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Racing at Finger Lakes

January 31, 2011 By admin

 

Now anyone who doesn’t know there is a race track within the Finger Lakes region will automatically assume the title refers to boat racing, when in fact it is horse racing. The Finger Lakes Race Track was built and opened in May of 1962; however in 2004 there was a huge renovation costing around $10.5 million dollars. The Finger Lakes Gaming and Race Track is different to most as it has an onsite ‘racino’, which is a casino based video-gaming area. The track is located in Farmington which lies in a northerly direction from Canandaigua Lake.

The track itself is not one of the biggest therefore the highest grade of race it can hold is a Grade 3; however this has not stopped the Finger Lakes racing rise to fame as it is home to three major New York Races. The New York Derby, which is part of the Big Apple Triple is held at the track and has been since 1969. The New York Oaks has been held there since 1986 and the New York Breeders’ Futurity has had its home there since 1963.

 Of course the most famous of all is the the New York Derby (part of the Big Apple Triple) which is held over three stages, the first being the Mike Lee Handicap which is held at Belmont Park. The second is the New York Derby at the Finger Lakes Race Track and lastly the Albany Stakes which is held at Saratoga Race Course. The race is usually held in July and can carry a prize of up to $150,000. The race is open to three year old horses that have been bred in the New York State area only.

The track has also been home to some of the best jockeys of all time, Angel Cordero, Bill Shoemaker and Pat Day are to name but a few. Like every track it has had its share of good and bad seasons and has gone through a number of owners but it has always managed to bounce back. The introduction of the racino in 2004 helped tremendously in boosting the tracks attendance and profits.

The track was also the proud home of the well-known race caller Ross Morton who worked at the tracks from the day it opened until his death in early 2008.

Filed Under: Activity Holidays Tagged With: , ,

Camping in the Finger Lakes

January 28, 2011 By admin

With the ever increasing price of catered holidays more and more people are turning to camping holidays as an alternative, of course this doesn’t always mean a tent, most camp sites allow you to park up an RV and some even have cabins for hire. Outdoor holidays have been popular for many reasons with people but most of all it allows you to become part of the natural world, it gives even those with a tiny budget a chance to relax, unwind and enjoy the open space away from the hustle and bustle of every day city living.

The Finger Lakes region has numerous campsites; some are close to the lakes while others are further afield.  Prices varying but there are a number of sites where the charge is under $100, which is perfect for those who need to keep the purse strings on a tight leash.

If you want to be by the lakeside and visit the one of the largest lakes, then pitching up at Clute Memorial Park and Camping site is where you want to go. Clute is located at the base of Seneca Lake and even has an onsite lifeguard to keep a watchful eye over the kids while the parents relax. Pets are also welcome at the site and it is also accessible for those with disabilities. Whether you are camping in the traditional sense or bring a touch of homes comforts via an RV you will be well catered for here. The site also has the added bonus of tennis courts, soccer fields, children’s playground and a skate park and is within easy walking distance from the downtown area of Watkins Glen.

Slightly further afield but still within easy driving distance from Keuka Lake is Campers Haven, it is located in Bath and is a secluded site that offers a wealth of amenities to its visitors. You can bring your own accommodation or even rent one of theirs if you prefer. Onsite you will find a store, activity hall, mini-golf, playground, pool and arcade. Pets are welcome and it is disabled friendly, so physical ability need not be a hindrance when holidaying here.

Due to the regions popularity there are countless sites to choose from, but if it is a little bit of outdoor adventure you are looking for why not try skydiving, a sunset balloon ride or even a gallop along the Tear Drop Trail which will take you to the top of a mountain where you can fully appreciate the beauty of the surrounding land. The Finger Lakes has everything on offer that any camping holiday maker could possibly ask for, whether you want to relax beside the lake or hurl yourself out of a plane at 10,000 feet you can find it all in this amazing region of New York.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: ,

Whats The Difference Between The Finger Lakes?

January 25, 2011 By admin

Besides from the obvious difference in visible size what other factors differ from lake to lake. Well firstly as mentioned is their size or length. They range from 3 miles right up to 38 miles in length and from 30 feet in depth to 618. All bar one looks like either a finger of claw marks, the exception is Keuka which branches off at around its midpoint and resembles a backwards small Y. Going in size order (length) is a brief description of each lake and its surrounding area.

