Experience Life on the Lake
From power and pontoon boat rentals to standup paddleboarding lessons, visitors will enjoy easy access and close proximity to Chautauqua County’s Five Amazing Lakes: Lake Erie, Chautauqua Lake, Findley Lake, Cassadaga Lakes, and Bear Lake. In fact, there isn’t a single town in the entire Chautauqua-Lake Erie Region that is more than 20 minutes away from open water, making it easy to take part in canoeing, sailing, fishing and more all summer long.
One of the best ways to experience Chautauqua County’s lake life is by taking a narrated cruise. These informative experiences teach visitors about the area’s topography, wildlife, and historical significance. For a timeless steamboat adventure, choose the Chautauqua Belle. The Lawson Boating Heritage Center is a great place to take kids, who will delight in the opportunity to get a close up of antique boats and the ability to create their own balloon-power vessels.
Save some energy to take on the notable dining and shopping options offered in Bemus Point, as well as Mayville. Enjoy lakeside entertainment at multiple destinations is both villages including performances on the Floating Stage.
Sunrise to Sunset on Lake Erie Beaches
Take a walk or play on one of the many beaches and lakeside parks along Lake Erie. The beach at Sunset Bay near Silver Creek is one of Western New York’s favorites. The wide, sandy shoreline and shallow water is an ideal spot for families looking for a place to go swimming, sunning, and sand castle building. Adjacent to the beach, Sunset Bay Beach Club offers live bands and DJs, while Cabana Sam’s Beach Bar & Grill provides an outside deck and inside dining.
Point Gratiot Park in Dunkirk is a hotspot for cycling, birdwatching, tennis, and life-guarded swimming. There are picnic facilities and a playground, making it a popular gathering spot. Wright Park Beach in Dunkirk’s splash pad is a big hit on summer days! They also have pickleball, basketball, and street hockey courts and a sand volleyball pit for those with a competitive streak. High bluffs provide a breathtaking view at Lake Erie State Park, where visitors can also enjoy the conveniences of picnic areas, playgrounds, cabins, a disc golf course, and hiking trails.
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Make Time for Unique Family Adventures
Visit the prestigious Chautauqua Institution, where guests have experienced exceptional art, entertainment, education, recreation and faith-based discussions for generations. World-class speakers conduct morning and afternoon lectures dedicated to the important political, cultural, and social issues of the day, while writers and poets in residence provide the opportunity to engage in craft talks and readings. Chautauqua Institution also maintains highly rated golf, tennis and sailing facilities; and boasts a picturesque, lakeside, National Historic District campus featuring manicured gardens and green spaces – plus expressions of every era of American architecture dating to the late 1800s. Kids under 12 are always free.
The National Comedy Center in Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown is a must visit. The intuitive technology powering this museum takes guests on an interactive journey through comedy’s history. The National Comedy Center will captivate your interest for hours, so leave plenty of time to explore the more than 50 exhibits and exclusive collections. Learn about the important roll props play in comedic bits, try your hand at cartooning, write a skit, Make a Meme, perform Comedy Karaoke, or challenge friends to a Laugh Battle. The National Comedy Center is full of kid-friendly laughs, but the 18+ crowd will find the Blue Room’s deep dive into censorship, the Art of the Roast, Carlin’s Seven Dirty Words, and more moments from comedy’s edgy past and present, enthralling.
Children will love Midway State Park, where they can take a nostalgic ride on the vintage carousel, play a game of mini golf, spin on the tilt-a-whirl, or race go-karts. Treat your party to old fashioned candy apples by the lake or test skills at classic midway games.
Taste the Local Flavors
In Chautauqua County, the emphasis on drinking local is strong, as more and more craft breweries, wineries and farm distilleries are popping up across the region. One of the most popular is Southern Tier Brewing Company, which serves over 30 varieties of craft beer and distributes to more than 30 states. It offers brewery tours every Saturday on a first come, first serve basis but the brewpub and beer garden are open 7 days a week. Another local favorite, Five & 20 Brewery & Spirits celebrates summer every Thursday evening with Pint Nights, which feature half-off pints and live music. Keep an eye out for special events like Beer Yoga our on the gorgeous covered patio. Big Inlet Brewing is the newest addition to the region. This farm brewery is located in a reclaimed hoop barn and is already known for producing high-quality beers with only locally grown ingredients. Grab a pint from the bar, a meal from the food truck, and a board game from the upstairs loft.
Tour Lake Erie Wine Country, where 23 wineries spanning a 50-mile stretch that is also home to the largest grape-growing region east of the Rockies. Johnson Estate Winery, the oldest estate winery in New York State, plans Sunday morning vineyard walks, garden picnics, and more wine and grape centric events all summer long. Or, stop into Liberty Vineyards and Winery, which offers intimate outdoor wine pairing dinners. And one of the region’s newest additions, 21 Brix Winery, is not to be missed, as it features outdoor seating for tastings and is located next to Old Chautauqua Farms, where fresh fruit can be picked and enjoyed in the summer sun.
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Spend a Day in Nature
Pack your outdoor adventure gear when heading to Chautauqua County, home to gorgeous parks, scenic overlooks, guided hiking tours and much more. For unforgettable views, be sure to stop at Panama Rocks Scenic Park, where a half-mile long ridge of 60-foot high rock allows for the exploration of crevices, passageways, and caves within an ancient forest. Before leaving, channel your inner lumberjack (or jill) at Axcellent Adventures, an outdoor ax-throwing course at Panama Rocks. Dozens of trails are abuzz with hiking, biking, and horseback riding; the Overland Trails alone have a combined 43-mile trail lineage. For more adrenaline-pumping fun, Peek’n Peak Resort’s Aerial Adventure Course allows guests to navigate 8 courses through treetops by ziplining, climbing, crawling, and encountering more than 60 obstacles along the way.
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For more information about events and attractions in Chautauqua County, call 1-866-908-4569 to request a free travel packet or visit TourChautauqua.com.