Finger Lakes Region
Watkins Glen
City Tour/Seneca East Wineries
Watkins Glen
Named after Dr. Samuel Watkins, who’s family first purchased land around the Glen in 1794, this town at the south end of Seneca Lake has seen a lot over the last 200+ years. The two biggest attractions are the Glen itself and the world renowned auto racing track that hosts premier races each year. But the charming town has much more to offer with it’s beautiful lake view and proximity to many of the best wineries in the Finger Lakes.
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Lodging
Breakfast - Curly’s Family Restaurant just south of the village is a great place to start your Watkins Glen Daycation. With tasty traditional breakfast fare of omeletes, waffles, and pancakes, you can load up on your carbs that you will burn off during your daytime adventure. Another option is Tobey’s Donut Shop where you can not only get fantastic donuts that are made fresh there each day, but if donuts aren’t your thing, you can also get omeletes, eggs, and breakfast sandwiches.
Morning Itinerary
Watkins Glen State Park - Watkins Glen
This 400 foot gorge was cut into the valley when the glaciers retreated thousands of years ago. But that is good news for you now because it is a fun climb up the 800+ steps to the rim of the gorge with beautiful waterfalls, eddy’s, and rock formations to marvel at the entire way up. There are 3 trails that you can hike in the park in the spring and summer and if you are really ambitious or a die hard hiker, the trails do connect with the 800 mile long Finger Lakes trail that traverses the entire state.
Watkins Glen Speedway - Watkins Glen
Imagine channeling your inner Speed Demon and driving your vehicle on a racetrack that almost every famous car racer that you could name has driven on. You can do that at the Watkins Glen International Speedway. Even if you don’t have a need for speed, stopping for a visit to see the 3.45 mile track is still pretty impressive. And if you check the events calendar on their web-site, you may find a Wine, Beer, or Music Festival happening there on the weekend you visit.
International Racing Research Center - Watkins Glen
After seeing the famous auto racing track, you should stop into the International Motor Racing Research Center a few miles away to see numerous photographs, documents, and historical archives that chronicle the history of Auto Racing in the U.S.
Lunch - Rooster Fish Brewing Pub not only makes great beers with locally sourced ingredients, but their food is very good lunch fare as well. We suggest that you get one of the four “bowls” for your lunch. Between the Pueblo, Jambalaya, Steak and Fries, and Mussel Bowls they are all great and are a unique lunch option. The rest of the Pub Fare menu is good as well, but as long as you are here - splurge on one of the Bowls. If you are in the mood for pizza or pasta, another good option is Jerlando’s Ristorante and Pizza right in downtown Watkins Glen.
Afternoon Itinerary
Summit to Stream Adventures - Watkins Glen
Kayaking, Fly Fishing, Paddle Boards, Lake Fishing Excursions - they are all available from Summit to Stream. Since you are spending the day on a lake, you might as well experience some of the activities that Lake Living affords you. And it will help you to burn off a few of the calories that you have inevitably accumulated by this point in the excursion!
Damiani Wine Cellars - Burdett
One of the highest rated wineries in our Top Ten FLX Wineries is about a 5 minute drive from Watkins Glen - Damiani Wine Cellars. This has been one of our favorite wineries for many years and with each new vintage that they produce, that sentiment continues. Their red, white, and sparkling wines are all fantastic and the view of Seneca Lake from the deck behind the tasting room is gorgeous.
Lamoreaux Landing Winery - Lodi
With numerous 90 point plus wines in the last few years, Lamoreaux Landing is also one of our Top 10 Winery picks. They have great Rieslings and Chardonnay with a very classy tasting room. Being in the southeast side of Seneca Lakes helps them to create great wines since this area is noted as one of the best places in the Finger Lakes to grow wine due to the soil and microclimates in the area.
Dinner
The Blue Point Grille at the Harbor House hotel is one of our go-to’s whenever we are in Watkins Glen. Great food, FLX wines and a great lake view with outdoor dining. I am a sucker for a good seafood pasta, and that is what I order almost every time that I go to Seneca Harbor Station. We also love the New England Clam Chowder, and speaking of New England - how can you go wrong with their Maine Lobster roll? There are plenty of options for the landlubbers out there as well, but we usually stick with the seafood. Good Thai restaurants are hard to find, but you can find one in downtown Watkins Glen. Thai Elephants looks humble from the outside, but the food there is fantastic. It is definitely worth checking out when you are in The Glen!
Evening Itinerary
Captain Bill’s Seneca Lake Cruises - Watkins Glen
This is our favorite boat cruise in the Finger Lakes. For almost 60 years, Captain Bill’s runs numerous different cruises throughout the day, but we suggest going on the evening cruise. This cruise covers all of the bases with music, drinks, and food options while the boat saunters up one of the deepest lakes in the U.S. During the trip you will learn about the history of the lake and the area that will be a great memory for the rest of your days.