New York: Finger Lakes Wine Trail Bike Tour
Glistening gentle lakes shaped like delicate fingers soothe the land and its beholder. Ancient lore explains this unique landscape as the work of a spirit who laid hands upon the ground and left hollows filled with water. Modern lore talks of glaciers that gouged the land in retreat. Either way, the result is a radiant beauty in the deepest sense, a land truly blessed. The Finger Lakes of New York sparkle. You see it in the water, taste it in the wine, and feel it in the simple charm of village life. Days are filled with scenic vistas, history rich sites, top-notch vineyards, gourmet cuisine, and pleasant cycling routes. Boasting the highest waterfalls east of the Rockies, cascades, glens, colleges, hamlets, valley farms, quaint towns and steep hillsides dotted with vineyards. All of this, in addition to the sparkling waters of long blue glacial lakes, make the NY Finger Lakes a special bicycling destination not to be missed.
The cyclist who takes on the fabulous Finger Lakes Wine Country tour will be charmed by:
- A first class wine region that ranks as the second largest producer of U.S. wine.
- Fifty wineries that produce 85% of New York's wine, and give visitors a warm welcome.
- Historic lakeside inns with a reputation for fine cuisine.
- Taughannock Farms Inn & The Sherwood Inn. (since 1807)
- Picturesque villages that hearken back to a slower pace of life.
- Renowned historic sites that enrich your understanding of our country's heritage.
Daily Itinerary
(includes 5 breakfasts, 4 dinners, wine reception and airport transfers from & to Rochester, NY)
Day 1
Arrive at historic Taughannock Farms Inn outside Trumansburg, NY, overlooking Cayuga Lake. Bicycle fitting, optional ride, followed by a wine reception and dinner at the inn. (10 miles)
Day 2
Loop ride along Cayuga Lake, Seneca Lake, and Taughannock Falls State Park waterfall. Wine tasting at Sheldrake Point and Wagner Wineries. (28 or 48 miles)
Day 3
Wind along Cayuga Lake; taste award-winning wine at Hosmer Winery & Goose Watch Winery on the way to historic Seneca Falls. Our destination is the Sherwood Inn or Packwood House, a 19th century stagecoach stop at the head of Skaneateles Lake. The Sherwood is a Select Registry inn overlooking the lake, and is walking distance to numerous shops in this friendly town. The Sherwood Inn has been welcoming travelers since 1807. The village of Skaneateles is noted for lovely old homes, shops, and galleries. (33, 54, or 64 miles)
Day 4
Cycle around Skaneateles Lake, passing by Roosevelt Mansion, New Hope Mills, and historic lakeside homes. Visit the Barrows Gallery, a painter and early environmentalist from the Hudson River Valley School. (21 or 41 miles)
Day 5
The village of Auburn offers tours of historic Seward House, Harriet Tubman home, and Willard Chapel, designed by L.C. Tiffany. Cycle through Aurora, listed in its entirety in the National Register of Historic Places, with a stop at MacKenzie-Childs Pottery. Enjoy views of Owasco Lake and wine tasting at the Treleaven-King Ferry Winery. Dinner at acclaimed Moosewood. Lodging in downtown Hilton Ithaca-close to everything. (33, 42, or 61 miles)
Day 6
Final farewells and then morning shuttle to Rochester, NY airport or back to your car.