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North America, Travel
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October 2, 2014

Family Weekend in Corning, New York’s Finger Lakes Wine Country

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The last time I traveled to the Finger Lakes was on a foodie road trip with my girlfriends. It was the dead of winter and we drove through a blizzard most of the time. But I have been to the Finger Lakes before, and have enjoyed my experiences there and when the weather is not so cold, it can be a lovely place to enjoy the outdoors and all the different areas have to offer.

This time around, I wanted to experience the area during the fall with my family. The colors come alive sooner up North than they do closer to the city, and I just couldn’t resist checking it out.

We left New Jersey pretty early, avoiding any possible weekend traffic and arrived 3.5 hours later to Corning, NY. Our first stop was in downtown Corning, also known as the Gaffer District. It’s a vibrant downtown full of shops, restaurants, and lots of things to do. The autumn colors gave everything a glow and we delighted in seeing so any people out and about enjoying their day as we lunched on the chilli and sandwiches from Old World Cafe, a Victorian-style ice cream parlor that serves warm lunch items as well.

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL
The Museums

We strolled over to The Rockwell Museum, which I soon found out is not named after Norman Rockwell, but in honor of two local business owners, Bob and Hertha Rockwell, who donated their collection of American art and provided a space open to celebrating American artists.

My children were greeted and welcomed right away with an invitation to explore the museum through their participation in a scavenger hunt, a genius idea in my opinion. The museum is very much connected to the community, opening its doors to offer art education programs and often showcasing student exhibitions.

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELweekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELweekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL
The highlight for my children was the visit to The Corning Museum of Glass. The first time I visited, I thought the museum was really interesting and fun. I thought my boys would like it too, but I never expected that they would be as fascinated with the museum as they were. “This is the best place you have ever taken me to, mommy!” exclaimed my little boy after we had exited the glass blowing show they host every day, several times a day.

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL
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weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL

I watched as my kids admired the glass blower in total awe and their pure excitement as they blew their own glass later on. I have to admit, I teared up a little. We spent a good chunk of our day at the museum, which is something you can expect to do as well. There are tons to see and fun activities to do. Plus, the shop alone is enough to keep you busy for a while! I love the glass pumpkins they have on display and for sale during the fall, but truthfully, no matter when you go, the amount of creativity and artistry displayed in that museum is awe-inspiring. weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELweekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL

Another fun museum is the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum. Have you ever heard of him? Neither had we, which is bizarre considering Curtiss was a pioneer who influenced and helped shape the transportation industry. He initially made his money by building engines for cars, then boats and plane. He was the first American to hold a U.S. pilot’s license and his ability to convince the Navy to invest in aircrafts – which his company built – has him recognized as the Father of Naval. I learned this and more by watching the short film in the museum and was amazed at how much this man had accomplished in his very short life.

The museum itself is a collection of antique cars, motorcycles, planes, and boats, many designed by Curtiss himself. This is definitely another place that you want to allot some time for.

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELweekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL

The Restaurants

There were some pretty great places to eat in and around Corning. I am not surprised, as finding good food around the Finger Lakes has been something I have always been fortunate in.

We had a great dinning experience at the Market Street Brewing Company, also in the Gaffer District. It is has a pub in the front of the restaurant and more dining space towards the back and outside for those wanting a more family friendly, mellow scene. We sat outside to enjoy the weather while we still can. The food was good, the service was friendly, the beer was cold and refreshing, and the atmosphere was happy and comfortable. We really liked this place and have marked it as a favorite for next time.

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELPappardelle a la Vodka with shrimp

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELPEI Mussels steamed with while wine, tomato broth, thyme, butter, and garlic.

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELHot stuffed banana peppers with three cheese and infused in garlic oil.

Another favorite spot we discovered was the Red Newt Cellars Bistro. I found the menu to be creative, original, and interesting, not to mention delicious. I never had a pulled pork grilled cheese, yet their creative grilled cheese sandwiches is one of their specialities, which on their own are pretty great, but when paired with one of their wines, they are even better. Ask to try the food and wine pairings they offer. They serve several tastes, one of them being grilled cheese of course, and pair them with their award-winning wines. If the weather allows for it, sit outside and enjoy everything – the food, the wine, and the views. A definite must.

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELPulled-pork with blueberry BBQ sauce grilled cheese sandwich.

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL Macaroni and cheese with Piggery garlic-pepper sausage elbow noodles with cheddar, jack and Asiago cheese.

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELTasting Plate and Wine Flight includes NYS cheddar grilled cheese, spicy tomato soup, kale salad, black bean cake with a riesling-garbanzo sauce, cheese and condiment of the day. Wines include 2012 Dry Riesling, 2012 “Circle” Riesling. 2013 Gewurztraminer, and 2012 Cabernet Franc.

Two other fun places we tried and enjoyed were Luna Mezza, which is a Mediterranean inspired restaurant in the lovely town of Hammondsport and Crooked Lake Ice Cream Parlor, also in Hammondsport, which we tried for breakfast while sitting outside and saying hello to the locals who passed by and stopped to admire our puppy.

For your traveling pet

Speaking of our puppy, we loved being able to travel to Corning with him. It’s not always easy to find places that will accommodate your four-legged family member. We got a lot of help from Corning Tourism, who helped to answer our questions about pet-friendly spots. I would recommend you check out their site for ideas and information on all your travel needs.weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL

There were times when we couldn’t bring our baby along, and for that we relied on the care offered at Happy Tails Daycare and Pet Resort. Owner  Elaine Walker is super sweet and our often very shy Max warmed up to her quickly. I was nervous about leaving him, but he was comfortable in his environment when we picked him up, making friends with everyone, even the cat! It’s a wonderful resource for when you want to travel to the area, but can’t always have your pet with you.

Every restaurant I mentioned above has outdoor seating to accommodate your pet – though I want to note that because ours is a small dog, he stayed in his little carry-on most of the time and hardly anyone noticed he was even there. Market Street Brewing allowed us to bring our dog, but he needed to be on the other side of the fence next to the restaurant’s outdoor seating. It’s also important to note that not every pet is comfortable in noisy, crowded spaces, so if your dog is a barker, crier, or can’t sit still, even these pet-friendly spots might find it difficult to accommodate him/her.

Outdoor Activities

We took our pet hiking with us to Watkins Glen State Park, which we really enjoyed, especially on the beautiful fall day we had when we were there. It’s important to note that one of the park’s biggest attraction, the Gorge Trail, is worth the hike for the views but pets are not allowed. You can get a nice view of the Gorge from the suspended bridge accessible by a trail that is pet-friendly.weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL

Another spot where pets are not welcomed, but is a must visit especially during the fall for pumpkin and apple picking is Reisinger’s Apple Country. Because we arrived so early in the season, there were some apple varieties that weren’t ready for picking, but we still managed to get tons of apples for snacking and pies.

What you must not miss are the fresh backed apple cider doughnuts, baked daily right on premises every day. I walked into the shop and was so overwhelmed by the delicious scent that I walked out of there with two dozen doughnuts! Oh, just typing this makes my mouth water – because of course they are all gone.

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELweekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELweekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELweekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL

I didn’t know what to expect when we arrived to the Watkins Glen International Racetrack. What I can say is that my husband was a giddy as a little boy as he and our sons watched the cars speed by on the race track. There was a race going on, and the race track opens the bleachers for guests to come and watch some of the races. You can also camp on site and if you are feeling a little adventurous, you can even Drive the Glen!

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELSpend an afternoon walking along Seneca Lake from its many points of access. During the fall, the hills surrounding the lake are full of bright colors and the still of the water makes for a leisurely time outdoors.

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVELweekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL

weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL

 Where we stayed

Finally, where you stay is as important as everything else. For this trip, I wanted to be in nature. We weren’t ready to go camping, but we wanted an in between experience of sorts. The Hickory Hill Family Camping Resort offers a variety of camping experiences, from tenting to RVing to staying in a cabin. We stayed in one of their larger cabin options, a lodge, and really enjoyed it. It was spacious with two bed rooms and a loft, sleeping room for 5-8 people, a kitchen, a full bathroom with running water and a flushing toilet, electricity and yes, even wi-fi.

http://www.hickoryhillcampresort.com/index.php

But what I enjoyed the most were the amenities. They have a spa right on site! I woke up one morning and had a wonderful massage before starting my day and when my husband and I just wanted to sit and relax, the boys were able to walk to the nearby playground and have fun without us having to worry about them (granted they are old enough to do that).weekend in Corning, NY_GIRLGONETRAVEL

The campsites are right next to each other, so you are close to your neighbor. We stayed in lodge number 304, which is the last on the lot, so even though we had neighbors to one side of us, we had the woods to the other, which was nice. It also wasn’t terribly crowded this time of year, so you can really enjoy the space. They also have a shop and pool, and lots of family friendly activities. If you want to go “glamping” with the kids this is a great option and its close to everything we did on this wonderful weekend in Corning, NY.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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2 Comments
  • Erin Janda Rawlings
    October 6, 2014

    What an awesome adventure! I love the log cabin. I showed my husband and hope we can find somewhere like that to stay around here (Michigan).

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Erin Janda Rawlings
      October 6, 2014

      Ooooh! I hope you do. It was such a nice in-between camping experience : )

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a des If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a destination for you. This list of good eats were all within close proximity to each other and spots we made time for during our short weekend visit. So definitely note that this doesn’t even begin to cover the tip of the iceberg, but makes a good starter list!

