The  87- mile Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway circles Cayuga Lake and runs through Cayuga, Tompkins and Seneca Counties.  The byway offers beautiful vistas of natural formations, wineries, historic sites, and practically endless recreational opportunities in, on and around the water.

Yahoo! Travel is the second most popular travel website (after TripAdvisor) with over 26 million estimated unique monthly visitors.

The Cayuga Scenic Byway. Click image for a PDF.

Make Halsey House A Stop on Your Road Trip

If you decide to come upstate and tour the Cayuga Lake Scenic Byway, we hope you will stay at our bed and breakfast along the way. We are directly adjacent to the Byway, about 2 miles off the highway.

Other Sites on the Byway

The National Women’s Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls. In Seneca Falls in 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton (a Seneca Falls resident), Lucretia Mott and 300 other women and men held the first Women’s Rights Convention.  The struggle for women’s rights in America had begun.

It took seventy-two years before women were granted the right to vote and more than 100 until the Hall of Fame was built. In 1969, Seneca Falls created the National Women’s Hall of Fame, believing that the contributions of American women deserved a permanent home in the small village where the fight for women’s rights began.  The Hall is currently housed in the Helen Mosher Barben Building, in the heart of the downtown Historic District.

The Cayuga Wine Trail. The Finger Lakes region is the largest wine producing region East of California. Along the byway, there are a large number of beautiful vineyards with wineries offering delicious tastings. See our Cayuga Wine Trail map.

Ithaca a Top River Town in America

Outside Magazine named Ithaca as one of the best river towns in America in 2012. Ithaca isn’t your classic river town, since its situated on the shores of the 40-mile-long, 400-foot-deep Cayuga Lake. But the lake is fed by nine creeks, which create hundreds of waterfalls and geologically stunning gorges along the city and nearby our bed and breakfast in Trumansburg.

Hop on your bike and explore the beauty surrounding Ithaca and the Finger Lakes!

There’s also readily accessible kiteboarding, fishing, cliff jumping, road cycling, backpacking, and cross-country skiing in our area. This year there are plans for a Black Diamond bicycle trail to open between Ithaca and Taughannock Falls park, 10 miles outside of town.

Ithaca’s Cornell University: Grab a Book and a Blanket

Outside Magazine recognized one of the crown jewels of Ithaca, Cornell University, number 5 best college for Outdoor types. I went to school in Los Angeles and taking our books outside to sun tan and study was an almost daily past time. How does Cornell shape up? “Cornell’s outdoor-ed program offers an impressive array of activities to take advantage of these natural surroundings—and while the full spectrum of options is far too long to list here, a sampling might include backpacking, caving, cycling, climbing, skiing, or paddling. Many of these classes can be taken for credit, and for free.” Ok, they are taking ‘the Outdoors” a bit more literally than we did!

Visiting Ithaca? Stay with Us!

Our bed and breakfast is only 20 minutes away from Cornell University. If the outdoors is your thing, we are immersed in the beauty of this region!

According to the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER), college towns with populations under 250,000 are relatively recession-proof, since they are home to a high proportion of students who are always spending. As a result, their economies tend to be more stable than those of larger cities.

Ithiaca scored particularly well in three categories: arts and leisure, entrepreneurial activity and (a lack of) unemployment. According to the AIER, these categories paint a good picture of an area’s economic health.

Stay with us when visiting your student at Cornell or Ithaca College.

Ithaca, N.Y. once again took the top spot on the list!

Meanwhile, major metropolitan areas like Boston, New York, Washington, and San Francisco were knocked off this year’s top 10 list; Ann Arbor was the only city with a population of more than 250,000 that made the top 10.

Other Accolades for Ithaca

Most Secure Place to Live

The city of Ithaca was named by Farmers Insurance as “the Most Secure Place to Live” in the United States for municipalities under 150,000 in population in 2012. Every year, Farmers ranks nearly 400 U.S. communities based on safety and security.

The rankings take into consideration crime statistics, extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, housing depreciation, foreclosures, air quality, terrorist threats, environmental hazards, life expectancy, mortality rates from cancer and motor vehicle accidents, and job loss numbers.

Come See What Ithaca is About

Whether you are visiting a child at school or considering a move to Ithaca, please come up the road to Trumansburg for your lodging at the Halsey house Bed and Breakfast. We have clean, tasteful guestrooms and a home made breakfast ready for you each morning. Let us host your stay while visiting Ithaca!

Take an Upstate Getaway in Style!

Winemaker Wednesdays are for the type of person that not only loves to drink wine, but adores learning about it, talking to people about it and experiencing it. Every Winemaker Wednesday takes place on the second Wednesday of the given month. This is a limited series of unique, custom winery experiences conceived for passionate, curious fans of wine, winemaking and all that goes into that.

