The Finger Lakes, a well-kept secret in the
Northeast. Having lived in New York for over 20 years, I’m a little
embarrassed to say I’ve never heard of the “Finger Lakes” until recently. It
was only through word of mouth that I was introduced to this “undiscovered
territory”. With only one visit to the Finger Lakes region, I’m
pleased to give it my seal of the “3Rs” – Refreshing, Relaxing, and Renewing.
The change of scenery from the hectic city life to the miles and miles of
farmland, endless acres of vineyards, beautiful gorges, and spectacular waterfalls
was breathtaking and refreshing. Being so close to nature not only
relaxed my mind and body, it renewed my soul as well. The life style in this
region made me reminisce about the simple life growing up on a farm in
Southern China and realize it is the simple things in life that truly make us
happy.
Take a hike and enjoy a close-up view of these spectacular waterfalls.
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Watkins Glen State Park |
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Taughannock Falls, Trumansburg NY |
Go for a swim at the bottom of the waterfall or
skip stones on the clear lake.
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Buttermilk Falls, Ithaca NY |
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Lodi Point State Park, Romulus NY |
Be pampered and enjoy a "home-made" gourmet breakfast at one of the local bed and breakfast.
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Belgium Waffle with farm-fresh fruits from A Stone's Throw B&B |
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Goat Cheese Chard Frittata with Roasted Potatoes from A Stone's Throw B&B |
Explore and savor the world-class wines along the Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake wine trails and become a wine connoisseur.
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Wagner Vineyards, Seneca Wine Trail |
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Wagner Vineyards, Seneca Wine Trail |
Check out the new breed of "pets" at a nearby farm.
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Lively Run Goat Dairy Farm, Interlaken NY |
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Owl Ridge Alpaca Farm, Interlaken NY |
Watch the bees work their magic.
These are the "simple things" that make us (me at least) happy!