Skaneateles selected among top places to visit
Nestled in the heart of the Finger Lakes region, Skaneateles has long had a draw to travelers from both near and far.
With the lake and the scenic beauty it offers as well as recreational opportunities, to the community itself with its unique charms and its many unique shops and restaurants and the slate of special activities from Winter Fest and the Polar Bear Plunge to Dickens Christmas the annual boat show and everything in between, Skaneateles is able to boast a number of attractions that have made it an important destination for many years.
Recently two new recognitions were lauded on the community.
Oprah Magazine named the village as the top small place to visit in the United States.
In the article, 60 places across the country from Cottage Grove, Oregon to Little Compton, Rhode Island were also recognized, but Skaneateles made the top of the list.
The magazine said of Skaneateles “This picturesque village is located right on the edge of Skaneateles Lake in Upstate New York. With beautiful and serene surroundings, you can spend the days of summer relaxing in a kayak or hiking the trails. Plus, there are premium shopping outlets not far from town.”
Skaneateles was one of just two Upstate New York communities to make the list, the other being Corning.
Global travel site Big 7 Travel also recently named Skaneateles to its 50 Most Charming Small Towns in America 2020 list.
Skaneateles came in at number 23 on this list.
According to the Big 7 Travel, the towns, classified by under population of 50,000, were ranked based on their charm factor, which includes natural scenery, general friendliness of the community, food and drink scene, history or culture.
Big 7 Travel wrote the following about Skaneateles “This quaint lakeside village is known for its famous art gallery and nearby nature preserves. The John D. Barrow Art Gallery is perfect for a weekend afternoon, and Anyela’s Vineyard is a real treat for winos. In Skaneateles, you’ll find a healthy amount of local shops and restaurants that only add to the charm.”
These recent accolades join a host of others that Skaneateles has received in recent years.
In late 2016 Expedia Viewfinder recognized Skaneateles as one of 17 communities that make for a perfect weekend getaway.
Skaneateles was ranked number five on the list that includes cities such as Big Bear Lake in California, St. Michaels in Maryland and Santa Cruz, California.
The Expedia Viewfinder article highlights some of the local attractions.
The article calls Skaneateles, “the lakeside retreat you’ve been dreaming of…,” and goes on to pint to some great places to visit including Anyela’s Vineyard.
The article also directs travelers to make a stop at Rosalie’s Cucina and the Skaneateles Bakery to grab a bite to eat or a sweet treat.
The article goes on to also point visitors in the direction of Carpenters Falls and Bahar Nature Preserve fort those seeking the opportunity for an outdoor experience.
Whether is taking in the works of art at Gallery 54 or Skaneateles Artisans or grabbing lunch at Skaneateles staple Doug’s Fish Fry or a donut at the Skaneateles Bakery or spending a few nights at the Sherwood, Skaneateles continually demonstrates its broad appeal.
And in 2018, Dickens Christmas helped garner some special recognition for the community when Skaneateles was named one of the 11 best small town to visit for Christmas by tripstodisocver.com.
Skaneateles joined the ranks of communities around the country like Branson Missourie and Santa Claus, Indiana among others that go all out for the Christmas holiday.
Tripstodiscover.com praised Skaneateles as “…a charming small town nestled in the picturesque Finger Lakes, where Dickensian characters from Tiny Tim to the Ghost of Christmas Past show up to celebrate the annual Dickens Festival. Step back in time with the array of characters dressed up in Victorian costume, then hop on one of the horse-drawn carriage rides, listen to the live bagpiper or simply stroll through the village and nibble on roasted chestnuts. Make sure to catch the World’s Smallest Christmas Parade Ever and a mini-performance of “A Christmas Carol”.”
Hilary Fenner, executive director of the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce, said this was a true honor for the community.
“I think it is wonderful,” Fenner said. “I think it says a lot that our little village is recognized on this level. I think it shows we have a lot to offer and I think it says a lot about Dickens and how much people enjoy it and look forward to it.”
This recognition also put the spotlight on Teresa Vitale’s Skaneateles Artisans.
A picture of Jim Greene as Charles Dickens standing in front of Vitale’s gallery was selected as the illustrating image for the tripstodiscover.com article.
The image was created by one of the gallery’s artists, Candice O’Brien.
Vitale said this was exciting for many reasons.
“It is such wonderful news,” Vitale said. “It is great to get this recognition and for one our artists to have their work used. It is a great honor for us and for Candice.”
Vitale said the picture, which features the entrance to the gallery shows just how much Vitale puts into the gallery, especially at Christmas.
Greene is standing by stacks of wrapped gifts that tower above him.
Vitale said these boxes are made by her mother and year after year they withstand the elements.
That same year Skaneateles was also recognized by carrentals.com, part of Expedia, which recognized Skaneateles as 14 on its list of 25 Most Festive Holiday Towns.
