Finger Lakes Region
Canandaigua Lake
City Tour/Lake Sightseeing
Canandaigua Lake
At 15.5 miles long and 1.5 miles wide, Canandaigua Lake ranks as the 4th largest of the 11 Finger Lakes. But it’s history and proximity to Rochester make it one of the wealthiest. A drive down West Lake Road will have your eyes popping and jaw dropping with the numerous multi-million dollar homes. The town of Canandaigua at the north end of the lake has a lot of great history, restaurants, and fun things to do. Your Canandaigua Lake Daycation will allow you to see all of those things and more!
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Lodging
Best - $$$$
Great - $$$
Great - $$
Breakfast - Simply Crepes is simply our favorite breakfast place! Even though the restaurant’s name implies that you can only get crepes here, there are many other breakfast options like french toast, breakfast burritos, and other sandwiches. But if you are eating at a place that makes great Crepes, you should really get the crepes. Just sayin’. If you want standard diner breakfast fare, then Patty’s Place Diner, is the place to go. They have all of the pancake, omelette, and egg options, but we recommend the Cinnamon Bun Pancakes. And yes, they do taste just as good as that sounds.
Morning Itinerary
Sonnenburg Gardens (May to October)
Built in 1887 by a prominent NYC Banker and his wife, this 40 room, 50 acre property and gardens is a wonderful trip into the history of the area. Sonnenburg Gardens is now a state park, and a walk through the house and opulent gardens is a must do in Canandaigua. In the summer there are numerous events held in the gardens including wine and cheese tastings, concerts, and speakers.
Granger Homestead (May to October)
Though it is not as grandiose as Sonnenburg, the Granger Homestead is definitely worth a visit on your Canandaigua Daycation. Built in 1816, this mansion was owned by 4 generations of Grangers who’s patriarch was the Postmaster General for Thomas Jefferson. Throughout the year there are numerous events held at the property including concerts, sleigh rides, and a Christmas decor market.
Lunch - Eric’s Office is a great lunch time option for refueling after your A.M. activities. If you are craving a burger, there are 16 different options. There are many other delicious options, but the Deep Fried Green Beans is something we hadn’t ever seen until going there and we highly recommend it. Another great lunch option is NY Kitchen. They have great lunch options with locally sourced food, beer, and wine. It also comes with a gorgeous view of the lake which is free.
Afternoon Itinerary
Bristol Mountain Activities
Bristol Mountain is just 20 minutes from Canandaigua and it has a lot of great outdoorsy things to do year round. If you are a skier, it has the highest vertical drop between the Adirondacks and the Rockies. Trails are usually open December to March. In the summer, you can take the chair lift up the mountain to see a beautiful view that goes on for miles. In the fall when the leaves are turning, it is even more gorgeous. From there you could Zip Line down, or just take the chair lift if you are risk averse.
Fly the Finger Lakes
Seeing the sites of Canandaigua Lake from the air is really cool. Fly The Finger Lakes allows you to see the Lake 3500 feet in the air! These flights can be customized to fit your needs, whether it's a flight to see your house from the air or one or all of the Finger Lakes! You can book the flight for 1, 2, or 3 people.
Canandaigua Lady Boat Tour
If flying in a plane to see the sights isn’t your cup of tea, you could try the Canandaigua Lady. They have cruises throughout the day on the double decker paddlewheel boat. It is a relaxing way to see the sights and learn about the history of the lake.
Finger Lakes Racetrack and Gaming
If placing a wager on the ponies is more your style, then a trip to Finger Lakes Gaming and Racetrack could be on your afternoon agenda. If it is rainy or cold, you could also spend your time testing your luck at the slot machines.
Dinner
Canandaigua has so many great dinner options, it is hard to narrow it down to just three, but here they are. The Rose Tavern at the Lakehouse Hotel has phenomenal fine dining options. With wood fired hearth cooked meats and great seafood/pasta options, it says Tavern on the door, but it definitely isn’t Tavern Food. This is true fine dining with a beautiful lake view. Nolan’s on the Lake is fine dining with a more casual vibe and great meat and seafood options. Their Captain’s Platter entrée is a belt buster with an 8 oz. Filet, 6 oz Lobster, and a couple of shrimp thrown in for good measure. Rio Tamatlan is the best Mexican restaurant that we have ever been to. It is another one of those “can I just order the entire menu” type places because all of the options are just plain fantastic. Alright, I guess we can’t just narrow it down to three choices because we can’t leave the Rheinblick Restaurant off the list. It is the best German restaurant that we have ever been to and the decor makes you feel like you are in Munich instead of Canandaigua.
Evening Itinerary
New York Kitchen - Culinary Class
Since one of the best upscale supermarkets in the U.S., one of the biggest spirits manufacturers, and the Finger Lakes Wine Association all having a stake in NY Kitchen, you know that it has to be extraordinary. The cooking classes are fun regardless of your cooking ability. They do serve wine during the class, and that makes anything more fun. When we went there, our team prepared the dessert that was part of a 5 course wine and food pairing meal that all the participants make, then eat. It was a great experience and great food. If you like really good food, this is a must do in Canandaigua.
CMAC Performing Arts Center Concert
CMAC is one of the biggest outdoor concert venues in Upstate with room for 15,000 people. The bands that play here can range from bands that are popular with 20 year olds, to bands that were in their 20’s fifty years ago, so if you want to plan your Daycation around a concert, you can definitely find one that fits your age group and favorite musical genre.
Canandaigua Brewery Tour
There are 7 breweries in walking(ish) distance in the downtown area of Canandaigua, so if you want to taste some great craft brew options, you won’t be disappointed. Some are open as late as 11 p.m., so you can check out a few different places after dinner with plenty of time to do so.