Draw to Corning is Crystal Clear
Glass, lake, vineyards, boutiques & more to explore in Steuben County, NY
By Grace Palsgrove, Editor
The AAA Touch

Families, couples and groups of all generations will find everything from beautiful serenity to outdoor adventure when they experience carefree vacations in Corning and the Finger Lakes region of New York.

The most renowned attraction, The Corning Museum of Glass, is magnificent. The 400,000-piece collection is a fantastic show of glass made all over the world. Pieces run the gamut from the tiny to the enormous and some are so intricate, we saw glass flowers next to the real thing and couldn't tell which was which.

Craftspeople perform regular demonstrations of glassblowing and experiments. The museum offers hands-on areas for children and now visitors of all ages can create their own souvenir in the museum's walk-in workshops. If you go and cannot get a reservation, many hot glass studios in town offer individual lessons and the chance to bring home a creation. For those who like to leave it up to the experts, the museum and studios offer exquisite items, from the practical yet beautiful dishes and bowls to glass flowers and seasonal decorations.

An easy walk downtown on Market Street introduces boutiques full of fun collectibles, clothing, home furnishings and, of course, glass. Restaurants along Main Street offer interesting menus and excellent dining experiences including the Three-Diamond-rated Three Birds Restaurant with a modern decor, impressive service and friendly people around the granite bar, the Three-Diamond-rated London Underground, and the Market Street Brewing Company. Visitors may find themselves pacing outside reading the menus and trying to decide which one to chose from that evening.

Also downtown is the Rockwell Museum of Western Art on 111 Cedar St. Not to be confused with Norman Rockwell, this museum is full of Western and Native American art, including paintings and bronze sculptures by Frederic Remington, Ken Carlson, Robert Bateman and yes, one piece by Norman Rockwell. Children are offered free ArtPacks filled with fun activities that help them explore the museum and teach them about the American West. Children 17 and under are also admitted free. The museum store offers Western and Native American jewelry, pottery, weavings, books and reproductions. The Cantina offers Western-style lunch, dinner or snacks. On mild days, consider buying lunch and carrying it to the terrace for an al fresco meal and view of Corning.

Just west of Corning is Hammondsport, another all-American quaint downtown with shops, pubs, restaurants and access to one of the 11 Finger Lakes - Keuka Lake. Visitors can enjoy many water sports, fishing for trout, bass, landlocked salmon, perch, pickerel and more. Depot Park is a public beach and the Snug Harbor Restaurant and Inn is one of four restaurants that offer lakeside dining. Boaters can also pull up to this restaurant and they do have a six-person suite upstairs with a spectacular view and great location for activity.

A drive along the shore of Keuka Lake will soon reveal that hundreds of acres of vineyards surround it. The wineries all offer tastings and gracious hospitality. This region was the first to plant the Vinifera vine, the fruit of which is what is used to make sparkling wines. Designated drivers are strongly encouraged and, because of the small, winding roads, necessary. Many tours of the wineries are available, which are worth every cent for the sake of safety. The samplings may seem small but tend to sneak up on tasters.

Visit Heron Hill Winery for a spectacular view of the lake, wine samples and lunch or a snack from the Heron Cafe. They offer live music on weekends from June to October that visitors can enjoy on the terrace or under the huge tent. New York's most award-winning vineyard - Dr. Konstantin Frank Vinifera Wine Cellars - offers private tastings with a knowledgeable staff. There may be a wait for the tasting, but once you're in, it's all about you - and some fine wine. Plan to spend some time at Bully Hill Vineyards. The tour and tasting are very amusing. The winery also has an art gallery, museum, gift shops and restaurant, for what can be a full day.

Pleasant Valley Wine Co., established in 1860, is the home of the Great Western Champagne. This tour is fascinating. The champagne cellar is in caves. The first bonded winery in the United States, the visitor's center is quite modern and houses a theater in a wine tank and a model of the Bath and Hammondsport Railroad. Eight marvelously constructed buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Pleasant Valley Wine Co. was also the site where Glenn Hammond Curtiss in 1908 took off on the first pre-announced public airplane flight in America. The piloting pioneer's many accomplishments can be discovered in the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport. This Show Your Card & Save partner is full of early motorcycles (Curtiss built the first motorcycle in 1902 - a year before Harley-Davidson), the Jenny aircraft for WWI, a 1938 Curtiss Arrow Car (a forerunner of a travel trailer), and a seaplane. Personal items of the family as well as some oddities - like the mother of all (human) hair wreaths (c. 1861) - can be found.

Staying in the Corning area is easy and diverse. Many of the hotel chains are available here as well as some very charming bed and breakfasts.

The Rosewood Inn, which is within walking distance to downtown Corning, is the definition of Victorian Bed and Breakfast. The house has seven unique guestrooms and antiques everywhere to admire. Stewart and Suzanne Sanders, who should be called the first couple of Corning, have a beautiful collection of Steuben glass and a strong of knowledge of the area. If you want to know what to see and do, they can advise you. Stewart also makes breakfast every morning, which is served on fine china, and is happy to discuss recipes and techniques with guests. After a day of sightseeing, look forward to a delicious afternoon snack on the porch. They make a stay very relaxed and romantic.

For a unique stay, consider the Caboose Motel in nearby Avoca. Guests can actually book one of five converted 1916 cabooses, each with a private bath and air conditioning. They sleep up to six. For those less adventuresome, regular, rather large rooms are available.

Travelers may have to search for Halcyon Place in Campbell, but once they find it, they've reached paradise. If you are looking to surround yourself in peacefulness, this is it between Corning and Keuka Lake. This historic home decorated in period antiques offers a gourmet breakfast that features fresh herbs and edible flowers. The inn has an herb and antique shop on premises in a former blacksmith shop and also offers a handicap-accessible downstairs room. Whatever makes up your perfect vacation, you will find it amongst the beautiful settings of Corning and Keuka Lake in Steuben County, New York. For information, contact the Steuben County Conference & Visitors Bureau online at www.VisitCorning.com or call toll-free 1-866-946-3386.

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