central New York is a Great Place To Live!

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central New York is a Great Place To Live!

Central New York

New York State is home to some of the nation's most exciting locales and breathtaking natural wonders. It is a diverse place, filled with national parks, international borders, and the most exciting city in the world. It’s not called the Empire State for nothing.

But did you know that the 8,639 square mile area known as the Central New York region has a little bit of everything that makes New York State unique and great?

Central New York has everything from big city lights to small town charms. We encapsulate all that is New York. You'll find award-winning live theatre and entertainment, fascinating museums and halls of fame, historical landmarks, farmers' markets bursting with fresh produce, year round festivals, country style bed and breakfasts, exquisite antiquing, the most-manicured golf greens in the northeast, and trail after trail of boundless nature. And that litany hardly scratches the surface. The CNY region is a diamond in the rough. The list of what you should expect from Central New York is limitless.

Golf

Finger Lakes

The Finger Lakes refers to both a group of eleven narrow, north-south lakes in Central New York (which resemble, of course, human fingers) and the beautiful region around the lakes.

The Finger Lakes are known for their awesome natural beauty. They were formed over two million years ago by glaciation originating from the Hudson Bay area. The deep waters of the largest lakes, combined with the high, rolling hills surrounding them, create a distinct bioregion that makes ideal for fine wine production. The Finger Lakes are home to award-winning Rieslings, a number of craft breweries, and several hard-cider makers.

Many of the lakes are well-developed and booming with tourism industries. It features more than 135 museums, 80 art galleries, and 400 registered landmarks and historic sites. Among them, the Glenn H. Curtis Aviation Museum brings in flight, mechanic, and speedster buffs from around the globe. The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, NY has the largest collection of play-related exhibits in the world. Quaint towns and historic villages dot the Finger Lakes environs. The Waktins Glen State Park holds exquisite waterfalls and gorgeous gorges. There are also miles and miles of pristine and undeveloped hiking and biking trails throughout the region. Finally, the Waterloo Premium Outlets, Destiny USA, and the Eastview Mall all offer a world-class shopping experience for both bargain-hunters and luxury lovers, alike.

The Finger Lakes region is deservedly one of the most popular tourist destinations in the whole United States.

The lakes themselves vary in length from up to 40 miles (Cayuga and Seneca Lake) to only 3.5 miles (Canadice Lake). Their depths range from 618 ft. (Seneca Lake) to just 30 ft. (Honeoye Lake). Seneca Lake, at 66.9 square miles, has the largest total area of all the Finger Lakes.

Here’s a little more information about each of the Finger Lakes:

Otisco Lake is the eastern-most of the Finger Lakes and one of the smallest at just 6 miles in length. It was historically used by the Onondaga people for hunting and fishing. Popular with campers and boaters, it once had a causeway built across its width. It’s also used for the public drinking water for part of Onondaga County.
Skaneateles Lake is one of the eastern-most of the Finger Lakes. It is the the home of the Village of Skaneateles, a popular and trendy vacation spot for famous stars and former Presidents. It’s known as one of the cleanest Finger Lakes, and the City of Syracuse uses it, unfiltered, for drinking water. William Henry Seward, a US Secretary of State and Governor of New York, called it “the most beautiful body of water in the world”.
Owasco Lake probably derives its name from the Iroquois word for “bridge on the water”. It is smaller and shallower than most of the other Finger Lakes, which makes it warm faster and thus a popular boating and swimming locale. In the 19th century, Owasco was a popular location for the wealthy, and it even hosted a casino. Part of this legacy remains with the private Owasco Yacht Club, founded in 1889.
Cayuga Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes, accommodates several world-class wineries. The city of Ithaca, home to Cornell University and Ithaca College, sits at its southern end. Cayuga Lake is also a popular sport fishing and recreational boating destination. The Allan H. Treman State Marine Park, the largest inland marina in New York, sits at the southern end of Cayuga Lake.
Seneca Lake is the largest and deepest of the Finger Lakes. Due to its size, prominence, and natural beauty, it boasts a variety of distinctions and events. It is hose to the largest selection of wineries in the region, more than 50. The US Navy tests complex equipment like sonar arrays and transducers in its deep waters. Watkins Glen, home of the Watkins Glen International Race Track, resides on Seneca Lake's southern shore. The north end of the lake is the home of Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
Keuka Lake is distinguished by its Y shape. In the Seneca language, Keuka means “lake with an elbow”. It is a popular recreational spot, famous for its hiking and biking trails. It also has well-known wineries along the “Keuka Lake Wine Trail”.
Canandaigua Lake is the fourth-largest of the Finger Lakes. It is also renowned for its water quality and in 2013, Canandaigua Lake’s water was voted the best drinking water in New York State. The well-oxygenated, clear water is home to many fish and has visibility of the bottom up to 50 feet below the surface.
Honeoye Lake is the second-smallest Finger Lake. It’s a trendy location for vacation and recreation homes. Honeoye Lake is known for its clear, clean water, which warms quickly in the spring and summer due to its shallow depth. As such, it’s an exceptional fishing spot with many bass, perch, bluegill, and walleye.
Canadice Lake is the smallest of the Finger Lakes. Ironically, its name derives from the Iroquois word for “long lake” even though it is known as a minor Finger Lake. Canadice Lake, along with Hemlock Lake, serves as the water supply for the city of Rochester. To keep its water quality high, homes are forbidden from its shores and there are limitations to the size of boats allowed on its waters.
Hemlock Lake is another of the minor Finger Lakes. Along with Canadice Lake, it supplies the city of Rochester with drinking water. Its pristine waters are well-known for its land-locked salmon, as well as many species of trout such as rainbow trout, brown trout, and lake trout. It is also home to smallmouth and largemouth bass, rock bass, brown bullhead, yellow perch, walleye, and many other species of fish.
Conesus Lake is the very most westerly of the Finger Lakes. The lake is used for snowmobiling and ice fishing during winter months when it is frozen over. It is an excellent source of bass, northern pike, bluegills, and sunfish.

Winter Fun

Down Hill Skiing
Snow Shoeing
Snow Mobiles
Cross Country Skiing
Ice Skating

central New York is a Great Place To Live!

central New York is a Great Place To Live!

Central New York

Central New York

Golf

Golf

Finger Lakes

Finger Lakes

Winter Fun

Winter Fun

Delicious Apples

Delicious Apples

Get Out and enjoy CNY!

Get Out and enjoy CNY!