Home away from home in the Finger Lakes.

What is one of America's best-kept travel secrets? Remarkably, the Finger Lakes region remains largely unknown to many vacationers – including those from Canada.

Though there are actually eleven lakes, only seven are commonly identified as Finger Lakes. Collectively, the long, skinny blue streaks reminded early mapmakers of the fingers of a hand.

At close to forty miles end to end, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake are the longest, and among the deepest lakes in the United States – 435 feet and 618 feet deep respectively. Carved by glaciers receding at the end of the last ice age, the Finger Lakes today drain northward to Lake Ontario.The southern end of the lakes is characterized by steep hills and tributaries that drop precipitously, often via waterfalls. With a 214 foot drop, Taughannock Falls is one of the highest waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains. Visit Taughannock Falls State Park, Fillmore Glen, and Watkins Glen to see striking examples of waterfalls that have been incorporated into public parks.

“Native American Legend maintains that the Fingers Lakes were the impression left behind by the creator when he reached down to bless the land,” writes vacation rental resort owner Robert Lawty. The Finger Lakes region is one of bucolic beauty. Picture rolling hills, dotted with waterfront villages, dairy farms, old Victorian homes, forests, and sparkling waterfalls. In the summer, it is a patchwork quilt of verdant land and shimmering water.

The lakes have given rise to microclimates, ideal for grape growing. Notably, the area has become New York’s largest wine producing region. Today, more than 75 wineries reside along the banks of the lakes. Enjoy organized wine trails along Cayuga, Seneca, Keuka, and Canandaigua lakes. In the summer months, the Finger Lakes region comes alive with outdoor enthusiasts – cyclists, hikers, swimmers, and vineyard-goers. It is also a wonderful place to take in live theater and music, such as the Summer Music Series, which offers free weekend concerts. To some the lakes are known as “the little jewels in upstate New York.” Come see these gems for yourself.

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