Canandaigua Lake, the largest of the five Finger Lakes closest to Rochester, offers a wide range of activities for visitors. Located about 25 miles southeast of Rochester, the city is known for its historic downtown, locally owned shops and restaurants, and access to the lake for swimming, boating, and fishing.
Plan Your Day Trip to Canandaigua
Breakfast
Start your day with something savory from Patty’s Place, Gateway Grille, or Simply Crepes.
Morning
Explore Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park, a 50-acre late-19th-century Victorian estate featuring a Queen Anne-style mansion and nine formal gardens. The Lord and Burnham-designed glass conservatory is among the estate’s notable features.
Lunch
Canandaigua offers a variety of lunch options. Start with Green Front, Eric’s Office, Flavors of India, or Rio Tomatlan. Or head to the lake for dining at Nolan’s, Coho Pizza & Wine Bar, or a farm-to-table experience at New York Kitchen. Wegmans is a convenient option for assembling a lakeside picnic. Save room for ice cream from Cheshire Farms Creamery or Scoops.
Afternoon
Continue your historic homes tour at the Granger Homestead. Afterward, walk along South Main Street to browse the local shops. Then head to Canandaigua City Pier to see Boathouse Row, where nearly 80 colorful boathouses line the shoreline, some dating back to 1888. Cross Lakeshore Drive to Lagoon Park, then follow the gravel path around Goodwin Island to explore the Canandaigua Outlet wetlands. Alternatively, you can play in the water at Kershaw Park Beach, Roseland Waterpark, or Roseland Wake Park. Visitors can rent kayaks or cruise the lake aboard the Canandaigua Lady, a replica 19th-century steamboat.
For a tasting experience, several local breweries are worth visiting, including Twisted Rail Brewing, Frequentem Brewing Co., Peacemaker Brewing Company, Bee Hive Brew Pub, and Other Half Brewing. Star Cider is located near CMAC. The New York Kitchen Tasting Room offers a range of New York State wines, beers, ciders, spirits, and alcohol-free options. Alternatively, visit the Finger Lakes Wine Center to sample and purchase regional wines.
Dinner
Choose from Rheinblick German Restaurant, Eddie O’Briens Grille and Bar, Bon Ami French Bistro, Nick’s Chophouse, Il Posto Bistro, Casa De Pasta, or KiX ON MAIN, which offers rooftop seating. Head to the lakeshore for dinner at The Lake House’s Rose Tavern or Sand Bar.
Evening
If you’re planning a day trip around a concert at Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) or Lincoln Hill Farms, both venues offer on-site food and beverage options. You can also enjoy a show at the Fort Hill Performing Arts Center.
Signature Events
Arts in the Gardens in mid-July transforms the 50-acre Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park into a showcase of artists, live music, food, and beverages.
The Canandaigua Lakefront Art Show in late July brings regional artists, live music, and food vendors to Kershaw Park on the north shore of Canandaigua Lake.
The Ontario County Fair in late July features agricultural exhibits, livestock, entertainment, rides, and fair food. Organized by the Ontario County Fair Committee since 1843, it is one of the region’s longest-running annual traditions.
The Pageant of Steam in August showcases antique steam-powered equipment with parades, demonstrations, and tractor pulls.
The Canandaigua Treaty Day Celebration on November 11 commemorates the Treaty of Canandaigua, signed in 1794, which established peace and friendship between the United States and the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Held at the Ontario County Courthouse, the event features speakers, cultural presentations, and commemorations of the treaty.
The Christkindl Market in November at Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum kicks off the holiday season with German-themed food and drink while artisans and vendors showcase their wares under heated tents.
Head out to Hopewell near Canandaigua in October for a fantastic Halloween display! Over 200 skeletons (humans, horses, dinosaurs, and dogs!) march on the home, heavily defended by trees (think the Ents from The Lord of the Rings). Visit the Haunted House on CR-4 on Facebook for up-to-date information.
