Watkins Glen Travel Guide

 
by jcjlkrebs
  •   Watkins Glen
    by jcjlkrebs
  • Unique Winery
      Unique Winery
    by jcjlkrebs
  • Directions at one of the Wineries
      Directions at one of the Wineries
    by jcjlkrebs
  • Another Winery
      Another Winery
    by jcjlkrebs
  • Local Winery
      Local Winery
    by jcjlkrebs

Explore Watkins Glen

Things to Do  

Watkins Glen State Park

Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen

 Tom_Fields Says:  This is one of the jewels of upstate New York. The stream has cut a deep chasm through the rock cliffs, creating numerous waterfalls and scenic vistas. The Gorge Trail winds through this beautiful place. Two other trails follow the tops of the cliffs. It's a moderately... 

Downtown Watkins Glen

Downtown Watkins Glen, Watkins Glen

 Tom_Fields Says:  Strolling about Watkins Glen, one can get plenty of information at the Visitors Center, have lunch or a cup of coffee, or just enjoy the views. This is a very picturesque town. Look for the plaques along the sidewalk, which are dedicated to some of the NASCAR drivers who... 

Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting, Watkins Glen

 crifl Says:  What a great place to hit the wineries. Bring a designated driver. There's about 40 around Seneca Lake alone. 

Watkins Glen State Park

Watkins Glen State Park, Watkins Glen

 crifl Says:  You have got to take this trail through the Gorge. Simply breath-taking experience (in more ways than one) 

Wine Tasting in the Finger Lakes

Wine Tasting in the Finger Lakes, Watkins Glen

 jcjlkrebs Says:  My wife and I have enjoyed wine for a number of years, however we are certainly not wine snobs. When we lived in California we made several visits to Napa and Sonoma Valley and enjoyed the wine tasting. When we retired to Florida and met many people in our retirement... 

Finger Lakes Wineries

Finger Lakes Wineries, Watkins Glen

 Tom_Fields Says:  I didn't have time to visit the wineries in this beautiful part of New York. But it's a popular thing to do, so here's some information on it. The sight of so many vineyards beside the road made taking photos irresistable. Just to be safe, I recommend a tour with a driver;... 

Cruise on Seneca Lake

Cruise on Seneca Lake, Watkins Glen

 Tom_Fields Says:  This is the largest, deepest, and in my opinion most scenic of all the Finger Lakes. The cruises are from the waterfront in Watkins Glen. The one I took is the Stroller IV, which offers short, narrated cruises around the southern end of the lake. See the US Salt Works,... 

Lake Cruise

Lake Cruise, Watkins Glen

 kooka3 Says:  Captain Bill's Seneca Cruises has both sightseeing cruises and meal cruises. For $8, you can take a 1 hour sightseeing cruise which takes you past Hector Falls, lots of wineries, etc. They give you a lot of historical information, too, which is really interesting. They run... 

See the glen that give the town its name

See the glen that give the town its name, Watkins Glen

 kooka3 Says:  Yes, there is an actual Watkins Glen. This is a state park and is a fantastic place to hike, to look at great rock formations, to wonder at the force of water as it wears down rocks . . . . The glen is actually a mile and a half long with 19 waterfalls, and cliffs reaching... 

Hotels  

Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel

 1 Review and 381 Opinions  If you are planning a trip to the Corning Glass Museum, treat yourself to an exceptional stay at the... 

Restaurants  

Rainbow Cove: Dining Among the Vineyards

Rainbow Cove: Dining Among the Vineyards, Watkins Glen

 Tom_Fields Says:  Looking for a good restaurant that's off the beaten track? On the western shore of Seneca Lake, nestled among the vineyards, is Rainbow Cove. It's a small, unpretentious resort, away from town. The restaurant is good, but not too pricey. One of its most appealing features is... 

Seneca Harbor Station: Waterfront Dining in Watkins Glen

Seneca Harbor Station: Waterfront Dining in Watkins Glen, Watkins Glen

 Tom_Fields Says:  Very nice waterfront dining, with great views of Seneca Lake. The building was once a railroad station, built in 1876; the old tracks are still visible. I had a really good burger. 

The local burger joint: Really?

The local burger joint: Really?, Watkins Glen

 Suzanne123 Says:  The community surrounding watkins glen is a mixture of cattle ranchers AND vegan enthusiasts. In this city you can have your choice: steak or nature/grain burger. The local fast food burger chain place was the first in North America to try selling veggie burgers to... 

Local Customs  

Watkins Glen is in Fingerlakes...
chrissyalex profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

chrissyalex 747 reviews
View of Seneca Lake & vineyards from winery

Watkins Glen is in Fingerlakes Wine country and a visit to the area would not be complete without visiting at least one of the nice wineries there. My favorite is Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards. This winery is very laid back and cozy and it is aimed more towards the younger crowd. It is located in a nice area on a hill with lovely scenery and a nice view of the lake. The wine tasting area is designed like a pub and they serve you popcorn while you taste the wine. The wine is very reasonably priced too. My favorites are Cabin Fever and Brambleberry

Updated Oct 4, 2002

Was this review helpful?

Tourist Traps  

Timespell In the summer every...
chrissyalex profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

chrissyalex 747 reviews

Timespell In the summer every night at Watkins Glen state park they present a program called Timespell which is a laser and soundshow that tells the history of the park. It is OK I guess and I am sure children like it,but seeing big laser images projected on cliffs just wasn't my thing.

Written Oct 4, 2002

Was this review helpful?

Off The Beaten Path  

Montour Falls

Montour Falls, Watkins Glen

 Tom_Fields Says:  The town of Montour Falls lies south of Watkins Glen, on Highway 14. A stream winds its way through the town, making its way down to Seneca Lake. The town has a number of waterfalls, some visible from the highway and others a short distance from it. 

Farm Sanctuary

Farm Sanctuary, Watkins Glen

 Suzanne123 Says:  45 minutes west of the city is an animal rights activist farm. For education regarding the environmental, political, ethical reasons not eat meat here is the place to be. Here you can inform yourself about the other aspects of farming that is not make public. If you or a... 

Seneca Wine Trail

Seneca Wine Trail, Watkins Glen

 kooka3 Says:  WG is a great starting point for a winery trip. Plan on taking the whole day if you want to make it all the way around Seneca Lake, or just a few hours if you want to see the ones closest to Watkins Glen. There are 25 wineries officially listed on the wine trail. There are... 

Moosewood Restaurant

Moosewood Restaurant, Watkins Glen

 Suzanne123 Says:  Nearby in Ithica New York is the famous Moosewood restaurant. Now I can't say that I have been impressed because the two times that I have been there they had long line ups, fish as a menu choice of four options, and peas and pasta as a second choice. Save your dollar and... 

Favorites  

WATKINS GLEN STATE PARK This...

WATKINS GLEN STATE PARK This..., Watkins Glen

 chrissyalex Says:  WATKINS GLEN STATE PARK This is one of New York State's prettiest parks. There is a mile and a half walking trail and along the way you will see beautiful gorges, 19 waterfalls, and 300 ft Sandstone cliffs. I would suggest you visit here in the late spring to Autumn because... 

John195123's General Tip

John195123's General Tip, Watkins Glen

 John195123 Says:   Camping with my uncles and walking around with them. What a wild night. They got all liquored up and partied all night while we young boys tried to sleep. It was great. We only got the cops called on us once. They stopped by the next morning. We left after that, leaving my... 

Comments

Map of Watkins Glen