Compare Hiking the Finger Lakes Trails: Trees and Gorges in Wine Country by Road Scholar

Day 1
Check-In, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Painted Post, NY D Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Activity note: Stretch your legs after your travels on the hiking trails on our property or relax for a swim in the heated pool. Explore the lodge and after dinner we'll get to know each other and the program leaders.

Afternoon: At 3 PM you will meet your host at the front desk for room keys and packets. Refreshments are available in the Dining Room. Pool will be open for swimming 4:30 to 5:30 PM Free time for hiking on the Watson Homestead trail system on the property.

Dinner: Dinner is served in the Dining Room. We feature all-you-can-eat country-style buffet entrees with at least one vegetarian option and a full salad bar daily with each dinner.

Evening: Orientation: we introduce the site, staff and week's program. Then we ask participants to introduce themselves to each other and mention any outstanding Road Scholar programs they have attended.

Day 2
Hike Finger Lakes Trail to Watkins Glen, Winery, Tower Climb
Painted Post, NY B,L,D Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Activity note: Woods walk in the morning joining the private Finger Lakes Trail to Watkins Glen State Park trails and waterfalls. Picnic buffet lunch and lecture about Finger Lake’s tree species is followed by a winery visit. Back at the Homestead, climb the tower or take a swim. After dinner presentation is on the CCC and how they built Letchworth, our hiking destination for tomorrow.

Breakfast: Breakfast in the dining room.

Morning: The Finger Lakes Trail (FLT) System of New York State, comprised of the main trail, branch and loop trails, offers over 800 miles of hiking. Three program hikes will be on trails within the FLT System. After breakfast we trarvel by caoch to Watkins Glen to hike a portion of the main FLT that leads into the famous Gorge at Watkins Glen State Park, with a cross-over site mid-way on the last leg of the hike for those who wish to view the spectacular waterfalls in the lower Gorge. Total morning mileage 4.1 miles, with a sag wagon mid-way for those who wish to do less mileage. Neil Yoder is the hike leader today.

Lunch: Lunch will be a picnic at the South Entrance (Watkins Glen State Park) pavilion.

Afternoon: We will visit one of the wineries along Seneca Lake. Back at the Homestead, an opportunity to climb the 36' vertical tower at will be offered. Free time for hiking the trails on the property. The pool will be open 4:30 to 5:30 PM.

Dinner: Dinner in the Dining Room.

Evening: Presentation on Letchworth State Park - our hiking destinatation for tomorrow.

Day 3
Hike Letchworth State Park, Iroquois Culture Program
Painted Post, NY B,L,D Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Activity note: Woods hike all day through gorgeous Letchworth State Park along FLT trails. Some paved paths or forest floor. Longer coach ride today, but Letchworth’s wide canyon and waterfalls make it worth it. Visit the Mary Jemison Museum and Victorian Inn - Glen Iris. After dinner, "Tales from the Longhouse" is a storytelling program about the cultural particulars of the Iroquois Confederacy and how this upstate native culture influenced state history and continues to thrive on and off the reservations.

Breakfast: Breakfast in the Dining Room

Morning: After breakfast we will depart for Letchworth State Park and will hike three sections of the Flinger Lakes trail there. Our hike leader is Pat Monahan, president of the Finger Lakes Trail conference who will speak about the organization during our coach ride.

Lunch: A bag lunch that each participant put together after breakfast, will be eaten along the trail.

Afternoon: Afternoon completion of hike, relax at Glen Iris Inn and/or visit the Letchworth Museum and home of Mary Jemison, White Woman of the Seneca. Return to Homestead.

Dinner: Dinner in the Dining Room.

Evening: A presentation by Michael DeMunn, Seneca Hawk Clan professional forester, about his work with the Finger Lakes Land Trust.

Day 4
Hike in Treman & Buttermilk Falls State Parks outside Ithaca
Painted Post, NY B,L Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Activity note: Today we head northeast to Cayuga Lake with hike leader, Neil Yoder. On our travels he will relay the Revolutionary and Civil War history of the region. Another beautiful eroded slate gorge with CCC stone steps and paved paths winds through Treman State Park. Lunch at a park pavilion with the pre-made sandwich picnic like yesterday. Then on to nearby Buttermilk Falls with a woods trail. Back at the Homestead, you'll decide where to eat in Corning's Gaffer District for an evening at leisure.

Breakfast: Breakfast in the Dining Room.

Morning: Travel by coach to Robert Treman State Park in Ithaca. Hike the FLT and Treman Gorge, 5 - 7 miles. Neil Yoder is the hike leader today.

Lunch: Pack lunch in a pavilion at the park.

Afternoon: Completion of the Trail and on to Buttermilk Falls for another short hike. Return by bus to Watson Homestead.

Dinner: Dinner at leisure. A list of local restaurants and directions will be provided.

Evening: Free evening to explore Corning downtown.

Day 5
Hike Finger Lakes Trail near Keuka Lake, Winery, Campfire
Painted Post, NY B,L,D Watson Homestead Conference & Retreat Center
Activity note: Our final hiking destination is Pleasant Valley - the wine country around Keuka Lake. There are two short hikes with an option do only one and take in the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport. Lunch like we're used to at Champlin Beach at the foot of Keuka Lake. After lunch we'll head up the West Lake Road to visit Dr. Frank's Vinifera, our most award-winning. After tastings with a lake overlook, back on the coach for our final dinner at the Homestead. Campfire and hand-cranked ice cream!

Breakfast: Breakfast is served in the Dining Room

Morning: Depart by bus for Hammondsport Finger Lakes Trail near Keuka Lake. We will be hiking for 5 to 7 miles on the Pleasant Valley Trail of the FLT. Neil Yoder is the hike leader today.

Lunch: Pack Lunch on the Trail

Afternoon: We complete our hike, Bus to Dr. Frank Vinifera for a wine tasting. Return to Watson Homestead.

Dinner: Dinner is the Dining Room

Evening: Just relaxing and making homemade ice cream - a Watson Homestead Road Scholar tradition, everyone gets a chance to help crank and then decide between hot fudge or homemade maple syrup.

Day 6
Vouchers for Corning Museum of Glass and Rockwell Art Museum
Painted Post, NY B
Activity note: Time to pack up and say goodbye. Return to Corning with museum vouchers for the Corning Museum of Glass and the Rockwell Museum of American Art on your own on your way home. Fond farewells. Hope we’ll meet again on another program!

Breakfast: Breakfast in the Dining Room

Morning: Vouchers for the Rockwell Museum of Western Art and/or The Corning Museum of Glass will be distributed.