Summer In Western Finger Lakes, NY

DAY 1

Join "The Pack" for a delightful summer retreat to the picturesque New York Finger Lakes where you will drink in the beauty and fruits of the land and savor the memories of the region and its many treasures. Following meal and rest stops at your expense along the way, your first stop will be at one of the many award-winning wineries in the Finger Lakes. The Finger Lakes Region has agriculturally rich, sloping hillsides and climate that makes growing grapes optimal. A large part of the credit must go to the growers and winemakers who carefully cultivate the land and grapes to create their award-winning wines. Next, you travel to the town of Geneva to check in to the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Geneva Finger Lakes (315-789-2900) for a two-night stay. The hotel features a indoor pool, fitness center, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Guest room amenities include a mini refrigerator, coffee/tea maker with supplies, hair dryer and complimentary high-speed internet access. Dinner this evening is included at an area restaurant.

DAY 2

Wake to a deluxe continental breakfast included at the hotel before you depart with a local guide for a full day of touring. Your first stop is in the town of Seneca Falls for a driving tour with narration provided by your local guide. Nestled between the tip of Cayuga Lake to the east and Seneca Lake to the west, Seneca Falls is known at the Birthplace of Women's Rights. Movie director Frank Capra used the town as inspiration for the imaginary town of Bedford Falls in the classic 1946 movie, "It's A Wonderful Life". Your guide leads you next to Auburn to visit the Williard Memorial Chapel. The Willard Chapel is an extremely rare example of the work of Louis C. Tiffany and Tiffany Glass and Decoration Company of New York, as it is the only complete and unaltered Tiffany chapel known to exist. Built in 1892-1894, the chapel's Tiffany interior includes 14 opalescent windows, a rose window, a large figure window, 9 Mooresque-styled chandeliers, a ceiling with gold leaf stencils and mosaic tiles, and more. You will be treated to a 20-minute music selection on the historic Steere and Turner Tracker Organ. Afterwards, you depart for a stop at the Harriet Tubman National Historic Park to see the home of the woman known as "the Moses of her people". From 1859 to her death in 1913, central New York was a center for progressive thought, abolition, and women's suffrage where Tubman continued to fight for human rights and dignity until her death. Enjoy an engaging look back at Tubman's story while here at this farm that she chose as her haven, her community and her family's home in freedom. Lunch will be on your own and at your expense today. Next, you will venture onto the Auburn Sweet Treat Trail for a stop at a hydroponic strawberry field, fresh herbs and veggies. Delightful refreshments will be included for the group along with time to browse the gift shop and grounds. Now it's time for dinner included at a local restaurant with the conclusion of your night filled with the incredible story and sounds of the Rev Theatre Company's performance of Bandstand. It's 1945 and our boys are coming home! Bandstand tells the story of musician Donny Novitski who is about to take on the mission of his life: leading his band of fellow veterans into competition for America's next swing band. Watch this heartwarming story unfold and enjoy the incredible music and the sounds of swing, jitterbug and big band coupled with sizzling choreography in this patriotic tribute to our veterans and the nostalgia of the 1940's. Following the show, you return to the hotel for the night.

DAY 3

Enjoy a deluxe continental breakfast included at the hotel before you board the motorcoach and depart for a lovely sightseeing cruise on Seneca Lake. Relax and drink in the beauty as your narrated cruise floats past pastoral scenery dotted with wineries, farms and quaint lakeside villages on Seneca Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes. Once back on land, you travel to Rose Hill Mansion to visit and experience a taste of life on a 19th century farm estate. Built in 1839, the elegant Greek Revival house was center of a busy and productive farm by mid-century. Witness the magnificent view of Seneca lake from the front porch and the vista of nearby farms. Next, it's off to explore Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion. One of the nation's most extensively preserved country estates and inspired by European and Asian locales, Sonnenberg Gardens is a serene respite created by Frederick Ferris and Mary Clark as their Victorian summer home. Sonnenberg is one of the few remaining estates with a Queen Anne Victorian-style mansion and formal gardens in America. The exterior is constructed of rusticated limestone with red medina sandstone trim. It is distinctive for its extraordinary collections of period architecture, garden statuary, themed gardens of the world including a Japanese Garden and Teahouse, and a Lord & Burnham Greenhouse Complex. At the conclusion of your visit, you have time to browse the lovely lakeside village of Canandaigua and have lunch on your own and at your expense. Afterwards, you have a wine tasting included at Glenora Wine Cellars followed by dinner included at the winery as well. Glenora was the first winery on Seneca Lake established in 1977 and opened in May of 1978. The winery has grown from a small operation to now featuring the Inn at Glenora Wine Cellars and Veraisons Restaurant. From high quality sparkling wines, Rieslings and a wide variety of white and red vinifera wines, dessert and fruit wines, there truly is a Glenora wine to please every palate. Following a wine tasting of select wines and time to purchase some of your favorites to take home with you, dinner is included in Veraisons Restaurant. After dinner, you return to the hotel to relax and unwind for the rest of the night.

DAY 4

A deluxe continental breakfast is included at the hotel before you check out and begin your travels toward home, but not without a few more stops along the way. Your first stop is at the Glenn Curtiss Museum of Aviation, dedicated to the memory of pioneer aviator, Glenn H Curtiss. The museum contains a priceless collection relating to early aviation and regional history. The aircraft collection includes original planes dating back to 1917, restorations dating back to 1912 and reproductions dating back to 1904, as well as an automobile, bicycle and motorcycle collection. Following your visit, you depart for the Rockwell Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, is devoted to American Art. Immerse yourself in the essence of the American experience through art with highlights including paintings, prints, sculptures and more from the 19th century to present. Your final stop is just a block away, East Market Street, where you can stroll the brick sidewalks to grab a bite of lunch on your own and at your expense before boarding the motorcoach to return home. Meal and rest stops at your expense will be made as needed on the way home.

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***TIMES & ITINERARY ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE***

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner