A few weeks ago I attended a TBEX Finger Lakes, a travel blogging conference located in charming Corning New York. I have been to this small city several times as a child. Also, I attended college in the area. However, this was the first time I had been back in years.
My biggest impression? Corning New York is definitely a small town with some big city appeal with endless options nestled around its charming borders.
Corning New York is less of a surprise than a revelation. This charming town has world-class museums, fabulous antique stores, stunning nature to explore and is host to an impressive array of all the eries, wineries, breweries, and distilleries. The area has so much to see and do, it’s impossible to cram it all into one week, let alone 5 days. Furthermore, one could return to The Finger Lakes region repeatedly and find something new each time.
Additionally, Corning New York has a surprising array of ethnic restaurants for a small town. On the main drag of Market Street, you find Mexican, Chinese, Thai BBQ as well as brick oven pizza. Also, there is no shortage of homemade ice cream.
I was treated to a pre-conference tour and also explored on my own a bit during the conference. Consequently, here are my 6 recommendations of unique and interesting things to do in and around Corning New York, a jewel of a town in the Finger Lakes region of New York State.
#1 Corning Museum of Glass:
The Corning Museum of Glass is situated right over the bridge from the center of town, which is a 15-minute walk from the Radisson Corning where I was staying. Today’s version is not the Museum I visited as a child.
The venue has expanded significantly with stunning architecture and a dazzling display of world-class glass art.
The collection contains over 50,000 pieces from all over the world and covers a period of 3,500 years including pieces from ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
Watch glass blowing demonstrations at one of the world’s largest facilities. Or, even better, become a glass blower yourself creating your own object to take home.
After choosing what piece to create (our choices were a flower or a pumpkin), pick colors to customize your creation.
Then, the fun and friendly glass blowing team get to work on creating your object. When it comes time to blow air into the object to expand it, that’s where you come in.
I love my gorgeous glass pumpkin creation. What a fantastic experience and a beautiful souvenir to take home.
You can purchase everything from pyrex dishes to Israeli designer jewelry made of glass in the museum’s vast and extensive Gift shop. With over 50,000 items, there is something for everyone.
The TBEX conference was based at the museum. Participants had time between sessions to explore the wonders of the museum and its beautiful campus of this focal point of Corning New York.
#2 Hiking
Our pre-conference tour started with a two and a half mile hike through the Mitchellsville Gorge. This mild hike is on private posted land and not at all strenuous.
The motto of my college town is “Ithaca is Gorges”. Anyone who has visited the area is stunned by how gorgeous the gorges are. The one on this hike was not as dramatic but still, it was a beautiful and enjoyable meander through the forest.
The major features of this hike are the creek and its many waterfalls, and the beautiful pine and hemlock forest.
The trail was speckled with little orange lizards which caused quite a commotion among the bloggers.
Not to be outdone by the friendly fall lizards, this young bull met up with us at the end of the hike.
The hiking trail ended in a beautiful vineyard.
Where we may or may not have sampled the grapes.
#4 Pontoon tour & lunch on Keuka Lake
Even though the day was grey, our pontoon boat tour of Keuka Lake, the only Y shaped Finger Lake was a great experience. Gregarious Captian MaryJo of OnKeuka welcomed our group on board and despite the gloomy weather, we merrily set off for the other side of the lake.
On the way, we enjoyed MaryJo’s informative talk on the highlights of the area as she provided snacks.
Around 30 minutes later, we were greeted by the chef and staff as we arrived at the Switzerland Inn on the other side of the lake.
We settled on the restaurant’s gorgeous deck with a view and enjoyed a generous and tasty lunch.
This was the highlight of the day for me. I can only imagine how much better it would be if the sun was shining.
#5 Visiting Breweries & Distilleries
Breweries
Although the Finger Lakes are famous for their wineries, the breweries that have popped up are impressive and Brooklynesque. We visited two creative breweries and a funky fun distillery. And, yes, we sampled flights at each of them. Hiccup.
At the Finger Lakes Beer Company, we were given a choice of four beers to sample from their extensive menu of American craft beers.
We chose from more traditional type ales and lager to brews with names like Ring of Fire or Nitro Steamboat. Fun flavors like cocoa-nut, blood orange and watermelon are also available.
Despite its humorous name, the owners of The Brewery of Broken Dreams are serious about beer.
The tasting room itself is warm and welcoming. Cozy even. All their beers are brewed with 100% NYS hops and 100% NYS base malts. Pouring from 12 Taps (10 – 11 standard and rotating ales and 1 occasional limited release/specialty ale) there are a lot of delicious options to sample and savor.
I am proud and slightly embarrassed to say, I sampled every single item on this menu below.
Note Triskaidekaphobia, the last beer on the list. Specially brewed Every Friday the 13th, the brewery embraces the mystery that surrounds that day by brewing their special Triskaidekaphobia Strong Ale. It is brewed with 13 ingredients on Friday the 13th and is always released on the following Friday the 13th.
Lastly, a bonus for our group was Douglass, the owner took us around back to the garage to show us the pristine brewery in the premises.
Distillery:
Producer of award-winning gins and vodkas, The Krooked Tusker Distillery is a fun and funky stop in the Finger Lakes. The property itself has a wide comfortable porch with stunning views. A perfect place to sip one of their hand-crafted, small-batch spirits made from locally sourced ingredients.
The company’s tusked elephant logo is inspired by the owner’s time spent in India. There is even a huge elephant sculpture in the room with the stills.
The owner built and innovated all the parts of the distillery himself. The stills all have unique names. For example, Selu (named for the Native American goddess of corn) is the moniker for the company’s combination mash tun/stripping still.
There was a lot to choose from to sample. However, with two brewery tour behind us, we were game but obviously, a bit alcohol fatigued.
This delicious strawberry vodka tasted of fresh strawberries. I also loved the Frolic Gin. Both spirits do not need mixers. They both taste wonderful straight up.
You won’t find more creative bottle labeling.
The names are also quirky and entertaining.
#6 The Rockwell Museum
The Rockwell Museum has a deceptive name. At first, I thought it might contain paintings from Norman Rockwell. However, after visiting this special space during an evening event, it was clear this museum has nothing to do with the other Rockwell museum in the Berkshires.
Located in the heart of Corning New York, this Museum is founded around a gifted collection from a couple named Rockwell. The Rockwell Museum focuses entirely on the American experience through the eyes and works of American artists. Consequently, there are stunning pieces from American Indians as well as a gorgeous collection of paintings.
The Rockwell Museum is completely the opposite in appearance of the sleek Corning Glass Museum. The building is housed in the old city hall building and is also a stunner. Furthermore, the museum prides itself on also functioning as a community center. A definitely don’t miss stop when in Corning New York.
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