Swim in Seneca Lake
Late afternoon at a wonderful old-fashioned pool run by the Watkins Glen State Park
Rent a pontoon boat – best rented toward the middle or end of the day
Dinner on the patio at Seneca Lodge near the pool
Sunset dinner cruise from Captain Bill’s
Drive around Seneca Lake at sunset – takes about an hour to circle the lake
Wine and beer tasting – there are so many wineries and breweries
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TYPICAL DAY – BURDETT AND HECTOR
Burdett Restaurants –- many wineries and breweries – restaurants include Hungry Burd, H&E Bar, Solera Tap House, golf range, berry picking, Painted Barn horse riding
Hector Restaurants – so many wineries and breweries -- restaurants include H.E.R.E., Scale House, Stone Cat, Toni’s Diner
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TYPICAL DAY – TRUMANSBURG
Taughannock Falls State Park
Bowling at Atlas Bowl
Little Venice Italian
Sundrees Gift Shop – so fun
Gem Shop Used Clothing
Farmers market 4-7 pm every Wednesday with hot food and music- great dinner destination
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TYPICAL DAY -- ITHACA
Drive for miles around the countryside
Drive around Cayuga Lake at sunset
Visit Found Antiques
Saturday outdoor antique market
Massive Farmers Market in Ithaca
Tour Cornell University
See Cornell Botanical Gardens
Visit the Discovery Center Museum
Moosewood vegetarian restaurant is nationally recognized
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TYPICAL DAY – CORNING AND TASTINGS
Visit the Corning Museum of Glass
See the many unique independent shops along Market Street and Gaffer District
Afternoon wine and beer tasting
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TYPICAL DAY – KID FUN
Mud Creek Bison Ranch and Farm – radio-guided car tour
Clute Park beach, splash pad and picnic area
Glen Theater – Watkins Glen – wonderful old-time theater with one screen
Swim in Seneca Lake
Mini golf and go karts
Cuddle a cow – Sunset View Creamery – reservations required
Jerlando’s pizza delivered from the Montour Falls restaurant
Sunset dinner for the adults at the Stone Cat roadside restaurant that is a local gem
Enjoy the firepit and movie at night, kids run around the yard with the dogs – sparklers, fireworks, and there are potato sacks for sack races in the lower pantry cabinet
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RESTAURANTS
Blackberry Inn Kitchen
Bucket Bar & Grill
Chef’s, Curly’s, Blue Ribbon, Toni’s -- diners
Connie’s Diner – Waterloo
The Decoy
El Rancho
Fat City Food Trailer
Glen Dairy Bar – best ice cream
Graft Wine and Cider Bar
The Great Escape – ice cream
Grist Iron Brewery – stunning view of the lake
Harbor Station
H.E.R.E. -- Hector
Hungry Burd -- Burdett
Jerlando’s Italian – Watkins Glen and Montour Falls
Kookalarock’s for lunch
Lakeside Bistro
Landon’s Pub and Pizza
Maria’s Tavern -- wings
Nickels Pit BBQ
Prisebox Roadside BBQ
Pudgie’s Pizza
Ryan William Vineyard for lunch or incredible desserts
Seneca Harbor Station
Seneca Lodge
Seneca Sunrise Coffee
Shtayburne Dairy for cheese and ice cream flights
Stone Cat
Thai Elephants
Toby’s Donuts
Toni’s Diner for breakfast in Hector
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HIKING
Excelsior Glen – Atwater winery
Indian Trail aka North Rim and South Rim
Taughannock Falls
Watkins Glen State ParTHINGS TO DO BY VILLAGE
WATKINS GLEN, population 1,785
Drive around the Watkins Glen International at noon or 5 pm – all cars welcome
Hike the glen and gorge at Watkins Glen State Park
Clute Park beach, kayak, skateboard, splash pad and cookout, picnic areas
Visit rescued animals at the Farm Sanctuary
Wander downtown Watkins Glen West 4th Street to shop D&L’s Miscellany, Spec’s Chocolates, Famous Brands amazing clothing and shoe store; Wags to Riches upscale resale boutique; Watkins Glen Promotions & Memorabilia; and the whimsical gift shop next to the old time Glen Theater
Watch a first run movie at the Glen Theater – wonderful old-time theater with one screen
Swim in Seneca Lake
Swim at the wonderful old-fashioned pool run by the Watkins Glen State Park
Rent a pontoon boat – best rented toward the middle or end of the day
Visit the Tiki Bar on Seneca Lake
Have dinner on the patio at Seneca Lodge near the pool; the bar is a must experience
Take a sunset dinner cruise from Captain Bill’s
Drive around Seneca Lake at sunset – takes about an hour to circle the lake
Find a place to picnic -- order submarine sandwiches from Holy Cow or Tops Grocery
Bowl at Harborside Lanes, though public bowling is limited
Visit the International Motor Racing Research Center
Awesome geocaches in the area
Play mini golf
Rent a kayak at Seneca Lake – next to Clute Park
Try the best soft serve around at Glen Dairy Bar – portions are legendary
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RESTAURANTS
