Saturday, September 20, 2014

Visiting New York's Finger Lakes Region

By Elba Fenwick


There's definitely more to New York than a visit to Manhattan. In fact, drive to the west central portion of the state and you will find a popular tourist destination - The Finger Lakes Region. Blessed with much natural beauty, this popular area also offers plenty of interesting shops, restaurants, museums and much more.

In general, there about eleven narrow, thin lakes which make up the Finger Lakes. Two of the largest include Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake, but the others also definitely can be worth a visit. Boating, kayaking and canoeing are available at most of the lakes and most also have swimming beaches, where you can enjoy a day of picnicking and soaking up the rays of the summer sun. Some lakes don't have swimming areas or lifeguards, so it is wise to go online and do some research about each lake.

In addition to all the water-related fun, this region is well known for its fine wines. There are about 100 vineyards in the Finger Lakes Region, and many wineries are open for public tours and tastings. Tour companies can take you to several wineries or you can tour on your own along the Keuka Lake Wine Trail, the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail or perhaps the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Fine craft beers also are produced at about one dozen different breweries in the area, and there are even distilleries producing everything from brandy to vodka to gin.

This region is full of lovely small towns to visit and enjoy. Located just a few miles west of Syracuse, the Town of Marcellus is one of New York's most picturesque communities. One not-to-be-missed shop in Marcellus is Chocolate Pizza Company, which is located right on Main Street. This confectionary offers a wide variety of gourmet chocolate gifts and treats. The shop's signature treat is, of course, chocolate pizza, which is handmade using the finest of ingredients and packaged in a genuine pizza box.

It all begins with melted dark or milk chocolate which is then blended with handmade toffee to form a crust. The candy makers then top the pizzas with everything from M&Ms to marshmallows and chunks or graham crackers or perhaps just a swirl of white chocolate. You also can buy Peanut Butter Wings, which are another unique invention created at this well-known shop, as well as truffles, chocolate dipped potato chips, almond clusters and much, much more. If you can't make it to Marcellus, there is another Chocolate Pizza Company store near Syracuse in the city of Manlius.

After you have enjoyed the fresh lake waters, sipped a glass of fine wine and sampled some chocolate pizza, you will be happy to know that there is still much more to see and do. For instance, thrill rides abound at the Seabreeze Amusement Park and on a hot day, you can cool off at Roseland Waterpark. If you love history, check out the Corning Museum of Glass or study up on the Underground Railroad at the Harriet Tubman House. You could easily spend two weeks exploring this region and not see everything it has to offer, so a return trip definitely should be planned.




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