innkeeper's blog

Bald Eagle Watching in Upstate New York

Here in the Finger Lakes, we are surrounded by an unparalleled natural landscape that inspired Native Americans in myth and lore with the raw beauty of its hundreds of waterfalls, long, deep lakes, and abundant wildlife. It truly is New York’s own personal paradise as well as a popular refuge from the stress of busy, day-to-day, urban life. Reconnect with nature this spring with a visit to Yale Manor and the nearby Montezuma Audubon Center, located within one of the most active flight lanes in the Atlantic Flyway.

Spring Wine and Cheese Weekend

Take a self-guided tour around scenic Seneca Lake visiting more than 30 of the Finger Lakes wineries for this year’s Spring Wine and Cheese Weekend. Combine the classic, timeless tastes of wine and cheese during one great-tasting weekend. Just purchase your tickets, check in at your chosen starting location, and start sampling delicious cheese-themed dishes and award-winning wines. The event is co-sponsored by Cabot Creamery Cooperative, makers of the World’s Best Cheddar, and the 600 local New York farm families that own Cabot.

Maple Weekends in the New York Finger Lakes

March is a great month to visit the Finger Lakes, and it’s not because of the region’s usual claim-to-fame (the wine!) or the month’s most common attention-getter, March Madness. March in the Finger Lakes means maple syrup. Just behind Vermont, New York is the country’s second-highest producer of maple syrup, and most of that comes from the Finger Lakes.

The Seneca White Deer

Closed in 2000, the Seneca Army Depot is now recently reopened but for a much different purpose than acting as a United States munitions cache. The compound is now the home of the world’s largest herd of white deer. After decades of careful cultivation and hunting restrictions, the white deer population in Seneca is at an all-time high of 300. View the spectacular woodland creatures and plan your visit to Yale Manor today!

F.L.X. Table in Geneva, NY Named USA Today’s Best New Restaurant in America

February is the best time of the year for a romantic getaway. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, there is no better reason to have an unforgettable experience with your special someone in the Finger Lakes. Enjoy our Valentine’s Day special stay at Yale Manor coupled with a delicious and unique dining experience at the country’s best new restaurant, Geneva’s F.L.X. Table. What makes this place so great is its intimate, one-table dining experience that can’t be found anywhere else.

Winter Wildlife in the Finger Lakes

It may be the quiet season, but that doesn’t mean there’s not plenty to do in the Finger Lakes. Despite being cold and dusted in snow, winter is just as much a vibrant season full of wildlife and outdoor activities. To get outside and breathe that brisk winter air, take a short drive to these hiking trails where you’ll find miles and miles of trekkable wildlife viewing. From white-tailed deer to bald eagles, the Finger Lakes are one of the best locations in the country for wildlife viewing, even in the winter.

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Polar Passport to the Seneca Lake Wine Trail

It may be the off-season, if the Finger Lakes even has one, but that doesn’t mean the colder months don’t have their own perks. What we sacrifice in warm weather, abundant sunshine, and outdoor recreation and activities we gain in great deals and better drinks. This winter, the Seneca Lake Wine Trail hosts its off-season promotion, the Polar Passport. The Polar Passport allows visitors to explore the many world-class wineries around Seneca Lake for a price far below the regular cost of tasting at every one of the participating wineries.

Glamour + Camping = Yale Manor

If you’ve heard of a portmanteau, you may have encountered the word glamping. Glamping is a portmanteau, or a made-up word from a combination of two others, that blends the words glamour and camping. And yes, it is a word. An actual word. In 2016, the word “glamping” was added to the latest edition of the Oxford English Dictionary: [noun] – a form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping e.g.

Old Scrolls on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail

If you’re looking for a relaxing weekend or a romantic getaway with your special someone, cozy by the fire at Yale Manor, then you may also find solace (and a much-needed escape from daily life) within the pages of a book. If you’re a bookworm, then one of the Finger Lakes’ bookstores is sure to impress and delight. If not, the Old Scrolls Book Shop specializes in rare books and fine used books. Explore the 1850s farm house, located just five miles southeast of Canandaigua, that was turned into a multi-level library by owners Cathy and Ron.

Cayuga Lake Wine Trail Holiday Shopping Spree

They say multi-tasking usually goes hand in hand with less efficiency, more stress, and many mistakes. But they didn’t say it wasn’t more fun. Multi-task your way to the Finger Lakes this November for the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail’s Holiday Shopping Spree. Taste test delicious wine from America’s first and longest-running wine trail as you cross off your friends’ and family’s holiday wish list. Multi-tasking has never been so productive (or tasted as good!).

Availability Search...