Each winery has crafted some kind of unique event or activity for these days. Programs may change from one Wednesday to the next. It is necessary for you to call the winery and make an appointment for these, and at that time you can confirm their offering. Many wineries commit one or two members of their senior leadership (owner and/or winemaker or vineyard manager, oftentimes) to conduct the program, and typically those individuals have  a slew of other tasks and chores they should be doing, and appointments enable them to manage their time. Some of these offerings have fees associated with them, most do not. Most have limited time constraints, some do not. Check the Seneca Wine trail website for more information, or call 877-536-2717 during regular business hours.

Let our Bed and Breakfast be your Base Camp for an Upstate Getaway

Our bed and breakfast is located 20 minutes from the Seneca Wine Trail. We can arrange a wine tour so you can wine taste safely with a designated driver. We look forward to being your hosts!

Experience the frivolity of Fat Tuesday as you travel from winery to winery receiving Mardi Gras Beads. Test your luck as you try to pick the lucky coin for instant prizes; participate in a scavenger hunt for a sampler case of fine wines from the trail! Just laissez les bons temps rouler – let the good times roll, as they say in New Orleans! The fun takes place Saturday and Sunday, February 9 & 10th.

At your starting winery, you’ll receive a wine glass to use at all the Cayuga wineries.

Come visit the Cayuga wine trail for a Mardi Gras celebration!

At each winery you visit, pick up wine and food pairings and recipe cards, plus those incredible beads! Make sure to hand in your admission ticket to be eligible to win one of the Grand Prizes from the Discovery Trail, Schaefer Yarn, Water to Wine Tours and more! Tickets are $25.00 per person plus sales tax & handling. You can purchase your tickets online, by calling 1-800-684-5217 or purchase at any area Wegmans.

Luxury Lodging Along the Cayuga Wine Trail

The Halsey House Bed and Breakfast is located in the quaint town of Trumansburg, right along the Cayuga Wine trail. We have five unique guestrooms that are designed to provide you with the utmost comfort, privacy and enjoyment.

Along with designer toiletry products and pillowtop mattresses, we also provide home made breakfasts every morning. These hearty breakfast entrees are essential for anyone planning to spend a whole day on the wine trail.

We can also arrange for a driver to ensure a safe day of wine tasting. This is an especially affordable option if you have a group – even two couples traveling together. Just give innkeeper KC a call (1-800-387-5590) to get more information and arrange the details.

Stay in the Elegance Suite, with a roaring fireplace, 40″ HDTV and luxuriant queen-size bed. The bathroom has a multi-head spa shower. We offer in-room breakfast as well, which you can enjoy in front of the  windows in plush bathrobes.

Share a romantic and delicious in-room breakfast in the Elegance Suite

Or, the Serenity suite is also available. Instead of a fireplace, we have a built-in waterfall apparatus, which is where this room gets it’s name. A king-size bed does not feel over-sized in this spacious room, which provides plenty of privacy.

Lastly, the Chamber Suite is also available. This room has a lovely queen size bed with wrought iron frame and a marble shower. At 12′ by 17′, it is just the right size for a couple to cozy up together!

Romantic Spaces at the Inn

We have a lovely courtyard where, should the weather allow, we  will stoke the outdoor fire pit so you can cuddle together and meditate on the dancing flames while enjoying some wine or a hot beverage. Too cold to be outside? We have a large parlor with a fireplace that you can appreciate.

If you have a penchant for birds or wildlife, come and visit our aviary with us! We have six exotic parrots, including our oldest feathered companion, BuddyLove. He can sing “You are my Sunshine,” that might be a nice treat if your partner is an animal lover, right?! We love to share our birds’ home with our guests, just ask!

Interested in New York Wine?

We are open year-round and close to the Finger Lakes Seneca and Cayuga. These lakes are very active during the summertime, but even in the winter, their beauty is mesmerizing. In addition, the many wineries in this area make it a great place to visit, even when its chilly! We can arrange a wine tasting tour with your own designated driver. Just call us for the details.

We hope to see you soon!

Along with viewing the icy, frozen waterfall, enjoy some winter sports at Taughannock park, including sledding, ice-skating and cross country skiing. Plus, there are no parking or entry fees!

Majestic Taughannock Falls during the Winter

The most popular winter activity in the park is probably viewing the main falls. You can do this from the Falls Overlook parking lot on Park Road. Or, enjoy a brisk walk on the Gorge Trail from the parking lot on State Route 89 along Taughannock Creek to the bridge over the creek. The bridge is always closed in the winter, but there is a good view of the falls just before the bridge.

Ice Skating and Sledding at Taughannock Falls

Ice skating and sledding are available in an area called Rice Hill, which overlooks Cayuga Lake. To get there turn west off State Route 89 onto Park Road. After about a half mile turn right onto Rice Road. The parking area will be on your right in less than a mile. The skating pond is on the left of the warming lodge with the sledding area to the right. Warning: there are no bathrooms or food vendors.

The pond is small and isn’t regularly shoveled free of snow, so you may want to borrow our shovel. The sled run is wide and long–probably 500 ft. or more–with no rope tow. But the hike up is always worth the thrilling ride down!

Cross Country Skiing

There is a marked multi-use trail for hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing that winds past the sledding slope, warming lodge, and skating pond. Motorized vehicles are not permitted. You can access this trail from the parking lot on Rice Hill or from the parking lot at the Falls Overlook.

