02/17/2021
story and photos by Helen Heizyk
I was born and raised at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, but it wasn’t until I moved an hour away that I realized how much there is to see and do around this Finger Lake. I’m sorry, Mom, for every “I’m bored” I ever uttered!
That said, more than a couple of times over the past few years, I have hopped in the car and headed east to drive the 87-mile loop known as The Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway.
Along the way, I’ve enjoyed beautiful views of the lake and rural landscapes. I’ve stopped to hike many of the trails in the State Parks beside gorges carved out by glaciers and have been mesmerized by the waterfalls.
I have spent countless hours watching birds migrate through the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge at the north end of the lake and walking the 5.5-mile long Cayuga Waterfront Trail at the south end.
Some places to visit while traveling around the lake
1 Downtown Ithaca
downtownithaca.com
2 Jane Morgan’s Little House
janemorganslittlehouse.com
3 Kendal at Ithaca
kai.kendal.org
4 Long Point Winery
longpointwinery.com
5 Pat’s Pizzeria
patspizzas.com
6 Sheldrake Point Winery
sheldrakepoint.com
7 Tompkins County Chamber
tompkinschamber.org
8 Tugley Wood Timberframing
tugleywood.com
Helen is a volunteer at the Finger Lakes Museum. See more of her Finger Lakes photos at facebook.com/flmuseum
