The Perfect Finger Lakes Day Trip: What to Bring Before You Hit the Road

A Finger Lakes day trip rarely goes exactly as planned—and that may be one of the best things about it.

You might leave home expecting a quiet drive along the lake and find yourself climbing stone steps beside a waterfall. A roadside farm stand can turn into an impromptu picnic. A stop for coffee might lead to a small-town shop you never knew existed. And a warm summer afternoon can quickly become a cool evening once the breeze begins moving across the water.

The Finger Lakes reward travelers who leave a little room for discovery. But a few thoughtfully packed essentials can make those unexpected stops much more enjoyable.

Dress for More Than One Kind of Day

One of the peculiarities of exploring the Finger Lakes is how quickly the setting can change.

You can begin the morning walking through a village, spend midday hiking through a gorge and finish the afternoon sitting beside a lake. Comfortable shoes are therefore one of the most important things you can bring.

Sneakers or hiking shoes with dependable traction are especially useful if your plans include places such as Fillmore Glen, Watkins Glen, Robert H. Treman or Buttermilk Falls, where stone paths, stairs and wet surfaces are part of the experience.

Layers are equally useful.

Even during summer, temperatures near the lakes can feel noticeably cooler when the wind picks up or the sun disappears behind the hills. A light jacket, sweatshirt or hoodie takes up little room and can turn an unexpectedly chilly stop into a pleasant one.

Water, Sunscreen and the Simple Essentials

The things you are most likely to need are also the easiest to forget.

A reusable water bottle belongs in nearly every Finger Lakes day bag, particularly if hiking or outdoor sightseeing is involved. Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat are also worth keeping nearby rather than buried somewhere in the car.

And then there is the Finger Lakes rule that should probably be written down somewhere:

If there is even a possibility of swimming, bring the towel.

Beaches, parks and lakeside stops have a way of appearing when you weren’t planning on swimming. Packing a swimsuit and towel gives you the option of saying yes when they do.

Bring a Bag That Can Handle the Unexpected

A small backpack or sturdy tote can become surprisingly useful over the course of a day.

It may begin the morning carrying water bottles and sunscreen and end the afternoon filled with apples, cheese, maple syrup, pottery or something discovered in a village shop.

That is part of traveling here.

Some of the most memorable Finger Lakes purchases aren’t found in large shopping centers. They are discovered at roadside stands, farmers markets, artist studios, wineries, bakeries and small shops scattered throughout the countryside.

Leave a little extra room.

You may need it.

Pack for an Impromptu Picnic

There are few better places for an unplanned picnic than the Finger Lakes.

A blanket tucked into the car can transform a simple roadside purchase into lunch overlooking the water.

Pick up local cheese, fresh bread, fruit, baked goods or something from a farm market along the way. Then find a shady spot in a state park, village green or lakeside recreation area.

Some of the region’s best meals require neither reservations nor a menu—just good local food and somewhere beautiful to sit.

Don’t Depend Entirely on Your Phone

Phones have made traveling easier, but rural New York occasionally reminds us that technology has limits.

Cellular coverage can become inconsistent as roads wind between hills, farms and lakes. Before heading into an unfamiliar area, download your route or save important information so it remains available offline.

A paper map isn’t a bad idea either.

In fact, wandering along a road you hadn’t intended to take is practically a Finger Lakes tradition—as long as you can eventually figure out how to get back.

Bring the Camera—but Remember to Look Around

There will be photographs.

Waterfalls disappearing into deep gorges. Vineyards climbing hillsides. Old barns against open fields. Sailboats crossing blue water. Small villages glowing in late-afternoon light.

Bring your phone or camera, certainly.

But occasionally put it down.

There is something different about standing at the edge of one of these lakes when the water is completely still, hearing a waterfall before you can see it, or watching the last sunlight move across a vineyard.

Not every good moment needs to become a photograph.

Some are better kept as memories.

Give Yourself Permission to Wander

Perhaps the most important thing to bring on a Finger Lakes day trip isn’t something that fits into a backpack.

It’s time.

Avoid scheduling every hour.

Stop when you see the handwritten farm-stand sign.

Turn onto the road marked Scenic Overlook.

Walk through the little downtown you normally drive past.

Visit the park you’ve heard about but never explored.

Order something local.

Talk to somebody.

The Finger Lakes are filled with famous destinations, but some of the region’s character lives between them.

Before You Leave Home

A well-prepared Finger Lakes day bag doesn’t need much:

• Water

• Sunscreen and sunglasses

• Comfortable walking shoes

• A light jacket or sweatshirt

• Swimsuit and towel

• Small backpack or tote

• Picnic blanket

• Phone or camera

• Downloaded directions or a paper map

• A little extra room for whatever you discover

Then add one final thing:

No particular hurry.

Because the perfect Finger Lakes day isn’t necessarily the one where you manage to see everything on your list.

It might be the one where you stopped somewhere that wasn’t on the list at all.