Featured Member News from Finger Lakes Visitors Connection

Featured Member News from Finger Lakes Visitors Connection

Tips for Staying Cozy in Chilly Weather

This time of year is a stark contrast from our warm, green summers here in the Finger Lakes! Currently, a blanket of snow is covering the ground and many locals are enjoying cozying up by a fire at their favorite local pub.  Here are 5 tips on how to stay cozy during snow flurries and darker evenings – Finger Lakes Style.

  1. Stock up on candles! On darker evenings, a warm flame can bring in the ambient light and warmth missing this time of year.

  2. Use two blankets on your bed if you share with someone! This is a Scandinavian method, so we can’t take credit, but having separate blankets ensures everyone stays cozy and warm.

  3. Sleep more! I recently learned that some ancient people who lived in cold climates would sometimes sleep up to 14 hours a day in the winter. Allow yourself some guilt-free rest and relaxation.

  4. Take a bubble bath and warm up your bones after chilly days outside! Epsom salts or a bath bomb can make the experience all the more enjoyable.

  5. Host a dinner and invite over your friends and family. Enjoy a nice night together around the dinner table. Don’t forget the candles!

Bristol Mountain - Ski, Snow, and More!

Did you know that Bristol Mountain sits on a base elevation of 1,000 feet and rises to a 2,200-foot elevation at the mountain summit? It has the greatest vertical rise between the Adirondacks and the Rocky Mountains. Views from the summit and the 34 slopes and trails are breathtaking and provide a variety of inclines for every skier and snowboarder from beginner to expert!

If you are more of an indoor enjoyer, the lodge provides cozy and warm spaces to relax and enjoy a snack while the rest of your party enjoys their dose of winter adventure. Bristol also offers a Nordic Skiing Center, complete with well-lit and groomed trails for snowshoeing and cross country skiing!

Indoor Activities for the Family at Eastview Mall

Winter in the Finger Lakes is ideal for kids who love sledding, skiing or snowball fights, but sometimes there are days when even the hardiest winter lovers don’t want to go outside. On those bitter, icy days when it’s too cold to even build a snowman, entertain the kids at Eastview Mall in Victor, NY. Far more than just a place to shop, Eastview is full of activities for the younger set. Check out the blog!

Must-Do Holiday Festivities in the Finger Lakes

Fire & Ice Winter Festival 

Ranked #1 in Forbes’ 2024 Top Winter Festivals, the Fire and Ice Festival will return to Canandaigua on February 22 and 23, 2025. Live ice sculpting contests, fire shows, plenty of great food and drinks.

Winter Solstice Celebration

On December 21, celebrate the winter solstice surrounded by pine trees and the natural world at RSMC Cumming Nature Center. Create nature-crafted ornaments, help decorate a tree for wildlife, take a winter walk, and even cross-country ski if there is enough snow.

Finger Lakes Winter Carnival

January 17-19, explore Canandaigua while you shop, sip, and savor! The annual Finger Lakes Winter Carnival will kick off with shopping and music at Bristol Mountain, continue in Downtown Canandaigua where you can spin the wheel to win free prizes and discounts, and reach a crescendo at the Lake House on Canandaigua, where you can enjoy great food, drinks, and classic carnival games. 

Unveiling the Ontario County Visitors Guide

This year we are inviting readers to experience Ontario County through the storytellers of our region! This 52 page magazine style guide and poster map contains interviews with local business owners and community members. If you are interested in reading the guide, distributing or displaying it at your business, they are available for pick up at our office (19 Susan B. Anthony Ln. Canandaigua, 14424).

Here is a little bit of the introduction to our latest edition of the Visitors Guide:

“Many people know our region for our wines. We invite you to not only taste our wonderful wines and craft beverages, but to also experience the Finger Lakes “Beyond the Tasting Room.” As you embark on your journey, enjoy this visitor’s guide as a testament to the trailblazers who have transformed the region into a diverse, vibrant, and welcoming destination.”

For your immediate viewing, you can click the link below to visit our Guides page, where a digital version is available.

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!

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