Canandaigua, New York Travel Guide
Welcome to Canandaigua, New York! Canandaigua is located in the Finger Lakes region of New York and sits at the top of Lake Canandaigua. Home to about 10,000 people, this town has a downtown area full of restaurants, breweries, and shops. Outside of town, visitors can enjoy the lake, hiking, and skiing nearby. Canandaigua is an easy day trip from Rochester, NY (30min, 28 miles), Syracuse, NY (1hr 15min, 69 miles), and Buffalo, NY (1hr 40min, 91 miles). With plenty to explore, Canandaigua is a great weekend getaway or vacation destination. Come and enjoy the Finger Lakes region!
Most locals would agree that anyone visiting Canandaigua must see the Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park. This estate belonged to Frederick Ferris Thompson and his wife Mary Clark Thompson who used it as their summer home. Visitors can tour the Queen Anne-style mansion and the expertly manicured gardens.
Downtown Canandaigua has plenty of small shops to visit. Stop into Good Life Tea for loose leaf, Pulp Nouveau Comix & Records for a new read, Sweet Expressions for chocolate, or Canandaigua Record Exchange for some tunes. Looking for gifts? Head to Cinderella Glass Worksor Unique Toy Shop. Also in town is the Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC for short). This venue attracts many large national touring groups, so keep an eye out for your favorite performers!
As Canandaigua is part of the finger lakes, many visitors want to dip their toes in the water. Spend time in Canandaigua Lake, the fourth-largest finger lake! In town, take a stroll along the Canandaigua City Pier, swim or kayak at Kershaw Park, or take a ride on The Canandaigua Lady, a paddle-wheel boat cruise! For more fun with water, consider spending a day at Roseland Water Park.
The Finger Lakes is home to great outdoor recreation. Consider nearby hikes at Onanda Park and Canandaigua Vista Nature Preserve. Here in the winter? Take a trip to Bristol Mountain Ski Resort to hit the slopes!
This small town has a major food scene, specializing in breweries. For craft beer lovers, a trip to Canandaigua means trying a new brewery every night! Try Twisted Rail Brewing Canandaigua and Frequentem Brewing Co. for beers and pizza, Naked Dove Brewing Company, Peacemaker Brewing Company, and Star Cider for ciders and Mexican food. Start your day with a cup of caffeine at Working Class Coffee or a pastry from Resilience Bakery. Canandaigua has a variety of different genres of food including American favorites like The Green Front for wings and Eric’s Office for classic American food. Grab some German food from Rheinblick or margaritas from Rio Tomatlan. For a nice dinner, consider New York Kitchen on the Lake featuring local produce and artisan goods, sit on one of two levels of dining at Kix on Main, or enjoy the sunset on the rooftop bar at Nick’s Chophouse. Finish the night off with a sweet treat from Cheshire Farms Creamery or Scoops Ice Cream.
With so much to do in Canandaigua, you may need to stay a few nights! Consider booking a room at The Lake House at Canandaigua, a resort hotel on the water, or Hotel Canandaigua. Into bed and breakfasts? Stay at Bella Rose Bed and Breakfast or Canandaigua Guesthouse. Nearby chain hotels include Holiday Inn Express, Econo Lodge, and Super 8. Need a whole place for yourself? Consider booking a Vrbo. Some of our favorites include this Lakefront Home for 8, a Downtown Apartment for 4, or this Rustic Chalet for 8.
Want to visit but not sure when? Consider planning your trip to Canandaigua during the Ring of Fire ceremony or the Canandaigua Lakefront Art Show. Whatever you’re into, Canandaigua, New York has something worth seeing. We hope this travel guide gave you a glimpse into life in Canandaigua that can inspire a future visit.
Happy Travels!
The Modern Travel Guide
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