When the weather starts to cool down you might be tempted to just stay home and hunker down, but you can choose to embrace the cold, lean into it, and embrace a “cozy” mindset.
We asked the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection staff and friends to tell us about their favorite places to get cozy during the winter months. Here are some ways Finger Lakes locals will be staying cozy this winter!
Marketing and Project Assistant, Patti Rose, says her cozy space is walking along the Auburn Trail in Victor with her golden retriever and enjoying the peaceful quiet of the woods that surround them. They walk along the trail next to Mertensia Park, watching kids sled down the hill and then venture onto the bridge to gaze at the partially ice-covered creek flowing through the woods. Occasionally, a deer crosses their path and then scampers on its way into the snow-covered forest.
Marketing Manager, Jessica VanDeMar, says her cozy place is wine tasting at Belhurst Castle in Geneva with her husband. Having been married there, the romantic Castle is a special place for them whenever they return. Whether it’s snowing or sunny, the view of Seneca Lake from the uniquely designed tasting room, is not only stunning but invokes a feeling of calm, rest, and relaxation. The award-winning collection of Belhurst Estate wines and their own Mabel’s Oats Soda Company craft beer and hard cider are all available for tasting and to take home plus the gift shop is amazing!
Finger Lakes author, Laurie Adams, finds one of her cozy spots during the winter is taking a leisurely ride through the Raggi Christmas Light Show on Buckskin Drive in Farmington. The entire neighborhood is transformed into a magical winter wonderland from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve. If it starts snowing during your drive, that’s a bonus, creating the illusion of a beautiful snow globe. Tune your radio to 91.1 FM and enjoy Christmas music, with some homes even coordinating their light show with the tunes! The 20-30 minute drive is a fully immersive experience filling you with the joy, magic, and the wonder of Christmas.
President and CEO, Valerie Knoblauch, finds her cozy place on the City Pier in Canandaigua, especially when there is light snow falling against the crystal-clear blue lake. Strolling along the pier at sunset with a piping hot cup of coffee (just straight and black) from Dalai Java and her phone camera, it’s the perfect time to capture light and shadows on the shimmering lake as the golden sunset begins to dip beneath the horizon. “Just being in this beautiful place in any season, in that moment warms me up and makes me think how lucky we are to live in this beautiful place,” she says. Strolling along alone or with friends, City Pier is her happy place!
Vice President of Destination Development, Tracey Burkey, says her cozy moment is strolling down the Main Street of Canandaigua with light snow falling. She loves to duck into the various shops, stop for a warm lunch next to the fireplace at Simply Crepes or perhaps enjoy a glass of Finger Lakes wine at one of the welcoming wine bars. “The friendly faces and charming atmospheres are like a warm hug,” she says.
The Town of Phelps is Content Marketing and Public Relations Specialist, Theresa VanWormer’s, cozy place of choice. She loves being able to wander around the locally known “Phelps Triangle”, that encompasses some of the best of Phelps all in a short walk. Storefront shops lit with flickering candles, surrounded by opportunities to cozy up with a seasonal spirit at Smokin’ Tails Distillery, grab a hot & gooey sweet at Fluffing Feathers & Flour Bakery, or wander around the Country Lawyer Gallery of the Arts, all encourages great conversation.
Sarah Braddon, who provides visitor and photography services, says a cozy weekend for her starts Saturday with lounging by the window, a warm cup of coffee in hand, wrapped in a blanket, watching the snow fall gently over the lake, then hitting the slopes at Bristol Mountain and taking in the breathtaking views from the summit. Bonus cozy points for their ski-in waffle café half-way down the mountain.
Jaynee Straw, who also provides visitor services, enjoys the simple pleasure of taking walks along Kershaw Park on the North shore of Canandaigua Lake. She picks up her favorite coffee at North Star Coffee and walks the trails, stopping along the way to sit on a swing and take in the view of snow on the horizon of the lake. If the conditions are right, she might even see some ice fisherman angling for trout, bass or perch. Jayne says, “The beauty of the area creates a coziness deep inside!”
Painter and Graphic designer, Cindy Harris, of Harris Studios is looking forward to capturing the feeling of love and coziness with her family at Kettle Ridge Farm where Santa is making a special appearance on Saturday, December 21st. A holiday brunch buffet will be set up in their beautiful barn. If you don’t mind a little walk, you can pick up your food and bring it back to one of six cozy igloos (yes, I said igloos!) set among the maple trees. As Kettle Ridge Farm, well known for their fine maple syrup, says “it’s an ultimate tree-to-table experience.” If you can’t make the Santa breakfast on December 21st, Sugarmaker’s Igloo Brunch is available from January to March by reservation. The intimate, maple-inspired, “chef’s choice” five-course brunch is served inside the igloos for 6-8 people.
Meg Vanek, freelance writer and editor who assists Visit Finger Lakes with many different projects, says “I’d have to say it’s the charming village of Clifton Springs in winter. The quaint Victorian downtown covered with snow and little white lights over the holiday season evokes a Currier and Ives lithograph reminiscent of simple small town life.” Her perfect day is having a late lunch with friends at the historic Warfield’s Restaurant, all decorated up for the holidays, then browsing through the Main Street shops and watching as the twinkling lights start to shine over the Village. To her, this is Finger Lakes coziness at its finest!
What is your favorite cozy place in Ontario County? Tag us on Instagram or Facebook @VisitFLX or tag us with #FLXperience to show your winter activity of choice in the FLX!