📍@ShortStackEats in the heart of Downtown Madison is clearly a UW favorite. Loved their pancakes! We thought it was a pricey for breakfast, and only offered drip coffee, but the scene was fun, food was good, and service was friendly.
📍@SardineMadison is a waterfront French bistro that has stood the test of time (we’ve been coming here since we lived in Madison!). It can feel very corporate some nights, but their Happy Hour and brunch are definite highlights and it’s a really nice dining experience overall.
📍@EatattheAudrey impressed us! It’s not your usual “hotel restaurant” and I would say it easily stands alone as an eatery worth checking out in Madison. Great breakfast options, cozy vibes, nice bar, and good service!
📍@RamenStation1124 good, affordable ramen.
📍BlindShotSocialClub We really loved this spot for brunch (sorry, was enjoying the company and totally spaced out on capturing food images!). Golf fans will love hitting the putt here (you can reserve a private room too), and what I though was most cool was the delicious and wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. This place is a total vibe!
📍@StringsRamen is a chain, but I have to say it is some of the best ramen I have had in a long time. I especially loved how you can choose your ramen but heat level but also by Japanese region which allowed us to taste a couple of new flavors!
📍@Parthenongyros has been around awhile (hubby recalls coming here during his college years!) and was voted #1 take out in Madison! Though we indulged inside and away from the snow. A delicious, quick bite when strolling around State Street.

And again, this is just a starter list. There is so much more to eat and enjoy in this top foodie city! What other spots would you add to this list?

#madisonwi #foodiegram #foodiedestinations #goodeats @destinationmadison
I love to travel. It has always been important to I love to travel. It has always been important to my family. My parents got my first passport weeks after I was born. They couldn’t afford to travel like I do now, but they understood, as immigrants, the absolute privilege that comes attached to having that shiny blue American booklet and they wanted me to have it.

I was yet again reminded of my privilege when my travel back home on this last trip was delayed over 24 hours. I have a village in place to make sure my kids were ok. Having my own business meant I didn’t have to report in to anyone, and was still able to work remotely so none of my clients were inconvenienced by it. Though the airline covered our hotel and food, we never worried that we couldn’t do it ourselves otherwise. While we were annoyed, we weren’t stressed.

So while I love to travel, and I love sharing my travels with you, I acknowledge that being able to do so, and dealing with the consistent travel disruptions so prevalent today without worries is a privilege…one that started with a little blue booklet that gives me more access to the world than some others do.

And I want us all in this travel space to be reminded of this. Of how lucky we are. Of our privilege to access and time and money.

So let us travel with grace and awareness. Let us remain rooted in reality and perspective. Acknowledging that our escapism isn’t one so easily accessible to others. Understanding that this is also why local stories have as much value as those to exclusive destinations, if not more. And, never forgetting, especially in the travel influencer and media space, that were it not for hosted campaigns and paid-for travel opportunities, most of us wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle we so beautifully curate online.

It doesn’t matter how often you travel, or how far. Just that hopefully you will be able to gift yourself the experience of doing so and experiencing something new.

#travel #travelmedia #travelinfluencer #wheretonext
As I work on compiling all the good eats I experie As I work on compiling all the good eats I experienced in Madison, WI, I have to ask: what is your favorite meal of the day, and where did you experience a highlight of the same?

I am a huge fan of breakfast. This beauty was a blueberry pancake order from @shortstackeats. Pancakes are not a big thing for me, but these were pretty perfect. I am craving them still. 🥞♥️

#madisonwi #goodeats #travelingfoodie @destinationmadison
We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a qui We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a quick trip to Madison, WI - my first time back in 14 years! Though we were here for family matters, we did take a moment to explore a bit of what used to be a place we called home.

We couldn’t do anything else until we drove around Lake Monona, where we once had a home, and took in the wintery views (there is an epic 13.2-mile trail that loops around the lake that is worth exploring if you visit!). Though our time was limited, we were able to enjoy some of it along State Street exploring the shops, eateries, the FREE @mmocamadison, and the beautiful architecture of the WI State Capitol Building (the Dane County Farmers Market will soon pick up again - Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 2023 around the Capitol Building and it is one of the best farmers markets anywhere!). 

We booked a room at the @hiltonmadison Monona Terrace to be within walking distance of all the downtown fun (tip: for a room with a lake view make sure to book at the upper levels above 10th floor for an unobstructed view of Lake Monona). 

Madison, WI is a skip and a hop from the Finger Lakes so this short and sweet visit didn’t feel difficult at all. And we absolutely loved the winter scenery and seeing what has changed (a lot) since we lived here.

Stay tuned for my list of where we ate!

Have you ever been to Madison, WI?

#madisonwi #weekendgetaway #wisconsin @destinationmadison
The joy of that first sip of the day. #randommom The joy of that first sip of the day. 

#randommomentsarethebest
I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t be I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t believe how easily I’ve been waking up in the early mornings since our last trip. Not sure how to shake it, or if it’s temporary, but here it is: the rare sighting of me up and moving early in the day. Am I a morning person now? Has travel ever permanently changed any of your habits?

#morningperson #lifeinthecountry #newme <-😂

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