The Charm of Canandaigua, New York

I’m fortunate to have traveled nearly the entire world, from up north in Rovaniemi, Finland to all the way south beneath the Antarctic Circle. But even with all of the global experiences under my belt, home is where the heart is. As a gal from New York, I’m a sucker for an Upstate New York getaway, especially one in the Finger Lakes.

When my sister and I were both under immeasurable amounts of stress (me from having just lost my beloved dog to congestive heart failure, her from having three young ones under the age of five), we decided to book a much-needed getaway. It didn’t take long for us to remember how spoiled we are to live so close to the Finger Lakes. And while shimmery Skaneateles was tempting and Seneca Lake’s Geneva was always a solid choice for us in the past, we decided to go for the underdog, Canandaigua.

Our short but sweet time in Canandaigua reset our souls. We left rejuvenated, full of wine and good food, already pining for our return to chase that relaxed and revived feeling.

So, let me take you with me, right through my New York backyard, as I relive my experience from one of the most tranquil getaways I’ve had in a fairly adventurous year.

If you’re a lover of wine, water, and the great outdoors, The Finger Lakes should already be on your radar. Most visitors tend to be drawn to lakes with a higher concentration of wineries, specifically Seneca Lake and Keuka Lake. And while each of the 11 Finger Lakes are worthy of their own visit, if you’re looking to truly get away from it all in a serene, tranquil setting, Canandaigua is calling.

With a population of fewer than 15,000 people, this small lakeside town is walkable, pristinely clean, and full of under-the-radar wine and food. Overlooking Canandaigua Lake, the fourth largest Finger Lake and the largest in Ontario County, Canandaigua is an ideal choice year-round, but especially favorable in the summer and early fall. Plus, as someone who has frequented the Finger Lakes throughout her entire life, and therefore, has stayed in plenty of hotels in the region, The Lake House on Canandaigua is arguably my favorite one.

The top sight in town is Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park, a 50-acre state park with its own immaculate botanical garden. But beyond rows of flora and fauna, Canandaigua is an ideal destination for avid hikers. Ontario Pathways, a 23-mile recreational trail, provides plenty of scenery, especially during fall foliage season. A 20 or so minute drive downtown will lead you to Ontario County Park at Gannett Hill, offering one of the highest points in the county with breathtaking panoramic views.

Canandaigua Boatworks is a boat rental company, especially ideal for those visiting in the warmer months who want to get out on the water of Canandaigua Lake. Cruise through the Finger Lakes in one of their pontoons, all of which can hold up to 10 passengers. The Lake House on Canandaigua has a partnership with Canandaigua Boatworks, offering rentals right on site, along with paddleboard, kayak, and water bike rentals.

Where Canandaigua Lake falls short, in comparison to other lakes in the area, is that it’s home to fewer than ten wineries, whereas nearby Seneca Lake is home to more than 40. But what Canandaigua Lake lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality.

My favorite winery in the actual town of Canandaigua is Acquilano Wine Cellars. Opened in 2022 as one of the smallest wineries in the Finger Lakes, they specialize in dry wines, something the region is generally not known for. Many visitors to the area falsely believe you can only get “sweet” wines in the Finger Lakes, but Acquilano is proving otherwise. However, if you fancy something sweet, they do offer a dessert wine. After trying a flight of vino, I fell in love with their 2024 Riesling, thanks to its strong tropical notes. The charcuterie plate certainly didn’t hurt the cause.

As far as food, note that many restaurants are closed at least one day a week, often Mondays, so you’ll want to check hours ahead of your visit to plan accordingly. One of my favorites is Il Posto Bistro, an Italian restaurant and wine bar, offering true Italian dishes, as opposed to American-Italian, like Zuppe de Pesce, Chicken Milanese, Bolognese, and Carbonara.

While I didn’t have the chance to try too many restaurants in Canandaigua due to being there on a Monday when most were closed, I reached out to Nicole Muscari, Wine Consultant and owner of Grape Chic, who grew up in the area.

“New York Kitchen is one of my favorites because it combines local agriculture and beautiful views of Canandaigua Lake with an educational element that includes classes around wine, food, and craft beverages,” said Muscari. 

If you feel like being transported out of New York State, the way I did during my visit, Muscari has another suggestion.

“Pinxto Wine Bar is another must-visit. Walking in feels like stepping right into Spain.”

