FLXgirls Favorite Summer Moments Continued!

Here’s a continuation of our favorite things we got into this summer in Finger Lakes Wine Country!

6. Visiting The Corning Museum of Glass. We kept hearing news of this giant pumpkin so we went out there the other day to see it for ourselves. The glass market is so cool and we couldn’t leave without buying some fun jewelry and stopping at the coffee bar. The best part about visiting CMOG is making your own glass!

7. Trying the hands-on flight simulator at the National Soaring Museum at Hariss Hill. We had a lot of fun poking around, taking pictures with all the gliders and sailplanes. It was only $5.50 for the day to check out the world’s largest collection of gliders and sailplanes while learning about the history of motorless flight.

8. On our way to the Finger Lakes Wine Fest, we stopped at The Christmas House in Elmira. Julie was so much fun and we enjoyed some Finger Lakes wine paired with some delicious dips from the Village Gourmet’s Wine Country Collection. We loved sitting on the porch because Historic Maple Ave. is so beautiful. We both picked up some Switch-Flops and fun foods to bring with us.

9. Every morning we grab some coffee and log right into Facebook to see the newest dog entries in the Finger Lakes Wine Country Dog Mascot Contest. We love all the entries and they make our day! We can’t wait until the voting is open and we can vote for our favorites!

10. Meeting all the people that make Finger Lakes Wine Country such a popular tourist destination. As we both grew up here, we agree that it’s easy to take the area for granted. On our adventures this summer, we have met people from all over the world and we realized that this really is an ideal destination to relax, order a cocktail, get into race fever at The Glen, enjoy the cultural experience from the many museums and top it all off with a glass of world-class wine.

Make sure to follow us @FLXgirls on Twitter. We're always up to something and are excited to share our adventures with you on Blog Talk Radio on our Travel Tuesday show every Tuesday at 12 PM ET.

Hope you all had a great summer! Don't worry, it's not over quite yet - we just felt like reminiscing!

FLX girls Favorite Summer Moments

We can’t help but notice nights are falling a little sooner than the day before and we’re grabbing for our zip ups. We’ve had an amazing summer, not that we’re ready to part with it just yet! Over lunch in the square today, Christina and I were reminiscing about our favorite things we did this summer. Here’s five out of ten favorite FLX girl moments. (In no particular order).

1. Hiking (sort of) the gorge in Watkins Glen with Miranda. Ok, this is where the FLX girls learned that you leave the heels at home when we’re out seeking an adventure. Sure, if we knew we would end up on the gorge we probably would have worn sneakers but we’re not big planners. We like to do as the locals do and go with the flow. Next time though, we’ll come prepared with sneakers in tow!

2. Lunch at the Blue Heron Café at Heron Hill. As we are of the traveling kind, and young, we spend a lot of money getting to where we’re going leaving us with little cash. We ate out on the porch, joked with the staff and enjoyed a wine tasting in one of the best tasting rooms in the world for under $30. May we recommend the pulled pork sandwich infused with Eclipse Red?

3. Music, margaritas and sunset at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art. Margaritas…need we say more? But really, we loved the bands that came out and the atmosphere in general. Also, we love the jewelry at the Trading Post. We’re going to group the Cantina in this as well. I think we made it there once a week for churros and a Fiesta Wrap!

4. Seeking out the Painted Barrels. We’re almost through with the sheet. We only have a few barrel sites left to visit. The barrels really left us in awe of the talent of all our local artists. We hope that some of the barrel sites will bid on the barrels because we’re really going to miss them when they’re gone!

5. The General Store in Watkins Glen. Picture the biggest milk shake and grilled cheese you’ve ever seen. We also got to taste some fudge for free! Once we were inside, we both felt like we escaped away on vacation. We think it’s the perfect addition to Watkins Glen!

We'll be posting our five other favorite things we got into this summer on Monday!

