Fly & Drive: Exploring the Finger Lakes

Covering 9,000 square miles, New York’s Finger Lakes region is well-known as nature’s playground thanks to its 11 glacial lakes. Beyond its scenic beauty, the area attracts visitors with a wealth of history, an abundance of tasty cuisine and a variety of accommodations for every style and budget.

While the Finger Lakes are a classic road trip destination for Northeasterners, flying is also an option with direct flights from many of the area’s major airports. A nonstop flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Syracuse takes around 90 minutes. If you’re planning to rent a car and explore the area, flying can give the driver a break before and after the adventure.

Start Your Journey in Syracuse

After flying into Syracuse Hancock International Airport, grab your rental car and make your way downtown. Housed in the 1850 Syracuse Weighlock Building, the Erie Canal Museum documents how the canal impacted commercial and passenger transportation throughout the region. Exhibits include a look at how the canal locks work, a full-size replica of a line boat used to transport cargo and passengers along the canal and a glimpse of life in a canal town.

Although the canal has been rerouted and no longer runs through downtown Syracuse, you can still stand in the original canal path in Clinton Square. On the west side of the square along Clinton Street, a historic marker from the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor features a photograph of the city and canal during its operation. Some of those same buildings still stand today, providing examples of gorgeous 1800s architecture.

For lunch or dinner, stop into Salt City Market, a food hall filled with cuisine from around the globe. Think Jamaican, Indian, Vietnamese, Southern barbecue and more. A must-try is SINBUN, which serves savory and sweet cinnamon buns ranging from a classic cinnamon bun to a pizza bun topped with pizza sauce and melted mozzarella.

A short 30-minute drive away, Skaneateles Fields Resort & Spa invites you to kick back and relax for a while. In addition to comfortable guest rooms, the property also features a full-service restaurant, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, pickleball courts, a nine-hole executive putting green and a full-service spa.

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Go Back in Time in Auburn

Just 12 minutes from Skaneateles, Auburn is home to some notable historic sites that are musts for any itinerary. For instance, at the Equal Rights Heritage Center you can see how New York State fought for equality through interactive displays touching on human rights, women’s rights and the abolition of slavery.

Right next door, the Seward House Museum shares the stories of Secretary of State William H. Seward, known as President Abraham Lincoln’s closest confidant. As you walk through the home, you’ll see photographs, paintings, sculptures and other artwork original to the home, giving credence to the home’s reputation as “the most complete historic home” in the country. Plus, in the basement, there’s a preserved Underground Railroad stop that sheds light on the area’s history in the fight against slavery.

Just minutes away, the Harriet Tubman National Historic Park showcases three buildings that were the centerpiece of Tubman’s life once she settled in Auburn. These include Tubman’s brick home, the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged and Indigent Negroes (where Tubman also was a patient before her death) and Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, where Tubman worshipped. Typical operating hours are Friday and Saturday, so plan accordingly to see the visitors center and take a ranger-guided tour.

A great spot to overnight is the AAA Four Diamond designated Inns of Aurora, a collection of historic homes in a small village overlooking Cayuga Lake. These luxury accommodations truly feel like your own piece of home away from home. For example, at Rowland House, you can take in the sunset from the back porch, then relax with a glass of wine in the living room or share quiet conversation in the dining room. Book now.

Chase Waterfalls in Ithaca

Approximately 40 minutes south of Aurora, Ithaca overflows with more than 150 waterfalls within 10 miles. Park across the street from Ithaca Falls on Lake Street and take the trail to the base of the falls. At Taughannock Falls State Park, you can view of the cascading falls as they drop 215 feet from either the scenic overlook or at the base along the gorge trail.

Ithaca also is home to a thriving culinary scene that includes Mia, which specializes in Pan-Asian dishes such as beef mandu, Thai sun-dried beef with sticky rice and chicken satay with peanut sauce. Bagel lovers can choose from classic bagels, pizza bagels, specialty sandwiches and more at Collegetown Bagels, an Ithaca mainstay since 1976. 

If staying overnight in Ithaca, consider AAA Three Diamond La Tourelle Inn & Spa, where you can book a cozy room, a spacious suite or even a glamping tent on the grounds. Enjoy some me time at August Moon Spa, where you can get a hot stone massage, an exfoliating body scrub, a facial or a mix of all the above. Book now.

There is much more to see, do and experience in the Finger Lakes, but this certainly will provide a great introduction to the area.

Plan your trip with a AAA travel advisor and rent your car with Hertz. AAA members can save up to 20% on Hertz rentals.

Karon Warren

Based in the North Georgia Mountains, Karon has been writing for AAA Northeast since 2024. She loves traveling the globe, searching for adventure, unique personalities and a new perspective on the world around us. A member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, she also is the author of “100 Things to Do in the North Georgia Mountains Before You Die.”