My draw for visiting Canandaigua was fueled out of my desire to visit The Lake House on Canandaigua, one of my bucket-list hotels that proved to be worthy. With plenty of friends and family planted throughout New York State, the 2020-opened property is consistently praised amongst my peers, with their jaws dropped that I, a travel writer, had yet to visit. Twist my arm.

I spent just one night at the Lake House on Canandaigua, a 124-room property, but I felt lightyears away from home. My trip became somewhat of an accidental digital detox. My sister and I spent hours sipping rosé in the pool, enjoying live music at Sand Bar (while eating fried calamari and a giant pretzel, nonetheless), and enjoyed crispy chicken schnitzel over long conversations, a subtle nod to the large German population in nearby Erie and Monroe Counties, at Rose Tavern.

The food, wine, and lakefront views right from my room were certainly highlights, but where The Lake House really shines is giving guests the gift of not having to lift a finger. The property offers wine tour shuttles for $100 per hour (a minimum of four hours is required), where you’ll be whisked around to some of the best wineries the region has to offer. Right on property premises, you can rent boating gear, fishing gear, play complimentary lawn games like bocce ball and croquet, take guided coffee or sunset cruises, partake in morning yoga, enjoy a morning stretch, and even attend a “whisky and wood burning class,” where you’ll imbibe in a flight of whisky while creating wood burning art. Safe to say, you hardly have to leave the property, with a plethora of activities and thoughtful cuisine right at your fingertips.

If you really want to practice the art of doing nothing, make an appointment at Willowbrook Spa. Offerings like Deep Sleep and Swedish massages will leave you feeling rejuvenated, but for a true Finger Lakes experience, revive yourself with a Sauna Barrel Ritual set in one of the hotel’s outdoor wooden sauna barrels. 

The obvious time of year to visit the Finger Lakes, Canandaigua included, is summer. Summertime in Upstate New York offers the best weather, seldom getting too toasty, and is ideal for long days out in the sun. However, in my experience, there’s really no bad time to visit Upstate New York. Yes, lake effect wind chill-winters included.

Fall is arguably more ideal than summer. Canandaigua has some of the most pristine fall foliage, not only in New York state, but in the entire country. As someone who grew up frequenting the area, I can say with my whole chest that it really doesn’t get better than fall in Upstate New York. You can track when the best time to go is with the I Love NY Fall Foliage Report.

In winter, nearby Bristol Mountain Ski Resort is a prime choice for those who want to get their adrenaline pumping. 

The Finger Lakes are a dreamy destination to go off-grid and connect with people you love. If you’re looking for a quick getaway with your partner, to reunite with some friends, or even to plan a small group trip with close people in your life, there are fewer better ways to do so than by sipping wine overlooking a massive, sparkling blue body of water.

For me, my time in Canandaigua wouldn’t have been anywhere near as joyous had I not brought my sister. We used to frequently travel together, but then our lives drastically changed. I became somewhat of a vagabond, fleeing from one continent to the next on any given Monday, and she settled down in nearby Rochester with three kids, a big house, a stable job, and a husband. Prior to our current lifestyles, we had many weekend trips to places like Manchester, the Bahamas, Paris, and Barcelona. We wanted to find a way that worked for both of us, and with us both having summer birthdays, we decided to skip the gifts this year, and spend a night in Canandaigua instead.

If your experience is anything like ours, Canandaigua will provide a relaxing pace and digital detox. The destination is the epitome of the great outdoors, with water, hiking trails, seasonal scenery, and, of course, my favorite part of the great outdoors, vineyards. And while the wine can constantly stay flowing, Canandaigua is still sleepy, being far from a party town, where most businesses are closed at a decent hour. This makes it a great destination for a group of friends in their 30s, 40s, so on, who appreciate a good time just as much as they appreciate a good night of sleep.

Canandaigua isn’t necessarily located “in the middle of nowhere,” but you’ll want to plan strategically. The nearest major airport is Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport (ROC), located roughly 40 minutes away by car. A little over an hour away is Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR). Most major domestic airlines fly to both of these destinations, including Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, United Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. If you don’t plan to fly, alternatively, you can take the Amtrak to Louise M. Slaughter Station in Rochester (ROC). Regardless of how you get into the general area, you will need to rent a car to get to Canandaigua. Having a car will come in handy for the duration of your trip, as the Finger Lakes are nearly impossible to navigate without one.