100 Things To Do In Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #54 Hand-Pick Riesling in the Vineyards

Now is your chance to visit Finger Lakes Wine Country and help hand-pick the Riesling!
Working at a winery seems like one of those jobs that just looks like a lot of fun. They get to taste the wine, meet people from all over the world and enjoy the fact that most customers would be pretty easy to please after a few wine tastings. Wouldn’t it be nice to meet your business partners after they’ve had a few glasses of wine? Keuka Lake Vineyards is inviting their friends and customers to help hand-pick their Riesling vineyards that surround their tasting room. I’m sure that this will be a lot of hard work but I am willing to try almost anything once!

Here’s what really lured me in…In exchange for your hard labor, the owner, Mel Goldman, will be providing a homemade lunch and a harvest dinner. The dinner would, of course, be paired with Keuka Lake Vineyard wines. And since you are part of the wine industry for the day, he is also giving anyone who participates in the harvest an industry discount of 33% on any wine purchased in the tasting room.

I signed up to work the Harvest in their tasting room but if you can’t make it in, you can also sign up online. They are going to send an e-mail out in late September, early October to those who want to participate. The web site says that the day typically starts around 9am and finishes around 6pm. Dinner will be served when the last cluster is picked and there is a break for lunch mid-day. Harvest weekend is dependent on the ripeness of grapes. Since it’s been a cool summer, they think Harvest will fall after Columbus day weekend.

I was advised not to show up without some sunscreen, wear old clothes and shoes that can endure the bumpy vineyards. I’m excited to participate in the Harvest in Finger Lakes Wine Country. It will be big change from my usual desk and air conditioned office!

100 Things To Do In Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #53 Buy the Watkins Glen Tour Guide

Whether you're planning to visit Watkins Glen, have visited many times, or are a resident, there is one book you must purchase. The Watkins Glen Tour Guide by Gordon Cooper is one of the most informative books I've come across about the are. Gordon grew up in the area and wanted a book on Watkins Glen but there wasn't one out there. He ended up deciding to tackle the beast himself and wrote this masterpiece. The photos alone are worth the purchase. The book is full of history, insider tips and even self-guided trail maps. You can purchase the book at local places in Watkins Glen and throughout Finger Lakes Wine Country, but also online. Here's a message from Gordon himself!



For even more information, listen to our conversation with Gordon on our Travel Tuesday Show on Blog Talk Radio.

100 Things To Do In Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #52 Spend a Day in Watkins Glen (Preferably Not in Heels)

Check out this video we took throughout our day in Watkins Glen yesterday. More to come soon!


Yesterday was an amazing day in Finger Lakes Wine Country and Christina and I couldn’t waste it by being inside. We grabbed a quick lunch on Market Street and took the scenic drive to Watkins Glen. We headed immediately for the lake with Miranda, our newest FLX Girl. None of us thought anything of the fact we're going to be treking around Watkins Glen in our heels, later we came to regret it a bit! Anyway, right about to leave the dock was the beautiful Malabar VII. A crew member excitedly told us that Seneca Lake is happy to have the Malabar as it has been in the Caribbean waters of St. Thomas since 1965 and was also featured in the movie “High Society.” We were a little envious that we weren’t on the boat ourselves as we saw some of the passengers pulling out Finger Lakes wine. It’s ok, because the Malabar will be in Watkins Glen until October 9th before it heads out to the Florida Keys.

We took some great still shots of the Malabar VII pulling out and of the harbor in general. We all agreed that the sound of the boats is very relaxing. Since we were right by the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, we decided to drop in. No matter how many times I breeze through the double doors into the main lobby, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m instantly on a vacation. I wish! The rooms are all equipped with refrigerators, steam showers, flat screen tvs and wine refrigerators. I had an overwhelming urge to jump onto the perfectly made bed but I had to keep it professional as we were just getting a tour. The best part about the Harbor Hotel, besides the view, is affordable luxury. There is news that they are getting a spa but the staff isn’t saying anything just yet. Even without the spa, their pool and lakeview can be enough of a spa experience for me. They are excited to be celebrating their 1 year anniversary and we were too when we saw their dinner and drink specials. It’s never hard to find an excuse to make our way back to the Harbor Hotel.

