From the excitement of Manhattan to the mountains of the Adirondacks and the Catskills, New York has a lot to offer families. Unfortunately, many people overlook the allure of the Finger Lakes in the western part of the state. From the time I was a young toddler, my family has returned often to this pastoral setting, where farmland rolls to bluffs high above the long lakes and waterfalls plunge down the many gorges. The terrain is ideal for days of outdoor activity in and around the water and nights of dining on produce found at local farms, paired with the latest award-winning Riesling.

One of the highlights of the Finger Lakes is the hike through Watkins Glen gorge alongside a number of spectacular waterfalls. Watkins Glen is at the southern end of 38-mile Seneca Lake, where you can go for a sunset sail on a windjammer or kayak through a cattail-laden marsh and see countless herons, turtles, and beaver. It's also the ideal locale for a relatively new hotel, the Harbor Hotel, opened in July 2008. Set on the shores, rooms overlook the great expanse of water and the few boats that cruise along the lake. Smack dab in the center of Watkins Glen, you're within easy walking distance to many restaurants, including the resort's own Blue Pointe Grille.

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