Staying at a destination for longer periods of time—from a few days to a week or more—helps cut back on your travel emissions and overall carbon footprint. This “slow” approach to travel also allows you to get fully immersed in local experiences, cultures, and much more.

Explore eco-friendly lodging options, from simple eco-camping to locally-owned inns to sustainable luxury hotels. Remember that you can also find and prioritize dozens of eco-conscious attractions throughout the Finger Lakes region.

Purchase handmade gifts and souvenirs from local vendors and artists. Eat at local restaurants that source their ingredients from the region’s many farms and growers. Visit businesses and attend events that openly value local habitats, communities, and the health of our planet.

The Finger Lakes region is full of outdoor adventures and spectacular views. Whether you’re looking to hike a trail or make a splash in the region’s wide variety of watersports, make sure to leave all your destinations as or better than you found them.

Doing your own research and planning will help you design a Finger Lakes getaway that is equal parts sustainable and spectacular.

Looking to satisfy your inner explorer?

• Paddle, cycle, and hike your way around the Finger Lake’s most undeveloped and unspoiled attraction—Hemlock-Canadice State Forest.
• Enjoy the water with standup paddleboarding at Stewart Park, Myers Park, and Taughannock Falls State Park, or sail the waters of the Finger Lakes by way of charters, lessons, or dining- and libation-friendly tours.
• Camp, picnic, fish, swim, and much, much more at the many parks and trails in the area.
• View wildlife at the region’s several preserves, nature centers, and places abound with biodiversity.
• Enjoy local farm experiences or immerse yourself in permaculture education.
• Don’t miss out on outdoor experiences that are accessible for explorers of all abilities:
  • Accessible waterfall viewing: Carpenter Falls Unique Area
  • A trail for all: Lime Hollow Nature Center
  • Accessible fishing: Labrador Hollow Unique Area
  • Autism nature trail: Letchworth State Park

Need fun experiences for all ages?

• Ensure fun for all ages at local parks with a range of kid-friendly amenities:
  • Playgrounds and beach swimming: Taughannock Falls State Park
  • Splash pads and play fields: Seneca Lake State Park
  • Life-guarded swimming near waterfalls and playgrounds: Buttermilk Falls State Park and Robert H. Treman State Park
• Stick to the flatter trails and gardens for family biking, hiking, and hands-on play:
  • Biking: Catherine Valley Trail
  • Hiking: Cumming Nature Center
  • Hands-on play: Ithaca Children’s Garden
• Cool off in shallow pools at Grimes Glen Park in Naples, New York.
• Learn at museums and edutainment experiences across the region:
  • Cayuga Nature Center
  • The Strong National Museum of Play
  • Sciencenter

• Get a taste of local by touring farmers markets in and near the Finger Lakes:
  • Ithaca’s Farmers Market
  • Canandaigua Farmers Market
  • The Windmill Farm and Craft Market
  • City of Rochester Public Market
• Imbibe in beverages crafted in the Finger Lakes region:
  • Plan a tour of one of the area’s many wine trails
  • Get a taste of beer, cider, mead, and spirits grown and crafted in the region
  • Experience more than a sip of artisanal offerings on these non-alcoholic beverage trails
• See and taste where local products are raised with these agrotourism opportunities:
  • Satisfy your sweet tooth at local maple syrup farms and apiaries
  • Choose local by enjoying a variety of farm-to-table eateries, markets, and more
  • Dazzle your taste buds with artisanal cheeses and ice cream at local dairies and creameries
  • Take a part of the Finger Lakes region home with you by picking your own produce

• Immerse yourself in budget-friendly outdoor activities from hiking to camping to wildlife viewing:
  • Iconic: Watkins Glen State Park
  • Off the beaten path: Rob's Trail Preserve
  • Waterfalls: Buttermilk Falls State Park
• Take a break indoors with these low-cost experiences:
  • Art, history, and performances:
    • Cayuga Museum of History and Art
    • Yates County History Center
    • The Smith Center for the Arts
  • All things science:
    • Rochester Museum & Science Center
    • National Soaring Museum
    • Museum of the Earth