Perhaps I am telling my own story and not yours – but if this sounds familiar, may we be so bold as to make a suggestion?

Come to Upstate New York for the Holidays!

Our Upstate New York bed and breakfast is a quick 12 minute drive north of Ithaca in a small, quaint town called Trumansburg. With access to the Cayuga and Seneca Lake wine trails, as well as the natural and pristine beauty of Upstate New York, we love our location! We are far enough away from the city to feel rural without driving for hours into no-man’s land.

Let us be your hosts for a Christmas Getaway

We still have several rooms available for Christmas and New Years – and we would love to share the holidays with you! Are you trying to get away from New York City during this icy, bleary part of the year? Come to our Finger Lakes Inn, where the fire is always toasty, the house is warmly decorated for the season and breakfast is hot and ready for you every morning.

Bed and Breakfast Rooms Still available for Christmas

Imagine yourself immersed in this luxuriant tub with your spouse or partner. What a happy holiday thought!

Indulgence Suite: Indulgence is our newest and largest guest room. Furnished with a beautifully carved king sized bed and decadent Sealy pillowtop mattress, this bed is meant to be enjoyed!
A black marble fireplace with remote controlled gas insert ensures a cozy atmosphere and amenities include a 40″ flat panel HDTV television with cable and DVD player, CD player and in-room refrigerator. But wait…we haven’t gotten to the bathroom yet!
Indulgence’s bathroom is a world unto itself. Measuring 14′ x 10′ it includes a grandiose two-person whirlpool tub and separate shower with multiple spray jets and a rain-head shower! This room was designed with pampering in mind. The sink is set in an antique granite topped dresser with a Tiffany-style light fixture above.

We have several other guest rooms available as well – check availability now!

Just writing this I feel more relaxed – and you deserve relaxation as well. Let Halsey House be your holiday getaway!

Some say the off season is the best time of year. While many people enjoy visiting the wineries during the busy summer and autumn season, winter is the best time to find owners, winemakers and vineyard managers in the tasting room. At only $12 plus tax, the Polar Passport gives residents and visitors alike a convenient and affordable way to enjoy many of the wineries on the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.

Did you say Free Wine Flights?

Visit any of the 20+ participating wineries listed on the Polar Passport and receive a free flight of wines at each winery. The Polar Passport is valid only at the participating wineries. This is a terrific, affordable product for visitors and residents alike, since tasting fees generally run from $2-4 per winery. The Passport is valid from Dec. 6 to March 31, 2013.

Enjoy free flights of wine at over 20 wineries for only $12!

Wait, My Finger Lakes Bed and Breakfast can provide a Designated Driver?

That’s right! The Halsey House provides Finger Lakes Wine Tasting Tours. We’ve teamed up with local limousine and touring companies to offer you tours tailored to fit your needs. Go wine tasting on the Cayuga Wine Trail, Seneca Lake Wine Trail and the Keuka Lake Wine Trail with your own personal designated driver! Bring friends or take a family trip along on a wine tasting weekend and share the costs as well as the fun. Call us at 607-387-5428 for more details.

What Else is Going On?

How about some art and culture along with your wine? Bounce over to Cayuga Lake and the Sheldrake Point Vineyard, where work from artists Emily Gibbons & David Beale will be on display. The reception is December 1st from 3-6 p.m. The exhibit will be on display until January 15th.  Then, take in the still and quiet scenery of the Finger Lakes at winter as you head back to your cozy bed and breakfast for a good night’s sleep.

Each participant is assigned a ‘starting winery,’ where you receive a grapevine wreath and a recipe book. As you travel from winery to winery along the lovely Seneca Lake wine trail, you will collect an ornament from each winery you visit with which to decorate your wreath.

Sample wine and food tastings while the wineries are fully decorated for the holiday season. Participating wineries look forward to Deck the Halls as a weekend of fun during the quiet winter months.

Everyone receives a food and wine pairing at each participating winery. With the recipe book, you can repeat the wine and food combinations you tried at the Finger Lakes wineries in your own home, introducing your friends and family to the pairings you enjoyed the most!

Tickets range in price from $38 for a single designated driver ticket (no tastings) to $70 for a couple’s ticket.

Sponsor: The Christmas House, Elmira NY

Our co-sponsor for both Deck the Halls Weekend events (for the fifth consecutive year) is Elmira’s very own Christmas House! The Christmas House, located about 40 minutes from the southern tip of Seneca Lake, is a truly unique destination unto itself for the avid holiday shopper or Christmas decor aficionado. Located in a beautifully restored 1894 home, The Christmas House carries an enormous variety of holiday-themed products, including Annalee Mobilitee Dolls, Jillian’s Clay Collectibles, Vaillancourt folk art and dozens of other brands and items.

Are you attending one of the Deck the Halls weekend events?

If so, are you still looking for luxury upstate New York lodging? We would love to host you at our Ithaca-area bed and breakfast, located 20 minutes from the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.