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North America, Travel
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December 2, 2020

Winter Holiday In The Finger Lakes

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I love the winter holiday season. I love the snow, the lights, the festivities. Things are a bit different this year, but I found that there are still ways to take in the joy of the holidays and even bring some of it back home with you.

In fact, we found that taking in the holiday vibes is easy to do when in the countryside of the Finger Lakes. There are no crowds, there isn’t any of the busyness of the big city, and no lines to even worry about.

Here are the highlights of our favorite experiences.

The Farms

One of the things we’ve enjoyed the most about our life in Finger Lakes Wine Country has been our proximity to so many farms. The accessibility to good, fresh food and wineries at affordable prices has been such a life-changing experience for us. To be able to serve my family food right from the farm is not a trend here, but a lifestyle. And there’s no better time to take advantage of it all than when preparing for holiday meals. In fact, we headed to one of our favorites, Good Life Farm, home to Finger Lakes Cider House, where not only do they have incredible cider but also serve delicious food, much of it from the farm itself or locally sourced nearby. And during the holiday season, they sell organic turkeys. We had ours for Thanksgiving and it was one of the best turkeys we’ve ever had. They still have turkeys for sale, so if you are looking for a farm-fresh turkey for the upcoming holidays and don’t mind a road trip to pick it up, this is a definite must-try.

There are also so many great Christmas tree farms to choose from, each offering something unique for everyone to enjoy. We decided to stop at VanDerZee Christmas Tree Farm. We went earlier in the season, so the farm wasn’t covered in snow – though another thing we love about life in Finger Lakes is that it does snow during the holidays and a white Christmas isn’t a far-fetched dream, making everything quite lovely and picturesque in the process. VanDerZee, like most farms in the area, is family-owned. They have tons of trees to choose from, all pesticide-free, and cut your own. They also have wreaths and serve hot cider, cocoa, and soup for those extra chilly days, and on weekends you can the extra warmth of a fire to enjoy while taking in the beautiful farm scene accompanied by the sounds of holiday music in the background. Like a happy dream. For a list of different farms, including those that sell Christmas trees, visit the Finger Lakes Farm Country website.

THE LOCAL VIBE

Something else we discovered pretty early on when we were only just visiting the area and before we bought our house, was how different the vibe is in the winter from the summer. We love all the seasons in the Finger Lakes, but winter is when we actually get to connect with locals and get to have the region “to ourselves”. This year being an exception, most of the warmer months are busy and you don’t get to connect as much as you would like with the winemaker, or the chef, or the store owner, or the farmer. But during the winter months, seasonal businesses close, things slow down and we get to enjoy our favorite spots mostly by ourselves. It’s a fun, non-crowded playground.

We loved going to Elf in The Oak for lunch and catching up on what’s new from a more relaxed staff. We also enjoyed being able to make last-minute reservations to the popular Hill Top Inn Restaurant and enjoy dinner overlooking the city lights of Elmira – something that would’ve been a little harder to attain during the busier season.

We were able to enjoy the museums without the crowds, including the Arnot Art Museum in Elmira which is also hosting a holiday market featuring the work from local artists, some of which I couldn’t resist and brought home with me.

Really enjoyed taking in this sweet museum.

The point is, the pace is slow, the winter views are stunning, and it’s the best time to connect with our neighbors while also supporting their small businesses.

THE HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Every year my family and I take the train into New York City to see the holiday lights and windows on display. It is a holiday tradition we never miss. But, we are also creating new traditions right in the Finger Lakes. It is not an exaggeration to say that many of the small towns in the area have often reminded me of the picturesque settings seen in many Hallmark Channel holiday movies every year.

The first lights we wanted to check out were the ones displayed in Bradley Farms’ Twinkle Town. Turn on their holiday radio station (or stream your favorite holiday music), and take in over 200 individually lighted scenes from the comfort of your car. The entire display is a mile long and you can go at a slow pace so you don’t miss a thing.

We later headed to Corning, NY’s Market Street. The streets lined with trees wrapped in twinkly lights, the tree on Center Way Square, and all the cute holiday window displays are enough to soften the heart of even the worst Grinch.

For more holiday fun, The Rockwell Museum hosts an annual Gingerbread Invitational a gingerbread house competition for baking enthusiasts and community members of all skill levels. Museum guests are invited to view the gingerbread displays and vote on their favorite.

And of course, visiting the Corning Museum of Glass is a must for a chance to make your own ornament (due to COVID restrictions, the glass studio gets booked quickly, but it is open year-round and you can make your ornament or any other glass artwork at any time). They also have a beautiful glass ornament tree to not be missed.

Lastly, there are tons of holiday specials being offered by wineries, breweries, and distilleries in the region, as well as special holiday dinners from local restaurants. So if shopping small and local is important to you, and I hope it is, there are endless opportunities to do so.

This year may not be the year you get to experience the holidays in Finger Lakes Wine Country, but it definitely should go on your bucket list. And if you are a local, I hope this post reminded you of how lucky we are to call this beautiful place home.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, close to home or farther away. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and CEO of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications management, and brand development agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She splits her time between her homes in New Jersey and Finger Lakes.

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6 Comments
  • wattwherehow
    December 3, 2020

    Wow, is it really that snowy up there already? It’s a beautiful area – never saw that waterfall when we were there but it looks incredible.

    Reply
    • caincarol
      wattwherehow
      December 3, 2020

      We’ve had some snow already, but no these photos are from earlier in the year. I wanted to show how beautiful it can really get these winter months. It’s coming though. Lots of awesome snow in the forecast! This are the Seneca Mills Falls along the Keuka Outlet Trail.

