Recently I had the good fortune to take a road trip to the Finger Lakes in upstate New York. I won’t lie, I was desperate for a getaway after my busy and fabulous calendar was wiped clean due to COVID-19. But I also wanted to investigate what traveling during the pandemic is like. Many people are taking trips to see family members and it turns out it is possible to travel in a safe manner.
What to Know About COVID-19
First and foremost, be sure to check the travel guidelines for the state you’re going to. Some states requiring a two week quarantine before or after your trip, or after you arrive. Because I was going from Massachusetts to New York by car (both states with low numbers) we didn’t need to do that, but it varies state to state. While you’re on the road pack plenty of hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes, keep six feet apart, and wear your mask whenever you’re outside the hotel room.
On site at the hotels we stayed at they had social distancing in effect and masks were required whenever walking around the property. Plastic shields were installed at the front desk and hand sanitizer was available on every floor. The common areas were being cleaned at a higher frequency and housekeeping only cleans rooms before and after guests leave unless otherwise requested. This limits the amount of people in your space to, well, just you. We were able to eat outside the whole trip when we ate out.
I completely understand that many people are not comfortable traveling right now and I certainly wouldn’t recommend getting on a plane or traveling abroad. But a local road trip can be done safely and enjoyably.
Where to Stay
We were hosted by and stayed at two different hotels in the Harbor Hotel Collection, one in Watkins Glen and one in 1000 Islands. They were well appointed, in fantastic locations, and took the virus very seriously. The Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel sits on Seneca Lake right next to downtown Watkins Glen within easy walking distance to attractions and restaurants. 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel is situated at the edge of the Saint Lawrence River, also walkable into town.
Both feature spectacular views of the water and a robust room service menu, which is a great option for staying social distanced. I’ll be doing a more in depth post about the hotels next week, stay tuned!
What to Do
In Watkins Glen we went on a beautiful hike in the Watkins Glen State Park. The Gorge Trail goes past 19 beautiful and photogenic waterfalls. It’s a very easy hike, just 3 miles round trip mostly up stone stairs. And the state park is only a 10-minute walk from the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel. Masks and social distancing are required while in the park. It can get very busy and they’re limiting the number of people on the trail at one time so I recommend you go early in the day.
Just 30-minutes from Watkins Glen you can tour the Corning Museum of Glass. Corning is apparently a glass hub and this museum has a stunning collection of pieces. They also do live glassmaking presentations every 30 minutes and hands-on glassmaking classes for visitors. Masks are required and they take your temperature when you enter the building.
In 1000 Islands we toured Boldt Castle, a gorgeous compound built on Heart Island by self made millionaire George Boldt at the turn of the twentieth century. He began building the home for his wife, Louise, but she tragically died before it was completed. George abandoned construction and never went back.
The house was neglected for decades but is in the process of being restored to its Gilded Age beauty. The first two floors of the home have been restored and an audio tour takes you through them. The third floor has been stabilized, but not restored, and visitors are allowed up there to get a sense of the amount of work involved in fixing the home.
Where to Eat
We had room service for breakfast each day to facilitate social distancing and lazy vacation mornings. We also had dinner at the hotels as part of our press trip. But there are a number of great places to eat around each property.
In Watkins Glen we swung by neighborhood favorite Tobey’s Donuts for a quick, sweet bite. They also serve a diner-style breakfast that’s very popular with the local crowd. Seneca Lake is also wine country in the Finger Lakes. There’s an unending number of vineyards you can stop in to try different variations. I was traveling with Toni DeLuca, a sommelier, and she brought us to Hickory Hollow vineyards to sample some of their new sparkling, natural wine. It was delicious!
In 1000 Islands I recommend The Chateau at the Saint Lawrence Spirits distillery, it’s an upscale farm-to-table restaurant serving delicious, innovative food and cocktails. If you sit outside on the back patio you’re privy to a stunning view of the grounds and the river. They make hand sanitizer in the distillery and left a small bottle on each table which I thought was a nice touch. There are also a number of bars and restaurants along the river within easy walking distance of the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel.
The Finger Lakes turned out to be an ideal trip during COVID-19. It was nature-heavy, social distanced, and the hotels and institutions in the area are taking things very seriously.
* Please Note: The Harbor Hotel Collection provided us with complimentary meals and lodging during this trip, however, all opinions expressed are my own.