Plan a Fun Finger Lakes Getaway to Watkins Glen for Wine & Waterfalls

Have you heard of the Finger Lakes Region in New York? It’s home to 11 lakes varying in size, with Seneca Lake the largest by volume, Cayuga Lake the longest, and Canadice Lake the smallest. It’s an area I have wanted to explore for a while, and a two-night stay at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel on Seneca Lake made the perfect base location. Some things to do in Watkins Glen include exploring the local wine and craft brewery scene, taking a boat ride on Seneca Lake, eating at the local restaurants, and hiking to see the beautiful waterfalls in Watkins Glen State Park.

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Find the Village of Watkins Glen at the south end of Seneca Lake. It took us just under 5 hours to reach Watkins Glen from the DC suburbs via a scenic drive through Pennsylvania and a stop in Corning, New York for lunch. Corning is also home to the interesting Corning Museum of Glass—a great stop on a road trip to Niagara Falls—plus the Rockwell Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate.  

We loved our stay at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel! Pick a room with a water view (some with balconies), and relax in the outdoor space centered around several fire pits. The hotel is centrally located with plenty of free parking and a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can search for hotels in the Watkins Glen here.

A Tasting Day on Seneca Lake

​If you are into wine, beer, or other beverages, there are plenty of options on either the east or west side of Seneca Lake, including over two dozen wineries on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. For transportation, book the Lakeside Trolley, which offers a hop-on, hop-off option and is cheaper than most guided tours. The trolley visits 5-6 locations, either on the East or West side of the lake. You can see which wineries are scheduled stops before you book your ticket. We loved the flexibility the trolley gave us at each destination to decide whether or not to do a formal wine tasting or enjoy a glass of wine or snacks. Keep in mind that some establishments require reservations for larger parties. 

The Finger Lakes Region is known for white wines, including Riesling and Gewurztraminer, but produces a range of wines from dry to sweet, with some red wines, local brews, and other craft beverages. Our first stop on the trolley was Lakewood Vineyards; tastings were inexpensive at $5, and visitors will also find additional experiences like the Vineyard Hike and Tasting specialty tours on certain days of the week. At Barnstormer Winery, tastings are in a cozy, pub-like setting inside a renovated barn. We skipped the next stop at Rock Stream Vineyard, known for grape brandy and grappa, in search of food.

​Just down the road, we reached Glenora Wine Cellars. It was the first winery opened on Seneca Lake and home to Veraisons Restaurant and the Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars. Ten dollars will get you a tasting of 5 sweet or dry wines. Or you can grab your favorite bottle of wine and pre-packaged snacks to enjoy on the outside deck with expansive views of Seneca Lake. 

Next stop across the highway was Tin Barn Brewing, with a variety of IPAs and Sours. There you will find plenty of indoor and outdoor space with views of the lake just beyond the road. They also had a limited food menu which gave us a chance to enjoy something to eat with our beer. The final stop and probably one of my favorites was Magnus Ridge Winery.  We loved the European-style tasting room and the chance to enjoy a cheese pairing with our wine tasting, which included a range of wines from Chardonnay and Riesling to their sweeter Happy Hour wine. Plan to spend some time browsing in the gift shop with a large selection of local items. My one regret is not buying the delicious Magnus Ridge Toasted Onion Cheddar that tasted like French onion soup! 

A few things to note:

• Weekends offer more in the way of extras like food trucks and live music; the choices for food on a Monday were limited to prepackaged snacks except at Tin Barn Brewing and Magnus Ridge. The flip side was that most of the places weren’t too crowded.
• The trolley had baskets to store our wine purchases between stops.
• The stops were within 10 miles of downtown Watkins Glen. Plus there was no pressure if you wanted to skip a stop, which we ended up doing. The trolley ran about every hour, but you could choose to stay longer and catch the next one. There was also a QR code on our wristband which allowed us to track the trolley.  

Boat Tour Options

​From May to mid-October, don’t miss an opportunity for a boat cruise on Seneca Lake. The Seneca Spirit from Captain Bill’s Seneca Lake Cruises offers a fifty-minute cruise that runs throughout the day or a 90-minute sunset cruise that departs at 7 p.m. Hours vary throughout the season, so check the website for the latest. Sit on the open upper deck for sweeping views of the lake, especially as you pass the cascading Hector Falls. Dining options are available on the Seneca Legacy. There is even a legend about a mysterious sea creature spotted on Seneca Lake in 1899!

​Another option is the Schooner True Love! Set sail on the restored 67’ foot schooner, built in 1926 as you take in the views of Seneca Lake. As expected, the prices were a bit higher than the Seneca Spirit, but from what we saw, the experience looked worth it! 

​Hiking the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen State Park

Picture walking along a path while viewing a series of 19 waterfalls that have carved a path through the dramatic gorge. That is what you will find on the Gorge Trail at Watkins Glen State Park. Bring shoes that can get muddy, and be prepared for many steps and uneven paths as you walk 1.5 miles on the Gorge Trail. Hiking through from the main entrance will take you to Jacob’s Ladder, where 180 stairs await before you reach the Upper Entrance. A summer shuttle runs between the park entrances, or you can take one of the Upper Rim trails back to where you started (check the park website for the latest schedule). Or, you can do what I did, walking past Rainbow Falls from the main entrance and then circling back with a detour to check out part of the North Rim Trail on the way. If you prefer to walk down the 180 stairs, start at the Upper Entrance and head towards the Main Entrance. The trail closes for the winter in mid to late October.  

It was tricky to capture photos showing the true beauty of the gorge along the trail but here are a few favorites. There are dramatic views all along the way! Camping is available at this popular park, just book well in advance. 

Dining Options in Watkins Glen

​Downtown Watkins Glen is compact and easily walkable. The Blue Point Grille at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel offered breakfast, lunch, or dinner with indoor and patio dining, but we decided instead to  explore the local restaurant scene. Breakfast sandwiches and coffee from the Blackberry Inn Kitchen and Babes and Buds a Coffee Lounge & Boutique hit the spot for the early morning. My friend and I agreed that Thai Elephants had some of the best Thai food we have had in a long time. We also enjoyed tasty wings and pork BBQ at Nickel’s Pit BBQ. Even during the summer, many downtown restaurants were closed on certain days or only open for dinner. Next time, I want to check out Tobey’s Donut Shop and Graft Wine + Cider Bar. 

What else is there to do in the area? Car racing fans will want to check out nearby Watkins Glen International (and some of the colorful murals downtown). Besides Watkins Glen State Park, consider chasing waterfalls throughout the Finger Lakes Region. Here’s a good resource to get started planning your waterfall adventure.