The Finger Lakes Region: Discover Beautiful Blooms and Historic Bloomers in this Land of Glacial Lakes and Fine Wine

Location: Beginning in Rochester, follow this tour south to Mumford, then east to Canandaigua, Seneca Falls, and Auburn.
Length: about 100 miles (one way)
Time To Allow: 2 to 4 days, depending upon number of attractions selected for tours

Description/Highlights/Points of Interest

This tour for history buffs takes a look at lovely gardens from the past and several sites that commemorate the history of the women?s movement. Home to the Ellwanger & Barry?s internationally renowned plant nursery during the 1800s, Rochester was once known as the Flower City. Explore the beautiful gardens and parks that flourished in and around Rochester, due to the exceptional growing conditions created by its proximity to Lake Ontario, and marvel at the accomplishments of some of the famous women of Upstate New York.

Begin in Rochester on East Avenue, at the George Eastman House--International Museum of Photography & Film (585/271-3361). Tour the George Eastman House, the mansion home of Kodak?s founder and his authentically re-created gardens on a 12.5-acre estate. Featuring four restored or adapted gardens (terrace, library, rock and sunken gardens), this historic site is decorated with more than 300 historic varieties of perennials, bulbs, groundcovers, trees and shrubs. Go south on South Goodman Street and west on Highland Ave to Highland Park, at South Ave and Highland Avenue. Rochester's oldest park, it was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, and features an arboretum, a Victorian-style conservatory (585/244-8079), a world-renowned lilac collection and many other lovely flowers. (Allow one hour for park and conservatory tours; allow 90 minutes during the Lilac Festival.) Also in Highland Park, off Mt. Hope Avenue, is the Garden Center of Rochester at Warner Castle (585/473-5130), which includes a sunken garden, a rose bed, border and rock gardens, a courtyard, an iris and daylily bed, a fern bed and a 13th-century herb garden.

Go to the west side of the Genesee River in Rochester, and north on Lake Avenue, to see 5,000 specimens of roses in 300 varieties at the Maplewood Rose Garden on Lake Avenue and Driving Park Avenue. (Allow additional time during the Rose Festival, which is in mid-June).

In the 1840s, Amelia Bloomer created the women?s apparel that bears her name and was first made in Rochester. Visit the Susan B. Anthony House (585/235-6124) on Madison St. (off of Rt. 33) in Rochester, and learn this famous suffragist?s opinion of wearing bloomers as well as the significance of yellow roses in the women?s rights movement. The Susan B. Anthony House is the home where Anthony spent the last 40 years of her life, and it is now a National Historic Landmark.

Take Route 33 west out of Rochester, to Route 36 (Bangs Road) south to Mumford, the home of the Genesee Country Village & Museum (585/538-6822). Enjoy the gardening variety found in the area during the 19th century. Visit a working pioneer garden, a Shaker medicinal garden, a cottage garden, an elegant Victorian garden and even a plot growing the hops needed to produce beer. Fifty-five restored buildings are located on the grounds of the museum, complete with a tin smith, farm animals, a pottery barn, an opera house and much more. Don?t forget to save time for the fabulous gift shop.

East of Mumford on Rt. 20, is Canandaigua, home to Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion (585/394-4922), a beautiful Victorian home located at the north end of Canandaigua Lake. Formerly the summer home of Canandaigua benefactors, Frederick Ferris and Mary Clark Thompson, Sonnenberg (German for "sunny hill") is open to the public seasonally. Explore the mansion, visit the Wine Center, stroll the grounds, and enjoy the many splendid gardens.

Continuing east on Route 20 to Seneca Falls, visit the Women?s Rights National Historic Park (315/586-2991). While women have achieved greater equality with the vote, property rights and education, the revolution continues throughout the world today. Find out how it all began at this site that consists of four major historical properties and a state-of-the-art Visitor Center. Start at the Visitor Center where you can view the inspirational film and exhibits. Continue to the Wesleyan Chapel and imagine being a participant at the First Women's Rights Convention. Next, take a tour of the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Home, where she raised seven children and created history. Also in Seneca Falls is the National Women?s Hall of Fame (315/568-8060). Tour this fascinating institution to learn more about Amelia Bloomer and the many other women whose inventions and creations have influenced our lives.

Complete your tour in Auburn, which is east of Seneca Falls on Route 20, at the Harriet Tubman Home (315/252-2081) on South Street. After freeing herself from slavery, Harriet Tubman returned to Maryland to rescue other members of her family. In all, she is believed to have conducted approximately 300 persons to freedom in the North. The tales of her exploits reveal her highly spiritual nature, as well as a grim determination to protect her charges and those who aided them. Harriet Tubman always expressed confidence that God would aid her efforts, and threatened to shoot any of her charges who thought of turning back. Tour the Harriet Tubman Home and learn about this remarkable woman.

To return to the New York State Thruway, take Route 34 north. If time permits, head south to Ithaca, Corning and the Finger Lakes Wine Country on Route 34 south or 414 south, or check a map for a number of other choices.

For accommodations information and reservations, and complete information on attractions and travel throughout New York State, visit iloveny.com.