Seneca Falls, located one hour southeast of Rochester on historic Routes 5 & 20, is known for two defining historical moments. The first is its role as the birthplace of the women’s rights movement in 1848. The second is its inspiration for the fictional town of Bedford Falls in the classic film It’s a Wonderful Life. These moments continue to draw people to Seneca Falls for gatherings, rallies, and celebrations.
Plan Your Day Trip to Seneca Falls
Breakfast
Grab a breakfast sandwich from Sauders Store, a Mennonite family-owned grocery market. While essentially a grocery store, it’s filled with unique regional and homemade goods that are a browser’s delight. Alternatively, you could stop by Cafe 19 for a quick pick-me-up.
Morning
Find a place to park along Fall Street or in the lot behind Women’s Rights National Historical Park. The park includes the visitor center, Declaration Park, and Wesleyan Chapel. The visitor center has two floors of exhibits to explore. In Declaration Park, you’ll find a waterwall inscribed with the Declaration of Sentiments, which states that “all men and women are created equal.” Tour Wesleyan Chapel, the site of the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention for women’s rights, an event widely recognized as the start of the women’s rights movement. Check out the Seneca Falls Heritage & Tourism Center before lunch. This three-story center offers a wealth of information about the history of Seneca Falls and the surrounding area.
Lunch
Stroll down Fall Street for excellent options like El Bajio Mexican Restaurant, Little Italy, and Downtown Deli.
Afternoon
Walk or drive to the National Women’s Hall of Fame in the 1844 Seneca Knitting Mill on the south side of the Cayuga-Seneca Canal. Locally, the Bridge Street bridge is known as George Bailey’s Bridge in honor of inspiring the Bedford Falls bridge in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. Explore the recently renovated knitting mill independently or take a guided tour to hear the stories of over 300 American women who have made significant contributions to their fields. Enjoy a late-afternoon stroll through Seneca Falls Harbor, heading east to the Ovid Street bridge for a breathtaking view of Trinity Episcopal Church, with Van Cleef Lake and Canal Locks 2 and 3 as the backdrop. Or, for a longer walk, head west along the canal from the Hall of Fame to explore the Ludovico Sculpture Trail.
Check out the Seneca Falls Heritage and Tourism Center—a three-story center that offers a wealth of information about the history of Seneca Falls and the surrounding area.
Dinner
Enjoy a meal at the Gould Hotel, Parker’s on Fall, Flint and Stave, or Red Brick Pub. Or keep it casual by stopping in Waterloo at Connie’s Diner or the seasonal Mac’s Drive-In on the way home.
Signature Events
Canal Fest
late June
Enjoy this three-day festival centered on Seneca Falls Harbor, with activities on both sides of the canal, including rides, midway games, food, vendors, live music, a yellow rubber duck race, and fireworks over Van Cleef Lake.
Convention Days
mid-July
Convention Days brings to life the historic 1848 Seneca Falls Convention for women’s rights through art, drama, and scholarly presentations. Each year has a different theme, with three days of activities offered throughout the village.
50-mile Route 90 Garage Sale
July
Extend your day with a 15-mile drive along County Route 90—one of New York State’s scenic byways—between Seneca Falls and Aurora, or drive the entire route to Homer. Every year, there are new things to see, with different homeowners participating and various villages and clubs providing food and fun along the way.
It’s a Wonderful Life Festival
early December
This three-day festival celebrates the bond between Seneca Falls and Bedford Falls. Members of the original It’s a Wonderful Life cast, their descendants, and the public gather to enjoy film screenings, themed dinners, and cast signings.
Contact Information
Cafe 19 20 E Bayard St. (315) 568-1183 xixcafe.com
Connie’s Diner 205 E Main St. Waterloo (315) 539-9556 connieswaterloo.com
El Bajio Mexican Restaurant 74 Fall St. (315) 712-4464 elbajiorestaurant.com
Little Italy 118 Fall St. (315) 712-0000 littleitalysenecafalls.com
Downtown Deli 53 Fall St. (315) 568-9943 sfdowntowndeli.com
Flint and Stave 84 Fall St. (315) 828-6300
Gould Hotel 108 Fall St. (315) 712-4000 thegouldhotel.com
National Women’s Hall of Fame 1 Canal St. (315) 568-8060 womenofthehall.org
Parker’s on Fall 86 Fall St. (315) 712-4152 parkersonfall.com
Red Brick Pub 57 Fall St. (315) 712-4020
Mac’s Drive-In 1166 Waterloo Geneva Road Waterloo (315) 539-3064 macsdrive-in.com
Muranda Cheese Company 3075 New York Route 96 Waterloo (315) 246-1457 murandacheese.com
Sauders Store 2146 River Road (315) 568-2673 saudersstore.com
Seneca Falls Heritage & Tourism Center 89 Fall St. (315) 568-1510 sfheritagetourism.com
Trinity Episcopal Church 27 Fall St. (315) 568-5145 trinitychurchsenecafallsny.com
Women’s Rights National Historical Park 136 Fall St. (315) 568-0024 nps.gov
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Where are your favorite places to visit in Seneca Falls?
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