We stepped out onto Franklin Street deciding our next move. Miranda headed over to a large stone building. Outside, we saw a banner that read, “I wine a lot.” Christina and I knew that we had happened upon a very good place. Miranda let us know that we had arrived at the Seneca Harbor Wine Center. Inside, we came across a huge wine tasting bar with free tastings, a great staff and plenty of wine. We resisted the urge to taste because despite our poor choices in wardrobe, all three of us wanted to check out the gorge at Watkins Glen State Park. Wine, heels and hiking the gorge is a bad combination but wine hiking and sneakers is a different story. It’s amazing how you can be five minutes from the bustling activity on Franklin Street but hear nothing but waterfalls once you are at the foot of the gorge.

It doesn’t take much to work up an appetite when you are exploring the 19 waterfalls in the gorge. We decided that we deserved a much needed treat, ice cream. We walked over to the Great Escape and enjoyed some delicious ice cream while relaxing by their old juke box. Ice cream at the Great Escape is a perfect way to end your day in Watkins Glen, in the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country.

Also - make sure to listen to our radio show, Travel Tuesday with the FLX Girls on Blog Talk Radio. The show airs every Tuesday at 12 PM ET. The show gives you an inside look at what we're up in Finger Lakes Wine Country. This week, we're talking all about Watkins Glen. We'll be giving away the Watkins Glen Tour Guide, a beautiful book by Gordon Cooper. All you have to do to win is call in at 12:30 PM ET to 800.813.2958 and the first five callers will win a book! We'll actually be speaking with Gordon on the show this week. You don't want to miss this!

100 Things To Do In Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #50 & #51 Visit The Award Winners: Anthony Road Wine Company & Sheldrake Point Vineyard

Finger Lakes wine does it again! Anthony Road Wine Company’s 2008 Semi-Dry Riesling won the Governor’s Cup Trophy at the 2009 NY Wine & Food Classic competition. They also scooped up awards for having the best white wine, best Riesling and best medium dry Riesling. Anthony Road also showed up in the August 09 issue as a “Best Buy” for five of their wines. All of the wines mentioned are $16 or less and received a score of 88 or 89 points. I know where to go for my next stock up of Finger Lakes Wine!

The Martini family and their winemaker, Johannes Reinhardt, only use grapes that are grown in the Finger Lakes region. Owners, John and Ann Martini planted their first grapes in 1973. Since then they have ripped out all the hybrid varietals except for the vignoles, and planted all vinifera varietals.

Anthony Road is located in their vineyard at 1020 Anthony Road in Penn Yan. They’re opened year round, Monday through Sunday, 10am to 5pm and on Sundays, noon to 5pm. The Martinis invite all winos to bring a picnic and enjoy a bottle of wine by their beautiful garden.



Another winery that received some good news lately is Sheldrake Point Vineyards on Cayuga Lake. I’m sure they are just thrilled to have been named the Winery of the Year. Not only do they produce amazing wines, the Simply Red Bistro offers delicious cuisine. I love that you can visit Sheldrake Point by boat. There are many places like this in Finger Lakes Wine Country! They have a dock right on their beach. Now, if I could just find someone with a boat…Until then I’ll have to arrive by driving to 7448 County Road #153 in Ovid.

100 Things To Do In Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #49 Go to the Grand Prix Festival in Watkins Glen

One of my favorite events is coming up on September 11 – the Grand Prix Festival in Watkins Glen. If you like cars, like I do, you will want to be there to see old race cars, sports cars, muscle cars, just about anything with four wheels. This year’s featured car is the Morgan in honor of its 100th anniversary. There’s a treat in itself – how many Morgan’s have you seen?

On Friday, September 11 Franklin Street in Watkins Glen, right in the heart of Finger Lakes Wine Country, will be closed to thru traffic from 10 am til about 9 pm and taken over by these amazing cars. About 5:30 or so many of the cars line up on and take a couple of laps on the original Watkins Glen racetrack through the streets in and around Watkins Glen. Use your imagination just a little and you can go back in time to 1948-1952 when the races actually took place on these roads.

After the race reenactment, you can visit with friends as you walk around admiring the cars just parked around town, purchase some souvenirs, listen to some music, taste some Finger Lakes wines, get something to eat from the food court or one of several restaurants on the street.

And, at Watkins Glen International all weekend you can take in the U.S. Vintage Grand Prix which celebrates racing's history at the largest vintage racing event in the country featuring historic cars of the past from as far back as the 1930's.