Contact Information
Bee Hive Brew Pub 20 Pleasant St., (585) 919-2471, beehivecanandaigua.com
Bon Ami French Bistro 215 S Main St., (585) 905-3951, bonamibistro.com
CMAC 3355 Marvin Sands Drive, (585) 678-6938, cmacevents.com
Canandaigua Lady 205 Lakeshore Drive, (585) 396-7350, cdgalady.com
Casa De Pasta 125 Bemis St., (585) 394-3710, casa-de-pasta.com
Cheshire Farms Creamery 10 Parrish St., (585) 396-9793, cheshirefarmscreamery.com
Coho Pizza & Wine Bar 811 S Main St., (585) 577-8008, cohopizzawine.com
Eddie O’Briens Grille and Bar 182 S. Main St., (585) 394-8810, eddieobriensgrille.com
Eric’s Office 2574 County Route 28, (585) 394-8787, ericsofficerestaurant.com
Finger Lakes Wine Center 250 Gibson St., (585) 394-4922, sonnenberg.org
Flavors of India 35 Lafayette Ave., (585) 412-6342, orderflavorsindianresturant.com
Fort Hill Performing Arts Center 20 Fort Hill Ave., (585) 412-6043, forthillpac.com
Frequentem Brewing Co. 254 S. Main St., (585) 577-8007, frequentembrewing.com
Gateway Grille 151 S Main St., (585) 394-1647, gateway-grille.com
Granger Homestead 295 North Main St., (585) 394-1472, grangerhomestead.org
The Green Front 35 Niagara St., (585) 394-7015, thegreenfrontrestaurant.com
Il Posto Bistro 137 S Main St., (585) 905-0535, ilpostobistrony.com
Kershaw Park Beach 155 Lakeshore Drive, (585) 396-5060, canandaiguanewyork.gov
KiX ON MAIN 170 S. Main St., (585) 905-3056, kixonmain.com
The Lake House: Rose Tavern and Sand Bar 770 S Main St., (800) 228-2801, lakehousecanandaigua.com
Lincoln Hill Farms 3792 New York State Route 247, (585) 430-4661, lincolnhillfarms.com
New York Kitchen 800 S. Main St., (585) 394-7070, nykitchen.com
Nick’s Chophouse 5 Beeman St., (585) 393-0303, nickschophouseandbar.com
Nolan’s 726 S. Main St., (585) 905-0201, nolansonthelake.com
Other Half Brewing 24 Lakeshore Drive, (585) 337-0885, otherhalfbrewing.com
Patty’s Place 33 S. Main St., (585) 396-9470, pattysplacediner.com
Peacemaker Brewing Company 39 Coach St., (585) 396-3561, peacemakerbrewing.com
Rheinblick German Restaurant 224 S. Main St., (585) 905-0950, rheinblick.net
Rio Tomatlan 106 Bemis St., (585) 394-9380, riotomatlan.com
Roseland Wake Park 250 Eastern Blvd., (585) 393-9253, roselandwakepark.com
Roseland Waterpark 250 Eastern Blvd., (585) 396-2000, roselandwaterpark.com
Scoops Ice Cream 10 Lakeshore Drive, (585) 770-8574, icecreambyscoops.com
Simply Crepes 101 S. Main St., (585) 394-9090, simplycrepes.com
Sonnenberg Gardens & Mansion State Historic Park 250 Gibson St., (585) 394-4922, sonnenberg.org
Star Cider 3365 NY-364, (585) 412-8785, starcidery.com
Twisted Rail Brewing 169 Lakeshore Drive, (585) 396-0683, twistedrailbrewing.com
Wegmans 345 Eastern Blvd., (585) 394-4820, wegmans.com
The historical marker inscription reads, “The City Pier was built in 1848, and the first boathouses were built during the 1850s. Simple wooden boathouses contained mostly small skiffs while larger ones housed sculling shells, sailing and steam yachts. By 1888, over eighty boathouses were along the pier and in the “stream” basin. In 1903, the pier was enlarged to accommodate train and trolley tracks to service the steamboats transporting farm produce and passengers along the lake. At that time the village built the finger piers to accommodate the boathouses, which were either moved across the ice or demolished and rebuilt in their present location. This was done in the winter of 1903-1904. Soon after, The Boathouse Owners’ Association was formed to help protect and enforce the strict rules and regulations prohibiting people from living in the boathouses or using them as cottages. With their rustic nature, they are an attraction for artists, tourists and photographers and remain a unique and picturesque reminder of our heritage. In 1990, the City of Canandaigua added them to the Canandaigua Historic District to preserve their heritage.”
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See you out there!
Debi
Enjoy the Journey Together!
Can one actually swim at Kershaw Beach?
I left Cdga in the early 70s about the time the option ceased to exist.