Why you should see the Finger Lakes in fall

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Disclosure: I visited several of these Finger Lakes locations with assistance from local tourism bureaus, none of which reviewed or approved this post.

Late autumn is that odd road-tripping season. The fall colours are largely gone, but ski season hasn’t started. Skies can be grey and winds chilly, and many attractions are closed until spring. For all of those reasons, my ideal late-fall road trip destination is one with lots of indoor amusements. And on that score, the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York is a winner. (Of course, it’s gorgeous outdoors in milder weather, too.)

What—and where—are the Finger Lakes?

The Finger Lakes are 11 long, pretty lakes stretching north to south—yes, like fingers—in an area of rolling hills roughly between Rochester and Syracuse. They were carved out by glaciers over the last two million years. As well as being scenic, they’ve also created an excellent climate for winemaking. Today, Finger Lakes wineries and breweries are popular visitor destinations, but you’ll need to be selective—there are more than 100 wineries alone in the region.

Explore the history of glass

On my most recent trip, I visited the Corning Museum of Glass for the first time in over three decades. It was intriguing in the 1980s, but the expanded facility is fascinating now. The galleries detailing the history of glass manufacturing showcased everything from 2,700-year-old Egyptian amulets to an 18^th-century portable shrine from France and a 19^th-century glass chair made for an Indian maharajah.

The museum also offers 20- to 40-minute glass-making experiences, where you can try your hand at glassblowing, sandblasting, fusing and other skills, and bring home the results. These are very popular, so book a spot online in advance.

You might also want to leave room in your car for an item or two from the museum’s massive gift shop, which sells jewellery, dishes, wine glasses and more.

The surrounding town of Corning, a little over five hours from Ottawa, is a pleasant place to spend the weekend. Downtown Market Street is lined with restored heritage buildings, now home to gift shops and restaurants.

Try Nine Elephants, with its eclectic menu of Cajun seafood and Thai dishes, for a spicy, affordable dinner. We each chose a different dish to share, and I had to be careful not to be too greedy with this really tasty Cajun shrimp.

Take a cooking class

If you’d like to polish your own cooking skills, sign up for a class at New York Kitchen—formerly the New York State Wine and Culinary Center—in Canandaigua. I took a hands-on brunch class there a few years ago and enjoyed it thoroughly.

In any given month, there are usually dozens of classes and workshops; in November 2018, for instance, there are classes on how to make pizza or won tons, create a memorable cheese board, or even pair sparkling wines with junk food. Canandaigua is about 4.5 hours from Ottawa.

Learn about women’s history and a Christmas classic

One of my favourite towns in the region is Seneca Falls, just west of Cayuga Lake and about four hours from Ottawa. Why, you ask?

First, it’s where Elizabeth Cady Stanton helped organize America’s first Women’s Rights Convention, in 1848. Today, it’s home to Women’s Rights National Historical Park, where history geeks like me can happily spend hours learning from the exhibits in the visitors’ centre and nearby historic buildings.

Second, some people believe the town was the inspiration for Bedford Falls in that classic Christmas movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. Drop into the Seneca Falls It’s a Wonderful Life Museum to hear the whole story. (The museum’s annual festival, featuring some of the movie’s surviving cast members, takes place from December 7 to 9 this year.) You can read more about this Hollywood connection in a story I wrote a few years ago for The Globe and Mail.

Speaking of Christmas: If you like your Yuletide with all the Victorian trimmings, drive 35 minutes east to the super-cute village of Skaneateles, which celebrates the holidays with Dickens-themed events every weekend between U.S. Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.

Disclosure: I visited several of these Finger Lakes locations with assistance from local tourism bureaus, none of which reviewed or approved this post.

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