Wine Trails and Waterways of New York State
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Wine Trails and Waterways of New York State7 nightsFrom £1075 per person
Price includes: Flights, accommodation and car hire
Our Trails of New York state takes some of the state’s best wineries, along with the Hudson Valley, and its marvellous mansions, Lake Ontario and the thundering Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Rochester and the Erie Canal with its bike trails, canal front parks and locks, along with the beautiful Finger Lakes. The right combination of climate and geography makes New York perfect for growing grapes and more than 35 different varieties can be found across the state. The popularity of the wine is growing year on year and this holiday will allow you to sample some of the best there is on offer.
Day 1 Arrive in New York and drive to the Hudson Valley, approx. 90 miles.
Farms and estates occupied by the same families for centuries span the banks of the Hudson River and the area boasts some great local produce in addition to its wines, spirits and artisanal beer. Don’t miss a visit to Hyde Park to tour the Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites. The Springwood estate is the family home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, together with the FDR Presidential Library & Museum. The National Park Service has retained 300 acres of the original expansive farm which are now open for strolling and there is a great visitor centre which details the lives and work of both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Outdoor enthusiasts will also enjoy the area’s fishing, mountain biking, kayaking and hiking across the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge, Walkway Over the Hudson. The ultimate experience is a biplane ride and airshow at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.
Make sure you have time to visit Dutch’s Distillery at Homestead Farm, Pine Plains, this was home to one of the largest bootlegging operations ever found in Dutchess County which was raided by the FBI in 1932, this actual distillery was not discovered until 2010. Enjoy tasting Sugar Wash Mountain Moonshine which is once again being distilled (legally) at this historical site.
For garden enthusiasts visit Innisfree Gardens near Milbrook just a 30 minute drive from Rhinebeck – it is a mix of Japanese and Chinese designs with modernist and romantic ideas and a lovely place to explore.
Stay for two nights in either Rhinebeck or Fishkill.
Day 2
Travel the Shawangunk Wine Trail and visit some of the eleven wineries which follow the tradition of the early French Huguenot settlers who brought their wine making expertise to this valley over 300 years ago.
Day 3 Travel the Hudson Valley to Rochester, approx. 300 miles.
Continue up the Hudson Valley to Albany and follow the route of the Erie Canal to Rochester. This city is a great blend of the old and new. Don’t miss the International Museum of Photography and Film at the George Eastman House, the live music venues in the downtown area or the many historic sites dedicated to women’s rights. There are plenty of things to see and do along the Erie Canal, with hiking and biking trails, boat trips or kayaking. Stay one night in Rochester.
Day 4 Rochester to Niagara Falls, approx. 80 miles.
Drive along the Seaway Trail to the splendid Niagara Falls, where you will spend the next two nights. Enjoy the thrills of the Falls either from land or water, and don’t miss the illuminations at night.
Day 5
The Niagara Falls area is dotted with wineries and you can follow the Wine Trail which combines award-wining wineries with sleepy back road driving. Alternatively visit Buffalo and the Albright Knox Art Gallery, which has a magnificent collection of modern art including works by Leger and Picasso to name but a few. Spend some time at Canalside to see the original Erie Canal or visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Darwin Martin House which is a must see, as is the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site.
Day 6 Niagara Falls to the Finger Lakes, approx. 125 miles.
Drive to the Finger Lakes regions and stay two nights in Geneva. The lakes offer stunning scenery and state parks – Letchworth State Park and Watkins Glen State Park, as well as great wine trails such as the Seneca Lake Wine Trail and the Canandaigua Wine Trail.
Day 7
Sample some more great wines at one of the many wineries or enjoy a boat trip on one of the lakes. There is unique local shopping as well as great restaurants combining the best local ingredients with some of the area’s favourite wines. Make sure you visit the New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua. From here you could also take a drive to the Corning Museum of Glass where you can explore glass from all perspectives and even make your own.
Day 8 Finger Lakes to New York City, approx. 280 miles.
Take a scenic drive back to New York and drop off your car, before your flight back to the UK, or spend some nights in New York City.
