October 19 through October 22, 2014 tour throughout the beautiful Finger Lakes region of upstate New York.
Sunday,
October 19th
• 3:00 pm
Arrival into Ithaca Airport - Your motor coach and
tour guide will meet the group at
the airport and assist with luggage handling onto the bus.
• 3:30 pm – 5:15 pm
Cornell
Plantations and Gardens: Enjoy a drive-through the
Cornell Plantations Arboretum, followed by a visit to their welcome center and
botanical gardens.
• 5:15 pm – 6:30 pm
Fabulous Falls Above Cayuga Tour: Our Fabulous Falls Above Cayuga Tour is a one
hour tour that is perfect experience for getting you acquainted
with Ithaca and the natural beauty of our area. The group will experience three
waterfall stops where we get out and explore the gorges carved out by Fall
Creek and Cascadilla Creeks. These creeks border the beautiful Cornell
University Campus and provide beautiful sites along its shores.
We will traverse the famous Cornell Suspension bridge - a pedestrian bridge that is suspended 138 feet above the water, then see the falls surrounding College Town, as well as Cascadilla Falls.
• 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Dinner at Cornell’s
Statler Hotel with classical harp
accompaniment.
• 9:00 pm
Hotel Check-in
Accommodations – 3 nights: La
Tourelle Inn and Spa – 18 rooms reserved. La Tourelle is a French country inn
nestled in the hills overlooking the city of Ithaca. One of the finest inns in
Ithaca, it’s a goal to provide its guests country elegance in a warm welcoming
setting.
DAY 2
Monday, October 20th
Breakfast: At Hotel Signature farm-to-table breakfast at the hotel
• Bus departs by 8:30 am - We will make our way up the east shore of
Cayuga Lake where beautiful vistas if the lake are enhanced with the autumn
palate of colors of the surrounding hillsides.
Your guide will share stories about the village of Aurora, the
home of Wells college and
MacKenzie-Childs, and one of its famous alumna.
• 9:30 am – 11:45 am
MacKenzie-Childs: Experience
the unique Victorian estate of MacKenzie-Childs,
world-renowned maker of beautiful hand-painted ceramics and home
furnishings.
Enjoy the gardens, decked out in autumn harvest spendor. Receive a
back-of-the-house VIP tour of the studio. Tour the restored Victorian farmhouse
showcasing their designs.
• 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Lunch at the Aurora Inn: Enjoy a seasonally-inspired lunch and a
gorgeous lake view at the Inns of Aurora. Built in 1833, the Aurora Inn has
been described as one of the most beautiful spots in the Finger Lakes.
• 1:15 pm – 3:30 pm
Return to MacKenzie-Childs for shopping in their
exquisite show room and
explore first hand their beautifully unique products and gifts.
• 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm
Explore the lakefront and storefronts of Skaneateles:
Skaneateles is considered one of the most picturesque lake-front
towns in the Finger Lakes. With the beautiful Skaneateles Lake as the backdrop,
historic Main Street is filled with shops and galleries housed in restored
buildings dating back to 1796. Browse for unique food, distinctive fashions,
original art, home accessories, or a special antique, or simple enjoy the view
of the glistening lake from one of the benches in Clift Park.
• 6:15 pm – 9:15 pm
Enjoy a private 3-course Murder
Mystery Dinner at Mirbeau Inn
and Spa in Skaneateles: A crime has been committed, and you are recruited
to solve the murder! Examine evidence, interview suspects and witnesses, and
use deductive reasoning to solve the crime. A murderously fun time for all!
• 10:00 pm
Return to Hotel
DAY 3
Tuesday, October 21st
Breakfast: At Hotel
• Bus departs by 8:30 am – As we make our way through the rolling
hills, enjoying the fall foliage from Ithaca to Corning, your guide will share
stories about the history of the region.
• 9:30 am – 11:00 am
Morning at The Corning Museum of Glass:
At Corning Museum of Glass -
When the group arrives at the museum, their morning starts with a
Make Your Own Glass Workshop where they will have the opportunity to create
their own sand-blasted glass souvenir.
Afterwards, guests will have the opportunity to explore the museum
on their own including:
The Contemporary Glass Gallery, one of the best collections of contemporary glass art;
The Glass Collection Galleries featuring the most comprehensive collection of glass artifacts anywhere; The Hot
Glass Show, where they will experience a live,
narrated glassblowing demonstration; and the Glass Innovation Center, an interactive, high-tech science and technology
experience.
Enjoy lunch on own at Museum
of Glass Café as well as shopping time at the museum Glass Shop
• 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Shopping
in the Downtown Corning Gaffer District:
Step onto the brick sidewalks of Market Street in the heart of
Corning’s Gaffer District. Not only is it a fabulous shopping area, but it’s
also alive with the pulse of a vibrant history. Just taking a stroll down the
street and glancing in all the storefront will reveal treasures of days gone
by. You’ll be amazed by what you find when you peruse the one-of-a-kind pieces
in the antique shops and glass studios.
• 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Wine and Chocolate Tasting at Damiani Wine Cellars
Enjoy some of the region’s best wines at Damiani Wine Cellars
overlooking the beautiful Seneca Lake. Here you will taste among others,
Riesling, Gewürztraminer Cabernet, and Merlot paired with regionally-made
chocolate designed specifically to go with wines.
• 5:45 pm
Farm-to-Table
Cooking Tasting Demonstration Wine Dinner
Enjoy a classic farm-to-table harvest wine dinner at Silver Queen
Farm with Chef Brud Holland. Chef Holland will prepare a 3-course meal for you,
based on produce picked right from the farm, as well as other locally-sourced
ingredients. Experience the flavors of the Finger Lakes as you learn about
preparation and cooking methods, shopping tips, and the magic behind the
wonderful regional food of our area. Enjoy your meal with a different Finger
Lakes wine paired with each course.
• 9:00 pm
Return to Hotel
DAY 4
Wednesday, October 22nd
Breakfast:
At Hotel
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am Shuttle to Airport:
Experience! The Finger
Lakes will provide vans to shuttle guests to the airport for check in starting
at 10:30 am.