Art & Nancy’s diner; Babes and Buds; Blackberry Inn Kitchen; Bleachers Sports Bar and Grill; Bucket Bar & Grill; The Decoy; El Rancho Mexican Restaurant; Graft Wine and Cider Bar; Harbor Station; Holy Cow Deli; Jerlando’s Italian; Kookalarock’s; Lakeside Bistro; Mirco Diner; Nickels Pit BBQ; Pangea Global Teahouse; Pudgie’s Pizza; Seneca Harbor Station; Seneca Cheese Company; Sunrise Coffee; Toby’s Donuts; Landon’s Pub and Pizza; Maria’s Tavern
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MONTOUR FALLS, population 1,551
Walk or bike the Catharine Creek trails
Visit Havana Glen Park
Bike or walk the Catharine Valley Trail
Visit the 1860s library with Tiffany Glass
Walk into the old bank to see the interior
Visit the Schuyler County Society
See the massive Shequaga falls at the historic “Glorious T”
Visit Millport Landing at the wonderful antique store in Millport, NY – owner Margie is a gem
Sunset View Creamery (self-guided tours, free cheese tasting, cuddle a cow)
Montour Falls Farmers Market on Thursday afternoon from 4-7 pm
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RESTAURANTS
Althea’s Finger Lakes Tavern; Classic Chef’s, Curly’s or Blue Ribbon diners; Diversion Brewing Company; Fat City Food Trailer; Jerlando’s Italian; Mechanic’s Club; North New York coffee shop; Prisebox Roadside BBQ
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ODESSA, population 542
Two Cats Cakery and Bakery, coffee shop, Bucket Bar and Grill, and Odessa Wines and Spirits
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BURDETT, population 334
Berry picking, Finger Lakes National Forest, golf range, many wineries and breweries, Painted Barn horse riding
Burdett restaurants include H&E Bar, Grist Iron Brewery, Hungry Burd, Solera Tap House, Ryan William Vineyard for lunch or incredible desserts
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HECTOR, population 4,863
There are many wineries and breweries. Hector restaurants include Babe’s Burger, Boar’s Nest 414, Elf in the Oak, H.E.R.E., Hector Hideaway, Scale House, Stone Cat, Toni’s Diner
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TRUMANSBURG, population 1,681
Finger Lakes National Forest
Taughannock State Park and waterfall overlook at Taughannock Visitor’s Center
Bowling at Atlas Bowl
Sundrees Gift Shop – so fun
Gem Shop Used Clothing
Upcountry Antiques
Trumansburg Farmers market 4-7 pm every Wednesday with hot food and music - great dinner destination
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Restaurants include Creekside Café, Garrett’s Brewing Company, Hazelnut Kitchen, Little Venice Italian, New York Pizzeria, Sweet Sprinkles Bakerty, Tap-In Bar and Grill, Trumansburg Main Street Organic Market, Wok This Way
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ITHACA, population 21,106
Drive for miles around the countryside
Drive around Cayuga Lake at sunset
Found Antiques
Saturday outdoor antique market
Massive Farmers Market on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Tour Cornell University
Cornell Botanical Gardens
Discovery Center Museum
Moosewood vegetarian restaurant is nationally recognized
Museum of Earth
Salvation Army Thrift Shop
Truman and Buttermilk Falls
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CORNING, population 10,162
Many unique independent shops along Market Street and Gaffer District
Corning Museum of Glass
Rockwell Museum, part of the Smithsonian
Bowl at Crystal Lanes
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ELMIRA, population 6,557
Wings of Eagles Discovery Center
Eldridge Park -- Elmira
Elmira Drive-In Theatre
Harris Hill Amusement Park and mini golf – they haven’t changed a thing since 1947
National Soaring Museum on Harris Hill
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DAY TRIPS
Fun days trips include Canandaigua, Clifton Springs, Corning, Geneva, Ithaca, Naples, Penn Yan, Owego, Sodus Bay, Sonnenberg Gardens, and Trumansburg
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THINGS TO DO AROUND SENECA LAKE
Apple, Berry Grape Picking
Drive around Seneca Lake at sunset – takes about an hour to circle the lake
Wine and Beer Tasting
Finger Lakes Cheese Trail
Finger Lakes Cider Trail
Finger Lakes Ice Cream Trail
Finger Lakes Wine Tour
Harriet Tubman Home – Auburn
Glenn H. Curtiss Museum (aircraft, motorcycles, cars) – Hammondsport
Hiking at Excelsior Glen, Indian Trail aka North Rim and South Rim, Taughannock Falls, Watkins Glen State Park, and Sampson State Park
Max’s Drive In and retail outlets – Waterloo
Mud Creek Bison Ranch and Farm -- Savona
National Women’s Rights Museum -- Seneca Falls
Shtayburne Dairy for cheese and ice cream flights
Waterfall Hikes – Keuka Outlet Trail, Grimes Glen Park, Fillmore Glen State Park, Cascadilla Gorge Trail, High Tor Wildlife Area
Waterloo Outlets and Connie’s Diner
Windmill Farm and Craft Market – Penn Yan – only open Saturdays and some holidays
