Celebrate Mother's Day Weekend with Wine Tasting at Cayuga Lake Wineries.

You know your mother would love to spend a couple of days with you. When was the last time you spent some quality time together? When was the last time you vacationed together? Don’t let any more time pass without making that happen. She’ll be thrilled.

Several Cayuga Lake Wineries are hosting several fun events during Mother’s Day Weekend:

• Friday Night Concert Series at Americana Vineyards, which is just a couple of miles up the road from our Cayuga Lake Bed and Breakfast. Dee & The Lone Rangers performs from 6-8 p.m.

• Anniversary Celebration at Swedish Hill Vineyard, May 12 from noon to 5 p.m. This is the winery’s biggest sale of the year, and it’s a great opportunity to stock up on some of your favorite Finger Lakes wines.

• Copper Oven Restaurant at Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery opens for the season on Saturday, May 12. The wood-fired, white clay ovens make some of the best pizza around. The ingredients are “hyper-local” and uber-good.

• Sunday Afternoon Concert Series at Americana Vineyards. Can you think of a better way to spend the afternoon on Mother’s Day than sipping wine while listening to the Yardvarks Stop and admiring views of Cayuga Lake? We can’t!

Several Cayuga Lake Wineries are serving Mother’s Day brunches, but we think you won’t want to miss the Mother’s Day breakfast we’ll be preparing at our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast.

Additional information about winery events may be found at the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail.

Make the weekend extra special. Add a Wine Tasting Tour or a Celebration Package to your stay at Halsey House.

Good Vibrations... a new Finger Lakes Vacation Home available this summer.

This 3,300 square feet 1970s ranch-style house is set on 4-aces of manicured lawn. It’s located on a quiet street, right on the Cayuga Wine Trail. Walk 3/4 of a mile to Taughannock State Park and Cayuga Lake, drive 10 minutes to the bustling community of Ithaca, or simply stretch out and relax in Good Vibrations, admiring the lovely views of Cayuga Lake.

The house has 5 bedrooms, all with King beds; no other vacation rental in the Finger Lakes has so many spacious sleeping arrangements. It has 3 full bathrooms, a spacious kitchen, and a roomy family room with a pool table and bar. It is decorated in the very best of ’70′s style.

Mock the ’70s if you will, but you can’t deny that the decade had flair. Think wide lapels and bellbottoms. Think sexy muscle cars, colorful oil lamps, and feathered hair. Think fondue. Think music.

The Rolling Stones skyrocketed to fame in the 1970s, as did Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, The Doobie Brothers, Carly Simon, and The Eagles. The ’70s saw the rise of Funk as well as Disco, and Rock found a harder edge. Imagine a time when you could see Parliament Funkadelic, ABBA, and Led Zeppelin in one week. Who says the 70′s gave us nothing but Leisure suits and Platform shoes?

Good Vibrations Finger Lake Vacation Rental will be ready to rent this summer. Give your grooviest friends a call.

Additional information will be available soon.

Mac Benford & The Truck.

It may seem like a long way off, but the Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance will be here sooner than you think. Between July 19 and 22, 2012, more than sixty performers will take to four stages. They’ll dance, they’ll sing, and they’ll make great music at the Trumansburg Fairgrounds, which is less than a mile from our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast.

The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival is not limited to one particular genre. Each year, there is a great variety of music on stage: Gospel, Swing, Bluegrass, Zydeco, Rock, Irish, Cajun, Latin, World Beat, Rock, African, Native American…. It doesn’t really matter what it is, so long as it’s good.

The 2012 line-up has not yet been released. Folks who have attended the festival in the past take it on faith that this year will be as superb as ever. If you’ve never been, looking at previous performers gives a good indication of what this year will bring. The list is too long to reproduce here, but it’s available at Grassroots Festival.

The GrassRoots Festival of Music is a good time, but it also raises money for good causes. It began more than 20 years ago as a humble concert that raised funds for a local AIDS support organization. It was a success. It grew. Today, funds raised by the event are donated to a number of organizations across the community and the world. Recipients include (but are not limited to) The State Theater of Ithaca, the Drop-In Children’s Center, Hospicare, and Doctor’s Without Borders.

Dance!

The Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance in Trumansburg has been called one of the top ten music festivals in the country by USA Today. Come see why for yourself.

Our Trumansburg NY Bed and Breakfast is close enough to the festival for guests to walk there. Fuel a day of dancing with a gourmet breakfast here at the inn. Then, after dancing all day, pamper your sore feet with a soak in a large, whirlpool tub. Add a little luxury to the festival.

Additional information about the festival is available at GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance.

Photos from past GrassRoots Festivals by Jeff Folkins.

