Nestled in a pleasant valley at the southern tip of Keuka Lake, Hammondsport offers a charming getaway brimming with scenic beauty, delicious dining, unique shopping, and exceptional wines. Just 90 minutes from Rochester, this walkable village seamlessly blends outdoor activities, rich history, and local flavor for a complete day-trip experience.
Plan Your Day Trip to Hammondsport
Breakfast
Stop at TJ’s Coffee & Bagels or Vern’s Bakery for a quick pick-me-up, or sit down to a hearty breakfast at Crooked Lake Ice Cream Company. Despite the name, they serve more than ice cream inside this classic American diner on the village square. Or plan to indulge in Sunday brunch at the Village Tavern Restaurant & Inn.
Morning
No visit would be complete without learning about Hammondsport’s hometown hero. The Glenn H. Curtiss Museum showcases, preserves, and brings to life the pioneering work of one of America’s early aviation legends. Curtiss is credited with several aviation firsts in the early 1900s, including the first publicly announced flight in America and the development of the first seaplane. Try to catch the seaplane show at their annual September Wings & Wheels event. The museum’s 60,000-square-foot facility houses an extensive collection of early aviation artifacts, vintage motorcycles, automobiles, aircraft engines, and more. Participating in the self-guided scavenger hunt creates an educational and entertaining experience for visitors of all ages.
Enjoy a quiet moment or a swim at Depot Park or Champlin Beach on either side of the Keuka Inlet. Keuka Watersports and OnKeuka! have multiple options for those looking to get on the water. Book a Pat II boat ride with the Finger Lakes Boating Museum for a narrated tour of Keuka Lake. From June to mid-October, one-hour public tours depart in the morning from Depot Park. The vessel has bench seating and can accommodate up to 16 passengers.
Discover unique treasures in specialty stores around Pulteney Square to take a piece of Hammondsport’s charm home with you. The village’s creative arts culture is evident in its shops, where you can appreciate works by local artisans that capture the essence of the Finger Lakes region. Visit shops like The Wine Barrel Furniture Company, The Cinnamon Stick Gourmet and Gift Shop, Opera House Antiques, Browsers, Park Pharmacy, and Patina.
Lunch
Sit down to a casual lunch at Burgers & Beer of Hammondsport, Village Tavern Restaurant & Inn, Aroma Coffee Art Gallery, or Timber Stone Grill. Or head up NY-54 to The Switzerland Inn, locally referred to as The Switz, which overlooks the east side of Keuka Lake. You can also stop by Hammondsport Grocery to gather all the fixings for a picnic at Depot Park.
Afternoon
The Finger Lakes Boating Museum (FLBM) pays homage to Hammondsport’s 19th-century steamboat era and the region’s diverse boat-building traditions. The museum’s collection includes nearly 200 boats, with 40 on display, representing various types, such as canoes, rowboats, luxury vessels, hydroplanes, and sailboats. After visiting FLBM, take advantage of the museum’s proximity to the 1860 Pleasant Valley Wine Company, the oldest winery in the Finger Lakes region. At the Great Western Visitor Center, you can participate in wine tastings and an informative guided tour of eight historic buildings. Tour reservations are required during the summer and fall.
Whether you are a casual taster or a dedicated wine aficionado, each winery offers something unique and memorable. Plan a winery tour with a combination of any of the area’s 10 wineries. For an alternative to wine, you’ll also find several regional breweries and distilleries to visit.
Dinner
Stop into Maloney’s Pub for a drink, then walk to The Park Inn for a savory meal. Or, head north on West Lake Road/NY-54A to Snug Harbor or the Lakeside Restaurant & Tavern for outdoor dining with views of Keuka Lake.
Evening
Take a stroll from the square to Depot Park to watch the sunset over Keuka Lake, stopping first at Crooked Lake Ice Cream. Along Shelthar Street, you’ll pass the Historic Champlin House, now a bed and breakfast in what was once the home of Charles D. Champlin, a founding member of the Pleasant Valley Winery. If you visit from April to November, check out Keuka Creamery for Hershey’s ice cream flavors. You’ll also find a car wash and a dog wash—yes, you read that right—to freshen up after a full day of playing outdoors with your pup. Alternatively, consider attending a weekend concert or the Thursday evening farmers market at Point of the Bluff Vineyards.
Signature Events
Wine Country Classic Boat Show & Regatta
late July
This free boat show showcases vintage and classic boats. Boating enthusiasts will appreciate the picturesque view of historic watercraft on Keuka Lake. You can witness a judged boat show, a boat parade, and a Poker Run Regatta.