100 Things To Do In Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #48 Have a Cup of Coffee

Finger Lakes Wine Country may be overflowing with wine, beer, and spirits, but we also have coffee! Like a lot of people, I can’t start my day without a cup of coffee. And really, you don’t even want to meet up with me until I have had at least one cup. Coffee houses are one of my favorite stops because they always have such a laid back atmosphere. You can usually find some great literature lying around and sometimes they are attached to a bookstore like Storylines in Watkins Glen. They have a nice collection of new, used and hard-cover books here and local books/magazines. In their own words, Storylines gives the community a place to get some homemade coffee and avoid the “strip-mall strangle.”

A little closer to home, for me anyways, is Downtown Expresso in Elmira. Believe me when I say Elmirans get really excited when a new business sets up downtown…especially when that business offers a Chocolate Breakfast Sandwich! Even more excellent news is that they have a coffee and muffin club. They also promise us a Panini special every week. Located on Grey Street, they are open Monday-Friday, 7am to 5pm.

Since I spend most of my time in Corning, I am pretty familiar with all the coffee stops on Market Street. The Tea Chest has so many coffee, tea and smoothies to choose from, not to mention their homemade biscotti, scones and cookies. They also make these delicious treats as healthy as possible, even their gourmet chocolates! Across the street is Market Street Coffee & Tea. This is where I drop in when I’m on the run. They have a self-serve coffee bar and the biggest cookies I have ever seen. They also have a lot of fun merchandise! They are open Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 8:00 pm and Sundays 7:30 to 6:00 pm. Also on Market Street is Soulful Cup. I love grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting outside and just watching what’s happening on Market Street. They have over sixteen blended and twenty non-blended coffees here so there’s something for everyone. One of the best parts about Soulful Cup is that they are open until 11pm on Friday and Saturday and they bring in local musicians.

Since most of us can’t drink wine (the most popular way to relax here in Wine Country) at work, a cup of local brew will happily hold you over until 5 o’ clock.

100 Things to Do in Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #47 Relax

“Water is life's mater and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water.” – Albert Szent-Gyorgyi (Hungarian Biochemist, Nobel Prize for Medicine, 1937)

There are so many things to do in Finger Lakes Wine Country but nothing can replace the serenity of relaxing lakeside. All you need is an Adirondack chair, a good book and some wine. Crisp, light and refreshing, Riesling makes for a perfect summer wine. Lucky for those of us who live here, world-class Rieslings can be found right in our backyards.

Another way to relax, Finger Lakes style, is in your car. Windows down, sun shining and the wind tousling your hair… Some days you want to just hop in your car and go. I love the scenic drives along the lake. The vineyards are planted in neat little rows and in season, the grapes are ripe and bursting with flavor. Even a Kodak disposable and a novice photographer could capture some amazing photos of the Finger Lakes. Weather and time permitting, we get to enjoy the sky streaked with orange, purple and pinks as the sun sets over the lake. As a little tip, British Airways named Route 54A along Keuka Lake one of the Top 15 Scenic Drives In the World. And I of course, can say that this is true.

The best way to relax in the Finger Lakes is to combine it all into one. Take a scenic drive to a lakeside restaurant where you can sit with friends and family tasting some excellent food and wine. After a glass of wine, everything else seems to fall into place!

100 Things to Do in Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #46 Win the Travel Tuesday Giveaway

Click here to watch the Rockwell Museum tour.

We are excited to announce Travel Tuesday in Finger Lakes Wine Country. Every Tuesday listen to our new BlogTalkRadio Show, Travel Tuesday with the FLX (Finger Lakes) Girls, to get inside travel scoop to Finger Lakes Wine Country and learn more about the Travel Tuesday giveaway. This week, on Tuesday, August 18th, listen to the radio podcast from 12:00-12:30 PM and learn about the Rockwell Museum of Western Art in Corning. Beth Manwaring from the museum will be our special on-air guest. Then at 12:30 PM call our office at 800.813.2958 and the first five callers will receive special Rockwell Museum visitor experiences including museum passes and gift certificates. Good luck and remember that every Tuesday is a Travel Tuesday in Finger Lakes Wine Country!

