For two years straight, the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York has won best wine region in the United States according to a poll by USA Today and its travel site, 10best.com. Once you visit the area for yourself, it's easy to understand why. Not only are world-class wines being produced here, but the landscape, the food, and the local people are a breath of fresh air. Deciding where to stay during your visit can be daunting considering the region's size and the many lakes situated here, but today I'm sharing a magical place that invites the ultimate relaxation and encourages wellness and reflection.
Glen Hollow is an English-style cottage nestled between the towns of Canandaigua and Naples in the western part of the Finger Lakes wine region. When you pull up to the historic home (listed on the National Register of Historic Places), you feel like you're taking a step back into time, but with modern luxuries, as an award-winning design firm, Cultrara Associates spent over two years resorting the fairytale-like property. Glen Hollow consists of the Main House, which boasts two bedroom suites and two and a half baths, and the Guest House, which offers a downstairs bedroom, loft bedroom, and full bath.
Beyond a vacation rental, Glen Hollow invites you to reconnect with your community, a loved one, or yourself in the name of relaxation, reflection, and wellness. In fact, Glen Hollow is an official partner of the Academy of American Poets, where award winning poets come to stay. Behind the Guest House is a hot tub, sauna, and tranquility room meant for meditation, yoga, and even massage therapy. Glen Hollow offers access to several unique experiences through their special partnerships truly providing something for everyone.
Enjoy your morning coffee or glass of wine listening to the sounds of nature, and then hike the gully back to the waterfall of Seneca Point Glen, a favorite spot of Humphrey Bogart when he was growing up spending his summers on Seneca Point.
Easy access to Glen Hollow makes it considerably appealing. For those that need to fly to the region, Glen Hollow is only a 50-minute drive from the Rochester airport. The town of Canandaigua is a bustling food and wine scene with places like New York Kitchen, a nonprofit organization offering the best of New York's craft beverages, agriculture, and culinary arts. Not only can you have a great meal overlooking Canandaigua Lake, but you can also take a deeper dive into the region with classes and events happening almost daily. For an upscale dining experience, head next door to Rose Tavern, situated inside The Lake House, offering seasonal fare directly from the Finger Lakes region with expansive views of the lake.
Of course, no trip to the Finger Lakes is complete without wine tasting. Glen Hollow is just a few minutes from Heron Hill Winery (Canandaigua location), where you can taste an extensive range of wines overlooking their infamous Ingle Vineyard. Once you're done there, take a quick 45-minute drive to Keuka Lake, where Europe intersects the Finger Lakes at Domaine LeSeurre and Weis Vineyards, where both pay homage to their French and German roots. Cap your day off with a visit to Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery on the opposite side of Keuka Lake, where you can learn about how Dr. Konstantin Frank introduced Vitis vinifera (the European grapevine) to the Finger Lakes region, changing the course of history forever.
One of my personal favorite places to visit and a "must-do" destination for all wine and food lovers is the town of Geneva. Geneva is located just 40 minutes east of Glen Hollow, on Seneca Lake. It's packed with tasting rooms, breweries, wine bars, and restaurants delighting all epicureans alike. Linden Street is where you'll find a lot of the action...and most likely myself if I'm visiting the area! Two wine bars not to be missed are Microclimate and Vinifera. Vinifera is a wine shop upstairs and a candlelit speakeasy downstairs, making it the ultimate date night destination. They take pride in being the only wine shop and venue in the Finger Lakes with a menu devoted only to wines of the region.
No trip to Linden St. is complete without indulging in the gastronomic journey provided by F.L.X. Table. Owned by Master Sommelier Christopher Bates, F.L.X. Table is a communal dining experience with only fourteen to sixteen seats total. Every evening they serve a pre-fixe dining menu that rotates based on the season. Not only is the experience completely interactive with the staff and open kitchen concept, but you can also add special wine and beer pairing packages ranging from "fun" to "notorious."
If you need a break from wine tasting, you can't miss exploring the town of Naples, just a 15-minute drive south of Glen Hollow. Naples is not only home to the infamous yearly Grape Festival, but it's also the epicenter of art culture in the Finger Lakes, attracting and inspiring painters, sculptors, actors, and musicians alike. Enjoy lunch at the farm-to-table Roots Café before a relaxing afternoon of antiquing and perhaps one more wine tasting at Inspire Moore Winery.
With so much to see and do in the Finger Lakes, no wonder it's grabbed national and global attention. Don't miss your chance to immerse yourself in all the region has to offer at Glen Hollow. Book now!
*This article was written in partnership with Glen Hollow FLX. All opinions are my own.