Cayuga Lake Byway is for lovers of history, art, and wine

The scenic 100-mile drive around Cayuga Lake in New York State’s Finger Lakes includes nature, historical sites, art, and wineries plus stunning views of the lake at every turn.  What’s not to love?

The Cayuga Lake area is rich with history. In Union Springs admire the 1840s Greek Revival church built by Erastus Myers for the Presbyterian congregation. Today the congregation is no more, but the building now houses the Frontenac Museum that focuses on local history. Many of the small towns have preserved their architecture and maintained their small town ambiance including Aurora where many of the buildings have been restored. 

Besides many small art galleries to discover, top on the list for art lovers is Ithaca’s Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University where visitors can view two of Frank Lloyd Wright's windows from the Darwin D. Martin House in Buffalo and there are always special exhibits.

MacKenzie-Childs in Aurora is a step into an artistic Wonderland. Watch artists create their fanciful tableware and home furnishings. Along with the Petit Palais, a quarter-inch scale home completely decorated with MacKenzie-Childs miniatures visitors can tour the Victorian farmhouse where the décor of each room highlights one of MacKenzie-Childs signature designs. The picturesque farm is also home to a herd of Scottish Highland cattle, more than 90 birds roosting in the Gothic Revival-style Chicken Palace, a duck pond, a 1930’s greenhouse, and beautiful gardens

The Finger Lakes and wine are synonymous, however along the Cayuga Wine Trail there is always something new and exciting going on in the wineries and it is not all about grapes and wine.  Six Mile Creek Winery, housed in a restored turn-of-the-century Dutch-reform barn with spectacular views of Six Mile Creek valley and vineyards, recently started a new venture distilling spirits including vodka and grappa.

Every winery schedules events throughout the year especially at harvest time. Take part in pumpkin picking, carving, and decorating at Cobblestone Farm Winery’s Pumpkin Festival. Sample roasted chestnuts and chestnut soup during the Chestnut Festival at Goose Watch Winery. At Swedish Hill Winery celebrate Santa Lucia Day on December 8, a traditional Swedish holiday, with special treats handed out by Santa Lucia and live festive music.

Looping the Lake can be done in a day but it takes more than one day to discover all there is to see and do. Often the best part of a driving trip is stopping to enjoy the view and the finding the unexpected. There is a lot to love along the Cayuga Scenic Byway.