You can follow our Twitter feeds at @flxgirls, @flwinecountry, and @flwinelady.

100 Things To Do In Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #45 Meet Joe, Susan & Riesling at Dr. Frank's Wine Cellars

Here in Finger Lakes Wine Country we all know Dr. Frank as being responsible for the “Vinifera Revolution” as he was the first to produce European varieties of wines in the Northeastern United States. Keeping the business in the family, Dr. Frank’s Vinifera Wine Cellars is known for producing world-class wines and remaining on top of the wine making industry. You think a winery like that might be a little bit snooty but it’s quite the opposite. On my last visit, my friend and I were greeted by Joe who turned out to be quite the one man welcoming committee. He ushered us over to the outside tasting room as it was one of those rare days this summer when the weather was cooperating just beautifully.

A woman named Susan was doing our tastings that we enjoyed alongside a couple from Albany and a party of four from out of state. I have to make a quick mention that the people from Albany had a puppy named Riesling and we could not get over how cute he was! Anyways, Susan had us cracking up in between her offerings of wine knowledge and before we knew it, we had been on the deck for a little over an hour. Sampling wine and champagne makes the time go quickly, especially when you have such an experienced and easy-going person in charge of your tastings. No wonder their wine is so good. Dr. Franks has an international winemaking team that each contributes their own expertise.

Besides their outdoor tasting room, they also have an indoor one off of their gift shop. If you’re lucky, Joe will be there to greet you as you make your way in. The tasting room is open Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm and Sunday noon to 5pm. As always tastings at Dr. Frank’s are free. And make sure you get your picture taken with Joe...

100 Things To Do In Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #44 Enjoy a Tasty Lunch at the Blue Heron Café at Heron Hill

Recently being named one of the most spectacular tasting rooms (according to Travel & Leisure) in the world, I had to stop by Heron Hill so I could see for myself. The first time I was cruising along County Rte. 76 in Hammondsport, I had to do a double-take as I went by Heron Hill. It’s a huge winery with sprawling vineyards that makes for a great view…even from the bottom looking up.

Having seen Heron Hill several times now, I still do the double-look just so I can take it all in. And the view? If it’s good from the bottom, you know it has to be amazing from the top. They even let me sneak up to the tower where you can see clear across the lake. I came for some wine tasting but thought to grab some lunch first. Right outside their tasting room and gift shop is the Blue Heron Café. The Café has seating right out on the deck where you get a birds eye view of the vineyards and Keuka Lake. With 38 menu items to choose from, it took me awhile before I decided on the pulled pork sandwich and pasta salad. The hand pulled pork was infused with their Eclipse Red wine and BBQ sauce making for the most delicious pulled pork sandwich I’ve ever had. All of their dishes have a wine pairing suggestion which you can order by the glass or bottle. I also think it’s great that the Café uses locally and organically farmed products whenever possible. I will need to make my way back as there are so many other menu options I want to try. Perhaps I will go back on a Saturday when they offer free live music on the terrace from 12:30 to 4:30 pm, all summer long and the café is open daily from 11am to 4pm everyday with the exception of Wednesdays.

I was almost sad to go inside and leave the view but I was ready to taste some wine. Once inside the vaulted tasting room, you realize you’re not about to be deprived of the view. While chatting over their extensive portfolio of award-winning wines (and tasting!) you get to take in the same view you can get while out on the deck. Visiting Heron Hill has been when of my favorite winery visits thus far as I believe food and wine go together as much as wine goes with good friends and family.

Click here to watch the video.

100 Things To Do In Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #43 Enjoy a Pint of Local Brew

Last Friday was one of those perfect summer days. Not too hot and most importantly, no prediction of rain. Not wanting to waste a minute of the day, I took to the Keuka Lake Wine Trail. World-class wine I’ve come to expect but micro-breweries take me for a complete surprise. Here in Finger Lakes Wine Country its wine we know and love. As far as beer knowledge…I just know that I like it cold.

