25 Great Foliage Views in Finger Lakes Wine Country, #9, #10, and #11 Visit Corning's Gaffer District, The Glass Harvest, and the Best of the West!

Spending a day in Corning, NY, is one of the best ways to view the fall foliage and enjoy some fun fall activities at the same time in Finger Lakes Wine Country. This weekend is the ideal time to spend the day in Corning.

If you haven’t heard about the Glass Harvest at The Corning Museum of Glass, then you must visit cmog.org to get all the details. This weekend is the Third Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch. Visit the museum and see all the beautiful glass pumpkins, gourds, apples, and other unique glass pieces. The GlassMarket of The Corning Museum of Glass offers seven boutiques of unique glass items. Choose a souvenir or keepsake from around the world. You’ll find anything from original glass art to glass jewelry to glass collectibles. While at the museum you have to see the world’s largest blown glass pumpkin! I have seen this thing first hand and it’s unbelievable. With a circumference of 97 inches, you’ve never seen a glass pumpkin like this! During your time at The Corning Museum of Glass you can also Make Your Own Glass pumpkin. I just had the opportunity to do this a few weeks ago and it was so fun. You can choose any color you want. Go ahead and express yourself through your glass pumpkin! All this Glass Harvest fun is going on through November 18, so even if you can’t make it this weekend for the Glass Pumpkin Patch, there’s still plenty of time to take part in the harvest happenings at CMOG.

While in Corning, you must stop in the Rockwell Museum of Western Art. The museum boasts the best of the West in the East! The next special exhibition is Las Artes de Mexico and is going on display October 17. The permanent galleries are amazing and the Trading Post is a must for anyone who loves to shop. While you’re at the museum, you must go up to the third floor and go out onto the rooftop deck. The view of Corning is spectacular! You can see the rolling hills and it gives a birds eye view of Market Street. Perfect place for leaf peeping.

Have I mentioned the best thing about both of these museums? Kids and teens, 19 and under, are always FREE! Yes, that’s right. FREE! AND there’s even a FREE shuttle between the two museums and to Market Street. I love the word FREE… it’s my favorite!

So if you have never visited these museums, you probably haven’t been to Corning’s Gaffer District and Historic Market Street. (Might I say, you’re missing out and you should definitely jump on the Corning, NY bandwagon ASAP!) The Gaffer District, named for the technical title for glassworkers, gaffers, is a historic downtown with brick-lined sidewalks; chock full of unique shopping, dining, and entertainment. The Finger Lakes Wine Country offices are actually right on Market Street in Corning, so I know the area very well. It’s certainly a must-see during any visit to Finger Lakes Wine Country. The scenery here along Market Street during these fall days is gorgeous. The trees that line the street are turning beautiful yellows, reds, and oranges. Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage and fun fall activities in Corning!