Finger Lakes itinerary question?

[Expidia]

Seems the destinations forum does not get that many views (I deleted it there) and I'll ask it here as I only have a day before I take my boating trip.

Finally getting out to the Finger Lakes, NY region this weekend because the weather North of me looks rainy and West looks great for Fri, Sat and Sun.

A few questions from boaters who might be familiar with these lakes as I want to cruise around checking the lakes out rather than fish this trip.

We have a free Holiday Inn stay for Friday in Ashburn, NY. So I figured I'd first cruise Skaneateles Lake as I'm told there are many new houses going up where they pay big dollars for an old house, tear it down and build houses in the millions which is much like what goes on in Lake George NY.

This past Sunday paper had an article on Lake George houses. There is a new house going up on Lake George for 10 million and another one just finished for 20 million and another for sale for 17.9 million.

Tough economy, Huh?

So the plan is to cruise Skaneateles first and since it not that big a lake try and trailer over to Cayuga Lake later the same day and cruise this one too(around a 40 mile lake).

We have to move over to a motel in Cortland on Sat since our first hotel in Ashburn and most others are already filled for Sat.

I think I'm more inclined to cruise Seneca Lake on Sat (another 40 mile lake) but if the scenery is much the same on Seneca as it is on Cayuga I might rather shoot up route 81 towards the Thousand Islands on Sat and Sun and stay around the Chaumont Bay/ Sackets Harbor areas putting in around there and if the waters are not rough cruising along Cape Vincent and up the St Lawrence towards Alexandria Bay.

If the seas are rough we will just stay around the harbors and fish or trailer further till we get up the St Lawrence where it narrows.

So that's the plan.
Anyone familiar with these areas???
Can anyone recommend a better tour of which finger lakes to see?

 

[NCLakeboater]

Re: Finger Lakes itinerary question?

Cayuga Lake is a nice lake to boat on. If you boat to the southern end, you will see the city of Ithaca, a collegetown with Cornell University and Ithaca College sitting high up on the hills surrounding Ithaca. You can stop at Taughannock State park about half way down one side o the lake.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Finger Lakes itinerary question?

Cayuga Lake is a nice lake to boat on. If you boat to the southern end, you will see the city of Ithaca, a collegetown with Cornell University and Ithaca College sitting high up on the hills surrounding Ithaca. You can stop at Taughannock State park about half way down one side o the lake.

Thx, we almost stayed in Ithaca since it was right at the base of the lake. weather's starting to look iffy for Sat though!

 

[kevindsingleton]

Re: Finger Lakes itinerary question?

I know, I'm reviving a necro-thread! I'm heading up to the Finger Lakes region, next week, and wondered how your trip went, and whether you have any advice on boat ramps, restaurants, bait and tackle shops, or scenery.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Finger Lakes itinerary question?

Sorry for the late response. We never went due to poor weather. If I have to do all that driving from Albany I'm leaning towards heading North of Syracuse up to the 1000 islands region on St Lawrence seaway. I've boated there 20 years ago and it's boating paradise!

 

[kevindsingleton]

Re: Finger Lakes itinerary question?

My wife is from Rochester, and she and her family spent many summers in the Thousand Islands area, so she keeps telling me about it. I hope we'll make it up there, soon.

Thanks for replying. I'll try to post about our trip to the Finger Lakes, when we get back.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Finger Lakes itinerary question?

I live just east of Rochester, grew up on Chaumont Bay, and do most of my fishing/hunting up in the St Lawrence/Chippewa Bay area. Let me know if there you need any info.

 

[John_S]

Re: Finger Lakes itinerary question?

Sorry, never saw this thread in time, but 1000 islands trumps the finger lakes for scenery any day. Now, finding cheap real estate to flip, at either, might be a challenge.

 

[ErikF]

Re: Finger Lakes itinerary question?

Kevin,

Not sure if you've left on your trip yet but I'm a Seneca Lake local and might have some helpful advice.

At the top of Seneca Lake in Geneva the Chamber of Commerce has an excellent public launch, it's usually not too busy and there's generally plenty of parking. I can't really speak to tackle shops as I'm not a fisherman. As for restaurants I live low key, there's a Cam's NY Pizzeria on Exchange Street in Geneva right off the lake, there's also a pretty good Chinese restaurant right next door.

Not really scenery related but if you like to oogle boats you could run up the Seneca-Cayuga canal right from the top of the lake, lots of boats docked on the canal and a few Marina's along the way. You could putter up the canal and go into Cayuga lake, there's at least one lock to go through on the canal and in Waterloo they have nice public docks with bathrooms and showers, from the first dock it's maybe a five minute walk into town so it's pretty convenient if you want to stop and get something to eat.

I can't really comment on any of the other lakes as I primarily run on Seneca.

-Erik

 

[kevindsingleton]

Re: Finger Lakes itinerary question?

DuckHunterJon,

Well, as it turns out, when I bought my New York fishing license online, I got the "2011" version, which isn't good until October! That means I'll have to go back up to NY, next year, so maybe I'll pick up my F-I-L and head up your way. If so, I'll hit you up for some tips!

Thanks!

 

[kevindsingleton]

Re: Finger Lakes itinerary question?

Erik,

We're heading out on Saturday, so your response is timely. We'll actually be staying at a campground in Waterloo (Waterloo Harbor), which is right on the canal, so we might launch from there, and head to both lakes, depending on the day.

Thanks for the info. It's always good to have an idea of what to look for!