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The Perfect Weekend in Watkins Glen, NY (Outdoorsy Edition)

Julie Fago

I recently spent two back to back weekends in Watkins Glen, NY. One as a day trip and the other as an overnight. I thought to myself if I combined these two trips, it could make the ultimate weekend itinerary for someone that loves to do both outdoor activities and enjoy good food and wine.

The Finger Lakes is one of my absolute favorite places to visit and I have written several other blogs about it. I have however never written specifically about Watkins Glen. Here is how I would combine everything to make the perfect weekend!

First, you’re going to want to book a safari tent at Natureluxe & Stars Glamping as your home base for the weekend. I was blown away by how nice these tents are! There are three different types of accommodations, so something for everyone. The safari tents have a bathroom with a shower, sink, toilet, electricity and are fully furnished. The photos below are from my stay in a safari tent. If you’re looking to go a bit more rustic, you can choose the platform or bell tents. They do not have private bathrooms, but you do have access to the bathhouse. There is a common area with a refrigerator, coffee makers, tons of seating and additional fire pits. You can read here all about the different options.

The rates for the 2024 Season are as follows:

Bell Tents: $244/night weekend rate, $230/night weekday rate

Platform Tents: $259/night weekend rate, $245/night weekday rate

Safari Tents: $349/night weekend rate, $335/night weekday rate

** If glamping isn’t your thing, you can always stay in town at the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel!

One of the things I highly suggest doing is booking a Kayak tour through Seneca Lake Kayak. My friend and I did the Hector Falls Tour ($72) and ended up being the only two there. Basically a private tour! Our guide Joe was great and he really added to the experience. I would say even if you’re new to kayaking or have only been a few times, you would be able to do this no problem. Our tour took us 2.5 miles each way down Seneca Lake to the beautiful Hector Falls. You literally pull your kayak into the base of the falls, get out and explore. Unbelievable! The tour lasted around 3 hours as we really took our time on our way back. Seneca Lake Kayak offers a few different options, even a sunset kayak! And if a multi hour tour isn’t for you, they offer rentals to take out on your own. Honestly it was so fun!

A must do is to visit Watkins Glen State Park. There is ample parking and it costs $10 for the day. You can also use the Empire Pass if you have it! The park has several beautiful trails to choose from, but the most popular one is the Gorge Trail. The trail is 2.2 miles out and back, has 19 waterfalls , lots of stairs and typically remains open each year from May until mid to late October (weather permitting). Depending on when you visit, this trail can be very busy, so plan accordingly. The earlier you go, the better!

Another fabulous thing to do is to book a sailing adventure on the Schooner Love Sailboat. Tickets for the 2 hour sail are $75 per person for the daytime sails and $85 for the sunset sail. My friend and I had such a great time and loved the staff. People were celebrating birthdays, girls trips, you name it. You can purchase wine or beer on board and they sell the cutest merch. Make sure to book in advance as the time slots do fill up! I hope to get back this summer to do a sunset sail.

And one last thing to complete your outdoorsy weekend in Watkins Glen is to book a cow cuddling session at Sunset View Creamery. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. You get to hug, rest against, and generally hang out with the gentle lady cows. The cost is $15 per person for a 30 min session. I actually wrote a blog about doing this last year. It was such a lovely, calming experience and great for all ages. The farm is located about 15 minutes from Watkins Glen and the address is 4970 County Rt. 14, Odessa, NY 14869.

As far as food goes, there are tons of options in town!

Our kayak guide recommended The Elf in the Oak. It’s a great off the beaten path stop for lunch about eight minutes up the road from where the kayaks launch. They do stay open later on Friday and Saturday but check the hours before you head there! From the outside it looks like a house so don’t think you’ve pulled into the wrong place! The menu was huge, filled with sandwiches, salads and paninis. They also offer a great assortment of beer and wine for purchase . Place your order at the counter and you can choose from indoor seating or picnic tables outside with a lake view.

Another great meal I had was at Graft Wine & Cider Bar. I loved that my friend and I could sit at the bar and feel casual while having an upscale dinner. We loved everything we ate and ordered a delicious bottle of local wine from Living Roots winery. The mussels were incredible and we also shared the smash burger and a tuna special that was on the menu for that evening. Definitely worth stopping in!

I want to add that there are all different types of restaurants from takeout to nicer sit down. Just depends on what your vibe is! Some others worth mentioning are:

I also want to add a few of my favorite wineries that you could sprinkle into your weekend! These are all within fifteen minutes from Watkins Glen.

You could also check out the Lake Side Trolley if you wanted to spend one of your days exploring the wineries/beweries around Seneca Lake! This looks like so much fun. Reservations required!

Watkins Glen is a fabulous place to visit any time of year! I hope some of this inspires you to get outside and experience something new. Happy traveling!

x, Julie