I decided to stop by Keuka Lake’s first and only microbrewery for an alternate Keuka Lake experience. Their tasting room at Keuka Lake Brewing Co. was busy as I wasn’t the only one taking advantage of the beautiful weather. The tasting room has a really fun atmosphere and some great merchandise…my favorite being the growler. The growler is a 64 oz. container that you can fill with one of their premium brews. They offer six different ales for tasting ranging from lighter beers like White Cap Wazz-Berry to the darker Full Sail Stout Ale. Can’t help but like the names too! The brewery only uses premium ingredients and you can tell as soon as you take your first sip. Whether you are a beer person or not, it’s a really fun place to stop at and the beer may take you by surprise, as it did me.

I love that the breweries and distilleries are finding their place in Finger Lakes Wine Country. Although we do produce world-class wines and are proud of this reputation, I think places like Keuka Lake Brewing Co. and Finger Lakes Distillery are offering some great alternative experiences. Or maybe not alternative as much as an addition to your wine experience.

Besides Keuka Lake Brewing Co. and Finger Lakes Distilling, we have Montezuma Winery/Hidden Marsh Distilling, Horseheads Brewing Co. and Market Street Brewing Co in Corning. And although you may associate Wagner with wine, they too are a brewing company. A combination of their brewers’ talent and quality brewing standards has earned them several prestigious awards. Besides Montezuma and Wagner, Swedish Hill and Knapp have taken small amounts of their wine and turned them into hard liquor which inspired Six Mile Creek Vineyards, Rock Stream Vineyards and Beak & Skiff Apple Farms to do the same.

With all the wine, beer and liquor to taste, it’s impossible not to have fun in Finger Lakes Wine Country which is transforming into Finger Lakes Wine and Beer Country!

100 Things To Do In Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #42 Visit the Seneca Lake General Store

It was a really beautiful day yesterday so I decided to take advantage of the fact that one of the best lake towns was practically in my backyard. I spent the afternoon in Watkins Glen and stopped into the new Seneca Lake General Store for lunch. The store has a great atmosphere and a lot of fun merchandise. The best part was the old-fashioned soda bar and candy shop. I ordered the best grilled cheese I’ve ever had off their lunch menu and paired it with the biggest milkshake I’ve ever seen. I topped the whole meal off with a sample of homemade fudge. Not a bad way to spend the day. Throughout the mercantile, I found some great gift items and fun things from “way back when.” It really gives you the feel that you stepped back into the good ol’ days. Besides being a great tourist spot, locals can find a lot of useful items inside the General Store and I am anxious to go back with some first-timers.

If you are going up to Watkins Glen, be prepared to be caught up in race fever. Today is Thunder at The Glen and this weekend is NASCAR. Fans are pouring in from all over the world to see their favorite drivers at America’s premier racing facility. It’s hard not to get caught up in all the excitement but for non-race fans, Seneca Lake still offers a sense of tranquility and the addition of the General Store only adds to the fact that Watkins Glen is one of the best summer lake towns.

100 Things To Do In Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #41 Read About the Finger Lakes in the Media

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

As usual, I started my day with The Today Show. To my delight, they were doing a segment on wine. Among a diverse selection, was a bottle of Hermann J. Wiemer’s wine! We know that Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyards produces excellent wines, but now the rest of the world knows too!

Finger Lakes Wine Country seems to be getting a lot of media attention lately after being seen on the Travel Channel. Budget Travel named Watkins Glen as one of the best summer lake towns. It’s no wonder with the new Harbor Hotel, it being NASCAR weekend and the opening of a great new General Store.

100 Things To Do In Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #38, #39, #40 Attend Wine and Food Pairing Events and Visit the Keuka Lake Wine Trail

As always summer is going by too quick. Maybe you are going back to school soon or better, your kids are going back to school…leaving plenty of time to take advantage of some last minute summer happenings in Finger Lakes Wine Country.