A number of special events are on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail calendar this spring. Individual wineries have events such as the ongoing Fish and Brew Fridays at Glenora Wine Cellars, and the Spring Winemaker’s Dinner on April 21 at Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellar. The following events occur at all Seneca Lake Wineries.

This spring, spend a few days wine tasting along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.

Cruisin the Tropics Weekend. We’ve had some wonderfully warm weather the past few days, with temperatures reaching 80 degrees. This is a perfect introduction to the Seneca Lake Wine Trail’s upcoming Cruisin the Tropics Weekend, March 23-25. While it’s unlikely the unseasonably warm weather will linger through the weekend, we can still enjoy this event, which pairs tropically themed dishes with award-winning Finger Lakes wines. More than 30 wineries around Seneca Lake will participate in this “fun in the tropics” weekend.

Riesling to Visit Passport. The wineries of Seneca Lake invite you to discover their Rieslings using their Riesling to Visit Passport, valid April 1 through July 31, 2012. The Finger Lakes Region of New York produces some of the finest Rieslings in the world, and no two are exactly alike. Use the Riesling to Visit Passport to enjoy a free flight of wines at each of the participating wineries.

Spring Wine and Cheese Weekend. A glass of wine is one of life’s finest pleasures. A glass of wine paired with cheese is cause for jubilation. When well paired, wine and cheese bring out the best in each other. Like a good marriage, they are better together than they are on their own. The Spring Wine and Cheese Weekend of April 27-29 invites participants to visit more than 30 wineries and sample new releases and old favorites, all paired with cheese. Some wineries will even pour samples from the barrel.

Smokin’ Summer Kickoff. Spring transitions into summer with the Smokin’ Summer Kickoff of June 8-10. Seneca Lake Wineries will have the grills going, and they’ll be showing off some delicious combinations of grilled food and wines. Who says barbecues are all about beer?

Most Seneca Lake Wine Trail Events are self-guided; you can visit as many wineries as you like over the course of the event. Special events aside, most wineries are open daily for visitation and wine tasting. The longer you stay at our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast, the more Seneca Lake Wineries you can visit.

Consider getting together a group of wine-loving friends and renting Clarke’s Cottage, our Finger Lakes Vacation Home. Up to 10 people can stay comfortably in Clarke’s Cottage–enough for there to be a different designated driver for each day of the week.

Spend some time exploring the wineries of Cayuga Lake.

Halsey House Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast is in Trumansburg, near the southwest shore of Cayuga Lake. Less than five minutes up the road are the first of a dozen wineries that dot the western edge of the lake. On mild spring days, it’s a pleasant bike ride up to American Vineyards or Bellwether Hard Cider. It’s also a very short drive.

Americana Vineyards hosts concerts every Friday evening and Sunday afternoon. Both local and touring musicians are featured, and wine is available by the bottle or the glass. There’s even food served at the winery’s Crystal Lake Café. For a schedule of upcoming events, please see American Vineyards.

Bellwether Hard Cider will host their almost annual Cidermakers Get Together and Potluck Dinner on March 18. This is a great opportunity for cider fans and home cider makers to get together and talk (and taste) cider. Anyone interested is welcome. Additional information available at Bellwether.

Read on for more March events at Cayuga Lakes Wineries.

• Ladies Day Out at Buttonwood Grove Winery, 12-5 p.m. Live music, chocolate and wine pairings, jewelry, and more. Make it a Girlfriends Getaway at our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast.

• Cheese at Sheldrake Point Winery. Every Saturday during the month of March, Sheldrake Point Winery is featuring a local, artisan cheese. Meet the cheesemakers and enjoy wine and cheese pairings.

• Irish Wine? Why not! Raise a glass of green wine to St. Patrick and the Irish at Cobblestone Farm Winery. Enjoy fine wines paired with complimentary Irish stew and other traditional dishes on March 17 and 18.

• Harken back to the old days and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with mead from Montezuma Winery. March 17 and 18.

• Anticipate the opening of the Knapp Winery Restaurant at the Not To Short on Flavors Wine Dinner, March 24.

• Say Cheese & More on March 24 and 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. All 16 Cayuga Lake Wineries are joining forces with local, artisan cheese makers. A weekend filled with amazing combinations of wine and cheese….. is there anything better? Discounts are given for people with designated drivers.

• New Vintage Days. Goose Watch Winery and Swedish Hill Vineyard unveil all their new releases, April 7 and 8.

• Cayuga Ridge Estate Winery and Hosmer Winery will have Spring Barrel Tastings on April 14. Winemakers will be present at both wineries, so it is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about winemaking.

• Enjoy a French Country Dinner at Knapp Vineyards on April 21. The theme is Herbes de Provence. Each course will be paired with two wines from Knapp Vineyards.