The smallest of the lakes is Canadice which is a mere 3 miles in length, it serves are part of the water supply for Rochester (as does Hemlock Lake) and because of this the area surrounding the lake is generally undeveloped. Fishing and boating is allowed on the lake and it is stocked up with fish on an annual basis, although you are required to obtain a(free) permit in order to carry out any activites in the lake.

The next is Honeoye which is only 1 mile longer than Canandice but is a hotspot for tourists and holiday home makers. The lake itself is very clean and clear, due to its shallow depth of only 30 feet which is the shallowest of all the lakes, it warms up very quickly in the summer months so taking a dip is a pleasurable experience.

Otisco is next on the list and again is only 5 miles in length. It is a popular spot for camping and boating enthusiasts.  The area surrounding the lake is largely made up of private homes so access to the lake itself is limited. An interesting fact about the lake is it used to be nothing more than marsh or bog land until the construction of two damns, the first in 1869 and the second in 1908 which raised the level of the water to what can be seen today. The lake also used to have a causeway that ran its entire width; this was so that the people could cross the lake more easily with carts and wagons.

Hemlock measures just 7 miles in length and is famous for its land-locked Salmon, and thus is very popular with fishermen of all abilities. Salmon aren’t the only fish to inhabit these waters though, trout, bass, crappie and perch can also be found here. Like Canandice the lake is another source of water for Rochester hence the surrounding area is largely unspoilt by buildings and such likes.

Conesus is one mile longer than Hemlock and around 30 feet shallower too.  Like a lot of the smaller lakes the surrounding area is mainly private homes and it has only a few campsites and B&B’s. The main attractions to this lake include, fishing, boating and for those with an adventurous side water skiing. During the winter months the lake is a great spot to enjoy some snowmobiling and various other winter activities.

Owasco is next up on the list and is 11 miles in length, its name comes from the Mohawk word meaning “crossing”.  It is also the smallest of the “major” lakes but its size does not diminish the fun that can be had, in, on and around the lake itself. The lake is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts whether your poison be fishing, skiing, swimming or boating. The popularity of the lake has been pulling in visitors from near and far for almost 200 years now.

Skaneateles is 15 miles long is one of the eastern most lakes. The village of Skaneateles is stylish and chic and hence attracts famous stars and former presidents to its shores. The purity of the lakes water is so good that neighbouring towns use it as a source of unfiltered drinking water. The lake is actually spreads across three different counties, Onandaga, Cayuga and Cortland. Even though the village population is less than 3,000 this doesn’t stop the village offering the best hotels, year round activities and excellent eateries.

Canandaigua is only 1 mile longer than Skaneateles but its watershed is over double its smaller brother’s span. It is has many holiday homes and the town itself is home to the beautiful Sonnenberg Gardens. The surrounding area is largely untouched and thus it makes the perfect get-away-from-it-all destination. Naples is based at the southern end of the lake and is consider to be the very heart of the Finger Lakes wine industry; it is also home to the Naples Grape Festival which is held on the last weekend in September.

Keuka, the backward Y, is 20 miles in total. It is well known for this biking and hiking trails and other such recreational activities, it is also home to a number of wineries. The views of the vineyards that surround the lake region make it one of the pretties of all the lakes to visit. It has a vast array of restaurants along the lake front and due to the relatively shallow waters (183 feet) it’s excellent for swimming in all summer long.

Seneca is the second longest lake at 35 miles, and the deepest at 618 feet, and it boosts the largest collection of wineries in the Finger Lakes region. It is also home to the Watkins Glen International Race Track which is located along its southern side while the city of Geneva is on its northern side. It is also one of the most popular destinations within the region due to its central position and many other attractions that can be found nearby.

And lastly there is Cayuga who measures in at 38 miles in length, and is Seneca’s largest neighbouring lake.  Ithaca is at the lakes base and is home to the regions only university, Cornell and of course Ithaca College. Like Seneca is has many wineries and the area around Ithaca is well known for its waterfalls and gorges. The lake also has one of only two islands within the Finger Lakes, the other is Squaw Island in Canandaigua Lake, Frontenac Island and is visible from the shoreline. Fossil can easily be found along the shoreline and road side, especially over on Frontenac Island.

