A jewel in the heart of upstate
Westward trip to Skaneateles can be done any time of the year
Skaneateles may be one of the smaller Finger Lakes, but it’s big on class.
There are plenty of amazing places to travel to throughout New York, and Skaneateles is truly a wonderful place to visit year-round. PRE-COVID times, they would do a festive Dickens Christmas where the entire town would transform into an old-fashioned holiday village with carolers singing in the town’s gazebo, chestnuts roasting on an open fire and being passed out to visitors, holiday shopping along Genesee Street and more. In the summer you can travel by rented kayaks and boats, followed by a delicious meal at one of the waterfront restaurants. The town is filled with great places to eat, shop and cute places to stay that still make the area worth visiting.
Checking into The Sherwood Inn
(26 W. Genesee St.)
The Sherwood Inn gives off a vibe of old-fashioned vintage elegance. It has 25 guest rooms, many of which with views of Skaneateles Lake. The rooms consist of different styles and color palettes, each individual in their own way. Just visiting the inn for a meal won’t disappoint. The French onion soup is fantastic and amazing entrees include tender braised short rib pappardelle pasta or Yankee pot roast, both perfect choices for some comfort food that will warm you and fill you up.
What to do
Shopping along Genesee Street
The general store, DROOZ and Company (36 E. Genesee St.) is full of fun knickknacks to look through from gifts and decorations, to even furniture. Cate & Sally (4 E. Genesee St, Skaneateles) went into business together to follow their passion for fashion. Their synonymous apparel store offers classic pieces with accessories to pair. The two-story Skaneateles Antique Center (12 E. Genesee St.) is filled to the brim with vintage goods to browse through. The Vermont Green Mountain Specialty Co (50 E. Genesee St.) is fantastic. I’ve seen a lot of candy and chocolate chips in my day through my travels, but this is the only one where I’ve ever seen escargot. I’m not talking about savory snails in garlic butter, but chocolate snails made of caramel, marshmallow and chocolate that taste delicious and have a satisfying chew to them. If you are someone who loves to cook, head over to Rhubarb Kitchen Shop (59 E. Genesee St.). They have so many fun spices, snacks and goodies to look through.
Where to eat
Skaneateles Bakery (19 Jordan St.)
If you stop in for a cup of coffee, be prepared to be completely drawn in by the aroma of their delicious treats. They include homemade pop tarts, scones, cinnamon buns, doughnuts and cookies. Doug's Fish Fry (8 Jordan St.)
Doug ’s Fish Fry is a must when you’re in the area. The eatery is known for its deep-fried classics and seafood sandwiches.
It is also legendary for its sauce. The honey curry sauce can be slathered on everything from fries to fish. The classic fish fry or fish sandwich is the perfect vessel for that velvety sauce and provides a nice contrast in textures when paired with the crispy, salty fish fry.
Blue Water Grill (11 W. Genesee St.) The waterfront restaurant, Blue Water Grill, is also open during the cooler months serving delicious seafood. The restaurant has flavorful, briny oyster shooters and cold draft beers. Those are perfect for washing down appetizers like the Rhode Island style calamari tossed in olive oil and served with crunchy banana peppers and roasted cherry tomatoes with marinara sauce. Or order the steamed clams loaded with white wine and butter.