Oftentimes you hear the question, "Oh, where do you go to school?" and you respond saying that you go to a tiny college nestled in the Finger Lakes Region in Upstate New York. The person will always respond with "Where's that?" and you have to usually say "South of Rochester" or "Just west of Syracuse" and with the name of the closest lake to your school in order for the person to have somewhat of an idea where you live.

Often enough, these people have no idea how picture perfect the Finger Lakes Region is, especially during the fall. I consider myself extremely lucky to have picked a school in such a gorgeous location. Not only is the scenery amazing, there are also endless state parks, wineries, festivals, restaurants, and other activities that you can do when you're not spending time in class.

Parks

Keuka Lake State Park, Letchworth, Watkins Glen, Buttermilk Falls, Seneca Lake State Park, and Stony Brook are all great choices for a weekend day trip. Gorgeous waterfalls, rushing water, gorges, walking trails, and unforgettable scenery in each park.

Wineries

Wine tours really aren't anything special down here, it's sort of a bi-weekly thing. Wine Wednesday is a must. The gorgeous views too from the vineyards are an extra plus as well. Glenora, Fox Run, Bully Hill, Heron Hill, and Hazlitt are just a small few of the wineries located throughout the region.

Shopping

Waterloo Premium Outlets are just one of the few shopping venues in the area. Destiny USA is just a short drive to Syracuse, and there's Eastview Mall in Victor! Don't forget about the quant little shops in all of the towns in the area, you never know what you may find in them. Antiques shops are quite popular as well.

Dining Out

There's many local restaurants, cafes, pubs, and ice cream shops hidden in the Finger Lakes Region. My personal favorite, Seneca Farms, located in tiny Penn Yan is a hotspot for delicious ice cream and fried chicken. Any local spot is a good choice!

The Lakes

Most importantly, the lakes in this region. Cayuga, Seneca, Keuka, CanaYou always think that your lake is the best lake, even though they are all equally beautiful. Boating, fishing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, the possibilities are endless. Don't forget about the mesmerizing sunrises and sunsets either!