Tom, Nicole, Margie and I are up in the Finger Lakes region this week scouting our upcoming Classic Motorsports Empire State Tour for next year. We know the area pretty well and have found most of the waterfalls and museums and are of course heading to Watkins Glen today. But, we would love to hear about any lesser know sites or activities, lunch spots (that can handle a group of 50-60 people) and especially private collections worth taking a look at. Any help would be most appreciated. Thanks
In reply to Tim Suddard :
I don't know specifics, but some of the wineries have food- cafe, charcuterie, etc. And with the vines, it makes a pretty stop for cool cars. We found a couple while passing through the area last fall.
I was about to drop some suggestions until you said 40-50 people. Most wineries are on the smaller side there, although I'm sure they'd love the business. Red Newt has the best dry rieslings. There's a thai restaurant in watkins glen, Thai Elephants, that's really good and pretty affordable. And it's BYOB, so hit up a winery or two, pick up a bottle, then get some thai food.
I'll chime in and say the Finger Lakes is chock full of beauty ... and wineries.
There's a road named after my family in the middle of nowhere, but it's just a road sign. 
Another interesting tidbit of information is that Mark Twain is buried in Elmira. I don't recall if there's anything special surrounding it.
I vaguely remember the Corning Museum of Glass as being something interesting, but it's been years since I've been there.
I'm eager to hear other people's thoughts.
J.A. Ackley said:I vaguely remember the Corning Museum of Glass as being something interesting, but it's been years since I've been there.
Corning Museum of Glass is absolutely amazing.
In Hammondsport, NY you have the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum, devoted to Curtiss motorcycles and aircraft.
In reply to Tim Suddard :
As far as wineries for the CM demographic, my ranking would be:
1) Bloomer Creek
2) Atwater
3) Hector Wine Co.
"Private collections":
Take Route 96 out of Watkins Glen towards Hector, contin-ue past the Route 142 junction towards Burdett and on the right side you'll find a field full of Volvos, Alfas,Fiats, Lancias, and some other orphaned makes. At least you'll find great subjects for "Ran When Parked"
It's the top of Seneca, but these guys can handle a group that size
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! Keep them coming.
Letchworth state park is a little west of there a nice place to spend some some time
In reply to NickD :
+1 on the Curtiss museum. It's well worth stopping in there.
Another vote for both the Corning museum and Curtiss Museum. The Nation Comedy Center is also supposed to be good but I haven't been there. https://comedycenter.org
My sister and brother in law own a cidery in Canandaigua that can definitely accommodate a big group
Sounds like you've got the rest of it more or less covered. Geneva has really changed a lot over the last decade or so as well, lots of good food and drink spots there now.
Wally (Forum Supporter) said:Another vote for both the Corning museum and Curtiss Museum. The Nation Comedy Center is also supposed to be good but I haven't been there. https://comedycenter.org
I've been to the National Comedy Center a few years ago. It was pretty awesome. They had a great exhibit on swear words.
The Luci Ball Desi Arnaz Museum had a replica (I believe replica) of the set that was used during the show. Jamestown is a tad outside of the Finger Lakes region, though, about three hours away in Western New York, but it's worth the visit if anyone's in the area.
My wife and I loved this:
https://www.danosonseneca.com/index.html Easily reached from Watkins Glen, and you get to take Rt 414 northbound, which has gorgeous views of Seneca Lake. For 50-60, they might open just for you for lunch. Call well in advance.
Yet another vote for Corning Museum of Glass. Plan for about 2 hours.
There are scenic boat rides that depart from Watkins Glen.
Any Wegmans.
The ladies would like a visit to MacKenzie-Childs in Aurora NY. Large enough parking lot for a stop. Obviously very big on checkered flag motif. Beautiful grounds.
Taughannock Falls State Park has a big parking area where all the cars could be staged with picture of falls in background.
The Shequaga Falls; a waterfall right downtown in Montour Falls. Postcard photo op, but you can't get the cars in the picture.
The bar at Seneca Lodge... historic racing history.
Top shelf stuff piled up at International Motor Racing Research Center in downtown Watkins Glen.
We go to Watkins Glen even if there isn't a race. Mrs Frog's favorite racing venue destination.
Are new GR86s allowed to sign up? or would it be a travesty? 
+1 for Corning Museum of Glass, Glenn Curtiss Museum (fascinating place!) and any Finger Lakes waterfall. At Lower Treman State Park just outside of Ithaca, you can legally swim in the pool below a big waterfall. Talk about the ultimate back massage! Then be sure to walk into the gorge at upper Treman State Park. Spectacularly beautiful!
https://parks.ny.gov/parks/roberttreman/
The last part of the ride from the Glen to Treman State Park is on NY Rt 327. One of my favorite driver roads on the east coast! Has it's own version of Laguna Seca's corkscrew, LOL.
If you go to the bar at Seneca Lodge, ask the bartender to tell you the story about the index finger that's mounted on a wooden base and kept behind the bar. I still haven't decided whether I believe that story or not!
Headed to The Glen for the G.P. Fest tomorrow. See you there!
Beek and Skiff apple orchard that time of year might be yummy.
Hunt County Vineyard on Keuka lake is fantastic
One of the most polluted lakes in the world at one point, Onondaga lake, is right near where I grew up
Corning glass museum is amazing, especially if you pay for the live demonstration
Buttermilk Falls is also a pretty amazing park. And, for those who aren't up to some of the more rugged hikes (Robert Tremane can be brutal) or for those short on time, you can see the waterfall from the parking lot. There's a trail to hike up and around it, but it's not necessary.
A little far east, but Cortland has a mini-golf course with the world's longest mini-golf green, plus there's a really neat A&W next door (it still has the old phone handsets at the table to place your order)
All I remember from my 2002 trip was one hell of an impressive dam--don't remember the name or the location, though. Did a short tour of the Redding company but I'm certain the only reason they indulged me on that was that I worked for MidwayUSA at the time.
We've stayed at the Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca NY. If you're not in to gambling they have entertainment, good food and great rooms.
Also there is Lake Chautauqua just up I-86 from the Comedy Museum.
In reply to stroker :
Mount Morris Dam, near Letchworth State Park perhaps?
Wings of Eagles is a neat aeronautical museum. We started one of the ABRR events there. Wings of Eagles Discovery Center – …imagine the possibilities
The Northeast Classic Car Museum is pretty cool - one can definitely spend a few hours looking at all they have. Also - not hard to put together a nice drive to it from Watkins Glen. Home - Northeast Classic Car Museum
Dano's on Rt 414 "might" be able to accommodate a group that large with enough notice - especially if you can schedule for an "off" day as you would basically take over the entire place, although they do have a large outdoor patio. Excellent Austrian/German cuisine.
Food for this sort of thing is tough. It's why the group I work with to organize the ABRR events has one person who's sole task is organizing the food stops.
In years past, I would be in Watkins Glen right now touring wineries before the Vintage Festival. My -ex and our MINI club friends are there now.
In reply to NickD :
That was prolly it. Photos don't do it justice.
I'm told the apple harvest will be poor this year due to a late frost. Research that if you have any apples on your itinerary.
You can go to Penn Yan and see the World's Largest Pancake Griddle! Twenty eight feet and one inch!
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