Finger Lakes Cities and Towns

Seated deep in a river valley, Corning (nicknamed “The Crystal City”) is a small city with a big history linked to glassmaking. Its historic main street offers antiques shopping, dining, and galleries, and is a short drive from many of the region’s wineries and outdoor activities.

Located on the couther tip of Seneca Lake, this small village is home to famed racetrack Watkins Glen International, the waterfall-rich Watkins Glen state park, a large marina, and numerous camping and dining options.

Named for the Greek island, this city sits on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake and is home to Ithaca College and Cornell University, which gives it a “college town” vibe and a reputation for being hip and culturally liberal. The town offers theater, museums, and the region’s liveliest nightlife, dining, and accommodations.

The larger, more urbanized city of Elmira (onetime summer home of Mark Twain and his family) is further from the Finger Lake wineries, but offers theater and sporting events (chief among them hockey) as well as boating, canoeing, and fishing on the Chemung River.

In addition to the draw of the Seneca Lake-side accommodations and wineries, Geneva is becoming increasingly popular as an agritourism destination where visitors have the opportunity to work on area farms.