Archive for November, 2011

Don’t Stay Home for the Holidays

November 29th, 2011 by Gail

The holidays are approaching, and across the nation people are making plans. They’re contacting family and friends and discussing options. Some people will travel to see family in distant places. Others will welcome family from distant places into their homes. And still others need a different option.

Treat yourself to Christmas or New Year's at our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast.

Our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast is a great “meet in the middle” spot for folks coming from points north, south, east and west. In the past, families and friends from Canada, New York State, and Pennsylvania have met here. No one is the host – everyone just relaxes and enjoys the good company.

Still, sometimes it’s just not possible to see family during the holidays. Much as we may wish to spend Christmas with parents, children, and grandchildren in distant locales, schedules and wallets sometimes trump that desire. Yet still, we want the holidays to be special. We want them to stand out from our daily lives.

Spend the holidays at our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast.

Guests are invited to make themselves at home at Halsey House, both in their rooms and in the inn’s common areas. Curl up with a new book by the fireplace in the Parlor, or play an engrossing game of chess with your partner. Enjoy a game on the leather-topped table in the library – the perfect spot for cards and puzzles. Luxuriate in your own room, lounging in bed, watching the HDTV, or soaking in the two-person whirlpool tub. If you’re interested in birds, ask us (Mitch and KC) about our aviary. We love to introduce guests to our flock.

Numerous activities await beyond the inn’s walls. Walk down the street to Taughannock State Park and gaze in wonder at Taughannock Falls, one of the highest waterfalls east of the Rocky Mountains. Nearby Finger Lakes National Forest has more than 30 miles of trails that lead to lovely gorges, woods, and pasture. If there is snow on the ground, bring your cross-country skis. Or explore the shops, art galleries, museums, and eateries of nearby Ithaca.

Then, of course, there are the wineries. The Finger Lakes Region is known for its wine, and wine tasting is a fantastic holiday treat. Our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast, located between Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, is the perfect home base for folks interested in tasting wines along the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail and Seneca Lake Wine Trail. Travel them on your own, or ask us about a Wine Tasting Tour.

Our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast is twenty minutes from both Cornell University and Ithaca College. We’re two hours from Scranton, Pennsylvania, an hour and a half from Rochester, New York, and an hour and ten minutes from Syracuse, New York. Our inn is nestled in an idyllic region replete with impressive waterfalls, deep gorges, and wonderful wineries. If you’re looking for a special way to celebrate the holidays this year – either Christmas or New Year’s Eve – spend them at Halsey House.

Follow the Cheese to the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail

November 9th, 2011 by Gail

One of the great truths of life is that if you bring a group of people together, they’ll want to eat. No matter the occasion, no matter the location, people enjoy breaking bread together. Sharing a meal breaks the ice and creates a bond.

As the holidays approach, many of us are seeking new flavors for our tables. With holiday gatherings filling our calendars, we want simple dishes that will wow our guests. We want appetizers that will impress without taking hours to prepare.

Say cheese!!!

Visit the artisan cheese makers of the Finger Lakes Region on November 19, 2011.

It’s hard to go wrong with cheese.

A day spent traveling the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail is sure to unveil gustatory delights. Opportunities to visit artisan cheese makers in the Finger Lakes Region are few, but these craftspeople are opening their doors to the public on Saturday, November 19, 2011. It’s a perfect time to spend the weekend at our Finger Lakes Region Bed and Breakfast.

The Finger Lakes Cheese Trail is comprised of thirteen cheese makers. Folks who follow the cheese are invited to tour the facilities and sample the cheese. Participants include:

  • Cowlick Farm, a Finger Lakes Micro-creamery producing pure Creamline Jersey cow milk.
  • 4 Tin Fish Farm, a micro goat dairy producing farmstead cheese from Alpine dairy goats.
  • Shtayburne Farm, a farm with fat happy cows and fifteen hand crafted cheeses.
  • Sunset View Creamery, a dairy run by the 4th and 5th generations of Hoffmans and a Farmstead / Artisan Creamery.

Following the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail is a wonderful way to explore the farming communities of the Finger Lakes Region. It is also a fabulous way to find new flavors for your table. Imagine serving “Across the Pond” from Keeley’s Cheese Company, a semi-soft rind cheese made from raw milk and aged in an underground cellar that you’ve visited. You’ll be able to entertain your guests with stories of your Cheese Trail travels as you all enjoy the cheeses you brought back with you.

Why not make a weekend of it, using our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast as a base? Visit creameries on Saturday and Finger Lakes wineries on Sunday. Wine is the perfect accompaniment to cheese, after all.

Local cheese should be a part of any stay at Halsey House. Many wineries in the region serve local cheeses to wine tasters. Finger Lakes cheese is also available at a number of local farmers markets and shops, such as the Ithaca Bakery, the Ithaca GreenStar Natural Market, Red Jacket Orchards, and the Trumansburg ShurSave (close to our Finger Lakes B&B). In addition, some creameries are open to the public on a regular basis.

Don’t worry if you can’t make it to the Cheese Trail on the 19th; you can still enjoy Finger Lakes cheese.  Please visit our Reservations page to reserve a room at our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast.

A complete list of Finger Lakes Region creameries and dairies is available at the Finger Lakes Cheese Trail.

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