innkeeper's blog

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Spring and fall are the best times to see huge flocks of migratory birds flying high above Yale Manor, as we're located in one of the most active north-south paths in the Atlantic Flyway. Just north of us at the northern tip of Cayuga Lake is a resting place for thousands of these migratory creatures — the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. This nearly 10,000-acre refuge is managed by the U.S.

Visit Finger Lakes Cideries

While the Finger Lakes region garners the most acclaim for its award-winning wines, New York is still the Big Apple and ranks second in apple production in the United States. So it makes sense that cideries would find their place among the wineries that line the hills and shores of the Finger Lakes. The apples for these locally produced fermented ciders are harvested from small family orchards, and you can taste the bounty of the earth in each sip.

It's Kayak Time

Imagine the tranquility of gliding on a glacial lake with nature sanctuaries and vibrant fall foliage as the backdrop. You can do just that on your next visit to our beautiful lakeshore retreat in the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country. Kayak Time offers guided tours by a father and son team, Dennis and Patrick Angelo, long-term kayaking experts. Learn proper techniques and explore beautiful waterways during half- or full-day tours designed for both beginners and those with more experience.

Yale Manor Welcomes New Winery: Boundary Breaks

When staying at Yale Manor, you’re relaxing in the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country at the intersection of two of the region’s most notorious wine trails, Cayuga and Seneca Lake. Guests return time and again to enjoy abundant wineries along the shores of Seneca Lake, the deepest of the eleven Finger Lakes in Central New York. A new winery has opened nearby and is receiving rave reviews from guests and critics alike: Boundary Breaks Winery owned by husband and wife, Bruce Murray and Diana Lyttle.

Find Out Why "Ithaca is GORGES!"

If you haven’t been to nearby Ithaca, then it’s time to discover how the phrase, “Ithaca is GORGES!” came about. With over 150 waterfalls and cascades gushing through glacial ravines and gorges, Ithaca has one of the most interesting landscapes in the world. You can take self-guided hikes on well-marked trails to see the most breathtaking and exhilarating sites nature has to offer. Some of these locations offer narrated tours.

Sweater Weather and Hot Air Balloons

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to gracefully float high above a majestic landscape of glacial lakes, fertile farmland and forests awash in the vibrant colors of fall? Now is your chance to experience this unique adventure that is at once both exhilarating and peaceful. During your stay at Yale Manor, we’ll arrange a hot air balloon ride launched just steps from your door on our ten secluded acres.

Explore the Cornell Botanic Gardens

On and off the campus at Cornell University, Cornell Botanic Gardens is a living museum, outdoor classroom, and research and conservation center comprised of 3,600 acres of great natural beauty including cultivated gardens, an arboretum and distinct natural areas, waterfalls and gorges.

Attend the Inaugural Finger Lakes Birding Festival

With their voices, plumage, colors and antics, birds invite us to more deeply connect with nature as we learn about them and the ecosystems they inhabit. On the shores of a glacial lake in the Finger Lakes Region, Yale Manor is under one of the most active migratory bird flight lanes in the Atlantic Flyway. Encompassing some of the hemisphere’s most productive forested and wetland ecosystems, the Flyway stretches from the Canadian arctic and northern Atlantic Coast to the Caribbean and South America. Hundreds of species of birds regularly migrate along the Flyway.

Maple Sugar Weekends

You’ll get to taste the freshest maple syrup right from the source at New York’s Maple Sugar Weekends as farmers invite families and friends into their sugar houses during two weekends: March 21-22 and 28-29. This is New York’s first agricultural harvest of the season.

Explore Delicious Seneca Lake Wine Trails in March

Experience some of the best wines our region has to offer while you stay with us at Yale Manor. Tucked away on ten acres in a park-like setting on the shores of Seneca Lake, Yale Manor is at the heart of Finger Lakes wine country. From our central location, you can enjoy events on both the Seneca Lake and Cayuga Lake Wine Trails throughout the year.

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