Glamping Getaway
Grab your girlfriends and get ready for a summer adventure in the Finger Lakes. Experience the region’s best spots and spend your nights in a one-of-a-kind glamping tent – the perfect way to experience the great outdoors with a slice of luxury.
DAY ONE
Start your first day in Tioga County by grabbing breakfast at Annie’s Place Café. The café has a wide selection of breakfast options to fuel you for your glamping adventure. Try one of their biscuit breakfast sandwiches or opt for a fresh smoothie.
After breakfast, head to Hillberry Farm in Berkshire to pick your own blueberries. Only available in July and August, blueberry picking is a perfect summer activity! Once you’ve had your fill of blueberries, take a stroll along the Owego Riverwalk. The walk offers scenic views of the Susquehanna River along the historic buildings on the Village of Owego’s Riverow.
Relax after your walk with a wine tasting at Glen Park Vineyards. This farm winery serves a variety of delicious wines and cider, including a sparkling Apple Wine and Sangria, as well as a few kinds of Ithaca Beer. Nibble on one of their snack samplers including a Charcuterie Board, Mediterranean Board, and a Butter Board.
Drive up to Ithaca (about 30 minutes) and check into your first glamping site. Firelight Camps prides itself on providing a comfortable and revitalizing camping experience in luxury safari tents. The tents are fully furnished with hardwood floors, a plush king or double queen beds, a private porch with rocking chairs, and battery-powered lanterns. Your stay will include complimentary breakfast, access to Upper Buttermilk Falls hiking trails, and a bathhouse with hot showers and flushing toilets.
Once you’ve settled in, explore Downtown Ithaca Commons and grab dinner at one of the many restaurants. Spend the rest of your night relaxing at the campsite. Hang out by the fire and enjoy drinks from the bar (open 5-11pm). The bar serves artisanal wines, beers, ciders, and spirits from Finger Lakes micro-producers.
DAY TWO
Enjoy complimentary breakfast at Firelight Camps, then participate in an invigorating outdoor yoga class, available at 8:30am or 10am, depending on the day. Head back into Ithaca and browse the Ithaca’s Farmer’s Market. Sample wines and cheeses, pick up some flowers and shop from over 85 local vendors.
As you head out of the area you will travel north along the shores of Cayuga Lake to Finger Lakes Cider House where you can enjoy artisan ciders and farm-to-table food. Finger Lakes Cider House is the hub of the hard cider renaissance in New York apple country. At their tasting room, you can enjoy cider, sparkling wine, charcuterie boards, sandwiches, and more.
Optional Detour: If you have extra time, take a detour into Interlaken to extend your visit. Go horseback riding at D&K Ranch, check out nearby wineries and breweries, and spend the night at Yale Manor B&B and Yurts in Romulus. They offer luxury glamping yurts with upscale amenities and access to their lakefront.
Otherwise, after lunch check into Seneca Sol, Seneca Lake Brewing, or NatureLuxe and Stars. Seneca Sol offers furnished safari tents with private balconies nestled in a secluded forest setting. NatureLuxe and Stars has a variety of safari tents, including one with an in-tent bathroom. At Seneca Lake Brewing you’ll find glamping sites that feature canvas tent-style accommodations with forest and lake view locations. These sites are located very close to the pub which features real cask-style ale, great food, and live music.
All of these locations are designed for those who love luxury and the outdoors.
Explore the charming village of Watkins Glen and grab dinner at one of the town’s unique eateries. Spend the rest of your evening by the fire at your campsite with complimentary s’mores.
DAY THREE
Grab breakfast at your campsite, then check out Watkins Glen State Park for stunning summer views. The park was ranked #1 in New York State by Conde Nast Traveler, so it’s a can’t-miss stop. Within the two-mile hike of the Gorge Trail, you will find 19 waterfalls, all of which are impressively beautiful, but Rainbow Falls is ranked #8 on Conde Nast Travelers’s list of must-see waterfalls in the country. After your hike, cool off with a dip in the park’s Olympic-size swimming pool.
Head south into Chemung County, where you can spend the rest of your day exploring the destination Mark Twain summered for more than 20 years. Grab lunch in Elmira, then hop on the Mark Twain Trolley Tour for a 60-minute narrated tour of Elmira and its rich history. The tour will take you to a variety of stops, depending on the time of day, such as where Mark Twain lived and wrote, Twain’s gravesite, Victorian-era homes, Civil War sites, and more.
After your tour, see the area from the air with a glider ride at Harris Hill. This glider ride will be like nothing you’ve experienced before. Fly in a high-performance ASK-21 two-seater glider for a 20-minute ride over the stunning countryside of Chemung County.
Depart from Chemung County, or head back to Watkins Glen for dinner and one more night of glamping with your girls.
