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| Finger Lakes Wine Country |
| Upstate New York offers an escape for the entire family with world-class museums, sprawling vineyards and plenty of local flair. |
| By Lainey R. Seyler |
 Snaking through the New York countryside on my way to Watkins Glen and the town’s speedway, I thought for sure I was lost. Turns out I wasn’t, but I was afraid I had gotten too distracted by trying to watch the lake reappear around each bend in the road or by gazing into century-old farmhouses.
I came to the first stop sign for miles, looked right and left and couldn’t remember which way to go. With nary a gas station in sight, I thought I was certainly out of luck. Not so. A van pulled into a driveway nearby, and I noticed a sign that read “Farm Fresh Eggs.” Perfect. Better than a gas station. The woman, who presumably raised the chickens from birth and likewise sold their eggs from her barn, was more than happy to give me reassurance that I was not, in fact, lost as she sent me on my way.
In many ways, it was the quintessential encounter in the Finger Lakes region of New York. First, the woman who gave me directions was friendly even though I didn’t buy any eggs from her, and she didn’t expect me to. So often customer service is passed off as genuine interest.
And secondly, upstate New York, as far as I can tell, is dotted with shops, restaurants and businesses in general that are owned, supplied and managed by next door neighbors and friends from the PTA. As much as they are their own practically self-sustaining community, the folks in Finger Lakes are also making a name for themselves in hospitality.
This summer, stay away from the city. Finger Lakes Wine Country has plenty to offer and is now gaining worldwide recognition as a wine destination. With more than 100 wineries, the region has the largest concentration of wineries east of California. There’s also an abundance of water activities, world-class museums and a historic motor speedway. Water and wine are the big draws to the area. No matter how big or diverse your family, there will be something to enjoy.
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