The Area

After enjoying a restful nights’ sleep and a gourmet breakfast at the 1795 Acorn Inn, it is time to explore our spectacular region.  With everything from outdoor recreation to top-notch performing arts, there is always something to see and do in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of New York State.

To learn more about the Finger Lakes and assist you in planning activities during your stay, we encourage you to visit the following web sites: Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, Finger Lakes Visitors Connection and Canandaigua Chamber of Commerce.

The Finger Lakes region is known for producing award-winning wines.  Famous for Rieslings and Gewurtztraminer, the area is the second largest wine-producing region in the US.  With more than 80 vintners producing distinguished varietals, there is sure to be something to satisfy every pallet.  Visit New York’s Wine and Culinary Center to sample New York’s best, enjoy wine and food pairing classes or take a cooking a cooking class hosted by well know culinary experts.  Be sure to book those classes well in advance.

Whether you drive yourself or sit back and relax in a luxury sedan with your own personal driver, wine tasting in New York’s Finger Lakes is unlike any other wine tasting experience in the world.  Many wineries and their tasting rooms overlook beautiful rolling hills, vineyards and the majestic Finger Lakes.  Several also offer educational wine tours. 

Antiquing is a favorite pastime in the area, which is rich in unique shops to satisfy every collector’s needs.  Several quality antique stores are located less than five miles from the Inn in Bloomfield’s Antique Country Mile.

Golf is a popular area activity and a reason in and of itself to visit the Finger Lakes.  Numerous public golf courses prove challenging enough even for the seasoned player while the spectacular scenery enhances your experience at each tee.

In the winter months, enjoy downhill skiing and snowboarding at Bristol Mountain Winter Resort where expert, intermediate and novice runs whisk skiers down the largest vertical drop between the Adirondack and Rocky Mountain ranges.  Or slow things down a tad with cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Cumming Nature Center.

Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to do in the Finger Lakes.  Boating, fishing, swimming, canoeing/kayaking and horseback riding are just a few.  Take a hike or a bicycle ride along numerous trails as they meander through beautiful wooded areas or along the lakes.  Once at the 1795 Acorn Inn, guests can browse through editions of Take a Hike, Take Your Bike and Take A Paddle as well as 200 Waterfalls.  These guides, by Rich and Sue Freeman, show where to go in the Finger Lakes and allow you to choose locations based on your skill level, time availability and many other factors.

For history buffs, a visit to Sonnenberg Gardens, the Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum and the Genesee Country Museum is a half day affair.  For the photography enthusiast, the George Eastman House is a must.  And, for those with an interest in glass, the Corning Museum of Glass is just a short one and a half hour drive.  During your visit to the museum, don’t miss the opportunity to blow your own glass object at the Artists’ Studio.

People who appreciate the performing arts will want to take in a performance at the Bristol Valley Theater.  Or visit the Marvin Sands-Constellation Brands Performing Arts Center, an outdoor amphitheater where guests can enjoy the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and musical performances by well known artists.  Check out the upcoming season.

If you love grapes, be sure to try a slice of the regions most talked about dessert Grape Pie.  In the fall, visit the quaint village of Naples to experience the Grape Festival or visit Monica’s Pies year round.  In the summer, there’s nothing more enjoyable than taking a stroll along the lakefront while viewing art from local artisans.  Visit the Chamber of Commerce web site for a comprehensive list of local festivals.

The countryside is beautiful any time of the year, but there is nothing quite like the Finger Lakes region during the fall when hills, valleys and the lakesides are seemingly lit from within with the vibrant reds, yellows and oranges of turning leaves.  A visit to the Inn isn’t complete without a fall chairlift ride at Bristol Mountain to view the splendor from 1,200 feet.

Dining choices vary from humble cafes to restaurants serving fine continental cuisine and everything in between.  Regardless of your choice, most recommended restaurants are a short drive from the Inn. Enjoy a great meal in a historic building or hop aboard the Canandaigua Lady for a lunch cruise on Canandaigua Lake.

Quaint downtown shops and roadside stores offer unique wares to remember your time in the region or to find a gift for someone special.  A favorite locally-produced souvenir is maple syrup.  Stop by the Loomis Barn and Country Shops located in Rushville to witness a working sugarhouse and see maple syrup production firsthand.  Malls and outlet stores are also abundant in the region.

Want some real excitement?  Whether it’s the mounting anticipation of three sevens lining up followed by the sound of bells and whistles and sirens or thundercloud of hooves pounding around the clubhouse turn, visit the Finger Lakes Gaming & Racktrack.

Niagra Falls, the Niagra Falls Botanical Gardens and Butterfly Conservatory and Niagra on the Lake are an easy day’s trip.  Visit the Niagra Falls Tourism site for more information.

Celebrate an anniversary, birthday or special occasion.  Surprise your loved one by having flowers, candy or champagne delivered to your room.  Gift certificates available.

Whether you enjoy wine tasting or sailing across one of our beautiful lakes, we promise your stay at the 1795 Acorn Inn will be a wonderful, memorable experience.