Looking for Fun and Low or No Cost things to do around the Finger Lakes region this summer? I’ve listed some ideas here. The last listing I wrote for winter was a list of things that cost $10 or less per person. I’m going to challenge myself and look for ideas that cost $5 or less per person. I bet it’ll be a breeze!
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Wild Wings Birds of Prey Facility – Visit this Raptor conservation and research facility to learn about how they help injured birds of prey. FREE. In Mendon Ponds Park, Honeoye Falls, NY. FLTM Post.
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Ganondagan State Historic Site – Tour a 17th Century bark longhouse , hike miles of trails and learn about Seneca history & culture – Adults $3, Children $2, Members Free. Victor, NY. FLTM Post.
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Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge – Visit, hike, photograph or simply observe migratory birds and wildlife at this refuge. FREE. Seneca Falls, NY.
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Wegmans Concerts by the Shore - On Wednesday evening from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., catch terrific bands playing at Ontario Beach State Park. Food available nearby or consider a picnic. FREE. Rochester, NY. FLTM Post.
- Lazy Acre Alpacas – Tour a working alpaca farm and meet its fluffy residents. Bloomfield, NY. Tours $5/person, reservations requested.FLTM Post.
- Bike or Hike the Erie Canal – If you have the energy, you can bike or hike all the way from Albany to Buffalo along the beatiful Erie Canal. FREE.
- Ward W. O’Hara Agricultural Museum – Step back in time and discover how farms ran a hundred years ago. Auburn, NY. FREE, Donations appreciated. (Photo courtesy Kristian Reynolds and the Cayuga County Office of Tourism)
- The Windmill Farm & Craft Market – (Saturdays only) Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of this traditional Amish Market with hundreds of booths. Penn Yan, NY. FREE.
- Women’s Rights National Historic Park – Visit the location where the First Women’s Rights Convention took place and tour 4 historical properties. Seneca Falls, NY. FREE. FLTM Post.
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology – If you’re a wildlife and bird lover, don’t miss this sanctuary, dedicated to research, education and conservation. Ithaca, NY. FREE, donations appreciated.
- Sodus Point Lighthouse Museum - Explore maritime history in this authentic 1824 lighthouse that was used up until 1900. Adults $3, Children $1. Sodus Point, NY.
- Download a trail from Let’s Go Hike and Bike and go bicycling or hiking in the Finger Lakes – 66 different trails, including info about, and attractions on those trails. FREE. (Fee for some attractions on trails). Finger Lakes region. FLTM Post.
- Jell-o Museum & Gallery – Visit a museum dedicated to Jell-o and its Founders – Age 12-Adult $4, 6-11 $$1.50, 5 and under Free. LeRoy, NY.
Rochester's Public Market is over 100 years old
- Rochester Public Market - Visit the oldest regional public market with hundreds of vendors - FREE. T & Th 6 a.m.. – 1 p.m. Sat. 5 a.m.-3 p.m. Rochester, NY.
- Swim at Kershaw Park - Enjoy a refreshing plunge in Canandaigua Lake. Adults $3, 6-18 $2, under 6 Free. Canandaigua, NY.
- Willard Memorial Chapel - Visit the only known Chapel in existence created by Louis B. Tiffany & Co. Suggested donation $3. Auburn, NY.
Outdoors Enthusiasts love Letchworth State Park
- Letchworth State Park – Explore the Grand Canyon of the East. $7 fee per vehicle. Wyoming and Livingston Counties.
- Cayuga Nature Center - Enjoy an exhibit of 40+ live animals, a butterfly house and a tree-top observational lookout. Adults $3, Srs./Students $2, children $1. Ithaca, NY.
- Cornell Plantations – Naturalists will love the arboretum and botanical gardens! FREE. Ithaca, NY.
- Johnson Museum of Art – Discover a world of Art at Cornell’s Art Museum. FREE. Ithaca, NY.
- Go Geocaching along Routes 5 & 20 - If you own or can borrow a geocache, you can spend the day “hunting for treasures. FREE. Across Routes 5 & 20.
- Stony Brook Park - Enjoy swimming, hiking, a Picnic and viewing a waterfalls in this lovely State Park. FREE. Dansville, NY.
- Weaver View Farms - Discover Amish furniture, quilting, handwork and canned goods at this Amish emporium, located on a working Amish farm. FREE. Penn Yan, NY.
- Ride the 1905 Dentzel Carousel at Ontario Beach Park -Take a picnic and enjoy Ontario Beach State Park and its carousel. $1 for carousel ride. Rochester, NY. FLTM Post.
- Tour the Pleasant Valley Winery – Visit and tour the oldest winery in the Finger Lakes, established in 1860. FREE. Hammondsport, NY.
Golden Eagles are some of the residents of Wild Wings Birds of Prey Facility
July 6, 2009 at 6:55 am
Carol,
What a GREAT list! Thanks. We will be printing this and using it as a reference.
July 7, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Carol,
Let me offer orienteering as a great close-to-home event.
You get to go to local parks that you may not know much about and get out and around them in ways that you might not otherwise.
For the competitive minded, it’s possible to go a bit faster and place – the group sends out ribbons for first, second and third;-)
In the Rochester area, the cost is $6/group (one map – $1 for additional maps in a single group) and if you want to try out a second course that is free. [start at a simple "white" and get a bit more complex with "yellow" after that, and "orange" after that] The whole family can be one group, or sometimes I see a couple “competing” against the kids as a second group. (or one parent and child against another parent and child) I don’t know that you can find a fun physical activity that costs less. [We also provide snacks and drinks afterwords]
Here’s the schedule. When it says “starts from one time to another” – you can start anytime in that range, and have up to 2 hours to finish. If you wanted to do a second course, you’d have to start early enough to finish the first course and be ready to go back out before the start window closed.
July
8 Wed Ellison Park. Sprint #1, Score-O, and White. Score-O mass start at 7:00 p.m. Sprint and White starts at 6pm.
25 Sat Seneca Park. Sprint #2, Score-O, and White. Score-O mass start at 11:00 a.m. Call Hotline for times of Sprint and White.
August
6 Thu Basil Marella Park (Greece). Sprint #3, Score-O, and White. Score-O mass start at 7:00 p.m. Sprint and White starts at 6pm.
23 Sun Brighton Town Park. Sprint #4, Score-O, and White. Score-O mass start at 2:00 p.m. Call Hotline for times of Sprint and White.
September
12 Sat Highland Park. Rec center. National Orienteering Day. White, Yellow, and Sprint #5. Start from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Notice some events are on weekends, and others mid-week.
Wednesday (tomorrow!) is right over at Ellison Park.
steve
July 7, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Steve -
Thanks for sharing this information. I’m not at all familiar with orienteering, but it sounds as if it would be a wonderful activity for singles, couples, friend groups or families. I appreciate you sharing this with Finger Lakes Travel Maven readers!
July 8, 2009 at 10:17 am
Great list, thanks!!
The ‘Wild Wings Birds of Prey Facility’ looks great.
July 8, 2009 at 10:21 am
Our family discovered it during the Winter Festival held at Mendon Ponds and we really enjoyed it. There are quite a few species of raptors that are under their care because of having been hurt, and they also have a few other animals as well. I think you’ll really enjoy it.