Once you find an event or activity you like, book a room at our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast. Enhance your stay with breakfast in your room, or a picnic basket to take on your wine tasting tour. Make it a romantic retreat, a girlfriends getaway, or gather together a group of friends stay in our Finger Lakes Vacation Home, Clarke’s Cottage.

No matter who you travel with, remember this: the longer you stay, the more wineries you can visit.

Spring Break is on the horizon, and all across the country, people are making travel plans. You could travel to Mexico or Colorado or France, but such trips require flying, and we all know what airlines do to plane fares at this time of year. We have a better idea. We suggest a trip to our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast.

Spring should come early to the Finger Lakes Region this year, since we’ve seen very little winter weather. Conditions should be ideal for outdoor recreation such as hiking, horseback riding, and golfing. On fair days, guests may even enjoy boating on the Finger Lakes; most scenic cruises start in early to mid April, but paddling along the shore is fun any time of year. If it snows, bring snowshoes and skis!

The 150+ waterfalls scattered throughout the Finger Lakes Region are amazing winter, spring, summer, and fall. Some are still encrusted in ice at this time of year, while others maintain a steady roar. There are generally fewer people hiking to waterfalls in the spring, which makes it an ideal time for our guests to explore them. Two of our favorites are nearby Taughannock Falls and the magical, mystical Watkins Glen Falls.

Explore the Finger Lakes Wine Country during Spring Break.

Wine tasting is another favorite activity around the Finger Lakes, and it is well-suited for cold or rainy days. Both the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail and the Seneca Lake Wine Trail are home to more than a dozen wineries, many of which are quite close to our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast. A bit farther west, the Keuka Lake Wine Trail features eight wineries. Sip and spit, designate a driver, or consider a wine tour that will safely shuttle you from one winery to the next. One of the perks of wine tasting is that it allows you to try many wines, so that you know you like the bottles you purchase.

Enjoy a Romantic Spring Break with your sweetie at our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast, or gather together a group of friends and rent our Finger Lakes Guest Cottage. Either way, you are sure to have a good time.

Steal a kiss as often as you can.

It’s hard to resist kissing the one you love when standing on the overlook at Taughannock Falls. The roaring water tumbles more than 200 feet to the quiet pool below; surrounding cliffs soar another 200 feet above the top of the falls. Hide in the mist and steal a kiss.

If standing in the presence of magnificent art makes your heart beat faster, visit Cornell University’s Johnson Art Museum during your stay at our Finger Lakes B&B. Permanent exhibits range from African sculpture to Tantric Buddhist ritual implements and contemporary prints and photographs. Find a corner by a window on the fifth floor, admire the stunning view of Ithaca and Cayuga Lakes, and steal your kiss.

On a pleasant afternoon, the deck of the Thirsty Owl Wine Company is a sweet spot to steal a kiss. The winery is perched the west side of Cayuga Lake and boasts more than 2,000 feet of lake frontage. Their Tasting Room is open daily until 5:30 p.m. (later on Friday and Saturday); sip a glass of their award winning 2010 Pinot Gris or 2008 Pinot Noir while watching the sunset.

The sofas in the bar at Madeline’s on the Commons seem to invite a quick kiss. Sink into a sofa as you enjoy one of their 24 cognacs, 63 scotches, or 100+ wines. Whether it’s a busy or quiet evening, you’re sure to find a moment to steal a kiss.

A dinner cruise is inherently romantic. Step aboard the M/V Columbia and float on Cayuga Lake as you feast on herbed Balsamic Chicken with Gorgonzola Cream Sauce, Grilled Sirloin Steak with Red Wine and Mushroom Demi Glace, or a rich Vegetarian Lasagna. It sure sounds like a perfect place to steal a kiss. Cruises will recommence in April, but you can plan your spring romantic getaway to the Finger Lakes now.

People stay at the Halsey House for many reasons. Some come to the region for business, some to see family or friends, and some to visit Ithaca College or Cornell University. Quite a few couples stay with us in order to be pampered and have a romantic getaway. It doesn’t really matter why you’re here. If you’re traveling with your sweetie, take a few moments to go someplace special, and steal a kiss.

The foodies are in luck. There are many excellent restaurants near the Halsey House.

In the mood for amazing Italian food while staying at the Halsey House? Try ZaZa's Cucina.

Our Favorite Finger Lakes Restaurants (in no particular order):

1. Suzanne Fine Regional Cuisine. It’s romantic. It’s delicious. The service is fantastic. Suzanne’s made Frommer’s “Best Dining Bets in New York State” list.  As they say in their write-up, with its “swoon-worthy views of Seneca Lake,” it is “the place for a special dinner.”

