Hike Watkins Glen State Park: This gorge trail winds past 19 waterfalls carved into shale over thousands of years, with stone bridges and tunnels along the way. Go early to beat the crowds and bring sturdy shoes; the path can get misty and slick but it's well worth the views.

Tour the Seneca Lake Wine Trail: More than 30 wineries line this trail, but Hermann J. Wiemer was our favorite stop. There's no set flight—you choose 2oz or 5oz pours and build your own tasting, so you actually get to taste around and land on what you like. They're best known for Riesling, but we ended up loving their Chardonnay, which surprised us since neither of us is usually a Chardonnay drinker.

Cruise Seneca Lake on a boat and waterfall tour: This ended up being a trip highlight. Our captain took us past waterfalls you can't see from the road, then brought us back to his own home along the water, where we sat looking out at the falls and tried some of his favorite local wines.

Visit the Corning Museum of Glass: One of the world's premier glass museums, with live glassblowing demonstrations and a hands-on Make Your Own Glass studio that's fun for all ages.

Explore Taughannock Falls State Park: The 215-foot falls here are taller than Niagara, framed by a dramatic gorge. The half-mile Gorge Trail to the base is an easy, scenic walk.

Take a wineries-by-water tour of Cayuga Lake: Board a boat in Aurora for an afternoon hopping between waterfront wineries like Sheldrake Point, Long Point, Thirsty Owl, and Goose Watch. We loved the chance to sample without driving, and our captain told amazing historical stories about the area as we sailed.

Wander Aurora and tour the MacKenzie-Childs farmhouse: This storybook lakeside village is home to the whimsical MacKenzie-Childs brand; the free farmhouse tour and grounds overlooking Cayuga Lake are worth the stop even if you're not shopping.

Walk the Geneva Lakefront Trail: A flat, scenic path along the northern tip of Seneca Lake—a good stretch-your-legs stop between wine country and the rest of the region. There's a welcome center right along the trail that's perfect for a quick break, and it even has a tasting desk if you want to squeeze in a wine sample without a full winery stop.

Float over wine country on a hot air balloon ride: A handful of local operators launch sunrise and sunset flights over Seneca and Cayuga Lakes' vineyard-covered hillsides—an unforgettable way to see the region.

Squeeze in a visit to Cornell University: Perched above Cayuga Lake in Ithaca, it's one of the most beautiful campuses in the country—the gorges, botanic gardens, and views are worth the detour even if you're not touring for admissions. Grab lunch at Collegetown Bagels right by campus—it's a great, easy bite before or after walking around.

Graft Wine + Cider Bar: Hands-down the best meal of the trip, and really the only upscale option in Watkins Glen. We sat at the bar, which turned out to be the way to go—got to chat with the staff most of the night. The duck was outstanding, and the wine list does a great job spotlighting the local region.

Seneca Harbor Station: A lakeside Watkins Glen institution for seafood and steaks, with a deck right on the water—a great spot for a relaxed dinner with a view.

Barnstormer Winery: Beyond the tasting room, their wine and charcuterie pairing board on the patio overlooking Seneca Lake is a relaxed way to spend a late afternoon. This is also where we first tried Blaufränkisch, a red that's fairly unique to the region—it was so good it had us checking every other winery we visited to see who else had it.

The Blackberry Inn Kitchen: More of a take-out spot than a sit-down one — build your own breakfast sandwich on a bagel, bread, or English muffin. It's the perfect quick bite to grab before a day of hiking or wine tasting.

Water Street Cafe: A laid-back lunch stop in Geneva at the north end of Seneca Lake. It's family-run with an old-school diner feel—nothing fancy, but a classic diner experience with the food to match, and an easy walk to the lakefront trail. The grilled cheese with bacon was delicious.

Aurora Brewing Company: Casual, family-friendly craft brewery in the village of Aurora with a lobster-themed lineup of beer names that had us laughing at the menu. Our two favorites, Tiny Lobster and Little Lobster, are in fact two different beers.

Fargo Bar & Grill: An easygoing lunch spot in Aurora.. They claim to have the best burgers around, and we agree—if you like some spice, try the Jalapeño Crunch.

1833 Kitchen and Bar: Elevated New American dinner in Aurora with lake views—a great way to close out an evening in Cayuga wine country.