New York City may get most of the attention (and tourism dollars) in The Empire State but a venture out of The Big Apple will reward visitors with gorgeous views, countless outdoor activities, and lifelong memories. A great way to explore New York State’s vast Upstate region is by driving one of its scenic byways. While some of these roads cover hundreds of miles, others allow for shorter, more relaxed trips. One such route in the latter category is Seneca Lake Scenic Byway, a beautiful 19-mile roadway in between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes that features numerous wineries, waterfalls, and hiking opportunities.
If you choose to drive Seneca Lake Scenic Byway from north to south, you'll start in the small town of Lodi.
We recommend stopping at the newly-opened Johnny's Kitchen before you start your journey. This little eatery - open for lunch, brunch, and dinner - offers a variety of American dishes such as patty melts, shrimp and grits, and pork loin.
Route 414, the road you’ll be traveling on while diving down the byway, offers a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the state’s urban areas.
Roughly 16,250 acres in area, with more than 30 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails, Finger Lakes National Forest includes a wealth of opportunities to see New York State’s flora and fauna up close. If you’re feeling up to the task, we recommend taking the 11-mile round-trip Backbone Trail, which offers hikers stunning views of the area’s pastures and forested areas.
The most accessible of these falls is Hector Falls, which is roughly six miles south of the eponymous town. To view these falls, park on Route 414’s shoulder and walk the short distance to the landmark. These falls are 250 feet tall, and although you can only see 50 feet of them from the road, to witness the water cascading down the shale and limestone is still a sight to behold.
Along with its numerous parks and waterfalls, Seneca Lake Scenic Byway also boasts 27 wineries.
While any of these locations would be a great place to stop for a glass of wine, we’d like to highlight one in particular - Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars, located three miles south of Lodi. For $10 you can taste five of this establishment’s wines, which include wines made from Riesling, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Franc grapes. The wine itself is great, but what is even more spectacular are the views of Lake Seneca that visitors to Lamoreaux Landing can take in while enjoying a glass of Chardonnay.
At the end of your journey you’ll arrive at the lakeside town of Watkins Glen, population 1,838.
Watkins Glen, located on the southern shore of Lake Seneca, has several restaurants, as well as water-based activities such as kayaking, sightseeing tours, and dinner cruises to visitors. You can even just take in the views of the lake at the town’s pier. All in all, Watkins Glen is the perfect place to end your scenic byway drive.
Seneca Lake Scenic Byway – with its beautiful scenery and numerous highly-rated wineries – is a superb choice for those who wish to see more of New York State than the five boroughs. Because the Upstate region is less popular than the tourism powerhouse that is New York City, visitors to the area will be able to take in all the byway has to offer without the traffic and high prices. Have you traveled on Seneca Lake Scenic Byway or any of New York’s other byways? Let us know about your experiences on these routes in the comments.
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