Hammondsport Festival of Crafts
mid-August
Sponsored by the Hammondsport Chamber of Commerce, this delightful festival showcases the creativity and skill of local artisans. You can park at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum and take advantage of the convenient free shuttle service to the festival site in the Village Square.
Wings and Wheels in Hammondsport
late September
The annual Wings and Wheels event takes place at Depot Park and the Village Square. Experience a blend of aviation and automotive history with seaplane demonstrations, classic car shows, family activities, local food, and live entertainment.
Contact Information
Aroma Coffee Art Gallery 60 Shethar St. (607) 569-3047
The Brewery of Broken Dreams 8319 Pleasant Valley Road (607) 224-4050 thebreweryofbrokendreams.com
Browsers 33 Shethar St. (607) 569-2497
Bully Hill Vineyards 8843 Greyton H Taylor Memorial Drive (607) 868-3610 bullyhillvineyards.com
Burgers & Beer of Hammondsport 41 Shethar St. (607) 246-4000 hammondsportburgers.beer
Champlin Beach 8533 New York State Route 54 townofurbana.com
The Cinnamon Stick 26 Mechanic St. (607) 569-2277 cinnamonstick.com
Crooked Lake Ice Cream Company 35 Shethar St. (607) 569-2751 crookedlakeicecream.com
Depot Park 7 Water St. townofurbana.com
Domaine Leseurre Winery 13920 New York State Route 54 (607) 292-3920 dlwinery.com
Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery 9749 Middle Road (800) 320-0735 drfrankwines.com
Finger Lakes Beer Company 8462 New York State Route 54 (607) 569-3311 fingerlakesbeercompany.com
Finger Lakes Boating Museum 8231 Pleasant Valley Road (607) 569-2222 flbm.org
Glenn H. Curtiss Museum 8419 New York State Route 54 (607) 569-2160 glennhcurtissmuseum.org
Hammondsport Grocery 22 Shethar St. (607) 569-2060
Heron Hill Winery 9301 County Road 76 (607) 868-4241 heronhill.com
Historic Champlin House 16 Shethar St. (607) 483-5369 historicchamplinhouse.com
Keuka Brewing Company 8572 Briglin Road (607) 868-4648 keukabrewingcompany.com
Keuka Creamery 8471 New York State Route 54
Keuka Lake Vineyards 8882 County Road 76 (607) 868-4100 klvineyards.com
Keuka Watersports 8533 New York State Route 54 (607) 569-2889 keukawatersports.com
Krooked Tusker Distillery 10303 County Road 76 (607) 868-3006 krookedtusker.com
Lakeside Restaurant & Tavern 13780A West Lake Road (607) 868-3636 lakesideonkeuka.com
Living Roots Winery 8560 County Road 87 (585) 383-1112 livingrootswine.com
Maloney’s Pub 57 Pulteney St. (607) 224-4075 maloneyspub.com
OnKeuka! (607) 742-0953 onkeuka.com
Opera House Antiques 61–63 Shethar St. (607) 569-3525 operahouseantiques1901.com
The Park Inn 37 Shethar St. (607) 224-4004 parkinnflx.com
Park Pharmacy 27 Shethar St. (607) 569-2800
Patina 57 Shethar St. (607) 224-4010 patinaantiquesny.com
Pleasant Valley Wine Company 8260 Pleasant Valley Road (607) 569-6111 pleasantvalleywine.com
Point of the Bluff Vineyards 10489 County Road 76 (607) 220-5222 pointofthebluffvineyards.com
Ravines Wine Cellars 14630 New York State Route 54 (607) 292-7007 ravineswine.com
Snug Harbor 9068A Snug Harbor Drive (607) 868-7684 snugharborkeukalake.com
The Switzerland Inn 14109 Keuka Village Road (607) 292-6927 theswitz.com
TJ’s Coffee & Bagels 8471 New York State Route 54 (607) 377-4799
Timber Stone Grill 70 Shethar St. (607) 224-0006 timberstonegrill.com
Vern’s Bakery 49 Shethar St.
Village Tavern Restaurant & Inn 30 Mechanic St. (607) 569-2528 villagetaverninn.com
Weis Vineyards 10014 Day Road (607) 284-4011 weisvineyards.com
The Wine Barrel Furniture Company 59 Shethar St. (607) 569-3456 thewinebarrel.co
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Where are your favorite places to visit in Hammondsport?
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