      Reply
      • wattwherehow
        caincarol
        December 3, 2020

        Awesome – thank you

        Reply
        • caincarol
          wattwherehow
          December 3, 2020

          My pleasure!

          Reply
  • Kelly
    December 8, 2020

    So happy I found this article! We are heading up at the end of December and through New Years! Is there anything to do with kids would love some ideas! Thanks!

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Kelly
      December 9, 2020

      Hi Kelly! Great! Everything I shared here is kid-friendly. I would also encourage you to drive to Ithaca as there are museums and play areas for kids – just keep in mind that the pandemic has affected operating hours and so reservations – even for museums, are highly recommended. Thanks for reading!

      Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am a communications professional, an award-winning travel blogger, a public speaker, CEO of a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency, a wife, and a mom of 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!

Carol Cain

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Crack of dawn wake ups to check in with electricia Crack of dawn wake ups to check in with electricians at @theflxcottage, followed by mornings full of meetings.

Not complaining though because I also got to hit up one of my fave coffee spots (@amitycoffeeco), in one of the prettiest main streets in Penn Yan, NY. And I got to do it with this handsome dude, @travisjcain.

Also, being in this place just makes me so dang happy all around.
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Perks of life in wine country: membership to our f Perks of life in wine country: membership to our favorite wineries. Where as in some places farm-to-table is a trend, here it is a way of life. This made it easy for us to pick up a slew of winery top picks from @hectorwineco and we can’t wait to pair them with some awesome dishes I plan on cooking this week. 
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Home life has become less tense as the end of scho Home life has become less tense as the end of school days get closer and closer. Work has been fulfilling and gratifying. I’ve started putting more time into my fitness, which is making me feel really good. I’m slowly booking my calendar to see my dearest, and nearest friends. And though long distance travel is still not in the works for us, we are gifted with the Finger Lakes nearby and are not taking any of it for granted.

So while @theflxcottage is still being worked on, we decided to take a weeklong workcation along the beautiful Seneca Lake.

The air is still a bit too chilly for swims or BBQs but I plan on spending as many sunsets as possible right in this spot.

I hope this inspires a road trip close to home for you. Because don’t we all deserve a bit more serene beauty in our lives? Go get yours! @flxwinecountry @flpplake 
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We were in Jamaica when I realized I had never tak We were in Jamaica when I realized I had never taken my kids snorkeling. They were 10 and 11. So we booked a snorkeling excursion and the boys were fine until we got to the reef and they could see all the ocean wildlife, clear as day, that would be swimming among them.

My youngest hesitated. Saying he didn’t want to go.

In my heart I felt his fear. I understood it. I’ve spent many years playing in the ocean. I’ve had many encounters with sharks, jellyfish, sea urchins, and even had a near drowning experience. The ocean both thrills and terrifies me. But I venture into it often because fear is such a debilitating drug. And that was my biggest fear for my kids. So I made him sit on the edge of the boat as he teared up, and I nudged him into the water. 

As I prepped to jump in after him, I saw our Jamaican guide give me a thumbs up, and the other tourists give me a look of disapproving judgement.

I jumped in the water and held my boy’s hand, tears were coming down his cheeks, past his goggles. 

“Baby, it’s OK to be scared. It’s normal. But I will not leave your side. I will hold your hand and nothing will hurt you, I won’t allow it.” I never felt a promise so deeply.

We started swimming. Fish of every size and color passing us by and gliding beneath us. He would look at me, nod his head, give me a thumbs up.

After awhile he signals wanting to go up, so we do.

“You Ok?”, I ask. “Yes,” he responded, “You can let go of me now. You don’t need to hold my hand anymore. I’m not afraid.” Then he let me go and started swimming away.

I swam along side him. Never leaving his side. The warmth of my tears fogging my goggles as I realized that it was me who needed his hand holding far more than he did, and bursting with pride at the newfound courage in him, at the beauty of watching my son grow up before my eyes.
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#travelstory #parenting #travel #oceanfun #Jamaica
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I texted my boy last night. And he didn’t respond. And I fell asleep fighting off all thoughts of potential harm that could come his way. I think of the tall, beautifully brown-skinned, big smiled man he has become. How bright his present and his future are. How much he is loved and all the dreams he has. I think about how he is still learning, still growing, still making mistakes, things that shouldn’t be held against him much less cost him his life. I think about how he is my heart and my soul and I can’t imagine it - what these mothers and fathers are going through.

I woke up to his reply. He had been out bowling with his small niche of friends. His happiness pulsing through the text. And I felt grateful that I alone carried the weight of the fear and sadness of these repetitive moments of violence against our Black and brown babies. He and they all deserve the bliss so easily enjoyed by others. But maybe so do we in knowing they are safe too.

The violence isn’t just physical. It is emotional and psychological, and it reaches far and wide, beyond the latest crime. And maybe that’s the point? Maybe that’s the goal? But it is also why we should and will fight harder. Because, Black Lives Matter too. And our families and our children deserve peace.
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#blacklivesmatter #bipoclivesmatter #protectourchildren
Going through some old files and found my photos f Going through some old files and found my photos from #Thailand. This photo is of a fisherman on the Mekong River. This trip, at that point, was the farthest I had ever been from home and I think of how my being there was an unimaginable possibility for me growing up.

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Travel has taught me and shown me so much. People are people everywhere we go being the most common lesson.

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Travel can give you many things. But self-fulfillment and happiness is not one of them. Gratification, temporary bliss, joy, and an overwhelming adrenaline of excitement, yes. All of it. Worth it too. But it is what you find in the stillness that truly defines where you are, and what you need to work on. And what few people put effort into exploring for themselves.

So, just be mindful of the hype. Because escapism is a temporary drug. And reality is always waiting.
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#travelTuesday #thailand #travelmindset #escapism #truthabouttravel

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