Sips, Scenery & a Stay in a Covered Wagon on Keuka Lake

Living in Buffalo, NY means I have traveled to the Finger Lakes more times than I can count. The best part of having access to this gem of an area is that every time I go, there is something different to do. I usually pick a lake, pick an interesting place to stay and build my itinerary around that. So, when I came across a post for a rental company that had a Covered Wagon as an option, I immediately asked my friend if she would be down to join me. With zero hesitation, she said yes! Now one might think that this type of accommodation would imply a “roughing it” scenario, but this wagon had everything you could possibly want or need for a comfortable stay. Electricity! So that means air conditioning for the summer months and heat for the colder months. A full bathroom with sink, shower and toilet (just like at home), small refrigerator, Keurig coffee maker, television, wi-fi, a queen sized bed and also a futon for extra seating/sleeping. Outside you’ll find plenty of wood for a fire, all the fixings for s’mores and Adirondack chairs.

The wagon is situated approximately seven miles south of the town of Penn Yan, New York on the east side of Keuka Lake and is in the perfect location to access the wine trail. The actual address is provided a few days before your arrival date. Rates for the wagon start at $90 per night, with the cheaper rates being in the off season. We paid around $250 for one weekday night in the middle of July. Check in for the wagon was super easy and just an fyi that the wagon is pet friendly! Bookings can be made through Skelly Properties! They have several other unique properties like a space station and a yurt!

When I visit the Finger Lakes, I love to make an itinerary that isn’t centered totally around wine. For this particular trip, I wanted to challenge myself to do things that I haven’t done yet. Our first stop when we got to Keuka Lake was lunch at the beautiful Bully Hill Vineyards located at 8843 Greyton H. Taylor Memorial Drive, Hammondsport, New York. I have seen so many posts about the food there and figured it would be a great way to start our little getaway. We arrived around 1:00 pm on a Thursday and it was packed. We waited for about 15 minutes and were treated to a lovely table on the patio with lake views. We decided to share a few items so we ordered the pickle ranch wrap, salt potatoes, coleslaw, fried green tomatoes and mimosas! We would have ordered more but we wanted to make sure we had room for dinner at the Main Deck later. Everything was fabulous and this will definitely become a high recommendation of mine for anyone visiting Keuka Lake. We checked out the little country store and then we were off to our next stop. We did not do any wine tastings on our visit, but the tasting room is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Next on our list of stops was the newly opened Living Roots Winery located at 8560 County Road 87, Hammondsport, New York. The tasting room is stunning and the views are incredible and the wine is delightful. We did not do a tasting here but instead opted for a glass instead. I tried the Bone Dry Riesling for $11 per glass and my friend went with the Red Rizza (a chilled red) for $14 per glass. Both were excellent and we each went home with a bottle for later. They also offer some snack options and other n/a beverages. The tasting room is open daily from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. It was so lovely sitting outside that we didn’t want to leave but the wagon was calling us! Living Roots is definitely one of my favorite wineries to visit in all of the Finger Lakes.

Dinner was at the incredible Main Deck in Penn Yan. It was about a 10 minute drive from the wagon and is such a lovely spot right on the lake. I would say this is somewhat fine dining but with a casual undertone. Our dinner was spectacular. I ordered the lobster bisque and a caesar salad with salmon and my friend ordered the grilled wild salmon entree. I wish I would have taken more photos but we were really enjoying the vibe and just chatting. Reservations are recommended in the summer months! If you are looking for something a little more casual, Tunnel Bar is located underneath the restaurant and has a menu of small bites, cocktails and craft beers.

After dinner we made the short drive to the Spotted Duck Creamery located at 999 NY-54, Penn Yan, NY. If you haven’t been here, definitely add it to your list of stops. The ice cream is made in small batches from farm raised duck eggs and the flavors are unique and so creamy. I ordered a scoop of the strawberry rhubarb and one of the vanilla creme. If you can’t choose, you can always order the Seneca ice cream flight and sample them all. The flavors change pretty frequently but I guarantee there will always be something delicious to choose from. After ice cream, we went back to the wagon to relax and get ready for the next day.

The next morning we got up, made some coffee and got ready for our next outing. We packed up and said goodbye to the wagon. Now I know this blog is about spending time on Keuka Lake but I really wanted to share about this unique experience on Seneca Lake near the town of Watkins Glen. Falling Waters Boat Tours is located on the East side of Seneca Lake at 3816 North Falls Road, Burdett, New York and is about a 35 minute drive from the covered wagon. In my opinion, it’s worth the drive! When you arrive for your tour, you will board a private boat that will cruise around Seneca Lake for about 30-40 minutes with views of cliffs, vineyards, lakefront homes and Hector Falls. After docking, you’ll take a quick walk to a private tucked away patio right next to the falls where you can sip on local wines and sample local cheeses all while learning about the incredible Finger Lakes. If you are up for it, you can throw on some water shoes and take a walk right under the falls! Tickets are limited for each time slot to six people. The tour company offers daytime, sunset and private tours ranging in price from $82 for a single ticket to around $500 for the private tour.

I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to experience so many of the wonderful things the Finger Lakes have to offer and I love being able to share these things with you. If you get the chance to stay at one of the Skelly properties, please come back and leave me a comment and let me know what you think! I think for my next stay, I’ll check out the space station haha!

As always, thanks for reading and happy traveling!

X, Julie