I recently had the opportunity to partner with a lovely family to showcase their retreat, “The Pump House” and share some of the wonderful things to do in the area. If you’ve been here a while you know I absolutely love the Finger Lakes Region and will visit any chance that I get. Along with building in time to relax at the cabin, we also tried to maximize our time exploring the area!

The Pump House is located just 15 minutes south of Watkins Glen, NY and sits on a beautiful, private piece of land. There is a fully stocked trout pond on site, and the property comes with all the comforts of home with nature just outside the door. The house is open for bookings between May and October, has a three-night minimum, and has an average nightly rate of $400 in peak season.

My husband and I were able to meet the owners of the property and loved hearing about the time they have spent there and how much the area means to them. We were also given a tour of their other rental, “The Cabin”! If you are looking for something a little more rustic, this could be the perfect spot for you! It has an outdoor shower and incredible views of Sleeper Creek Valley.

You can book your stay for either property at thegalushafarm.com!!

Here are a few pics of the Sleeper Creek Cabin!

The Pump House offers two bedrooms, a full bathroom, heat and air conditioning, a kitchenette, and a barbecue station right off the deck. There is also a fire pit, and the lovely hosts provide a bundle of firewood to get you started! Hiking trails wind across the 90-acre property, wildlife and bird-watching opportunities and the perfect quiet, rural setting ideal for relaxation.

The Pump House would be a perfect fit for small families or two couples.

After you book your stay, you’re going to want to explore! The house is situated perfectly between the towns of Watkins Glen, Ithaca and Corning, New York.

Here is how my husband and I spent our time in Watkins Glen and Seneca Lake during our stay!

On day one of our getaway, we left our house in the morning so we could stop for lunch at a place I have never been! The Ryan William Vineyard is located on the east side of Seneca Lake and is the perfect spot for lunch on a beautiful day (or really any day)! We sat on the patio, shared a few dishes and of course, had to have dessert. The service was fantastic and the views were spectacular.

In the summer they are open daily from 10 am - 5 pm.

After we checked in and got a tour of The Pump House, we drove into the town of Watkins Glen to catch our sunset sail with Sail True Love. The evening started out chilly and overcast but ended with the most beautiful sunset over Seneca Lake. This is a great activity for families, friends and couples! I highly recommend adding this activity to your itinerary when visiting. The sail is about two hours from start to finish.

After the boat docked, we placed a takeout order from Nickel’s Pit BBQ to take back to the cabin. The menu has something for everyone and everything was delicious.

When we arrived back at the Pump House, it was dark and peaceful and the only sounds were the frogs in the pond. We ate our dinner, settled in for the night and it was the ideal way to end our first day.

Our agenda for day two was packed! We were up bright and early, made coffee, and enjoyed the view from the deck. We even spotted deer grazing around the trout pond!

Now if you are anything like me, a second cup of coffee is always a good idea! We drove the 20 minutes from the Pump House to the Overlook Coffee Company in Burdett. If you have never been here, please add it to your list! The coffee was excellent, the service was wonderful and the views were incredible!

After we grabbed our coffee, we crossed the street to the Burdett Exchange, a gourmet grocery store featuring products from local farms, bakeries, etc. We picked up quite a few things to bring home with us and both agreed we would definitely stop here every time we are in the area.

The rest of the day was spent exploring both sides of Seneca Lake!

We had the most incredible dumplings at Sans Dumpling and bought some wine to bring home from Kemmeter Wines (they are on the same property)
Stopped at the Flower Stand at Labarr Farms
Checked out the tasting room at Atwater Vineyards
Sat on the lawn with a glass of wine at Hillock and Hobbs
and ended the day with dinner at Stonecat Cafe

It was actually the perfect day!

After dinner we drove back to The Pump House to settle in for the night and our plan was to have a bonfire, but it was too cold. We were disappointed to not have that experience but it gives us another reason to come back! We spent another peaceful evening listening to the sounds of nature before calling it a night!

There is something bittersweet about the last morning of a getaway. We made our coffee, talked about how much we enjoyed our time at the Pump House and tried to figure out a time we could return. We packed up and started the drive to the final stop on our getaway.

One of my favorite places to visit when I am in this area is the Honey Bee Embassy located in Trumansburg, NY. It was about a 40 minute drive from the Pump House. I timed this visit perfectly with the start of their honey tastings. This was such a cool experience! We were the only ones booked for our time slot so we got a personalized tasting and had an hour of one on one conversation with the beekeeper! I can’t recommend stopping here enough. I always try and support our local farmers whenever I can! We purchased several jars of their honey and started our drive home.

Before I wrap this up, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to Chris, Beth and Alison for their incredible kindness, genuine hospitality and for trusting Small Beautiful Moments with this collaboration. From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed not just as guests, but as people they truly wanted to share this special place with. It’s easy to recommend a beautiful property, but it’s the people behind it who create the experience you’ll remember long after you leave. Thank you for opening your doors, sharing your vision, and making us feel so at home. I can’t wait to send future travelers your way so they can experience the magic for themselves. I can’t wait to return myself!

Again, you can find all the details at thegalushafarm.com!

As always, I hope to inspire you to get out and experience something new and create your own small beautiful moments!

x, Julie

48 Hours at the Perfect Finger Lakes Retreat