DAY 1
Start the getaway off right with a guided premium cider tasting at South Hill Cider just outside of downtown Ithaca. South Hill Cider has been crafting elegant and complex ciders crafted from apples from their onsite orchard since 2003. Pair it with housemade snacks or cheese and charcuterie board featuring locally-sourced ingredients and regional cheeses. After a short drive, check in to Hope Lake Lodge at Greek Peak Resort. This sprawling resort nestled in a peaceful valley boasts spacious suites with cozy in-room fireplaces, a serene space and onsite dining. Head to dinner at The Exchange Restaurant in Homer, an upscale eatery in a historic building serving elevated American cuisine like Pineapple Poke Bowl, tuna steaks, and NY strip steak with 15-hour potatoes. Save room for dessert from their famed bakery.
DAY 2
Fuel up with a classic breakfast at the resort at Carvers Steakhouse. Carvers serves hearty breakfast fare like nutella french toast and sausage and gravy biscuits to start a busy day out right. Choose a bloody mary or mimosa if you’re feeling up for it. Join in on the resort's snowy action for a morning of downhill skiing at Greek Peak Mountain Resort, central New York’s ski resort. If you’re looking for a slower speed, go cross-country skiing at Lime Hollow Nature Center where you can immerse yourself in nature on one of their 12-miles of scenic and serene trails on 592 acres of natural land. After an active morning, head to lunch at Hairy Tony’s located in downtown Cortland where you’ll find a classic gastropub serving seasonal comfort food. Take a fascinating tour of Cortland’s famed 1890 House Museum, the imposing Victorian home of Chester F. Wickwire and his family where visitors can step back in time and experience what daily life was like for both the family and the servants living and working in the home. Spend a cozy cocktail hour at Bar Argos in the beautiful Argos Inn whose building dates back to the 1830s. Choose one of their meticulously crafted inventive cocktails rated on a “scale of weirdness” from “colloquial” to “delightfully unusual” to “what?!” Head to dinner at Ithaca’s famed Moosewood Restaurant, the revolutionary vegetarian restaurant that recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
DAY 3
Treat yourself to brunch at Simeon’s American Bistro, an upscale destination for brunch on the Ithaca Commons where you can order fresh oysters or a seafood tower alongside classic brunch options. Bundle up and take a chilly stroll through the winter gardens at the Cornell Botanic Gardens. be sure to make your way to the Newman Overlook, one of the highest points of the Cornell campus, to appreciate the landscape of the arboretum which was carved by Fall Creek’s waters beginning more than 10,000 years ago. Head to Ithaca Bakery for lunch, a much loved institution in Ithaca loved by students, locals, and visitors alike. The bakery has been crafting artisan breads, bagels and sweets for more than 100 years. A trip to the Finger Lakes isn’t complete without a winery visit. Before departing, stop by Hosmer Estate Winery on the west side of Cayuga Lake and one of the oldest on Cayuga. Hosmer boasts a serious commitment to sustainability, proving sustainable efforts and excellent cool climate wines (hello Riesling!) make a perfect pair.
