During the month of October, the Finger Lakes towns are bustling with activity. Whether it's bus loads of tourists traveling along the lake shores for a wine tour or locals out for a leaf peeping expedition, the parks, Main Streets, vineyards, and restaurants are packed. It's a fun kind of energy where everyone is jovial and having a good time, and everyone knows they are part of something pretty special. But once November hits, and the weather turns grey, you can catch a quiet day where no one is around and you have the parks and restaurants to yourself.
Here is our Saturday afternoon on Canandaigua Lake.
We started at Kershaw Park, which is a favorite during the summer months, thanks to their lifeguarded beach and playground. On this drizzly November day, there were only a few people walking their dogs along the lake and we basically had the whole place to ourselves. I enjoy the fall foliage and lake views, no matter the weather. There are a few breweries within walking distance, but we weren't quite ready for a beer yet and enjoyed the walking paths and scenic views for a bit longer.
Next we decided to warm up with a hot drink at the beautiful (and award winning) The Lake House on Canandaigua. The space is gorgeous inside and out. After a look around hotel lobby and a hot toddy in the Library, we took some time to explore the grounds. It seems unlikely I'd need a hotel in Canandaigua, with my parents living less than 20 mins away, but it's still a dream to stay here one day and enjoy the pool and the award winning spa, and to soak up the little luxuries of the guest rooms and balconies overlooking the lake. In the meantime, we can still enjoy cocktails at Sand Bar and fine dining at Rose Tavern.
We had a bit more time to kill before dinner so we wandered back over to the lake to explore City Pier and the quirky and cool Canandaigua boat houses. Reminiscent of the brightly colored beach shacks I saw near Melbourne, Australia, the little shacks along the pier were just as weird and wonderful. Zoned strictly for storing boats (no living in the houses allowed), each little boat house has its own personality and character. My eye is drawn to the ones with a New England flair, but all together, they create a magical little beach village that was especially dreamlike in on this cold dreary day.
There is always something special about Fall in the Finger Lakes.
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