Saturday, August 8th seems to be a big day in Finger Lakes Wine Country. Keuka Spring Vineyards is having their Merlot and Mignon tasting as part annual wine education summer series. From 11am to 5 pm there will be side-by-side tastings of award-winning vintages of Keuka Spring Merlot paired with a mignon appetizer. Guided tastings will be held in small groups on the winery’s terrace overlooking Keuka Lake (truly beautiful if you have yet to see it). The event costs $8 but you get to enjoy tastings, appetizers, live music and a souvenir wine glass. We all like to leave with something! And of course, case and wine club members receive a discount. They suggest making reservations, but they aren’t mandatory. If you really and truly have to wait until the kids are off to school, their next series will be “Red Wine and Chocolate” on September 26th. Sounds delicious! Keuka Spring Vineyards is located at 243 State Rte. 54, East Lake Rd, just outside of Penn Yan. For reservations, call 315.536.3147.

“Blue and Blueberries” will be taking place at McGregor Vineyards also on the 8th but this event runs through the whole weekend. From 10 am to 6 pm each day, there will be berry-inspired foods paired with blues music and of course, wine tastings. Steve Peao will perform from 1-5 pm on Saturday and Bill Brown will be performing from 1-4 on Sunday. Love live music…especially after I’ve had a little wine! Stacy McGregor is preparing grilled chicken drumsticks with a garlic-raspberry-jalapeno glaze, blueberry pound cake and a blackberry-Riesling gelee. This event is also $8 a person ($6 for Clan Club Members) and here too, you can expect great food, wine, music and a McGregor wine glass. You can just show up to this event, no reservations necessary. Can’t wait to get in there and try their Black Russian Wine and some blueberry delights!

The Keuka Lake Wine Trail in Finger Lakes Wine Country has eight wineries that offer a unique experience. Although the smallest trail, it’s one of the most picturesque and has everything from small estate wineries to wineries that resemble a castle!

100 Things To Do In Finger Lakes Wine Country This Summer, #37 Relax and Treat Yourself at AgeLess Integrative Medical Spa

Massage therapy, wrinkle reduction and internal medicine can all be found at the Arnot Mall right in Finger Lakes Wine Country. It’s true, and it’s not behind the Clinique counter at Macy’s. As the Arnot Mall is getting a lift with the addition of a super-classy spa, maybe it’s time you deserve a lift as well. I’ve already convinced myself that I do!

AgeLess, LLC Integrative Medical Spa that focuses on your entire health. There is particular focus on helping people age well and helping guests to achieve their maximum “health-span.” Since they admit that there is no simple answer or single approach to reaching overall good health, the staff takes a flexible approach and personalizes treatments depending on the guests’ needs.

Their spa offers massage and steam therapy, facials by Pevonia Botanica® and body wraps. They even offer laser removal of unwanted hair, veins, and freckles. What us girls would give to just have our leg hair lasered off! And men, maybe you are aware of your hairy backs at the pool or maybe not, but now that I have you thinking about it…maybe you should inquire about the laser hair removal at AgeLess too?

They also offer skin tightening procedures that will improve your skin’s laxity. If you are self conscious about wrinkles, they have a wrinkle reduction treatment. If you have a few years until wrinkles start to set in, you might take interest in their acne scar treatment that will improve your skin texture.

The spa offers products from the #1 luxury skin care system in the world, Pevonia Botanica. They also sell 100% pure Bare Minerals makeup. This is the #1 selling mineral makeup in the world because it’s free of preservatives and will improve your skin over time.

Sorry, to the men reading, I get a little excited about new makeup products. It’s somewhat of an addiction buying and trying new makeup. But this is something for everyone…the spa believes in the balance between evidence based scientific medicine and time honored natural medicine principles. Since I get sick of picking up and paying for prescriptions, I’m instantly intrigued.

AgeLess also offers internal medicine practices and case management for several diseases. They also offer Ultrasound Vascular screenings, Cancer survivorship, Smoking cessation and Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy. I won’t attempt to explain these procedures; I’ll leave it to the professionals at AgeLess.

Their beauty experts can tell you your complexion analysis, apply makeup to help you look your best and give your skin a healthy glow with airbrush tanning. After having embarrassing results from trying to apply a fake tan to myself via cream, foam and spray…it’s best to leave this one to the pros as well!

Whatever you are looking for at AgeLess, the staff is willing to work with you. This isn’t like any other spa in Finger Lakes Wine Country and who doesn’t deserve and need at least one of these treatments? Check out their brand new web site at AgelessLLC.com or just drop in to see what they’re all about.

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