2. Madeline’s. Among locals, Madeline’s has been voted the “Best place to have a Brandy,” the “Best Martini,” and the “Best Continental Restaurant.” All true. We go there for the ambiance and the great food; but when we’re almost too tired to go anywhere, what gets us out the door is Madeline’s desserts. They fill an enormous display case, and are, quite simply, to die for.

3. Hazelnut Kitchen. The menu changes monthly at this intimate bistro, which features fresh, local ingredients. Foodies will enjoy watching the chef at work in the open-to-view kitchen. The aroma of cooking food is intoxicating; the taste of the food even better.

4.Maxie’s Supper Club. If you were hoping to visit New Orleans but could only make it as far as the Finger Lakes Region of New York, eat at Maxie’s. Fun and noisy, this New Orleans style club serves Southern comfort food with flare. Try the slow-smoked barbecue or the oyster bar. There’s a late night kitchen and live music Sunday and Tuesday evenings.

5. ZaZa’s Cucina. The mother and daughter team behind ZaZa’s were born and raised in Northern Italy. In a country known for it’s cuisine, Northern Italy is known for its superlative cuisine. The ambiance is upscale, yet also warm and inviting. The food is fresh and flavorful; and the wine is list long.

We’re foodies, and it’s important to us that guests of our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast enjoy a good meal when they want it. The above listed restaurants are some of our favorites. Please see our Local Dining page for a list of other good restaurants near our inn. And rest assured that you will begin each morning with a gourmet breakfast at the Halsey House.

Romance in the bath; Margaret's Retreat.

In fact, February is an ideal month for romantic retreats, especially here in northern climes. Snow is falling as I write, covering the countryside in a soft blanket of white. The crisp air draws lovers together for warmth: we walk hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder; we sit close to one another on the sofa; we curl up together in front of the fireplace. February inspires intimacy.

Give yourself over to intimacy. Treat yourself and your lover to a Romantic Retreat at Halsey House, an elegant Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast.

St. Valentine’s Day is smack in the middle of the month, on a Tuesday; so we propose turning February into a Month of Love. Come when you can get away for a few days, no matter when that is. Our Romantic Nights Package will add romance to any night.

Curl up by fire in Elegance.

The Romantic Nights Package includes a bottle of local Finger Lakes wine (your preference, red or white), dessert for two, served in your room, and a fun, romantic board game (discretely placed in your room). Romance will flourish, whether you’ve been together for two month or 20 years.

Two rooms in our NY Bed and Breakfast have gas fireplaces to help spark a romantic mood: Indulgence and Elegance. Two rooms have two-person Jacuzzi tubs: Indulgence and Margaret’s Retreat. All rooms boast luxurious, Egyptian cotton bedding and feather pillows.

Our Finger Lakes Region Bed and Breakfast is home to dozens of award winning wineries, stunning waterfalls, and the cultural attractions of Ithaca and Cornell. On the other hand, you may not want to leave the inn.

The weekend after Valentine’s Day is President’s Day Weekend. Why not treat your sweetie to three nights of romance at our Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast?

Picture yourself here in 2012.

It’s good to ask these questions from time to time. If nothing else, such an exercise helps us crystalize the amorphous issues that clamor for our attention. New Year’s Resolutions help us prioritize.

Resolve to play more.

Everyone needs to come up with their own New Year’s Resolutions. For some, losing weight sits at the top of the list. For others, #1 is spending more time with family, or finding a different job, or giving up caffeine.

We can’t say what’s important for other people, but we firmly believe that somewhere on the list should be this simple statement: play more.

The Finger Lakes Region is a wonderful playground for adults. It is dappled with deep gorges, roaring waterfalls, and clear lakes. It has miles of wooded trails to explore, and is home to the only national forest in New York State. There are more wineries here than you can count on your fingers and toes.

Cultural activities abound in the Finger Lakes Region, as well. Nearby Ithaca is home to excellent restaurants, shops, and theaters. Cornell University and Ithaca College bring world class dance, music, and film to the area, as well as fascinating scholars. Art inspires art, and there are outstanding fine art galleries and museums in the area as well.

Resolve to play more in 2012. Travel to the Finger Lakes Region with good friends or family, because more people sometimes means more fun. Our Finger Lakes Vacation Rental, Clarks Cottage on Hidden Pond, comfortably sleeps up to ten people. It is spacious, elegant, and peacefully situated on more than 6 acres.

Close to the cultural activities of Ithaca and Cornell, our Finger Lakes Vacation Home is also close to parks, Cayuga and Seneca Lakes, and dozens of Finger Lakes Wineries. Everything that you need for a fun vacation is here.

Make 2012 the year you put “vacation” on the top of your New Year’s Resolutions, and start planing a getaway to our Finger Lakes Vacation Rental.

Happy New Year.