Although the lakes may have been formed at the same time it does not mean that they are by any means anything alike. As you can now see each and every lake has its own unique personality and offers its own rich array of pursuits and pleasures.

Filed Under: Lakes and Mountains Tagged With: , ,

How were the Finger Lakes Created

January 22, 2011 By admin

In short the lakes were created near the end of the last ‘Ice Age’ by glaciers that travelled south from Canada. The glaciers would have been massive and may have measured up to two miles in thickness. Before the lakes were form there were a series of rivers that would have been located in central New York State, this was back around two million years ago. The first of the glaciers would have most likely come from the Hudson Bay direction and travelled along these rivers going against the flow of the rivers water.

As the glaciers travelled southwards along these rivers they dug deep trenches into the river beds.  The action of the glaciers travelling south, then receding and advancing again is what dug these huge trenches and is the reason the lakes exist today. The geology of the Finger Lakes and the gravel deposits found within the hills nearby are evidence that this theory of how the Finger Lakes were created is correct. These hills, known as ‘Moraines’ are in effect the opposite of the lakes, instead of being gouged into the Earth they stand proud above it. The geology of these hills contain a sediment called ‘Drumlin’ which is a mixture of rock and glacier tilt.  The word drumlin comes from the Gaelic word droimnin which means little ridge. Drumlins are found in locations with other glacier formations such as the Finger Lakes.  Therefore the Finger Lakes own geology proves their origin.

As the ice began to retreat at the end of the last Ice Age these massive trenches filled up with water and so the Finger Lakes were born. There are a total of 11 lakes with varying size and depth. The smallest is Canadice and is a mere 3 miles in length and 91 feet deep, whereas the longest is Cayuga and measures a staggering 38 miles in length and a total of 435 feet deep but it is beaten in total area by Seneca. This lake has a total length of 35 miles but a depth of 618 feet; both Seneca and Cayuga have their bottoms well below sea level.

However this is not the only story of how the Finger Lakes were created, the Native American’s have their own version. They believed that the lakes were created when their Great Spirit reached down and touched the land, leaving behind its finger prints in the earth. Therefore to them the land had become scared and they defended it valiantly against the European settlers for almost two centrelines.

Although the latter appears the less likely, when you consider that the Native Americans lived in peace and harmony with the land it is easy to see how they could come to this conclusion. The land and all that the earth creates may have been seen or regarded as the Great Spirit.  So the advancement and retreat of the ice, which created the lakes, was in its own way a sign from the Great Sprint, but rather than being an otherworldly entity it was the Earth itself.

Filed Under: Lakes and Mountains Tagged With: , ,

The Finger Lakes Wines and Vineyards

January 18, 2011 By admin

The majority of vineyards are located around Seneca Lake, however some of the more famous wineries can be found by Cayuga and Keuka Lakes. The region is known by many as ‘Wine Country’ due to the vast number of vineyards and wineries but finding the best among the bunch is by no means an easy task. Each in its own right is excellent and produces some fantastic tasting wines, although as already mentioned there are a few that stand out from the crowd.

The types of wine made in the region varies from dry and sweet Riesling to full bodied Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, so you are guaranteed to find a winery that has something suitable for your palette. Most of the wineries offer a chance to sample their wines for free and there are even wine trail events around Seneca, Cayuga and Keuka lakes. In addition to this the Finger Lakes Wine Festival is held in mid-July and offers visitors a chance to sample wines from over 80 wineries.

Wineries around Seneca Lake

High on the ‘Most Respected’ list is Atwater Estate Vineyards which is located on the south-east side of Seneca Lake. They have built up a valuable reputation for year on year producing some of the most fabulous wines in the entire region.

Wagner Vineyards is one of the oldest in the Finger Lake region and has been producing award-winning wines for over 30 years. It is located on the eastern side of Seneca Lake and has become one of the region’s most popular wine tasting destinations.

Bloomer Creek Vineyard is well known for its very specific vinifera wines and is also home to an unique collection of Alsatian-styled wines. The vineyard is located along the eastern side of Seneca lake approximately 1 ½ miles south of Hector.

Wineries around Caygua Lake

Sheldrake Point is another of the wineries that hits the ‘Most Respected’ list. Their batch of late harvest Riesling in 2008 has earned them two awards at the 2010 Canberra International Riesling Challenge which is held in Canberra Australia, they were awarded ‘Best Sweet Riesling in the World’ and’ Best American Riesling’. The winery is located on the western side of the Lake.

