Finger Lakes Activities

Suggested Day Trips:

We want you to think of Mill Creek as a destination, not just a stopover. Regardless of the season, or the weather, there are a variety of attractions within an hour's drive from our cabins. Here are some suggestions and links to some of our favorite places (please check the individual sites for hours and seasonal closures, or email us with any questions that you might have):

Watkins Glen/Corning: Take Route 414 south from Mill Creek. On the way to Watkins Glen, you can tour some of the wineries along Seneca Lake or stop by Skyland Farm Art Craft Gallery and Cafe. In Watkins Glen, you can visit the state park and hike the gorge, or visit Watkins Glen International raceway. Continue south on Route 414 from Watkins Glen to Corning, where you can visit the Corning Museum of Glass, explore the shops and restaurants of the Market Street district, and visit the Rockwell Museum of Western Art . On your way back through Watkins Glen, you can stop for an afternoon or sunset sail aboard the Malabar X. There are a number of good restaurants to choose from in Watkins Glen, but you can also find fine dining within minutes from Mill Creek, on Route 414, at The Stonecat Cafe, Red Newt Cellars Winery & Bistro, Dano's Heuriger on Seneca, or Suzanne Fine Regional Cuisine.

Ithaca: Take Route 96 or Route 89 south from Mill Creek. On the way to Ithaca, stop by Taughannock Falls State Park (pronounced "ta-gan'-nok"), where you can either view this spectacular gorge and waterfalls from the overlook (the site of many weddings) or you can take the short hike up the gorge to the base of the falls. The park is located on Cayuga Lake, and it was once part of a private estate. Overlooking the park, is the original mansion of the estate, which is now a lovely inn and restaurant (a stay at Mill Creek wouldn't be complete without a dinner at Taughannock Farms Inn.). Ithaca is only 15 minutes from the park. You could spend days exploring Ithaca, between the state parks, museums, galleries, shopping, restaurants, and colleges. The Ithaca Commons is a pedestrian mall in the heart of the city, with a number of unique shops, including two of our favorites, Handworks and American Crafts by Robbie Dein. Two places not to be missed while exploring the Cornell campus are the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. A good site for additional information about Ithaca is VisitIthaca.com.

Seneca Falls/Waterloo: Take Route 89 north from Mill Creek. As you travel up the west side of Cayuga Lake, you will pass a number of the wineries along the Cayuga Wine Trail. Be sure to stop at Thee Amish Market at 89 Traders Village, where you will find four barns full of Amish crafts, furniture and baked goods. At the end of the lake, lies the Village of Seneca Falls. The village was the inspiration for Bedford Falls in It's A Wonderful Life. While there, you can visit the Women's Rights National Historic Park. Just a short drive from Seneca Falls, heading west on Route 318, you will find the shopper's Mecca of the Waterloo Premium Outlets. After you've shopped till you drop, you can take a sunset driving tour of the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. While there, you can stop and climb one of the observation towers to see Bald Eagles nesting. As you head back home to Mill Creek along Route 89, a great place to stop for dinner is the Deerhead Inn, which is located adjacent to Cayuga Lake State Park.

Canandaigua: Take Route 414 north from Mill Creek to Route 96A in Ovid. While traveling north on Route 96A, you will pass Sampson State Park and the former Seneca Army Depot. As you drive along the fence of the old army depot, keep an eye out for white deer. The depot is the home of the largest herd of white deer known to exist, but the future of this population is uncertain. Seneca White Deer, Inc is a group of very good folks who are trying their best to make sure that these animals are protected for future generations. At the north end of Seneca Lake, Route 96A intersects with Routes 5 & 20. A left onto Routes 5 & 20 will take you through the City of Geneva, and past the beautiful campus of Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Canandaigua is about 20 minutes past Geneva, and is the home of Sonnenberg Gardens. If you're feeling lucky, you can then spend the afternoon betting on the ponies, or gambling at the Finger Lakes Race Track After you've won your fortune at the track, you can stop for dinner at Emile's, which located just past the intersection of 96A on Routes 5 & 20, on your way back to Mill Creek.

Dinner Cruises: There are dinner/lunch/sightseeing cruises on Canandaigua, Keuka, Seneca, Cayuga and Skaneateles Lakes. One of our favorites is on Skaneateles Lake (pronounced "skinny-atlas"), operated by Mid-Lakes Navigation The picturesque Village of Skaneateles is located at the north end of the lake, just about an hour from Mill Creek via Route 89 north to Routes 5 & 20 east, just past the City of Auburn. The village has an abundance of shops and restaurants, and is the home of our cabins' featured photographer, John Francis McCarthy A visit to his gallery on Jordan Street is an absolute must see. If you are fortunate enough to catch John at the gallery, he has some wonderful stories about his many travels and the people he has met.

Fishing Charters: While there are a number of charter services throughout the Finger Lakes, for one or two guests we would suggest John Gaulke, Finger Lakes Angling Zone. For larger groups (up to 6 people), we have a hunting guide/fishing charter captain who lives only two miles from Mill Creek: Jim Morgan, Seneca Chief Guide Service & Fishing Charter

Boat Rentals: You can rent a power boat on Seneca Lake at Glen Harbor Marina in Watkins Glen, or you can rent a kayak or canoe on Cayuga Lake at Puddledockers Kayak Shop in Ithaca.

Looking for more adventure? Take a glider ride at Harris Hill Soaring Center in Elmira, or take a tandem skydive with Finger Lakes Skydivers, only five minutes from us in Ovid.

Festivals, Fairs & Events:

Watkins Glen International, events throughout the season

Ithaca Festival, Ithaca, June 19 - 22, 2008

Sterling Renaissance Festival, Sterling, weekends from July 5 - August 17, 2008

Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance, Trumansburg, July 17 - 20, 2008

Empire Farm Days, Seneca Falls, August 5 - 7, 2008

Pickin' in the Pasture, Lodi, August 21 - 24, 2008

New York State Fair, Syracuse, August 21 - September 1, 2008

Wine Country Circuit Dog Show, Sampson State Park, September 25 - 28, 2008