11 Best Things To Do In Penn Yan New York

There are tons of things to do in Keuka Lake. One of the major Finger Lakes, it makes for a great photography spot at any time of the year.

During the winter months, one can head to Keuka Lake State Park for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. It is on the shores of the Lake's north end of the west branch of the Y.

With 620 acres of forest, this beautiful waterfront state park offers activities such as hunting, fishing, camping, swimming, hiking, and more. You could also launch your boat into the Lake for a great day on the water.

A popular vacation destination and attraction in New York among couples and families, this expansive lake is a great way to spend a day in Penn Yan.

State Park Location: 3560 Pepper Rd, Keuka Park

State Park Hours: Opens daily from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Best apple picking in New York is at Apple Barrel Orchards. It is a family-owned and operated farm in Penn Yan.

Apple Barrel Orchards is located in the middle of the Finger Lakes Region. It has been around since the mid-1960s and has been in the family for three generations.

This farm offers guests and visitors the opportunity to pick their fruit, whichever is in season, such as grapes, apples, and cherries.

They also produce their cider from apples grown, harvested, and fermented on the farm. 

Apple Barrel Orchards also have a farm store that is open seasonally beginning in September. They offer apple cider, cheese, fresh apples and grapes, honey, maple syrup, pancake mix, jellies, jams, apple dips, and many more.

Location: 2673 Sand Hill Rd, Penn Yan

Looking for some outdoor fun in Penn Yan? Mac's Dairy Bar and Mini Golf, a popular attraction since the 70s, is a perfect miniature golf course in New York.

A spot perfect for families, visitors can get a whole new experience here regarding ice cream. There are popular stalls that sell soft-serve flavors from Upstate Farms and popular Hershey Ice Cream Products.

Mac has a wide assortment of flavors to try, as they do want you to keep coming back for more.

The mini-golf is for everyone; visitors and guests can test their excellent putting skills at this site on their newly revitalized 18-hole course. It will be so fun and challenging all at once.

Mac's Dairy Bar is also close to several resorts in the Upstate area.

Location: 2605 NY-14A, Penn Yan

Some of the best wines in New York are at Keuka Lake. This region is home to the ultimate wine history as it was here in the 1860s.

Keuka Lake is the ideal place for a wine holiday as it offers a diverse group of wineries. Whether you want fruity or austere, dry or sweet, hybrid or native, or even vintage, they offer wines that are sure to delight every palate.

Visitors can meet the owners and winemakers and taste the fantastic wines. Each of the wineries has its own unique character; some have shops, restaurants, and lodging, along with breathtaking views that will steal your heart.

They have been proudly promoting and supporting the local wine and tourism industry for decades.

Some of the best wineries on the Keuka Lake Wine Trail:

• Keuka Spring Vineyards
• Hunt Country Vineyards
• Heron Hill Winery
• Hunt Country Vineyards
• Vineyard View Winery

Fruit picking is quite popular in Penn Yan. Serendipity Blueberry Farm is one of the best places with booming Yates County agritourism culture.

Every year the fields burst with blueberries and several people visit and pick them to take home.

Perfect opportunity for families to stay in the sun and have some outdoor fun; kids can play among the rows of trees while parents and adults fill their containers with fruits to bring back.

Note: Make sure to always call ahead before traveling in order to check the opening times and availability.

Location: 3455 Chubb Hollow Rd, Penn Yan

Hours: Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 6:30 AM to 8:00 PM

Craving for some good quality coffee in New York? Keuka Lake Coffee Roasters is an amazing shop that overlooks Keuka Lake.

The coffee is 100% Arabica coffee beans that have been sourced from their country of origin. You can relax and enjoy locally inspired cuisine, craft beers, wines, and coffee all in the best of settings.

They roast all of their coffee to order, and it is roasted in small batches. They are then air-cooled after roasting and before the blends are made. It is done to retain the natural coffee oils so that they still have antioxidants and great flavor.

Besides coffee, they also serve delicious breakfast and lunch. They have some of the best seafood, which is fresh and delectable.

Location: 2792 NY-54A, Penn Yan

Fun things to do in Upstate New York include attending classes and workshops at The Arts Center of Yates County. They cater to both kids and adults at the Rosenfield Studio.

The Arts Center also includes the Flick Gallery, Rosenfeld Studio, and Sunny Point. The artists here are mainly drawn from Yates County and the neighboring regions.

Sunny Point is a seasonal location on the east side of Keuka Lake that has a studio barn for workshops, events, and a lakeside pottery studio.

They organize art exhibits at the Flick Gallery, where they showcase several assortment of art mediums. The displays here are a broad mix of original art in mediums such as woodwork, paintings, photography, sculpture, pottery, media work, and jewelry.

Note: There is no admission in the gallery, and everyone is welcome.

Location: 127 Main St, Penn Yan

This small village in New York, Penn Yan, is charming and beautiful. When traveling to Penn Yan, make sure to keep at least a couple of hours or a half day to explore the village and downtown area.

The downtown area here is filled with 19th-century storefronts, cafes, restaurants, businesses, and shops. Whoever has traveled here has definitely fallen in love with it as it has an old-school charm to it.

Some of the favorite spots here include Penn Yan Diner for breakfast or lunch, and Amity Coffee Co for some coffee.

Also do spot the world's largest pancake griddle here. It spans over 28 feet across and weighs at 20,000 lbs.

Hiking in Upstate New York is lots of fun, especially because of how beautiful the area is. Keuka Outlet Trail is in the heart of Finger Lakes.

This trail offers a scenic route of about 7 miles between Penn Yan and Dresden. It is an easy-grade hike, and both tourists and locals will find it comfortable.

The first 1.3 miles is paved, and the remainder is filled with gravel, ballast, and dirt. The roads are relatively flat and well-maintained, even amazing for biking and running.

A dog-friendly space, they can also be off-leash in some of the areas. This trail is open year-round and amazing to visit at any time of the year.

You can also take some rest on the benches here. There are several routes and you do not need to walk the entire length here.

Nestled in the rolling hill of Upstate New York, Windmill Farm Craft & Market hosts over 175 indoor and outdoor shops that are filled with amazing goodies and handcrafted items.

Discover great food, fresh produce, furnitures, fashion, artistry, microbrews, entertainment, flowers, and much more. The Windmill also has several onsite dining options ranging from snack corners to full restaurants.

It also has six wineries, a distillery, and a brewery, making it a perfect spot.

They also host tours for small as well as large groups. They welcome limos, large motor coaches, and small buses and there is ample space for parking.

Note: Admission is always free.

Location: 3900 NY-14A, Penn Yan

Hours: Open every Saturday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Best ice cream in New York is at Spotted Duck Creamery. Well, Yelp voted it as the "Best Dessert In New York State."

Experience the goodness of fresh ice cream and desserts at the Spotted Duck Creamery. They use local and seasonal ingredients and do not use any artificial flavors, additives, or stabilizers.

If you can't have the normal usual ice cream they have dairy-free flavors and gluten-free cones. Their special diet ice creams are equally good.

Their custard is equally good and has also won awards. The secret magic ingredient is rich duck eggs, which are sourced right on the farm. You can also go meet the ducks when you visit Spotted Duck Creamery.

The original chocolate chip cookies and handcrafted cones are made fresh every single day.

Some must-try items here include:

• Java Junction
• Blueberry Streusel
• Real Cookies & Cream

Location: 999 St Rt 54, Penn Yan

Hours: Open Thursday to Tuesday 12:00 PM - 8:30 PM