Skaneateles sits on the northern shore of Skaneateles Lake, about an hour and a half southeast of Rochester. The village is known for its historic downtown, lakeside setting, independent shops and restaurants, and seasonal events. Many of the buildings in the historic district date to the nineteenth century, reflecting the community’s long ties to tourism, boating, and lakefront recreation.
Plan Your Day Trip to Skaneateles
Breakfast
Enjoy the early-morning sun over the lake with a savory breakfast sandwich, a sweet pastry, and a warm beverage from Skaneateles Bakery, Patisserie, or Rosalie’s Cucina. For a classic diner-style breakfast, head to Clover’s.
Morning
Mid-Lakes Navigation offers a variety of themed cruises departing from Clift Park.
Alternatively, Mirbeau Spa offers massages, spa treatments, and garden paths inspired by Claude Monet’s paintings.
Lunch
Enjoy a casual meal at Doug’s Fish Fry, something upscale at The Sherwood Inn, or drive down West Lake Road to Anyela’s Vineyards for lunch with a view of Skaneateles Lake.
Afternoon
Stroll through the village along Genesee, Jordan, and Fennell Streets, where you’ll find shops such as The Local Branch Co., First National Gifts, and Skaneateles Artisans.
Alternatively, you can hike through Hinchcliff Family Preserve to view the lake from Staghorn Cliffs, or take the accessible boardwalk to the Carpenter Falls overlook.
Dinner
Make a reservation at one of these popular restaurants: The Krebs, Rosalie’s Cucina, Moro’s Kitchen, Elephant and The Dove, or Bluewater Grill.
Signature Events
The Antique & Classic Boat Show in late July brings dozens of historic boats to Clift Park and the Skaneateles Pier. The two-day event features a boat parade, contests, and nautical-themed activities.
The Skaneateles Festival in August presents several weeks of classical, jazz, folk, and other musical performances at venues throughout the village. The festival also offers lectures, workshops, and special events.
Dickens Christmas from late November through December transforms the village into a Victorian holiday celebration. The World’s Smallest Parade on Bright Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) marks the beginning of the festival, which continues on weekends through Christmas with Charles Dickens characters, horse-drawn wagon rides, caroling, plays at the gazebo, and chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
Contact Information
Anyela’s Vineyards 2433 W. Lake Road, (315) 685-3797, anyelasvineyards.com
Bluewater Grill 11 W. Genesee St., (315) 685-6600, bluewatergrillskaneateles.com
Carpenter Falls Unique Area Appletree Point Road near Carver Road, Niles, (607) 753-3095 dec.ny.gov
Clover’s 22B Jordan St., (315) 665-8247, cloversskan.com
Doug’s Fish Fry 8 Jordan St., (315) 685-3288, dougsfishfry.com
Elephant and The Dove 9 E. Genesee St., (315) 685-2123, elephantandthedove.com
First National Gifts 2 E. Genesee St., (315) 685-5454, firstnationalgifts.com
Hinchcliff Family Preserve End of Covey Road, Spafford, (607) 275-9487, fllt.org
The Krebs 53 W. Genesee St., (315) 685-1800, thekrebs.com
The Local Branch Co. 4 Jordan St., (315) 975-7540, thelocalbranch.co
Mid-Lakes Navigation 3 W. Genesee St., (315) 685-8500, midlakesnavigation.com
Mirbeau Spa 851 W. Genesee St. Road, (877) 647-2328, skaneateles.mirbeau.com
Moro’s Kitchen 28 Jordan St., (315) 685-6116, moroskitchen.com
Patisserie 4 Hannum St., (315) 685-2433, patisserieofskaneateles.com
Rosalie’s Cucina 841 W. Genesee St. Road, (315) 685-2200, rosaliescucina.com
The Sherwood Inn 26 W. Genesee St., (315) 685-3405, sherwoodinns.com
Skaneateles Artisans 3 Fennell St., (315) 685-8580, skaneatelesartisans.com
Skaneateles Bakery 19 Jordan St., (315) 685-3538, skaneateles-bakery.squarespace.com
Explore More
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Experience the magic of the 2025 Skaneateles Dickens Christmas with festive performances, carriage rides, and a cast of merry-making characters.
Carpenter Falls
Carpenter Falls near Skaneateles features a 90-foot waterfall, an accessible woodland boardwalk, gorge overlooks, and a rugged trail through Bahar Preserve.
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Where are your favorite places to see, shop, and eat in Skaneateles?
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See you out there!
Debi
Enjoy the Journey Together!
