How to Plan a Weekend Getaway
Hello from Brionna! As you know, I’m obsessed with all things travel, books, and dining. This year, I prioritized exploring New York state instead of jetting off to far-flung countries for adventure. After reading a book all about Finger Lakes travel and tourism, I booked an Airbnb for a three-night long weekend getaway in Ithaca, New York exploring the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, Ithaca, and the Finger Lakes, NY region.
To accompany this episode, I’ve produced an IGTV video on @bribookspod and @brionnajay Instagram accounts sharing my recommendations for Ithaca, NY. The Finger Lakes region near Ithaca, NY is located about 5 hours driving from New York City. Let’s celebrate a very relaxing weekend in Ithaca, New York along the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Keep in touch at bribookspod.com, on my Pinterest, and my IGTV, Highlights, and Feed.
@BriBooksPod Tips for Planning the Perfect Weekend Getaway
Choose how far you’re willing to travel
Choose where you want to be vis-a-vis the ‘action’
Choose a destination with a unique natural history, culinary tradition, art scene, etc.
Bonus: Visit a museum and support local artists at a market while traveling
On choosing how far you’re willing to travel: Decide your mode of transportation (driving, train, flight, bus?) and factor it into your experience at your final destination. Are comfy being cooped up in a car, or jostled along on a bus, and for how long exactly? Along the way, identify one or two places you can stop off to enjoy the natural surroundings. It’ll make the trip feel like part of the experience as a whole, instead of a stressful necessity.
On choosing where you want to be vis-a-vis ‘the action’: Are you a downtown person, or a secluded chalet type? By deciding where you want to stay relative to the “exciting” parts of your locale, you can build your social plans based on what’s nearby. For example, we chose an Airbnb in Lansing, NY, about a 20-minute drive from downtown Ithaca and the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. It’s true—everything in Ithaca is only a 20-30 minute drive away—and knowing that helped us choose where to rest our heads. We opted for a cabin tucked away near a waterfall, so it was secluded (but still totally accessible and just a couple of miles from a brewery.)
On choosing your destination: What is the getaway destination known for? Find out what makes the space unique, and take time to honor that during your getaway. Ithaca is gorges, after all, so we HAD to stop and gawk at every watefall’s edge.
Consider things like architectural history, weather, crops, culianry communities and cultural The architecture? The city’s export or mercantile history? Weather? Its crops? Culinary traditions and cultural communities when planning your trip. Since the Finger Lakes region is known for its wine history, so we made sure to taste varietals and grapes that are unique to the region (including the Rose of Isabella grape, Delaware grape, and trips to Americana Winery and one to Black Dog winery)
BONUS: On visiting a museum and supporting local artists while traveling: Add a trip to a museum to your can’t-miss list! So many towns in New York state, especially Ithaca and Corning, have great museums and galleries. Check out museums and art galleries at community colleges and universities in your town—they often work on a donation-based system.
Where to visit in Ithaca, New York
RESTAURANTS:
Just A Taste Wine Bar and Tapas
Waffle Frolic
Maxie’s Supper Club and Oyster Bar
EXPERIENCES
Ithaca Farmers Market
Fall Creek Gorge
Wineries
Americana Winery
The sunset over Cayuga Lake!
