Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion (State Park) in Canandaigua - cutest town in the area, in my opinion, and I recall that is place was so lovely to visit!
https://www.sonnenberg.org/
250 Gibson Street Canandaigua, New York 14424

Sonnenberg Gardens is a New York State Historic Park where a late nineteenth century Victorian Estate with a Queen Anne-style mansion and nine formal gardens of the world is being preserved. This 50-acre estate is one of just two public gardens in the NYS Parks system. Sonnenberg is known for its distinctive period architecture, statuary, formal gardens, fountains and unique garden structures. Sonnenberg is the former summer home and creation of Frederick Ferris and Mary Clark Thompson. He was a New York City banker, and she was the daughter of a New York State governor. As newlyweds in 1863, the Thompson’s purchased a 300-acre farmstead named Sonnenberg (Sunny Hill) near Canandaigua Lake for their summer estate. By 1887, they replaced the previous farmstead residence with the current Sonnenberg Mansion.

• Moosewood Restaurant https://www.moosewoodrestaurant.com/
• Herman J. Weimer Vineyard https://www.wiemer.com/ (reservations required)

Watkins Glen State Park - beautiful place to walk.
Taughannock Falls State Park - https://parks.ny.gov/parks/taughannockfalls 1740 Taughannock Blvd. Trumansburg, NY 14886

The Inn at Taughannock Falls
If you are looking for a really nice mean and great view of Cayuga Lake. https://www.inntfalls.com/the-inn-restaurant
Address: 2030 Gorge Rd., Trumansburg, NY 14886
Telephone: 607-387-7711

Cooperstown is a good idea

I don’t think it is particularly worth it for a few days in your situation. It’s a pretty area and pleasant but things are very far apart so will require lots of driving unless you just rent a house and hike a little. If you are already doing Canada it won’t provide much contrast and personally I would rather extend the time there than add days in another quiet spot.

Anonymous wrote:Also, for kids that age, wandering around the Ithaca Commons and hiking the Warkins Glen gorge can be fun.

But honestly, if just being outside on the waterfront or hiking in the woods aren't "enough to do," I'd consider more of a city vacation like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or NYC. Depends on your family's preferences.

OP here. We aren’t making the Finger Lakes our sole destination- just considering stopping for a few days on our way back from Canada. We actually are hitting up Pittsburgh on our way up. We usually tend to do more outdoorsy (but not too outdoorsy 😬) vacations but I just wanted to make sure that we shouldn’t cross it off our list for now given the post-surgery restrictions this year.

The baseball hall of fame in Cooperstown if he's at all interested

Boat rides, light hiking around waterfalls, checking out the local farmers markets and college campuses may be fun for a 13 year old. water is pretty cold anyway so wading would be a nice way to cool off. have fun

Also, for kids that age, wandering around the Ithaca Commons and hiking the Warkins Glen gorge can be fun.

But honestly, if just being outside on the waterfront or hiking in the woods aren't "enough to do," I'd consider more of a city vacation like Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or NYC. Depends on your family's preferences.

OP here. It’s head surgery, not foot, so wading should work!

glass blowing in corning and the museum is great. My 14 yr old is looking forward to it.

There are tons of waterfalls in the area where you could do short to medium hikes, and in some places wade in (not necessarily swim). There's a whole book about waterfalls of Central and western NY you could get. Havana Glen and Buttermilk Falls are pretty classic.

The best of the finger lakes includes swimming, boating, waterfalls, etc. it can get hot and sticky so not being able to swim might be a bummer in that region. Hiking is great but usually followed up by a leap into a waterfall. Not sure this is the best vacation idea after foot surgery. I think a teen boy would get bored.

OP here. Sorry, I should’ve included their ages. Son is 13 and we’ll also have our 15 year old daughter with us. Hiking should be fine- just nothing that could be a blow to the head (so no sports, at least not his preferred ones) or swimming.

How old is your son who is recovering from surgery?

We love the corning museum of art and the ability to do a glass workshop.

Is drinking out too? Lots of wineries there (I'm mainly familiar with the ones around Cayuga Lake). How about hiking? If I couldn't dirink, swim or hike, not sure it would be a great place for me.

Our son is having surgery this summer and flying is out so we’re doing a driving vacation. One of the options is to stop at the Finger Lakes. Any recommendations of which lake/where to stay? I should mention that swimming isn’t allowed post-surgery, especially in lake water, so is there enough to do without including water recreation?

Thanks!