Lucus Vineyards is Cayuga Lakes oldest vineyards and has been producing quality grapes since 1975 and wine since 1980; it is also the proud home of an award-winning champagne.  They are also part of the Cayuga Wine Trail, along with other wineries around the lake. The vineyard is located on the western side of the lake about half way up.

Long Point Winery is a special find as they offer a range of Zinfindel, Sangiovese, and Sauvignion Blanc all of which are far less common to this region than most wines. Their red Zinfandel, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Dry Riesling have won them numerous awards and they pride themselves not only on their selection of dry red and white wines but they are sure that they can offer something for all tastes.

Wineries around Keuka Lake

Dr. Konstantin Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars definitely hits high on the ‘Most Respected’ list as they are New York’s most awarded winery. In 2010 alone the winery was awarded no less than 52 gold medals for its outstanding wines. They are located on the western side of the lake and they are also on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail.

McGregor Vineyard Winery is Keuka Lakes oldest and has been producing wine for over 30 years. Some of the award winning wines includes the Black Russian Red which is a unique blend of Saperavi & Sereksiya Charni, Pinot Noir and Gewurztraminer. The family built and owned winery has followed European approach to winemaking from its very inception and opened its doors to the public back in 1980. The winery is located on the eastern side of Keuka Lake and a must see on the wine trail.

Keuka Spring Vineyard has been honoured by such awards as the ‘Governor’s Cup’ for most outstanding wine and has even made it to the finals of Winery of the Year. It has been in operation for almost 20 years now and has built a well-earned reputation for producing premium wines. They are located on the eastern side of the lake towards the top of the branched out Y and are also part of the Keuka Lake Wine Trail.

The Finger Lakes has such an abundance of wineries and vineyards that picking the best of the bunch is not an easy task, but those mentioned above do, and have done so for many a year, managed to stand out from the crowd.

Filed Under: Lakes and Mountains Tagged With: , , ,

Cheap Hotels in the Finger Lakes

January 14, 2011 By admin

With its outstanding natural beauty, wineries and numerous other attractions the Finger Lakes is a popular tourist destination. If however you are on a tight budget finding a suitable hotel can be rather time consuming and frustrating. Depending on your requirements and whether you want to stay in a bed and breakfast or a hotel may have an impact on where you can visit within your budget, but with some clever web surfing you should be able to locate a hotel within your desired area.

Some of the cheapest hotels in the area include the Super 8 chain of motels; these all offer a decent level of basic amenities and have a reasonable price tag unlike the higher end hotels that can be found in this region. The average nightly rate is around $100 (this includes taxes) for a stay in Ithaca which gives you great access to many attractions and a short drive away from Cayuga Lake. The Super 8 chain has 12 motels within the Finger Lakes region and prices range from $48.95 per night in Horseheads to $99 per night in Geneva (excluding taxes).

Another alternative is to opt of a bed and breakfast, again these do not have the luxuries of a hotel but do offer budget accommodation, and since the area is pack with so many things to do you are unlikely to want to spend time in your room, so why spend more than you need to on a place to rest your head at the end of a day? There are numerous Guest Inns and B&B’s dotted all over the Finger Lake region and prices vary dramatically, some are cheap while others rival the price of some of the local hotels.

If a budget hotel is what you are looking for then Best Western can give you a helping hand, they have a good range of hotels within the region and prices can start as low as $62.99 per night excluding taxes, which for a hotel is a very reasonable rate indeed. Most of their hotels have the basics such as complimentary breakfast, high speed internet and a pool. Some even have the added bonus of a gym and hot tub and in most cases pets are welcome in the pet friendly rooms. To get the best room price it is advisable to avoid the larger cities and towns.

The Ramada chain of hotels also has its fair share hotels within the region and again prices $69.99 per night excluding taxes. Like the Best Western hotels the Ramada chain offers all the basics with a few extras in some locations.

Another alternative is the Days Inn chain, they also have a number of hotels within the Finger Lakes and their prices start from as little as $55 per night excluding taxes. These have a range of basic amenities and in most cases pets are also welcome here.

You could also give the Knight Inn a try as they have a splash of hotels within the region too. With all this in mind the search for a cheap hotel within the Finger Lakes should be as easy as checking your email.

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