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I think generally the answer is yes... but I've realized that instead of being so methodical about criteria I'd rather just enjoy the experience of visiting places that look nice and interesting. I know we'll end up finding "home" along the way.
Something that really draws me to Niagara-on-the-Lake is that it looks so meticulously beautified, pristine, and well cared for.
You are absolutely correct. Between the Niagara Parks Commission and Si Wan Lai its a unique area that is breathtakingly beautiful. You will see it when you travel there. I lived nearby with my wife in Canada for 10 years so I know it well. My wife and I had some very special dinners here.
Here are some press releases from Vintage Hotels owned by Si Wan Li. The hotels are all unique and not part of a big chain and have personalized accommodations.
I think what makes the area unique, is that it draws from the 12 million visitors from the Falls. When I lived in Buffalo we went every single year for many years to the plays, restaurants, picnics and fun shopping. We live in Florida now but last summer we visited the area and its more spectacular than ever.
^Maybe scratch Lewiston due to not being on a lake and replace it with another Syracuse area community in Cazenovia. A lakeside community about 30 minutes east of Syracuse, with historical architecture. Skaneateles is about 20-25 minutes SW of Syracuse.
In terms of the bolded community and referring to the waterfalls statement in terms of Ithaca, here is a waterfall just north of that lakeside village: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iHVvWZQioTrmyaSw9?g_st=ic
Cazenovia is similar to Skaneateles in terms of being quite upscale, but does come off as not being as exclusive and isn’t as well known. You do get some with summer homes, but not seemingly to the same degree. It is also close to the eastern suburbs of Syracuse, which is where much of the affluence in the immediate area is concentrated(particularly parts of the Fayetteville-Manlius and Jamesville-DeWitt SD’s).
You can also take Route 20 west into Onondaga County to apple orchards along that corridor and to go to Skaneateles. You can also east on Route 20 to Route 46 to Hamilton only a few towns/minutes away as well.
Last edited by ckhthankgod; 03-22-2023 at 10:20 PM..
I'm surprised that this community hasn't been mentioned yet, even without a lakeside presence and it is across the Hudson River from Kingston: https://enjoyrhinebeck.com/
Yes, it does look nice. I think you can find some places in NY that are well cared for, but just in a different way.
Now, you did mention that some of the places that were mentioned earlier in the thread, you have been to already. What are some of the places you’ve been to and the ones that you haven’t been to?
Have been to:
Skaneateles
Canandaigua
Lewiston
Penn Yan
Fairport
Pittsford
Never been to:
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Thousand Islands
Hudson Valley
Saratoga Springs
Cazenovia
Corning
Watkins Glen
Cooperstown
Clinton
Hamilton
Ellicottville
Aurora (this was mentioned but then the post got deleted..)
Have been to:
Skaneateles
Canandaigua
Lewiston
Penn Yan
Fairport
Pittsford
Never been to:
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Thousand Islands
Hudson Valley
Saratoga Springs
Cazenovia
Corning
Watkins Glen
Cooperstown
Clinton
Hamilton
Ellicottville
Aurora (this was mentioned but then the post got deleted..)
What is nice about some of the places on the never been list is that you can get to multiple places within minutes of each other like Hamilton and Clinton or Hamilton and Cazenovia or Corning and Watkins Glen or Watkins Glen and Ithaca, etc.
So, that could be a good location to be based out of to get to other places in the Finger Lakes region that you are interested in or have never been to.
I took your advice and got tickets for one of the plays. It's at the Royal George Theatre.
The Royal George used to be a movie theater and was converted it into a play venue. There are 2 other theaters, The Jackie Maxwell Studio Theater which replaced the Courthouse. The Courthouse which no longer hosts performances because of accessibility issues. I kinda liked the Courthouse because of the U shaped seating gave you a unique view. The Festival, which is the main theater, has stadium seating. Make sure you make dinner reservations the day of your play, otherwise you may not get to eat at the restaurant of your choice.
Have been to:
Skaneateles
Canandaigua
Lewiston
Penn Yan
Fairport
Pittsford
Never been to:
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Thousand Islands
Hudson Valley
Saratoga Springs
Cazenovia Corning
Watkins Glen
Cooperstown
Clinton
Hamilton
Ellicottville
Aurora (this was mentioned but then the post got deleted..)
In terms of the bolded city, there are multiple museums like these here: https://home.cmog.org/
Much of the big box shopping is in Big Flats/Horseheads, nearby suburbs of Elmira, but there is some in the Gang Mills/Painted Post area just to the west.
It is also about 25-30 minutes from Watkins Glen, 50 minutes from Ithaca, an hour from Binghamton, about an hour and a half from Rochester and an hour and 45 minutes from Syracuse.
Make sure you go to Treadwells Restaurant in the Gateway Hotel. If you sit in the front room there are beautiful views of the people walking by and its near the Royal George. We haven't eaten there in some time so I am not 100% sure how good it still is.
Here is an article from Toronto Life about awesome restaurants outside of the GTA:
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