Veraisons at Glenora Wine Cellars

Veraisons at Glenora Winery, on Seneca Lake, is one of the most popular wineries during the day, but at night, the dining room was relatively empty.

We went on a Friday in the spring when the restaurant offers a fish fry, so of course we had to order it! We also ordered a carbonara asparagus risotto.

The fish fry was served with rice and the fish had this wonderful, semi-sweet flavor on the breading, which almost tasted like a funnel cake wrapped around a moist, flaky piece of fish.

The risotto was creamy, and once you broke the poached egg into the risotto, it became a decadent delight.

We also ordered a wine flight. I chose a red wine flight, where I was brought four glasses of Glenora wine as a tasting. This was a very nice way to try a few different wines at dinner.

The Ginny Lee at Wagner Vineyards

French Onion Soup

Hot Turkey Club

Crispy Chicken Sandwich

While touring wineries around Seneca Lake, we stopped at The Ginny Lee at Wagner Vineyards. The dining room was bright and airy, and additionally had a patio for warmer afternoons for lunch (The Ginny Lee only serves lunch).

We ordered the Hot Turkey Club, which is served "open-faced," and the crispy chicken sandwich, as well as french onion soup. The sandwiches were both good, perfect for a day of wine tasting, and the french onion soup was very good, and heavy on the onions.

Heading around Seneca Lake, Ginny Lee was also a perfect mid-way stop for lunch, so definitely add this to your day's itinerary.

Stonecutters at Belhurst Castle

We headed out to Stonecutter's at Belhurst Castle because the castle was beautiful. Stonecutter's, one of two restaurants at Belhurst, had a nice, casual menu and live music; we were sold.

However, we were a little disappointed by the restaurant and service. The hotel was the site of a wedding that evening we were there and the wait staff seemed to be helping out with the reception as well as taking care of the bar and the tables at Stonecutter's.

We ordered a grilled chicken Caesar salad and the cheeseburger soup in a bread bowl. The waiter put in the wrong soup, and, because the wait staff was incredibly busy, it took our waiter a little while to come back to our table to check on us and for me to send the soup back. By the time the correct soup made it to our table, I was no longer hungry and mostly tired.

The grilled chicken salad was good, served with grilled pita breads. The cheeseburger soup was all right, thick and topped with fresh cut lettuce, which made for a strange texture of the soup.

Stompin' Good Times - Wine Tour

We arranged a privately chauffeured wine tour with Stompin' Good Times through the Bed & Breakfast we were staying at in Dundee.  The driver arrived promptly at the agreed upon time in a Ford Flex, which was comfortable. Our driver was quiet for the majority of our trip and didn't really engage us in conversation, but this also allowed us to converse with each other as a couple.

There were snacks and bottled water provided as well.  The driver was willing to take use to anywhere on Seneca Lake within our 5 hour period and it allowed us to greatly enjoy tasting at 8 different wineries, plus lunch, during this time without needing to worry about getting behind the wheel of our car while inebriated.

Despite being a bit pricey, we definitely recommend using a service such as this when exploring the Finger Lakes

Buttermilk Falls

Located within the town limits of Ithaca, Buttermilk Falls has plenty of parking and is only a 1 minute walk from the parking lot. The falls themselves look like they are running down a flight of stairs and are a nice sight to see.  There are also some walking trails around the falls area.

Montour Falls

Just outside of Watkins Glen, on the south side of Seneca Lake, is Montour Falls.  While there is a town named after the falls, the falls themselves are the reason to come to town.  The falls are located just 2 blocks from the center area of town.  Once in town, there are plenty of signs to direct you right to the falls.  If you're in the Watkins Glen area, this is definitely a good spot to make a quick stop to take some photos.

Taughannock Falls

The Taughannock Falls, about a 25 minute ride from the center of Ithaca, are definitely worth the trip. The falls are located right next to Cayuga Lake, and it is a quick 2 minute walk, mostly stairs, to the viewing area from the parking lot.  They viewing area was perfectly built to allow for excellent photos and is definitely worth the few minutes spent here.

Sunrise Landing Bed & Breakfast

Located on Seneca Lake in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, the Sunrise Landing Bed & Breakfast is an ideal location for couples looking to get away for a few days.  The B&B is located off of the main road that runs parallel to the west side of the lake, Route 14, down a dirt road to get you right onto the lake.  There is a sense of serenity and peace at the property.  The owners are delightful, friendly and look to accommodate all of their guests.

We were able to easily book an all day privately chauffeured wine tour through them and they were able to set up all the logistics for us, including providing free tastings at many of the wineries in the area.

Each morning, a delicious breakfast was freshly prepared for us, and the owners were more than willing to adjust the menu for anyone's special dietary needs.  Not enough can be said about the amazing peach stuffed french toast that was made our second morning, or the orange cranberry scones, and the chocolate chip muffins, and roasted potatoes (really, everything served for breakfast was delicious!).  You just need to taste it to understand.

We chose the Rose Suite for our stay, which is the smallest of the rooms (and thus the cheapest) and it worked perfectly for our needs.  It's a very comfortable bedroom that allows for views of various birds in the morning at the bird feeders.  In addition, you get a private sitting room with a television and a refrigerator stocked with drinks and snacks.

The Sunrise Landing B&B also provides an amazing view of Seneca Lake, and direct access to the lake. We would highly recommend this B&B to anyone looking to visit the Finger Lakes!